The library at the royal academy was considered on par with the one in the palace as holding any and all information a student could ask for. Rows upon rows of shelves filled to the brim with books and scrolls created a labyrinth of knowledge that took even the librarians months to master where everything was. In the center of the great room were lines of tables with plush chairs and couches for students to silently study in, and the scritching of pens on paper subtly danced through the air as reports were being written. The far wall was made entirely of windows that opened to a terrace which, on nice days, was open and more seats were added to create a truly peaceful environment. "…Hmm." Like today where Olivia and Lucina found themselves on the terrace borrowing books to complete their history assignments. Olivia flipped through her book and sighed, "This is annoying…"

"What is?" Lucina looked up from writing her report and gave her hand a rest.

"I thought I was done writing essays, but here I am doing it all over again." She put down her pen and flexed her fingers while massaging her palm. "It wasn't as bad when I had a computer. How does everyone not have arthritis?" Not many people were using the library, and even fewer were on the terrace which let Olivia speak freely of her past life.

"As long as we work in moderation, our hands will be fine," Lucina tried to reason despite her report already being four pages long and not even halfway done. "Thankfully the assignment is easy since it's just about the North Kelica Unification war."

"But it's not easy."

"We lived through it."

"Yeah, but the books changed what happened!" Olivia complained while pointing to the page she was reading. "These new history books act like Arlexia was always an empire that was supposed to rule the continent and barely even mention Urldrusk! There are so many embellishments and rewrites that it's no wonder I didn't know what was going on when I was younger; history was altered before we entered the academy."

"Did history books from your past life not do this?" Lucina and Olivia rarely talked about Olivia's past life anymore, and Lucina was greedy to relive even a brief moment from those days.

"…I guess," Olivia admitted as she thought back to her studies of the Second World War on Earth and the disparities of information depending on where she looked. "But it feels different since we lived through it, like you said." Olivia leaned back in her chair and let the gentle breeze rustle through her hair. "It feels more…disingenuous, I guess." She twirled her pen between her fingers as her mind wandered to her past.

"…" Disingenuous: a word that cut at Lucina's heart despite her bandaging over it with justifications she had to repeat to herself to believe. She wanted to agree with Olivia, but her churning stomach wouldn't let her.

"Are you alright?" Olivia noticed Lucina's apprehension and was giving her a concerned look. The sun lit up her hair like a sparkling waterfall of light, her eyes shimmered as they held worry, and she slightly cocked her head to the side which allowed the shadows from her hair to dance across her face. "Lucina?"

"…Yeah." Lucina wasn't alright but forced herself to lie. Greedy for a moment of the old days? How dare she long for that when she would deliver the ultimate betrayal to Olivia while still pretending like everything could change. "I guess I'm more tired than I thought with all the assignments we have to do even though we just started." Disingenuous was a word that Lucina felt described her at that moment.

"If you want, feel free to catch up on some sleep," Olivia said and motioned with her head to a group of students across the terrace who were fast asleep on their couches. "Everyone else also seems to have the same idea, so the librarians can't yell at you for it."

"No," Lucina refused and picked her pen back up. She joked while forcing a smile onto her face, "If I fall asleep, then who would you complain to? You'd be driven mad."

"Very funny," Olivia sarcastically commented before also getting back to work on her report. Time continued to pass as the two girls wrote their reports in silence. After a while, Olivia asked, "Thank you."

"For what?" Lucina was caught off guard by the sudden thanks and had to do her best to hide her discomfort.

"Just…for putting up with me," Olivia gave a laugh and brushed some hair out of her face. "I probably would have gone mad without you to confide in. This life is so…different from my previous one that I sometimes think it's all nothing more than a dream I'll one day wake up from to find myself in a hospital bed. That everything is a hallucination while I'm in a coma waiting to wake up, or something."

"…" Lucina's heart started to race and her stomach churned with anxiety. Did Olivia want to wake up from her current life?

"You've helped ground me that this is real, so thank you." Olivia gave a kind smile that stabbed Lucina's conscience with guilt and, for a brief moment, she considered telling Olivia everything about James and her plan.

"I'm…glad I could help." But she decided against it and banished that train of thought. For the plan to work, Olivia needed to show genuine reactions to whatever James would do. There needed to be genuine fear. She had to force the words out as the guilt tried to keep her quiet, "That's what friends are for."

"Friends…" Olivia repeated the word and looked listlessly at Lucina, though her eyes acted like they were reading something. "You really are my closest friend, right?"

"Of course." Another wound to Lucina's heart.

"I can always count on you for help?" Olivia gave a leading question.

"Any time." Lucina's happy mask cracked.

"You're my Ally?"

"I'm your ally."

(Lucina Sanguine is not your Ally.)

"…" Olivia hid her mixed emotions behind a practiced smile, just like Lucina, as she read the pink box's results. There were times Olivia felt completely at ease with Lucina, and others where she felt like Lucina would take her head. She'd catch Lucina watching her only to divert her gaze when caught. It was also obvious that Lucina was uncomfortable, her perfect mask was cracking when talking about being close to Olivia as if Lucina had a reason to feel uneasy. Was it unease from what she was doing, or that Olivia was still daring to call them close? Her mind would continue to overthink everything as the world continued to move toward the reverse harem ending she wanted to avoid. While it wasn't the worst ending for her, Olivia didn't want to be enslaved… No… What Olivia truly didn't want was to be confronted with the fact that Lucina would betray her. Her father and boyfriend taught her the sting of betrayal in her past life, would Lucina teach her that same sting in this one? Both girls sat in silence with not even the sunlight offering a reprieve from the shadows that were cast over their hearts.

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***

It was a rough week, going behind Olivia's back like this is more draining than I thought…but… "It's all for her." I have four more years of doing this so I have to stay strong! I can't get discouraged during the first month! Snapping the old shopkeeper's journal shut, I tucked it back behind the counter in the shop as I waited for the Saintess. There was no way for me to know when she would visit the shop so I've gotten in the habit of using a portal to come here after class. I'll be here if she comes, and I can get used to the magic drain my portals require. Thankfully I didn't have any other customers which would've made it hard to prevent rumors of me being here from reaching Olivia. "I'll need to do something about it…eventually." I already finished my homework, sorted the inventory, and even had time to sweep the floor with how quiet it was here. "…It's oddly peaceful." Too peaceful. My restlessness got the better of me so I decided to walk around the old prayer hall and do some exploring. Dust and cobwebs adorned every corner of every room and hall, and the wooden floors creaked under my boots as I made my way through the abandoned building. The second floor was just as dusty but with a little cleaning this place wo-!?!

"This is the place." I ducked out of view of the shattered window and managed to spot the people outside before they saw me! Four black-robed adults accompanied a student wearing a similar robe as they stood in front of the old prayer hall.

"So, it was here." Why is Olivia here!? She pulled down her hood and looked over the building with an apprehensive gaze. I don't think Olivia would deal with those shady seniors, so who were those adults? Luckily I was hidden in shadows thanks to the angle the sun was shining which let me peak out to watch them.

"Our information was verified right before the school year started, Your Highness. The keeper of this place is a rather shady person with a reputation. We'll make up for our past failings." An information guild? Probably the Silk Sparrows since they don't look like the imperial family's shadow knights. I've never heard her mention looking for the shop which means she's already going behind James' back…and mine.

"…?" Hah, did I just feel sad that Olivia went behind my back when I'm doing things like this? Get a grip, Lucina, I have no right to feel that way.

"Then, lead the way," Olivia motioned for the men to move. They obviously knew where the secret room was and there was too much there to hide before they reached it and act like they were mistaken! I need to distract them someho-

"Stop!" Saintess Beatrice? The Saintess appeared out of some bushes and ran to stand between Olivia's group and the old prayer hall. Was she…lying in wait? Did she know this would happen?

"Beatrice?" …Why are you calling her by her name, Olivia? "What are you doing here?"

"As a Saintess to our Hearth Mother, I wanted to see this old hall at least once and offer my prayers in this once holy place." You're a surprisingly natural liar, Saintess. "But, then I saw you heading here with a group of strange men…and…" Did she collapse to her knees?

"B-Beatrice!?" Olivia took a hesitant step toward the Saintess and extended her hand to her. "What are you-?"

"What's going on?" Huh!? Why are students gathering here? The old prayer hall is out of the way from regular paths so why is there a crowd starting to form?

"Is that the Saintess? What's she doing kneeling in the dirt?" All these witnesses…

"Why's Her Highness here?" It's almost as if…

"Is she making the Saintess kneel?" They were gathered here on purpose.

"?!?" The Silk Sparrows were obviously uncomfortable being the center of attention and they pulled their hoods further over their faces as more and more students gathered around. How were there so many? Isn't this place…ah. There you are.

"…" Since I was on the second floor I could see over the crowd and saw James standing in the back of the crowd as if waiting for his 'turn' to appear. He probably knew the moment the Silk Sparrows entered the academy and put this little plan into motion. It was time to start painting Olivia as a villain.

"Please, Your Highness!" Beatrice spoke words that would set the event in motion as if she had practiced them. "Spare this empty hall! So much has already been taken, please allow what little remains to be left in peace!" Those were some nice tears in her eyes, if I held any pity for her I might have felt bad for the Saintess.

"I-I-…" Olivia was getting flustered and I could see her mind racing and paralyzing her with pointless thoughts instead of trying to resolve the issue in front of her which let the students fill in their own blanks.

"What's the Saintess talking about?"

"Spare the hall? Was Her Highness going to do something to the old hall?"

"Who are those cloaked men with her? They don't look like knights."

"Was she…going to sell the things left behind in the hall to those thugs?" One of the students I recognized as one of James' boot lickers spoke up causing a narrative to construct itself from the whispers which further panicked Olivia. Even though the Saintess never said anything about stealing, the students let their imaginations do the work. I guess it was time for James to make his-

"What is happening here!?" Elder Solomon Kor? What was he doing here? Wasn't this James' time to shine? I looked over to James and saw him with a dumbstruck face so this wasn't part of his plan. Four paladins followed Elder Solomon as they made their way to the head of the crowd. They sent paladins with Elder Solomon but not the Saintess? Why would the temples allow this? All this chaos…

"…Like providence." Lord Zulm was practically outright declaring his intention by having an Elder and paladins get this directly involved. The fifth prophecy was to be our future.

"Elder Solomon?" Beatrice raised her head and looked to Elder Solomon and the clouds seemed to part in just the right way so that the sunlight could sparkle in the tears that ran down the Saintess' face.

"Saintess!? Are you alright? Why are you kneeling!?" Elder Solomon rushed to the Saintess' side and put a comforting arm around her. He turned to Olivia and angrily chastised, "While we may not be on the best terms with the imperial family, that is no excuse to so blatantly harass the Saintess of Lady Alm, Your Highness!"

"I-I wasn't-" Olivia found her voice and tried to explain.

"Do you take me for a fool!?" But Elder Solomon wouldn't let her get a word in. From his perspective, Olivia did look like the perpetrator against the Saintess. But from what I know about Elder Solomon from what Elise has told me, this is probably a power play to get himself close to the Saintess. "Your actions today are an insult to both the temples, and the dignity of the imperial family!" Dignity? So he's trying to dig at Olivia's pride, I see.

"That's not what happened! I wasn't-" Olivia took another step toward the Saintess.

"Enough!" What!?! Why are you using magic against Olivia!?! Elder Solomon used his magic to conjure a wall of fire to stop Olivia from getting closer! Are you insane!? Look, even the Saintess dropped her act and is looking shocked at what you're doing! Elise was right, he's a dangerous person. "While I may be new to this academy, I will not stand idle while our Saintess is so blatantly abused! I will be filing a formal complaint against you through the temple, Your Highness!" Elder Solomon retracted the fire wall and sucked the flames into one of his jeweled rings; snuffing it out. He helped the Saintess to her feet and said, "Come, Saintess, let us return to your room."

"But-"

"I will leave the paladins here." He wouldn't even let the Saintess speak? Looks like he wants things wrapped up in the exact way to benefit himself. "From now on, the paladins will watch over this prayer hall so that no one may enter…and steal from it," he added while sending an accusatory glare at Olivia. This…does solve one of my problems. While they would turn away other students, there's no way the paladins would stop the Saintess from coming to the prayer hall, and I can use my portals so now the Saintess will be the only one using the shop. But the fact he insinuated Olivia, the next empress of Arlexia, would stoop so low as to steal from an abandoned prayer hall irked me to no end. I was thinking about sparing his life since he's an Elder of Lady Alm, but perhaps the Hearth Mother will forgive me for committing such a sin against one of her flock.

"…We should go, Your Highness." The Silk Sparrow agents obviously wanted to leave since they were at a clear disadvantage.

"…" Olivia watched the Saintess and Elder Solomon leave with a face filled with mixed emotions. The gazes of the students weren't helping Olivia's mounting anxiety. "Very well," she reluctantly said and they quickly left the scene. Even James left since his plan failed to an unlikely variable which left the crowd of students to gossip amongst themselves.

"I think Her Highness…" Now, they would probably exaggerate what happened to ruin Olivia's reputa- "Was set up."

"…?" Huh?

"Yeah, isn't it weird that the new teacher just happened to be passing by with his retinue of paladins? That seems too convenient." What?!

"Her Highness wasn't even allowed a single word in once he showed up. That teacher even used magic to silence her! Such disrespect!" The students were…defending Olivia? While that makes me happy, didn't Olivia get condemned in the prophecy? Did I miss something?

"I never liked that teacher. Even if his lessons are easy to follow, he talks down to us if anyone has a question because of it. He's not even from our empire and has the gall to look down on us!"

"Her Highness never talked to me like that. I once sat with her at lunch and she was so kind and well-spoken, even though I'm just the daughter of a baron."

"Isn't it rumored this place is haunted? She probably hired those adults since this building is dangerous. I even heard there are criminals making deals in the basement! Maybe she was going to check and clear out any criminals if they were there."

"Did you see the Saintess, too? When the teacher summoned that wall of fire, she looked like she was about to faint. Even that commoner knew the teacher went too far."

"But he's a teacher and an Elder of Lady Alm. I don't want to risk angering the Hearth Mother by going against him…but…"

"…" Olivia… It wasn't in vain. You said you were condemned by the Saintess' suitors, but that doesn't mean the rest of the students turned their backs on you. They're only silent because of who they'd be up against; an Elder of Lady Alm, the next head of the wizard's tower, a royal knight and the heir to Holst, and finally the Crown Prince. Once this is over and I find a way to free you from the collar I'll clasp around your neck, you shouldn't have much issue reintegrating into high society…even if I'm not alive to see it. When that day comes, I'll gladly offer you my head.