The teenage girl tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowing as she studied him, but she didn't speak right away. There was a shift in the way he spoke, an underlying certainty that she hadn't expected. He seemed resolute, but she wasn't sure if it was coming from genuine understanding or if it was just his usual indifference to others' struggles.

"I know we spoke over before as to why she has to remain there," she asked, her voice cautious. "But as much as Edgewood is at stake, why can't you just find someone else? Why her?"

"If I didn't, then what do you think is going to happen to her?" The boy's gaze didn't falter as he met her eyes, his voice carrying a hint of finality. "She is the ultimate golden goose to that fiancé of mine. The moment she ended up grooming Ranran, do you think all of us are going to escape unscathed?"

The girl's chest tightened at the mention of the boy's fiancé. There was a strange, almost unsettling shift in the air when he spoke about Ranran in such an impersonal way—like she was just another piece on a chessboard. She felt the words linger between them, the weight of their implication heavy in her chest.

"Gold goose?" she repeated slowly, her voice laced with disbelief. "Is that....what she really sees Ranran as!?" The incredulity was clear in her tone. 

"No, that is what she too see in us alike!"

The boy's words cut through the tension, and for a moment, the girl didn't quite know how to respond. His tone was so matter-of-fact, so absolute, that it left little room for argument, much less sympathy. She felt her stomach twist, the weight of his words sinking deeper than she'd anticipated.

She opened her mouth to say something, but the words caught in her throat. The thought of her—the fiancé, seeing Ranran as a mere "golden goose," a tool for her own gain, sent a sharp, uncomfortable pang through her.

"To defeat one psychopath, you need another to finish the game," The boy's eyes darkened as he clarified, his voice almost bitter. "She sees us as the means to her own ends. So rather than let her raise Ranran, all of us will be taking her under our wing."

The silence between them stretched, thick and heavy with unspoken truths.

"I would be lying if I say I ain't using that poor child as a tool, hell, I would be lying if were to add that not only I feel sorry for dragging a kid who never wanted to be there in the first place. However," he replied, almost dismissively as his eyes didn't soften. "If we don't act now, if we don't use her, it's one thing if she destroyed our futures, but it's another if that fiance of mine is simply going to wipe out the existence of Edgewood, let alone, sacrifice the Edgewoodians' future.....just so all of this could serve her twisted purpose of becoming 'loved' by the people!"

"Alright, then let's talk about the future that lay ahead of us," she asked, her voice suddenly sharp, a mix of disbelief and anger seeping through. "Do you....plan on telling Ranran all of this?"

"Of course." He said it like a fact, something that didn't need to be questioned. 

"Heh!?" The teenager didn't see this coming.

"But in a year's time,"  he replied after a pause, his voice lower now, almost regretful. "Only...if she changes for the better."

The teenager stared at him, her mouth hanging open in surprise. The boy's words, so calm and matter-of-fact, were like a slap in the face. He seemed so certain, so sure of himself, that it almost made her dizzy.

"Y-you can't be serious, right?!" she stammered, disbelief creeping into her voice. "You really think she's going to just... accept this? After everything that's happened? You think you can just walk up to her and lay all of this on her and she'll just... accept it?"

"I watched her entire future on film," The boy's gaze didn't waver, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something almost... sad. His lips pressed together in a thin line, and for a moment, he seemed lost in thought. "I will admit it, she won't like it, but....." he said softly, almost to himself. "By the time she changed within a year's time....she will be more than happy to end up in Edgewood than to remain at the slums all day, gluing her eyes in front of the TV or computer for that matter."

"What?" Her voice was a little higher than usual, disbelief practically dripping from every syllable. "You....actually watched the entire thing!?"

The boy's gaze remained steady, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes that seemed to betray just how much he'd thought about what he was saying. 

"Ok, I ain't going to ask for the specific details, because after what had happened to me.....but," Reluctant to ask, she has to know, "On the scale of 1 to 10, how bad is her future?"

The boy's lips pressed together in a thin line, and for a brief moment, it seemed like he was weighing how much of the truth he was willing to expose, how much of the darkness he was ready to reveal. Finally, his expression softened just enough to show a hint of regret, but it was fleeting—gone before she could truly catch it.

"200." he said, his voice quieter than before. 

The girl's brow furrowed in confusion as she processed his words. "200?" she repeated, her voice a mix of incredulity and disbelief. "What do you mean by 200?"

The boy didn't flinch, his eyes steady, almost... pitying. But there was something else there too—a depth of grimness, as though the number was the closest thing to truth he could give her, a number far beyond the usual scale of one to ten. His voice dropped lower, almost as though he were speaking to himself rather than to her.

"It is extremely bad," he said quietly. "To the point...it put your previous fate to shame, if I were to be honest. It doesn't....even deserve a 10 after I watched it, so it is 200/10." 

The cold, detached way he spoke about it, as though discussing a grim inevitability rather than a person's life, sent an unsettling chill through her.

"Wait..." she started, struggling to keep her voice steady. "What the hell did she do in the future to deserve this!?"

The boy's gaze remained unwavering as he spoke, his words like heavy, deliberate drops of cold water in the silence. His expression was unreadable, but there was something almost... exhausted about the way he stood there, like he had seen too much, understood too much, and was resigned to it.

"She didn't do anything, just life got in the way....as well as how she was born into this....mad world, that force her to make....questionable decisions," he said quietly, his voice lowering even further, almost as if speaking to himself. "But this time, at a alarming rate as I was digging around about her situation, I noted that there there are choices that were made for her, before she even knew they existed." He glanced away for a moment, his eyes darkening, and for just a second, he seemed to lose himself in thought.

The girl watched him closely, trying to piece together the fragments of his words, but each one seemed to pull her deeper into confusion rather than offering clarity.

"So, in other words....." she began, her voice almost too quiet to hear, "Is this going to... save her?

The boy met her gaze again, this time without hesitation. "I'm not saving her. I'm giving her a chance to decide....should she be given a second chance, what would she do in the present time."

The girl fell silent, her eyes narrowing as she processed the heaviness of his words. It felt like a game with stakes too high for anyone to win. Yet somehow, she could see it—he truly believed this was the only way. And maybe, in his twisted, detached way, he was right.

But the question still lingered in the air, unanswered. Was there really a choice left for Ranran?

And if there was, would she even recognize it when the time came?

..........................................................................

"Why are we going to have a trip around the neighborhood outside our school campus by next week!? It ain't as if we were not familiar with the area," Ranran whined to one of her classmates, Emily, in the brightly lit classroom. The other kids were already bustling around, excited and chattering away, their voices bubbling with the thrill of an outing. 

But Ranran wasn't feeling it, since the moment she was born in the U.K, be it from the slums leading up to her family moving them to the lavish neighbourhood known as Montgrave Ridge, the one common thing that they can never escape from, is the fact that the clouds are constantly grey.

And that is nothing, comparing to the fact that the trip was on a Saturday, a day that was meant to be off just so she could sit in front of the computer and play games all day.

Ranran slumped further into her chair, her brow furrowing as she stared out the window. The morning sky was just as dull as the rest of the week—gray clouds pressing down on the streets below, as if the weather itself was in on some silent agreement with her mood. She hated Saturdays being ruined like this. 

Of course, if this trip wasn't mandatory, she would've simply just ran home and hopped onto the computer, immersing herself in one of the many online games she had memorized the mechanics of by heart. The digital worlds felt like the only place where she had any control, any sense of ownership. 

Outside of those games however, everything felt like it was moving against her. The grey clouds that blanketed the sky mirrored her mood—heavy, oppressive, and endless.

And yet, here she was, stuck on this dumb school trip, surrounded by excited kids who seemed to think the whole thing was a fun adventure. They were thrilled by the thought of seeing their familiar neighborhood from a different perspective, as if the same streets and houses held some new mystery. It didn't make sense to Ranran. What was there to see? The same posh houses, the same endless rows of luxury cars, the same perfectly manicured lawns that she had walked past a thousand times before. What could possibly change?

The normal way would've been to skip school, but it ain't practical.

After the whole acting stupid debacle during her school interview—where she had tried to play the role of a autistic 3-year-old, since the school does not accept such students —it all backfired. 

Someone, somewhere, had tipped off her parents about it, and the next thing Ranran knew, she was trapped. Sure, she is a 3-year-old in the eyes of the school's strict admissions system, but she was still a 3-year-old who wasn't going to get away with much, let alone, escape a place like Montgrave Ridge, where the expectations were as high as the walls of the massive houses that dotted the neighborhood.

If her parents were out working, at least she could've easily head home on a Saturday and play games all day. But nope, they are at home. Which means even if she lies about it, they just needed to call the school, and that will put the bullet to her plans.

"You're really bummed about this trip, huh?" 3-year-old Emily Draycott's voice broke through her thoughts, her smile still in place as she leaned over from her desk.

Emily happens to be one of Ranran's friends, and while she can at times be cheerful to the point of annoyance, there was something genuine about her concern.

Ranran didn't even look at her. "I just don't get it," she muttered, her fingers tapping restlessly on the edge of her desk. "Why do we need to walk around the same stupid neighborhood again? It's not like there's anything new about it. What's the point?"

"To be fair, kidnappings here are a common thing to occur. It only seems fair that this trip has to be mandatory, so should any of us get kidnapped, we would know where to escape and seek help."

"Even if that is the case, surely they are not that stupid to not be aware that the existence of smartphone is there for a reason," Ranran's brow furrowed. 

"Yeah, I mean, sure, smartphones are useful," she admitted, "but you never know. It's more about being prepared. You know, just in case. I mean, it's not like we're gonna be kidnapped or anything," she added, her voice taking on a more casual tone. "But it's about learning how to stay safe, right?"

 "Safe?" she repeated, her fingers still tapping impatiently on the desk while scoffing, "The children who are born of higher rank constantly parade their entourage that include those....uh, what do you call those idiot minions of theirs again? The ones that kept following them around?" 

Emily tilted her head innocently, "You mean those bodyguards in training? Also, Ranran, that is rude." she frowned a bit at her lack of filter.

"It ain't rude, unless they serve their purpose anyway," Ranran replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Bodyguards. Most of the kids in our class have them, so we don't really need to familiarize ourselves around the neighbourhood, you know?"

Emily blinked, her expression softening a bit, unsure whether to laugh or be concerned. "Well, I mean, yeah, some of us kids do have bodyguards... but I don't think we can 100 percent rely onto them, which is why this trip is mandatory in the first place," She paused, looking more thoughtful now. "In case....they turned their backs onto us for instance."

"I wouldn't be to sure on that," Ranran's brow arched, her gaze skeptical. "I mean....unless they are underpaid, which I doubt it."

"Oh no, they are definitely not underpaid." Emily shook her head at her with a smile, as she is used to Ranran's scepticism, "We are now living in the 21st century, where a lot of things....if anyone does anything as foolish as that, you can bet it won't do them good in the press, let alone....their business financiall," Emily continued, adjusting the strap of her backpack. "That's why we're doing this trip. It's all about self-reliance, being prepared for the unexpected, you know?"

"Even so...." Ranran couldn't help but deeply frowned, "I don't think I heard of any kidnapping incidents here from my parents before moving here."

"Ah, now that you mentioned it, I heard your parents work with law enforcement here, correct?"

"Yeah, which is why I can't help but think why is this part a waste of time." 

"I mean now that you mentioned it...." Emily's expression shifted from concern to understanding, "But think about it this way, supposedly the kidnappers did manage to seize our phones and convincingly able to bribe the guards-"

"Hey, look! The Boy in the Window is back!"

One of the female classmates interrupted Emily, pointing out the window with a mix of excitement and alarm. The entire class turned to see what she was talking about, and as Emily turned back to tell her to head to the window, she merely replied, "I don't need to."

"Eh?"

"Just some good looking little prince boy that they never seem to get tired of. Even though it has been almost a month plus since his 'sighting' as the girls here called it."

Emily raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You are....surprisingly not into him, huh?"

"You know my attempts to escape here," Ranran sighed while rambling a bit, "I don't even have the mood to play video games ever since I ended up here, because I know I not only have to wake up early every single day before heading to school, but also the fact that I have to do stupid homework. It's like....this place drains all the fun out of everything."

"Ranran...."

"I mean it's one thing to 'fulfil expectations', since I barely care about this, but come on....it feels like I'm stuck in a never-ending loop of boredom," Ranran continued, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "The worst part out of all of this is having to put up with the contempt stares of Audrey and her moronic friends who thinks I don't belong here, and thinks that I am merely throwing tantrum like a spoiled child because I had this opportunity to end up here being served on a diamond platter while the rest of them had to work hard. It didn't even help that I pointed out again, I was force to be here."

Audrey, or better known as 3-year-old Audrey Feinthorne by others, is the class prefect and the self-proclaimed queen bee of their grade. With her perfectly styled brunette hair, and an air of superiority, she often strutted around like she owned the place. Probably due to the fact that her grades earned her first place in their class, which in Ranran's opinion was fair, given that she had heard rumours that Audrey's family has hired a private tutor since she was in preschool. The combination of her high achievements and social standing gave her a confidence that bordered on arrogance, which only made Ranran's disdain for her grow.

Honestly, Ranran couldn't care less if Audrey bragged about her achievements, even as Ranran's grades wasn't the lowest or the highest. However, it's honestly irritating that Audrey scolded her many times about not submitting her homework to Audrey, since as prefect, one of the duties include collecting homework from the other students before passing it to the teacher. Even if Ranran submitted a half-unfinished one, that was still better than nothing. But Audrey would always make a big deal out of it, her condescending tone dripping with faux concern. "You know, Ranran, if you just applied yourself a little more on this work instead of gaming, you could really shine. It's such a waste, really."

Ranran had to bite her tongue to keep from snapping back, because calculatedly that should she ever respond back, it only made her sound as unreasonably stupid as a naïve heroine that clings onto her 'right views of justice'. Who did Audrey think she was? As if anyone wanted to hear her unsolicited advice.

"Ugh, I can't wait to head home," Ranran groaned, slumping further in her chair. "It's exhausting just thinking about it. Sometimes I wish I could just vanish."

Again, before Emily could reply, the fangirling screams near their classroom window to the left pierced through the air, drowning out the murmurs of the classroom. The noise was a familiar cacophony, a mix of excitement and disbelief that sent a ripple of energy through the room.

"Look! He's really here!" one of the girls shrieked, her voice a blend of awe and giddiness.

"It's him again, really?" Ranran muttered, rolling her eyes. She turned her head just enough to catch a glimpse of what was happening outside, seeing the 7-year-old dirty blonde haired boy seemingly against the frame of the large, sprawling mansion across the hilly areas, tousled hair catching the light, looking effortlessly cool.

From the looks of it, it seems as though he is sitting down with what Ranran assumed is a desk hidden behind the curtains, a stack of books precariously piled beside him. The boy's presence was magnetic, as the girls in her class continued to swoon, their eyes glinting with excitement.

"Is he even real?" another girl whispered, leaning in closer to the window, her voice filled with disbelief. "I mean, he just appears out of nowhere and then disappears! It's like he's a ghost or something!"

"Yeah, a handsome ghost that I won't mind trading my soul for to dance for prom when I turn 16 or 17 someday," someone chimed in, giggles bubbling up as they fawned over him. The rest of the girls joined in, animatedly discussing how they'd approach him if they ever had the chance.

"You know....when my mother claimed this is a prestigious school filled with kids of all kinds, I didn't think it was going to include those 'idiotic' fangirls I always watched during my mother's K-drama binge in real life," The 3-year-old Ranran pinched her nosebridge while she adds to Emily in sarcasm, "Prestigious school indeed. Disputes left and right among students, some broken engagements, and dumber kids from upper society.....at the rate things are going...how is it that this school has yet to shut down?"

"Honestly, if the way you put it leads to a school closure, there will be many more shutting down in a not too distant future, Ranran," Emily replied, trying to suppress a laugh as she watched the scene unfold. "Fangirling over someone doesn't cost them money, so of course the school will never shut down. Plus, let's be fair....we all have been cooped up in lessons, so it doesn't hurt for them to eye on him, right?"

"If they want unlimited supply of good looking boys, they can always go window shopping at Harrold's mall to eye on the boy models around his age, instead of drooling over some kid that we barely know," Ranran scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Techinically, they are 'window shopping', are they not?" Emily chuckled, leaning back in her chair.

"True, I guess they are," Ranran admitted, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair with a huff. "But it's just so over the top. I mean....no one in this classroom even knew what is his name."

"It's the mystery part that makes it more appealing, no?" Emily suggested, a playful smile on her face. "It gives them something to fantasize about, a little break from the stress of school."

"Mystery, huh....." Ranran glanced back at the window, where the girls were practically pressing their faces against the glass, giggling and whispering to each other before wondering, "Speaking of mystery, if only I can find the idiot who tipped of my great-grandmother that lead me to being stuck here....."

"Ah, you are still looking into who is 'The Deer', right?"

"Yeah, the infamous 'Deer' who is still is....ruining my life," Ranran replied, rolling her eyes. 

"Do you believe those rumours to be true?"

"Because I don't see any other way as to how I is it that I still end up remaining here, even after committing so many shenanigans to get expelled," Ranran groaned in frustration while confiding to her friend, "Emily, do you know of any other things you can think of that can guarantee me a expulsion?"

 "Let's see," Emily began, ticking off her fingers. "You already turned in assignments that were half-finished at best, that is one. Skipped classes....not like that didn't work, just that you were dragged back. Hmm....wait, what about that food fight you started at the canteen 3 days ago?"

"About that, the teachers weren't too pleased with my 'culinary artistry', but to be fair, that only happened because someone instigated it, forgotten what rude word he or she said about me, which is why I didn't get punished, though I was expecting to. Was going to start another one, but then after I saw the instigator being force to clean up the entire thing since our canteen is rather unusually big, I forfeited the idea."

 "Ok, let's try something different," Emily said, her wheels turning. "How about....skating down the school corridor?"

"Our school is big in size, that even our head principal does it. There is no way it would do me good getting kicked out." Again, the little girl groaned.

"I just don't get it," Emily muttered, glancing at Ranran in disbelief while blinking at her in confusion. "Are you sure you are not lying when you said your family doesn't hold strong connections to Edgewood Academy?"

"I'm serious!" Ranran rolled her eyes, her frustration bubbling just beneath the surface. "I want to go home! But it feels like 'The Deer' kept on holding me here against my will!" 

"I know you ain't lying since I seen it myself first hand, let alone, many other students, but damn...." Emily crossed her arms, considering this new perspective, "Maybe it is fate telling you that you are meant to be in Edgewood."

"You think so? It feels more like a cruel joke at this point. I didn't ask to be here, and I certainly don't want to be stuck in this crazy place filled with broken engagements, disrespects and bullying of all kinds. I just...I just want to go home and game all day. Is that...too much to ask for a 3-year-old like me?"

But before Emily could reply, the teacher entered the room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. The atmosphere shifted instantly as the students straightened in their seats, their whispers dying down.

"Alright, class," Ms. Thompson announced, her voice steady and authoritative. "Today I am going to brief all of you about our upcoming trip this coming Saturday."

Ranran rolled her eyes, feeling a twinge of annoyance. "As if we needed to waste more time on such boring stuff," she muttered under her breath.

.......................................................................................

"Did you remove the stickers as I asked you to?"

The 7-year-old dirty blonde haired boy spoke to the dual pony tailed 17-year-old girl, who stood outside his mansion gates. "Yeah, I removed them all. Especially the blue stars you stick. Seriously, who knew I would find so many of them?"

"Good." The boy replied.

"Why the hell did her parents had so many of them plastered across the street lamps of this neighbourhood anyway!? Are they not aware this is considered vandalism!?"

"Legally, it ain't. Also, they plan to move her to Japan once that 'chaos' there has settled down between her parents and....those morons."

"You mean-"

"I had someone flown to Japan to verify whether what I had seen in the projector happens to be true. It turns out...it was scarily 99 percent accurate."

"Wait, seriously?" the 17-year-old's jaw dropped open.

"So before moving away, this coming weekend, I am hoping to mess with fate," he explained, his voice steady and matter-of-fact, "On the day of the 'trip', she will end up in front of my house."

"Wait, how are you going to do that?"

"Those stickers that you took out earlier, print a new batch. But make sure to plaster it straight to my house."

"W-what!? How certain are you that she will-"

"She is a video gaming addict. If I were her, I would heavily rely onto those stickers her parents had placed for her to head back home, since this school trip is 'boring' to her. She is 3-years-old after all, it would've been difficult for her brain to comprehend how to head home without memorizing the route unless she lived here a little longer. However, knowing that her parents are at home, I know she will not go straight back into the house, because it will only end with another shouting match she would rather avoid. If anything, she will head straight to the computer cafe near her house by eying onto those stickers."

"And....how did you know she was constantly hanging out at a computer cafe? You barely left the mansion since-"

"I have eyes and ears besides you, so I know."

"Ok, so even if she had snuck out of her school trip group and left.....once she is outside your house...what do you....plan to do with her?"

"Give her an ultimatum."

"An ultimatum!?" The teenager blinked in disbelief towards the marquis's son, before pointing out, "She ended up in this school because you tipped her great grandmother off in the first place! The moment she finds out it was you who happens to be behind it-"

 "She will not want to willingly be compliant with me, I know."

"Exactly! So why-"

"I don't even expect her to behave obediently. Hell, even if I were in her shoes, I would too be angry at myself if someone were to do this to me." the 7-year-old boy sighed, his tone flat, his expression unreadable.

"Then-"

"Someone has to play the villain in order to restore the prestige Edgewood Academy used to be. Not to mention, I am pretty sure you are aware that by now....that the students and kids around this area.....are losing their brain cells and common sense, especially after one broken engagement after the other."

The teenager outside the gate was not going to argue regarding that harsh statement.

"If they were going to break an engagement and pay penalty, that is fine. But it's another if the person they assumed they are 'in love' with has malicious intentions by involving unfortunate children like us. And for that reason....that girl Ranran....is the only way to put an end to this madness."

The 17-year-old didn't know what to say. "How....will she help us?"

"Her insults."

".....i am sorry!? Insults!?"

"Ophelia....I am sure that since you started your time in Edgewood since last year, you probably picked up a rumour or two about Ranran...."

"About her....." the girl's lips twitched into a reluctant smile. "She speaks her mind as she is."

"No, you got one part wrong. She speaks as it is, but it's enough to trigger something in someone."

"Trigger?"

"Let's say for example....you gain a total of 25kg, and then your mother tells you to exercise because you are fat, how will that make you feel?" 

"That is a rather stupid statement. I would tell my mother to-"

"But if it came from a person who barely knows you and judges you, do you not want to prove them wrong?"

The girl was silenced.

"Exactly. And that is how we will use Ranran's insults."

"But if you were going to do so....won't she be in huge trouble!?"

"She won't, not without a disguise."

"Disguise?"

"When you see her the next time in Edgewood, you are bound to be a bit surprise."

"What are you planning on doing with her exactly?"

"In a years time, she will be so different from what was projected on the projector....everyone will not see it coming."

"Uh...what are you planning to do if she doesn't agree? Or worse....if she ends up being the same as how the projector shows her to be?"

"As I mentioned before, my decision remains firm if she chooses not to."

"But she is only three!" Ophelia exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock, her voice rising. "Surely, you can't expect her to-"

"This is not a matter of age. This is a matter of responsibility," the boy said, his voice calm, but there was an edge of steel in it. "Being born to a 21st century noble family...there is a price to pay."

"Technically, you dragged her into this! She didn't ask for any of this mess!"

"And if I didn't, she would've remained stupid hanging out with those hooligans in that slum neighbourhood her parents were raising her. You can tell it too, right? How her parents looked when your father was speaking to them about her progress in Edgewood?"

"Fine," the teenager huffed, her arms folded, but there was a hint of resignation in her tone. "Though for some reason, I am feeling sorry for her."

"Don't." the 7-year-old boy shook his head. "This is for the 'greater good'."

"So what, you are going to throw her away if she doesn't agree with your idea, then!?"

"No, because at the end of the day," he replied, his voice firm. "She will only end up throwing her own future away should she chooses not to. Let alone, everyone's else's. Including your education in Edgewood"

Suddenly, Ophelia is extremely worried of her days in Edgewood is now heavily relying on the decision of a 3-year-old little girl. Much less....everyone else's fate.

.............................................................................................

The first sign 17-year-old Ophelia Graves noticed that there were signs of a positive change, was in the case of 7-year-old Tiffany Ashbridge.

To those who are unaware, the Ashbridge family whom happen to be a family of Viscounts has made their fortune through successful investments in various industries. While their main revenue stream remains anonymous, it was pretty obvious that it has something to do with royal families and high-profile clientele, with connections stretching from the UK to several undisclosed territories, since the signs were  evident that one of their children happens to be engaged to a member of a royal family, an arrangement that had been whispered about for years among the elite circles of Edgewood Academy.

The Ashbridge family bore two heiresses, a pair of fraternal twins in which Tiffany happens to be the youngest of the two. Also the prettiest, with her delicate features that made her appear almost otherworldly—like a fairy come to life. Her pale blonde hair, wide green eyes, and porcelain skin set her apart from others, giving her an almost unearthly beauty that seemed to captivate anyone who laid eyes on her, unlike her elder sister who bore average looks.

She was also the most pampered, spoiled, and similar to most of the noble children of Edgewood Academy: detached from the struggles of the world outside her family's opulent mansion. 

But the one key thing nobody expected from her is that she is surprisingly hardworking.

Born prematurely, Tiffany's body had always been weak, and from a young age, she had been surrounded by tutors, servants, and caretakers who ensured that she had everything she needed to succeed academically. Tiffany had never wanted to be seen as lacking, especially in the competitive environment of Edgewood Academy, where the children of the world's elite gathered. Though she had the resources and privilege to coast through life, Tiffany pushed herself to excel. She received praise from adults and teachers alike, not just for her beauty but for her intellectual abilities. Her hard work was evident—she was considered one of the brightest students at the academy, and rumors often swirled that she was being groomed for a marriage to a royal prince she had once had a childhood crush on.

However, that didn't happen.

Instead, the prince ended up choosing her lazy sister as his future wife.

For Tiffany, it was a blow that no one had anticipated. Let alone, the news of the prince's choice left Tiffany feeling blindsided.

Probably due to this shocking news, that her hostility towards her elder sister began. 

In all accounts, the road Tiffany was heading at that time was sending her straight towards expulsion of Edgewood Academy. And even Tiffany's classmates, once her admirers, were even placing their bets on her downfall, She was a girl on the edge, a delusional villainess as one would call it.

Fortunately, this is where 3-year-old Ranran came into the picture.

Or in Tiffany's first meeting at that time....she only knew her as 'The Fox'.

.............................................................................................

"Quit following me!" 

Tiffany snapped, her heels clicking sharply against the grounds of Edgewood Academy's courtyard as she stormed across the campus. She could feel the weight of her own frustration pushing against her chest, and it only intensified when she glanced back to see the little girl still trailing behind her.

The child, known only as The Fox to Tiffany at the time, didn't respond. She simply followed with an unsettling quietness, her small frame draped in the academy's uniform, save for the fox mask that obscured her features. The mask, with its pointed ears and mysterious eyes, made her look more like an enigma than a child.

It wasn't as if Tiffany didn't try to scheme The Fox to leave. She did, attempting to get someone to pour mop water onto the Fox, as well as sneakily drop a pile of books in her path. Tiffany had thought she could make the child trip, maybe scare her away. But no matter what Tiffany tried, The Fox remained unfazed, her small feet navigating the obstacles with surprising ease, as if she were in her own world, untouchable by the petty schemes Tiffany had set in motion.

"Just go away!" Tiffany hissed, her face flushed with a mix of anger and confusion. She couldn't understand why this little girl was so insistent on following her, so persistent, as if she had some sort of purpose Tiffany couldn't grasp.

It didn't help that her classmates was watching all of this in amusement, some even whispering to one another, their curiosity piqued by the strange sight of Tiffany, usually so poised and in control, being trailed by this mysterious child in a fox mask. The whispers grew louder, more daring, as the day wore on. Tiffany could feel the eyes of her peers on her, the judgment, the amusement, and she hated it.

It was as if she did something wrong, and the whole world is there to judge her.

"Look, if I give you a 100,000 pound, would you leave me alone?" Tiffany muttered under her breath. She was used to people following her, especially the people who wanted something from her—praise, admiration, status. But this little girl? She wasn't like that. There was no ambition or expectation in her steps—only a strange, unwavering resolve that made Tiffany uncomfortable. 

At some point, she was hoping that the child would get the hint. But then she replied, "If you do, the person who told me to do this job say they will pay triple the amount in whatever you plan to give me."

"For God sakes, then what do you want from me?!" Tiffany shouted, her voice louder now, desperation lacing her words. She wasn't used to feeling this powerless. Let alone, from a 3-year-old child.

Suddenly, the school bell rang, indicating that classes are to begin after recess.

In a sigh of relief, the girl in the Fox mask hurriedly left while Tiffany stood there, frozen, her chest still heaving from the outburst. For a second, she almost expected the girl to turn around and say something cryptic again, but the Fox was gone, vanishing like a shadow in the crowd.

Ophelia who was watching all of this at the school courtyard as the bells rung can't help but wonder whether 'his' plan would finally bore fruit given the little girl's expression being at wits end.

Then again, after that 'meeting' with that little girl, perhaps there would be some tiny bit of hope in Ophelia's heart, that deep down, 'he' will finally stop the shallow minded fools from shutting down Edgewood Academy through the Fox.