The first week of orientation at the academy was rather... boring! The headmistress announced that it was an introductory period, and they were supposed to reach out to the dormitory chiefs and classroom leaders to learn more about how the academy operated. Much to Annabell's delight, she didn't have to go after anyone; people volunteered or started talking without her even asking.

Whenever someone asked her to start attending their classroom, she gave the same response, "I need to organize my schedule."

"There are two types of classrooms: competitive ones and learning ones. At the end of the semester, there's a competition to determine the top performers in the class and decide the new leader... in the end, everything is a competition." Gael chuckled softly.

"I have to visit so many classrooms that I don't even know where to start! I'm sure I'll forget some of them." Annabell complained, laying her head on the table. "Most of the classrooms I won't even enter, like the embroidery and dressmaking room. If I go in there, I'll end up dead just by bumping into a pair of scissors!" She grumbled and waved her hand in front of her face.

"If it's a classroom with a White Lotus leader, you won't even have to try!" Rosalia spoke confidently. "You're Princess Annabell, only the Black Rose keeps that shitty attitude towards you!"

"Well, it depends... the academy is a place where your status outside doesn't matter as much. The princess can be considered useless by some..." Gael's voice trailed off, his tone gradually lowering as if he was afraid to complete his sentences.

"That's impossible." Rosalia stared at Gael.

"The academy is different, Rosa. Daddy told us that!" Diana put her arm around her sister's shoulder. "Having a good performance in the academy can be really beneficial for the future. People won't miss out on an opportunity like this!"

"Rosa, even outside the academy, not everyone loves me, including the White Kingdom. The only difference is that there, my parents are the Kings and one of my brothers is the future King. Here, I don't have them, and they don't have permission to interfere in academy matters." Annabell's voice was soft. "During the first week, it might work, but later on, it's going to be quite complicated. I just need to find a classroom where I excel, participate in the lessons, and win a few games. The rest doesn't matter as much."

"Don't forget about becoming the chief of the dormitory, that's really important!" Gael leaned on the princess.

"Of course! And becoming the dormitory chief." Annabell suppressed a laugh.

"But you are loved by everyone." Rosalia spoke despondently. She looked down and crossed her arms, resembling a child whose dreams had been shattered.

"And people are still people. Whether I'm a princess or not, it doesn't make a difference. Outside the academy, I'm one of the representatives of the royal family, but here, I'm nothing. All the people who have succeeded in the academy have had a bright future. People won't give up on an opportunity like this just because I'm the princess!" Annabell didn't seem affected by it; as she said, she didn't care. "I don't want to be the big name of the White Lotus, as everyone keeps saying! That was my brothers' job."

Her brothers needed to maintain a strong and leadership image, and the best way to prove that was within the academy. When both of them graduated from the academy, it was a huge celebration. All the former students talked about how they were the best dormitory chiefs and excelled in any activity they participated in. Annabell didn't need that.

"And to be honest... I think I'll have more trouble with our own dormitory than with the Black Rose!" Annabell laughed at her classmates' confused expressions. "In academy activities, anything can happen, and as long as it's not something serious, it's all fine. If something serious happens, we know they'll blame the Black Rose and Ezariel. As I said, people won't miss out on the chance of a lifetime. Outside of here, I'll still be the princess, and let's agree, there's nothing better than that!"

"I don't think our own dormitory will try to harm you!" Diana pointed to the people in the cafeteria. "The White Lotus is the place for kindness and justice!"

"We may be considered kind and just, but we have a tyrant as the Dormitory Chief! Let's agree that we have plenty of reasons not to take that statement seriously." she pointed at Gael, wanting to shift the blame for those words. "Your words, not mine."

"You may have a point, but you seem so calm about it all." Annabell made a face in response to Gael's statement.

"I don't have guards, Dominick will graduate this year, my contact with my parents will be... what, in a month? They won't know anything that happens here, and I think they'll only be informed if something serious, like a death, occurs. My brothers, my father, my mother, they all studied here. Accepting reality is the best way to go!" Annabell smiled widely. "The sooner people forget about me, the better!"

Stolen story; please report.

In just one day, Annabell had already heard several rumors. Most of them came from people within her own dormitory, as if they were eagerly waiting for some scandal to arise. Even though most of the rumors originated from her dormitory, the students of the White Lotus pretended not to know anything and even threatened students from other dormitories. Annabell didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

They were about to get up when a girl and a boy sat at their table. It wasn't that unusual, but it was clear that they were about to leave, so the situation became a bit awkward.

The girl had a macabre smile on her face. She wore a white outfit, and her blonde hair was adorned with curls. She waved at people passing by the table, her smile appearing to grow wider and wider.

"Stay seated!" Her voice was gentle but gave off an impression of authority. Gael opened his mouth to speak up about who the blonde girl was, but she spoke before him. "I'm Lizzy, and I'm in my third year." her smile became increasingly unsettling.

Annabell ran her hand over her own face and pondered for a few seconds.

"I wonder if I look like that when I smile too much. It makes sense for him to find it annoying and say my face would tear apart." The princess pinched her own cheek, thinking it must be just her imagination.

"Well... as your senior, I have a favor to ask of you! Of course, if you do me this favor, I'll repay you!" Lizzy used her hands a lot while speaking, almost slapping Annabell in the process.

"Lizzy is a great senior; she always repays her favors, and even the Black Rose people like her!" The boy nodded repeatedly.

Annabell found the situation increasingly strange. Those two were beginning to scare her. The man's eyes were wide open, and with every word, he leaned further forward.

"When the Academy put your and Ezariel's names on the list as dormitory chief candidates, it means that in three months, all the chiefs must be replaced. If, for some reason, a dormitory's list doesn't have any students, the Academy accepts volunteers! And, well..." she let out a muffled laugh, "I want to apply, but for that, I need you to be off the list." The blonde girl's smile grew even larger, and she raised her eyebrows. "To be more direct, go to the front of the list and say you don't want the position."

The princess looked at the blonde girl completely confused and indignant. She paused for a few seconds, wondering if she had heard that correctly. After a moment, Annabell felt the urge to laugh. This was the most unusual situation she had ever encountered.

The princess knew that people wouldn't let opportunities pass by, but she didn't expect them to be so direct.

"Sorry, but no." Annabell stood up from the table. If she stayed there any longer, she would burst out laughing in the girl's face.

"What?" Lizzy blinked repeatedly, disbelief evident on her face.

"I said I'm not going to withdraw my name." Annabell spoke slowly. "My brothers held this position, my parents, my grandparents, and who knows how many more people in my family. Besides, the position seems interesting to me!" Her tone became playful on the last word. "I'm sorry, Lizzy, but I can't do this for you." Annabell never had any intention of giving up the position.

Being a dormitory chief wasn't something she desperately desired, but it seemed intriguing. Moreover, having someone speak to her in that manner only made her less inclined to back down.

"Do you need anything else?" The princess's tone was never arrogant; it was overly sweet.

To anyone listening, it would sound like an ordinary conversation. Which it was, except for Lizzy.

"You can try next year!" The blonde girl stood up and grabbed the princess's arm.

"We know that if I refuse the position this time, the probability of me getting it next year... is practically zero!" Annabell made Lizzy release her grip on her arm and made a face afterward.

Lizzy positioned herself in front of the princess, intending to prevent Annabell from leaving. The blonde girl's face alternated between the creepy smile and an indignant expression. The people in that place could be frightening at times. Annabell rolled her eyes and turned her head away.

"What time do classes start?" Annabell asked Diana, as if this situation wasn't happening. "Lizzy, don't think I'll accept anything people ask of me, let alone feel obligated to fulfill their desires." she said, addressing the blonde girl.

Annabell walked away. Engaging in an argument with Lizzy would only give her a headache. The princess thought it would be better to focus on her class schedule. It was her first day of classes, and she didn't want to stir up trouble.

"I have a class on animal care. Who designs these schedules?" Annabell showed the paper to Diana, making a face. "I like animals, but not all animals."

"The Academy itself. It knows what's best for our future." Rosalia spoke, and Diana pointed to the castle structure. "I have a class on... how to hide a body without leaving any traces. I definitely don't want to need that! My sister has a pastry class. I made this cupcake, and I wouldn't even harm a fly. Most importantly... why is there a class on how to hide a body?"

Rosalia was eating a cupcake with orange frosting, and Annabell wondered where she had gotten it from.

"They definitely switched our schedules. It's easier for me to hide a body, and besides, my sister likes baking." Diana ran her hand through her hair, irritated. "If the school catches fire, it was me! I think we've figured out the reason for your class, Rosa, to help me cover up my crime!" Rosalia nudged her sister.

"If we're going to cover up any crime, it'll be mine, not yours!" The brunette threw a paper ball at her sister's head.

The three of them were so engrossed in the sisters' argument that they didn't notice Dominick's arrival.

"Your class is in the outdoor courtyard, I need to go there. So, I'll take you." Annabell jumped upon hearing Dominick's voice.

The princess turned around and gave him a push.

"You know you're not supposed to appear like this." Annabell pointed at him. "Let's go, but... no talking about my brother! Or Mark's speeches!" She looked at him with a serious gaze.

The two of them started walking, and for the first few seconds, there was complete silence. Annabell was even surprised by how long Dominick managed to stay quiet.

"You need to be more careful while you're at the Academy. You shouldn't have treated Lizzy that way." his tone was no longer cheerful as before. "This is the only place where nobody can help you. People aren't as nice, and there's no one to set limits for them."

"The headmistress is just a figurehead, I know! Accepting everything others say won't work either! I'm not looking for enemies. I know how to handle myself, Dom!" She tried to reassure her friend. "And I wouldn't have treated Lizzy that way if she hadn't treated me like that!"