I think I misheard because I'm in such a rush to see Olivia that… That couldn't have been right. I made sure no one was around before moving toward the cracked open door to the student council's room and listened in on the conversation. The student in the room with him wore an orange wizard's robe, a fire wizard from the tower, and he rightfully asked, "…Please tell me that was a rhetorical question, Your Highness."

"Don't be such a coward, Andrew," James chastised. "The next Archmage of the Wizard Tower should have at least some backbone." So, that boy was Andrew Mystyr. He was a first-year as well and was attending the royal academy as an envoy for the tower so they could try and convince foolish young nobles to become wizards. His short orange hair matched his bright orange eyes that… Why is he just as color-coordinated as Cassandra?

"I simply don't think here is the best place to discuss such dealings. If anyone should overhear, then a scandal would follow that would put a blemish on your reputation." That's what you're worried about!?

"I'm the Crown Prince, no one would dare spread such 'rumors' about me." That's not how rumors work!

"Either way, why the sudden curiosity?" That's what I want to know! "Has Her Highness done something to warrant assassination?"

"Aside from existing?" James scoffed… I need to calm down, I really want to throw open this door and compact that arrogant ass into a flesh ball with all the furniture in the room but that would only make things complicated. "It's already insulting enough that I have to be married to the daughter of the man who helped kill my mother, but she's also not even trying to hide her smug sense of superiority. She thinks she's above me? Me!?" …What? As far as I know, Olivia would be considered a rather tame crown princess; at least compared to princesses from history.

"I'll admit, she is rather smug." You're just saying that to get a taste of James' boot! "Any particular incidents stand out?" You don't even know what James is talking about and are just trying to find out what to agree with him on!

"That little 'campaign' she did during the war made her arrogant. She won lots of praise from the nobility and sympathy from the commoners, so she thinks she can rise above me." She was helping her kingdom in a time of war, how is that arrogant? "Then she goes behind my back and tricks Father into helping those Hellhounds despite them being nothing more than criminals purposely sent off to die." Because you were the one trying to kill us! "She's also overly worked on her image by hosting and attending so many tea parties that it makes my head spin. Her position in the social world is even more connected than mine!" Because the empress is supposed to be a pillar of high society's social world! Doing that is part of her normal duties! "Her ambition is growing too large to the point she's becoming a threat. I won't be a puppet emperor." What kind of logic is that!?

"…So it has." I heard that hesitation! You also know James is in the wrong! "But if you have Her Highness killed, then who will you replace her with? None of the current dukes have a daughter of marriageable age aside from Olivia Ordrin so you would need to marry someone of the lower classes." Andrew took a few steps toward James and added, "If you would like, there are a few female prodigies currently in the Tower I could pull some strings to introduce to you. We Wizards have always been allies of the imperial family, so it wouldn't be strange to consider a marriage."

"You're intentions are as subtle as a maul." James started tapping his desk in thought before saying, "No, I won't marry a Wizard…but a Saintess?"

"What!?!" What!?! "The Saintess!? Surely you jest, Your Highness!"

"Why would I joke about something this serious?" Because it's absurd!

"The temples would never agree to such a union! Plus, she's a commoner who doesn't know the first thing about being an empress! The Saintess was most likely brainwashed by those fanatics to be wary of you and the imperial family since you rightfully reject their so-called 'gods'!" Andrew was shouting a lot of heresy for someone who was concerned about discussing killing Olivia. These were the men who led Olivia to her death in the prophecies? These…heathens? "Approaching her first would never work!"

"But I'm not approaching her first." I could hear a smugness in James' voice as he explained, "This morning, Olivia approached the Saintess and extended an olive branch. Moved by my fiancé's actions, I will also approach the Saintess with the purpose of peace within my empire between the strained temples and imperial family. She's a country bumpkin so the sight and privilege of gaining the attention of the Crown Prince would woo her heart." Awfully full of yourself considering your looks aren't even that great. "Olivia takes the suspicion while I take the rewards. Plus…" Does he sound…whimsical? "I saw her out the window this morning and she's quite the beauty. I'm starting to understand what my father always meant when he said he was captivated by my mother at first sight."

"Your Highness…"

"Saintess Beatrice will be my empress. So, again, how much do you think the guilds charge for the murder of a crown princess? I'd like to bring her to my side as quickly as possible. Also…"

"…" Why?... Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why!? Why!?! Why!?! Why does Olivia have to die because of some stupid reason like that!? She didn't do anything wrong! She played her role as Crown Princess perfectly, but that was a bad thing!? Does all James want is a doll, like Stephany? Someone to sit on the throne looking pretty while contributing nothing of value?

"Such is my fate~." My Olivia stood before me with a sad expression on her face. "From the start, it was my destiny to lose~. To die~. My prophecies demand it, after all~."

"!?!" No! I won't let her die! Just because her prophecies say she'll die doesn't mean I can't try to find a way out of this! I want to kill James but can't since that would create too much chaos! Plus, Terence would likely take Olivia as his empress which means I would be trading one prince I hate for another. The way he approached her at the hunting competition last year… That kiss he stole!?! So how do…I…

"Oh~? Did you remember something~?" She doesn't have to die. "Something important~?" Because of the five prophecies… "There's one where I live~. History tells us that the prophecies of Lord Zulm always come to pass: the founding of Urldrusk, the rise and fall of dragons, the sundering that split the continent of Kelica in two~. Since He has blessed us with the knowledge of five possible outcomes, why not rig things to go toward the one you want~? But can you live with that~?" I looked up at my Olivia and noticed she was wearing something new. "Can you live with me never forgiving you for damning me~?" Something metal and cold. "Can you stab me in the back~?" The chain of a slave collar jingled from its place around her neck.

"…" I…

***

"Who dares-!?!" the door to the student council room was thrown open and caused Andrew to shout in panic. He knew their conversation was dangerous and couldn't afford for the wrong person to hear it. Unfortunately for Andrew, though, the worst person possible had caught them.

Stolen novel; please report.

James hid his growing apprehension as he addressed the uninvited guest, "…Countess Sanguine?"

"…" Lucina stood in the doorway in an almost trancelike daze as her eyes seemed fixated on something that wasn't there. She gave a curtsy and greeted, "Countess Lucina Sanguine greets Arlexia's Little Cub, His Highness James Arlexton. I hope I'm not interrupting anything with my presence, I just couldn't wait any longer to discuss something with you, Your Highness." The air in the student council room was suffocating as Lucina raised her shattered eyes to match James' nervous glare. A darkness seemed to follow her and made the fourteen-year-old girl feel like a monster that was ready to strike.

"Still as rude as ever, Countess." Even if he knew Lucina and Olivia's relationship had become strange of late, there was no telling what Lucina would do if she had heard his whole conversation with Andrew. James motioned to an open seat at the other end of the long table he sat at and said, "Since I know you'll say your piece anyway, go ahead and get it over with."

"How very kind, Your Highness." Lucina's words held no sincerity as she entered the room and took a seat across from James. "Since I know you're so busy, I'll skip the pleasantries and go right to what I want." Saying words that made her sick to her stomach, Lucina asked, "I would like you to change how you deal with Olivia, Your Highness."

"…" James didn't immediately respond as he knew he needed to choose his words carefully. Lucina was a dangerous freak that wasn't against going straight to bloodshed to get her way. He tried to divert the conversation, "Are you admitting to spying on a member of the imperial family?"

But Lucina kept on point, "You're the one who left the door open while having such a conversation, you can't blame me for overhearing." James couldn't get a read on Lucina's expression.

"And if I'm set on getting rid of Olivia?" Lucina wouldn't kill him immediately. Doing so in the middle of the academy, especially while Andrew was here, was an absurd thing to consider. Even though he was caught, he wouldn't let Lucina control the situation, "I'm quite smitten with the Saintess and want her by my side as empress. As a loyal vassal, I'm sure you understand, Countess."

"Of course I do," Lucina agreed and gave a nod.

"…You do?" James hesitated as he was caught completely off guard. He expected Lucina to threaten him to leave Olivia alone, but to have her agree with him?

"As the future ruler, it's only right you be able to decide who stands by your side." There was an unnerving calmness in Lucina's voice that made James feel like he was on the edge of a cliff and about to fall in. "All I ask is that you change how you go about doing it." Lucina tapped her chin in thought before continuing, "Don't you want to return the humiliation you've felt? Granting Olivia death isn't what I consider humiliation since it's over quickly. Certainly, there must be other ways to achieve what you want, right?" She hummed to herself before suggesting, "What about enslavement?"

"…What's your aim, Countess?" James couldn't believe that Lucina of all people was telling him to humiliate Olivia, and with enslavement? Where was the catch to this devil's bargain?

"Aim? My aim has been and always will be the same, Your Highness." Lucina tilted her head to the side as if reminiscing on a past memory. "I want to be by Olivia's side."

"You expect me to believe that after what you just suggested?" James retorted.

"You misunderstand, Your Highness." Lucina put a hand over her heart and reiterated while altering her words, "I want Olivia by my side."

"You…? Ha," James gave a small chuckle before eventually throwing his head back in a roar of laughter as it finally clicked in his head.

"!?!" Andrew was completely lost on what James found so funny, and Lucina silently waited for James to finish.

"Hahaha! I knew you liked Olivia, but to think you want her like 'that'!?" James took a deep breath to calm down and he felt much more at ease with Lucina than before since he now figured he wasn't about to die. "I didn't realize you held such traditionalist values, Countess."

"You'll have to blame my upbringing, Your Highness," Lucina joked. "I'm not too fond of men so my desires naturally leaned this way."

"Hmm," James hummed to himself as he thought through Lucina's suggestion. "Enslaving her and tossing her to you for 'that' kind of reason would certainly drag Olivia down to the mud. Does your love run so shallow that you're okay with that?"

"Would a shallow love ask the Crown Prince to spare the one they love?" Lucina countered.

"You're asking me to destroy her."

"You were already going to destroy her, I'm just asking to be given what's left," Lucina clarified. "She's the only thing I truly want in this world. Plus, if you give her to me then Duke Ordrin's wrath will be aimed at me rather than you since I'll be the one holding his daughter's leash." She had to make sure to mention that Richard and the entire Ordrin house would be insulted by this plan to entice James into acting. "Though, I don't know how Derik will react to such a plan."

"Leave Derik to me, I'll be sure to convince him. He's currently worried Olivia might steal his spot as heir, for some reason, so it'll be easy to convince him with the right nudge… What are your thoughts on this, Andrew?" James turned to his follower with an expectant grin on his face.

"If you wish to put Her Highness in her place, then enslaving and giving her to the Countess as a sex slave would certainly do that." As a wizard, Andrew was instinctively put off by Lucina's presence as the Harbinger of Zulm, but James was in a good mood now so he had to put up with his discomfort. "However, you'll need a strong justification to enslave the Crown Princess since, as far as I know, there's no precedent for doing such an act." He adjusted his round glasses to hide his discomfort and give him something to fidget with.

"Then why not make one?" Lucina put the final part of her plan into motion.

"Oh?" James was having fun seeing Lucina like this and wanted her to continue, "Do you have a suggestion?"

"If you want to get rid of Olivia and also marry the Saintess then why not combine the two into one plan?" Lucina gestured a hand toward James and started speaking with her knowledge of Olivia's prophecies, "Get close to the Saintess as you were already planning and rumors will naturally start spreading about how kind you act toward her compared to Olivia. Spurred by being 'beaten' by a commoner she approached first with friendly intentions, Olivia will start to bully the Saintess only to be thwarted by Your Highness who will come in to save the Saintess. Even if she was taken in by the temples, they only spent a few weeks at most with her so being saved by the Crown Prince will win you her heart. Since the Saintess will be favored by you, you can use Olivia's bullying over the course of our four years of schooling to punish her with enslavement for trying to harm a Saintess of Lady Alm and the Prince's consort."

"And I can always bribe students to say Olivia was the one to get them to harass the Saintess…" James sat silently as he went over Lucina's idea, and the more he thought it over the more he liked it. He was always meant to be a male lead, after all. "She'll definitely hate you when it's revealed."

"Oh my, I didn't realize you cared so much about my love life, Your Highness?" Lucina teased to get James to drop it so he would hurry up and accept the plan. "You already toll me for existing, so at least grant me this small gift." James started making ruling Solfin difficult with surprise inspections and absurd tax changes, and the only way to placate him was by sending him more bribes. While it was annoying, Solfin made enough of an income that Lucina didn't think much of it.

"…Very well," James said and waved his hand regally at Lucina from his seat. "So long as you don't interfere, I will make sure Olivia is at your feet by graduation. I'll even give you the honor of putting the slave collar around her neck yourself since this was all your idea."

Lucina rose and gave a bow, "This loyal vassal thanks you for such a wonderful gift, Your Highness."

"…Are you sure about this, Your Highness?" Andrew asked once Lucina left the room and closed the door. "This might be a trap by the Countess and Her Highness."

"No, I don't think so," James said with a chuckle. "That look in her eyes was far too genuine to be fake. She's just that much of a freak that she'd be willing to ruin her weird love just so she could have Olivia; even if there's nothing left but a broken doll."

"…" Lucina stood outside the door in complete silence. Slowly, delicately, afraid one wrong step would crumble her, she turned down the hall to return to her room. Every step was a stumble as Lucina was losing her balance as if drunk. A slow walk turned into a brisk one, that turned into a fast jog, that eventually became a sprint through the halls. Lucina practically ripped her dorm room's door off its hinges before slamming it shut and making sure to lock it. She was hyperventilating and her hands wouldn't stop shaking.

"Congratulations~." The fake Olivia stood in the center of the room with the slave collar around her neck. "You're one step closer to saving me~. I knew I could count on you, my Lucina~." Every move she made caused the chain from the collar to jingle which pierced Lucina's mind like a knife.

"Y-Yeah! I saved her!" Lucina justified to herself as she stumbled into her room and tightly gripped her chest as her heart felt like it was going to explode from how fast it was beating. "I saved her! This is all for her!" Passing by a mirror, Lucina saw how pale her face was becoming and how badly she was sweating.

"Even if I'll never forgive you, I'll be alive to hate you~," the fake cooed into Lucina's ear. "I'll hate you with every fiber of my being~."

"H-Hate me! Stay alive and hate me!" Lucina collapsed to her knees as she lost all her strength. Conflicting emotions churned through her whole body that threatened to overwhelm her. Fear. Hate. Joy. Resignation. Hope. Love. Lust. Lucina couldn't stop herself from laughing at what she just did while tears started pouring down her cheeks. "She can live!"

"Yes, I'll live~." The fake Olivia stood over Lucina while the briars of Lucina's soul reflection crept out of Lucina's heart and started ensnaring themselves around the fake. The fake continued to drill into Lucina's fracturing mind and dissolving self-worth, "I'll live as a mockery to who I was~. To everything I believe in~. Chained and broken by your side, forever~."

"F-Forever!" Lucina hugged herself to try and stop shaking but no matter how hard she tried, nothing calmed her down. Why did she do that? Was she truly that crazy? Surly there was a better way? She tried to get up only to trip and fall to the floor. Giving up on moving, Lucina laid on her back as she kept laughing to the point she started gagging. She was disgusted with what she had done, and what she would do, but the thought that Olivia would live filled her with glee. While there was still much to do, Lucina had a clear path forward to save Olivia; even if Olivia ended up killing her for it. "Live! She'll live! Kill me and live!" Her body wretched as her stomach couldn't contain itself from all the stress and anxiety that had built up and came cascading down on her. "I'll save her! I-!!!" Lucina vomited up her lunch and started to cry while the fake Olivia silently stood over her with the briars of Lucina's soul refusing to let 'Olivia' go.