That fine morning, Damian treaded the hallway of Eden Academy with Ewen and Emile by his side. As he entered Cecile Hall classroom, he anticipated a cheerful greeting from one of the front-seat students.

"Hi, Sy-on boy!" Anya said as she energetically waved at him from her desk.

He briefly glanced at the pink-haired girl who he noticed wore her hair in buns today. His cheeks started to take a light pink shade.

That hair… P-pretty… he thought. He quickly nodded at her, keeping his head bowed down to hide his blushing. His eyes were fixed on the wooded floor as he climbed the elevated rows of the classroom and the pink-haired girl's face flashed repeatedly in his mind when he noticed a pair of shoes in his way.

Annoyed, he raised his head to glare at the one who dared block his way, when he suddenly stopped.

"Bossman?" asked his two friends who almost bumped onto his back. They followed Damian's gaze.

"Hi, Damian! How have you been?" said the blue-haired girl. A flower was on the side of her headband, the same color as her brown irises, sparkling as she radiantly greeted the young scion.

The whole class, including Becky and Anya, started to whisper to each other. They'd all been wondering who the unknown girl was, but no one dared approach her. She looked very much of high stature, an air of intimidation was around her. It is not surprising that she's Damian's acquaintance in that sense since she looked awfully rich and… full of herself. Of course, the girls sitting just opposite Damian's desk started raising their eyebrows.

"What are you doing here?" asked Damian. Anya noticed that he sounded both shocked and confused.

"I told father I wanted to see you, so he made arrangements. Now, I am a visiting student here at Eden Academy for a day! Look, I even had an Eden uniform for this occasion," she said excitedly.

"Huh," Damian curtly replied. Great, now I must accompany her for Father. Ugh, I just want to study in peace!

He heavily sighed and then proceeded to his seat. The girl immediately took the seat beside him.

"Hey, that's my friend's seat," Damian told her.

"Nah... I'm sitting beside you today, of course!" the girl announced.

"That girl is weird and annoying," Becky whispered to Anya.

Anya nodded. Who is that girl anyway? Anya thought, briefly glancing at her, who was dreamily looking at the visibly annoyed Damian. Anya decided to take a peek into the girl's mind:

"I'm bored, Damian! Let's play outside your house, there in the courtyard!" said the blue-haired girl, probably around 5 years old.

"Okay." Damian was there, smaller than now, maybe around the same age too. She followed the girl.

"Hahahahahaha!" The girl twirled in the green grass while Damian sat under the tree.

"Damian, papa said you'll marry me when we grow up."

"Huh? We're just 5. Don't be silly."

"No , he really said that!"

Hmmmm! The girl giddily thought.

Anya felt a mix of strange emotions. She... played in Sy-on boy's house since they were young?

Gaaahhh… Someone beat her to the plan.

"You okay?" Becky asked

"Y-Yes!" Anya said with a jerk, reclaiming her focus after spacing out.

"Hm?" Becky wondered, sensing her friend's unease. Anya moved closer to whisper in her ear.

"Becky, do you think they're relatives?" Anya asked.

"Well," she briefly inspected the girl. "Blue hair, brown eyes... I don't think so. Her face looks familiar though. I may have seen her at an event, or maybe her parents. I would bet that their families are business partners and political allies of some sort."

"So they are probably not relatives, but their families might be business partners or political allies," Anya repeated.

Becky nodded. Their conversation was interrupted by the blue-haired girl who seems to be deliberately speaking for the whole class to hear.

"Damian, I missed you so much! Let's hang out today, okay?" she said.

"Isn't she being too loud? Desmond's just beside her, duh," Becky remarked in an irritated tone.

"Mmm-hmm..." Anya responded.

The bell rang, and their teacher then came inside the classroom.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We are now starting our roll call."

The teacher called the students one by one. He then introduced the blue-haired girl who is currently sitting beside Damian.

"And lastly, everyone, Indira Eichler will be joining us today. Let us welcome her in class."

"Hello everyone!" Indira greeted. "We can be friends, depending on your social status," she said, giving Anya a sharp glare.

~~~~~

After their morning classes, Becky and Anya went to the cafeteria for lunch.

"That girl!" Becky said furiously as she carried her tray to the table. "What did you even do for her to glare at you like that?"

She carefully placed her tray on the table and sat on the bench.

"Anya was surprised too. But don't mind her, Becky." Anya sat across from her friend.

"You're really mature for our age, Anya!" Becky praised. "She'll just be around for a day anyway, so it should be relatively easy to ignore her."

To Anya's shock, Becky slapped the table, gripping her fork. "But still! She better not mess with my best friend!" Anya then covered with both her hands Becky's fork-gripping hand to calm her down.

Meanwhile, Damian and his friends took their usual spot in the cafeteria, Indira joining them. Unsurprisingly, she squeezed herself between Damian and Ewen, to the former's frustration. Anya and Becky discreetly watched them from the corner of their eyes.

"Anya thinks Indira is hung up playing pretend kitchen toys," she commented as Indira tried to feed Damian her own food which he outright refused.

"You said it! Damian looks especially grim today," Becky said.

"Hmmm," Anya responded.

I... don't think I want to see them. Anya lowered her head to avoid meeting Damian's gaze accidentally. For some reason, she just wouldn't even attempt to even glance in his direction today.

"You okay?" Becky asked.

"Y-Yes!" Anya nodded as she chewed her Omurice.

Becky took a spoonful of her food. "You know Anya? I think Damian is in a pinch."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you heard of arranged marriages?"

Anya shook her head.

Becky lightly wiped her mouth. "It's what people in the high society resort to further their wealth and power."

"Arranged marriage? Anya doesn't know that. Aren't we too young to even talk about the marriage thing?"

"Too young, but we already know things like this, Anya. You should too."

"Huh? Why?"

Becky spoke as she eyed the candies on her tray. "Parents introduce their children to other children in the high society to acquaint them early, maybe in the hopes that they would eventually fall for each other. That way, falling in love is more natural."

"But what if they don't like each other? No love stuff?" Anya asked.

"Then, the parents would just pick who they want their daughter or son to marry and make the arrangements among themselves."

Anya's hands flew to her mouth. "And they are forced to live together? Anya thinks that's a bit cruel."

"Right? We should be marrying who we love!" Becky took a candy, crumpled the wrapper, and dropped it with force on her tray.

Anya nodded. So the evil boss, the target, might be eyeing Indira as a candidate wife for Damian?

"Huh. Wealthy people's life in Ostania can be difficult, it seems."

"Yes, it's a bit complicated. So children like myself should be headstrong and assertive. I'm not going to allow it! I'm going to find a man who will marry me because he truly loves me, not because of my wealth. Just like what it is in Berlint in Love," Becky said, her eyes in sparkles, then winked at her friend.

"Uh-huh! Anya wants that for Becky too! I will help you find who truly loves you!" Anya declared.

"Really, Anya? Then I'll rely on you!" Becky said in a dramatic tone. She gave her friend a thumbs up.

"Speaking of novels, it's good that we're on self-study break this afternoon. I wanna go to the library," Anya said.

"And read your spy books? I could use some novels today too."

Becky clapped her hands.

"Okay, we're going to the library, but we're working on our project first, then we can read our novels!" Becky exclaimed.

"Aye aye to that!" Anya said excitedly.

The two finished their lunch and went to the library to work on their project. They had their discussions, a few bickering, and some time writing before they finally had time to read their favorite books to unwind.

After an hour of silently reading, Anya gasped, looking troubled as she frantically rummaged through her things. "Not again!"

"Something wrong, Anya?" Becky lowered her book.

"Anya forgot the Math Book under our desk, Becky." Anya sighed. She just recently forgot the same book on the waiting bench the other day!

"In the classroom, you said? Don't worry, it's safe there," Becky said. "Let's go back and take it."

~~~~~

Anya and Becky went to Cecile Hall classroom fast. Upon arriving, they noticed the half-opened door.

"Someone must be inside, Anya," Becky hurried. Anya followed her, slipping slowly so as not to disturb anyone inside. Both were surprised to see Damian, Emile, Ewen, and Indira inside.

Damian's arms were crossed, his back facing them. Leaning on the wall a meter behind him were Ewen and Emile. Indira stood in front of the three. She faced the door so they saw them enter, but kept quiet about their presence.

"Sy-on boy!" Indira loudly spoke to Damian in a rather sweet tone. She tried to wrap her hands around Damian's arm, but the latter quickly evaded her.

Did she just call him... Sy-on boy?! Becky was appalled by what she heard and quickly looked over at Anya, whose eyes she saw were fixed on the two. Ewen and Emile were shocked upon noticing the girls by the door. They looked worriedly at each other.

Anya, on the other hand, felt a strange feeling in her chest.

Was I annoyed that someone tried to call him the same way I do? She unconsciously clutched her fist.

It's not like that label is exclusive to Anya. Anyone can call him that, right?

"You are not allowed to call me that," Damian angrily told Indira.

Anya's eyes widened.

"Huh. Then why let that ugly commoner girl?" Indira asked.

"Stop insulting my classmate, Indira."

"You deserve to be treated better than being called pet names, Damian."

"It's not a pet name. I am a scion, are you not aware? If the vocabulary's new to you, you'd better go to your own school and study harder," Damian responded.

"Even so. I can't believe you're even letting that commoner greet you," Indira said, rolling her eyes.

"Or perhaps... she's so stupid she can't even process these social rules?"

Indira tilted her head to the side, glancing at Anya to check her expression.

"I said, stop insulting her." Damian glared sharply then turned his back at Indira who forced herself on his arm. His vision finally fell on Anya and Becky — both standing by the door. Becky was visibly fuming and looked like she was about to charge at Indira. Anya, on the other hand, showed a deadpan look.

Shoot! Anya heard it. Damian has never felt so bad.

"Excuse me," Damian shook his arm forcefully to remove it from Indra's grasp.

Anya, don't let Indira's words get in to you! He thought apologetically as his body moved towards Anya down the hall.

To Damian, Emile, Ewen, and Becky's surprise, however, Anya ran away, rather uncharacteristically of her, prompting her friend to just quickly take the Math Book from their desk and hurriedly leave as well. Becky gave Indira a deadly glare before slamming the door hard.

"Bothersome maggots," Indira said with an irritated voice as the two students left the room.

"Emile," Ewen whispered to his friend. His eyebrows are coming together.

"Ugh," Emile's lips curled in annoyance.

Damian's patience, on the other hand, was about to run out. He wanted to just leave Indira behind and ignore her for the rest of her stay, for the rest of her life even, having so irked at and disappointed by her behavior.

However, his father's face flashed in his mind.

I must not do anything that would sully the Desmond name.

He took a deep breath, the Desmond name stretching his patience a little longer. I will find Anya later. He then faced the blue-haired girl.

"Indira, classes are over. You can leave Eden now," Damian spoke in a low voice.

"But I want to spend more time with you, Damian! Let's call your chauffeur, I want to eat outside," Indira's demeanor shifted to sweet and friendly as she proposed to go out.

"I'm tired. Call your own chauffeur and eat on your own. Then go home already," Damian took his hands into his pockets.

Indira, visibly annoyed after being rejected, shifted back to her irritated demeanor.

"I came here to visit you, you know. Father even arranged this," she said, pissed.

"I don't remember inviting you here, and I wasn't informed of you coming either. So I am under no obligation to entertain you in the first place. I am not doing any more than I already did," Damian replied.

"I didn't tell you because I wanted to surprise you!" Indira reasoned.

Damian sighed.

"This is not our mansion and we're no longer five-year-olds. You can't just come unannounced, and you can't just tail me like this on campus. I really would appreciate it if you would leave now," he said, trying to be rational and deliver his message in the calmest possible way he can at this point.

Indira stomped her foot in frustration. "Why are you behaving like this, Damian? You're not treating me as you should. I can report this behavior of yours to your father!"

Damian finally snapped.

"You are the one who's misbehaved here, Indira. You coming here unannounced and being rude to my classmates— tell me, where are your manners?" Damian said. Ewen and Emile sensed his anger coming out and started to worry about their friend.

"That Anya is just a mere commoner, she should even be thankful Indira Eichler spoke to her!"

"Oh?" Damian faced Indira, his lips curled in exasperation. "You may be elite, but your attitude right now stinks. Sorry, but the girl you just insulted has better manners than Indira Eichler," he said.

Emile and Ewen nodded very discreetly on the side, which Indira caught and further fueled her irritation.

"Huh!" Indira crossed her arms. "And you are even defending that peasant!"

Damian took his bag. "That's it. I'm leaving."

Damian walked to the door, gesturing to his friends. Emile and Ewen followed him immediately.

"Damian!" Indira called out. "If you leave this room without apologizing, I'll really tell your father that you're associating with that commoner."

I must not do anything that would sully the Desmond name.

Damian stopped.

"Good. Let's just forget about this and I will not mention it to—"

"Go ahead, tell Father. I bet he won't care." He proceeded to walk.

Maybe that could get him to notice me, at least.

Indira's eyes looked like they were about to come out of their sockets. "Damian!" She desperately called out with clutched fists.

But Damian, Ewen, and Emile left her without saying anything more. Damian's steps sped up as soon as he stepped out of the room.

Where are you, Anya?

~~~~~~