“Steal?”

“No. With my abilities! I can’t keep mooching off you forever, can I?”

Siara clenched her fist and smiled brightly. Diego stared intently at her face. Her confidence despite having nothing was both amusing and impressive. Even if she was just naive about the ways of the world, he liked that expression.

“…You’ve really changed.”

“What?”

When Siara tensed up, Diego smirked and gripped her hand tightly.

No student viewed the Crown Prince as their equal. That position, without even friends, was incredibly lonely, yet this mere illegitimate child treated him like a friend.

“Good luck with that.”

“…Yeah.”

Feeling the warmth from Diego’s hand, Siara experienced a strange emotion. This was her first time holding hands with someone on equal terms.

Upon returning to her dormitory, Siara entered the most secluded room. The room, which could have been used as a storage closet, was shabbier throughout than even a maid’s quarters.

Lying on the old bed, she stretched out both hands. Very thin magical power scattered like threads between her fingers.

‘This won’t work.’

Perhaps because it wasn’t her original body, the dimensional transfer magic wouldn’t even activate.

‘It must be because this body is too young.’

Having reached this conclusion, Siara yawned and closed her eyes.

For someone who had lived a thousand years, childhood was an extremely distant memory. But now, having entered Annie’s body, she felt like she had returned to those days. When she was young, after becoming the youngest mage, she never played with or befriended children her age.

It was the same when she was fifteen. Only professors with graying hair surrounded her. The professors addressed her with respectful titles and sought knowledge from her. So going to a restaurant with someone of the opposite s*x or holding hands—Diego was her first.

Diego was handsome enough to consider as both an equal friend and a potential romantic interest.

‘Romance…’

Siara had never experienced romance. A once-in-a-millennium genius had to spend all day studying and researching. That’s why it felt strange when she held Diego’s large, warm hand.

[If you use dimensional transfer, you can meet someone who isn’t of your bloodline. Would you marry then?]

She suddenly recalled Jensen’s words and couldn’t help but smile.

An ordinary life.

That was something Siara could never choose. A life of dating, marrying, having and raising children, and then dying of old age.

When her friends and siblings died after leaving behind their bloodlines, their faces looked very peaceful.

But Siara felt sad. As they disappeared one by one, she felt emptiness.

[If you want to live, just say so. I’ll extend your lifespan.]

Siara’s magical power overflowed like an endless fountain. It wouldn’t have mattered if she shared a little, but her friend refused.

[…Want to live? No. My children and grandchildren will remember me and live on, so I just… want to rest.]

[It’s not resting. It’s dying!]

No sadness showed in those wrinkled eyes. Her friends simply accepted death calmly.

[Siara. I know it’s late to say this… but I…]

And then her friend closed his eyes. Looking at the man who would never open his eyes again, Siara sighed. She knew well what he was going to say. She pretended not to know even though she did.

[Brown. Rest in peace.]

After the Duke died, the heir, the young duke, and the children began crying from under the bed.

Siara felt complicated emotions but reflected again on what Duke Brown had said.

If she had lived an ordinary life, she would have wanted to end up like him. To enter eternal rest after leaving behind children and grandchildren.

After finishing school classes, Siara trudged to the cafeteria inside the school for dinner.

Students who had mansions near the school only ate lunch before going home, but those in dormitories had to make do with what the school provided.

However, the lack of snacks or special meals was disappointing.

Even when she disliked people and stayed alone in the Magic Tower, she never lacked food. Despite living alone, the food delivered to the Magic Tower was always plentiful. There might be leftovers, but never a shortage.

“I’m hungry…”

Her stomach growled repeatedly.

The three meals provided daily were meager. This was true even though at fifteen, she was in her growth phase and should be eating well.

She wondered how other students managed with such food, but then realized they didn’t eat in the cafeteria and instead bought food outside.

[The portions are small and it tastes terrible. Let’s just use our allowance from home to buy food outside.]

[Yeah. Only poor people eat this stuff. Why should we have to eat this?]

Seeing how few people ate in the cafeteria, Siara was certainly included among those “poor people.” Having boasted to Diego about earning money, she felt awkward about asking him for food.

Siara was still hungry even after eating. Slumped over her desk, she pondered deeply.

“How did I earn money before?”

After being recognized as a once-in-a-millennium genius, the country provided everything for free, and Siara lived comfortably, moving between the royal palace and the Magic Tower. They even employed knights to protect her from potential harm.

Of course, later they all died, leaving her alone.

‘I’ve never earned money before.’

She could live without problems just by researching.

“Are you hungry? I’ve been hearing your stomach growl for a while now.”

Siara looked up to find Diego standing right in front of her. The other students had long since vacated the area, not wanting to get on the Crown Prince’s bad side.

She had wondered why it was so quiet around her, and now realized it was because Diego was there.

“Want me to buy you food?”

Siara’s eyes sparkled at Diego’s words. But then she hung her head again.

“It’s okay. It’s my turn to treat you, but I don’t have money…”

“Didn’t you say you’d earn money with your abilities?”

“Well… I’m not sure about that.”

Her research certainly had value. Making crops grow faster, finding underground water even without rain, or gathering rain clouds to prevent water shortages. Even the dimensional transfer technique was researched for the country’s benefit.

‘Wait, farming?’

“Oh, Diego! Is there a vegetable garden here?”

“A vegetable garden?”

“I’m wondering if students can use a vegetable garden.”

Diego frowned deeply.

“I don’t know about that.”

“Should I ask a teacher?”

“…If you want.”

Diego’s expression showed he wasn’t particularly enthusiastic. But Siara was very excited.

Yes, if she had no money, she could earn it by farming, something she excelled at! The future that had seemed so blocked now started to become clearer.

That day at lunch, they served watery soup and a single potato. Chewing the boiled potato, she thought she might develop malnutrition eating like this.

There weren’t many people in the cafeteria when Diego appeared and sat across from her.

He sighed deeply, looking at the soup and potato.

“…The Magic Academy’s meals are similar to what commoners eat.”

He seemed to be seeing cafeteria food for the first time. He must have always eaten outside.

While eating the tasteless potato, Siara muttered.

“Why don’t they provide sugar? It would taste so much better.”

Diego chuckled.

“How could they let people freely use expensive sugar?”

“…Expensive?”

“Yes. Sugar is entirely imported, so it’s expensive and mainly consumed by nobles. Well, unless you grow sugarcane and eat it in a sticky syrup form.”

Syrup form?

“That might work.”

“What?”

After finishing her potato, Siara stood up abruptly.

“I’ll grow sugarcane!”

‘I could sell it for money, right? It would be much more expensive than potatoes, corn, or wheat.’

“Wait, Annie!”

Diego called out to Siara, but she was already running far away.

“Why do you think it’s imported? Because it doesn’t grow here…”

Attendant Peter nodded.

“Well, trying wouldn’t hurt. His Imperial Majesty has been concerned about rising sugar prices.”

“…But what can a 15-year-old girl do?”

“She’s not an ordinary 15-year-old. She’s a student at the Magic Academy.”

“So what?”

“Let’s wait and see…”

Peter’s voice gradually grew quieter until he finally closed his mouth. Even on second thought, it made no sense.

To ask if she could use a vegetable garden, Siara went to find Professor Dennis.

“Siara! What brings you here?”

Professor Dennis greeted Siara warmly. He had been favorable toward her ever since Diego saved his life.

Siara scratched her face in embarrassment.

“Um, Professor Dennis.”

“Yes, tell me anything.”

“…Could I use a vegetable garden?”

“A vegetable garden?”

The mountains surrounding the Magic Academy were vast. They were overgrown with weeds and unmanaged, perfect for farming.

“Yes. I want to grow crops!”

Professor Dennis nodded.

“Of course! Use anywhere you like. I’ll take responsibility.”