"No matter how I think of it," Botan's eyes reflected the gravity of the situation. "It sounds... incredibly harsh."

"It is," Tiffany agreed. "And for someone like Landon, who was used to a life of privilege, it'll be a massive adjustment. He won't have the safety net he once had. He'll have to face the consequences of his actions like everyone else."

"But what if... he can't handle it? What if he falls apart?" Botan asked out of curiosity rather than concern since he barely knew him.

Tiffany paused for a moment, considering Botan's question carefully. "Well, that's the thing, isn't it?"

"He won't....get his privileges back?" Botan guessed.

"Even if he did, it would be that 10 percent chance." Tiffany crossed her arms thoughtfully as she recalled, "And I know this because as a noble, I did almost end up the way Landon did before."

Tiffany's revelation caught Botan off guard. He looked at her with wide eyes, clearly surprised by what she had just shared. "You did? What happened?"

The 10-year-old girl leaned back in her chair, her expression distant as she recalled the past. "Harassed my own eldest twin sister."

"Why?" Botan's eyes widened, and he leaned in closer, clearly intrigued.

Tiffany's gaze remained distant as she recounted the memory. "I thought I was in love with my first love, who ended up getting engaged to her. But in reality, I was tricked to be expelled."

Botan listened intently, absorbing Tiffany's story. The weight of her words hung in the air, and he could sense the gravity of the situation. "Did your eldest sister....steal him from you? Or...." he murmured, trying to find the right words.

"No, everything was lies by my former friend. Because I had everything she didn't have, and she envied me, I was tricked into thinking so by someone who I thought was my friend," Tiffany nodded, her expression still somewhat distant. "When I found out about it...I had her expelled."

Botan's eyes widened further, processing Tiffany's revelation. The weight of her words sank in, and he could see the pain in her eyes. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"Don't be, I deserved it," Tiffany gave a small, sad smile.

"I am pretty sure your eldest sister wouldn't say that if I were her." Botan thinks.

"Of course, in fact shortly after everything that has happened, she actually found the courage to break the arranged engagement with that psychotic prince," Tiffany admitted, her gaze finally returning to the present. "But....she was powerless, or if anything....our family is powerless despite being nobles. What that prince wants, he gets. And my sister....was shipped to Scotland since."

Botan listened to Tiffany's story with a mixture of sympathy and understanding.

"Anyway, back to Landon," The focus is shifted to the present as Tiffany announces, "He committed a coup, which is really bad in many ways to the People of Norway. Although it wouldn't have triggered a war, since the Lockwood family are ceremonial figureheads instead of the rulers we learn throughout history, in the eyes of the law and public opinion...when you are a royal and you go about kidnapping a 9-year-old, then hold hostage a 6-year-old, even committing burglary as well as smuggling weapons to your own country from Japan to Norway....that itself is enough to give anyone red flags on whether you would want Landon as a future King, let alone, someone who posed as a huge threat to children's safety in general."

Botan's eyes widened further, absorbing the gravity of Landon's actions. "I only watch some glimpses of the news courage since I am busy with school life...but damn, he did all of that!? And he is only 10!"

Tiffany nodded gravely. "Yup."

Botan couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. "It's like something out of a movie. I can't imagine...I heard some details here and there, but I don't think he would lose everything just by not being King."

"In the first place, what was going through his mind? Especially to....wrong Ranran of all the children in the world!" Botan was still shocked, struggling to digest all of this news, "I mean all the kids here in Edgewood knows if anyone tries to mess with that girl, they are literally signing their death warrant."

"Landon I recalled was someone who liked to take a gamble," Tiffany recalled, "He liked to play the odds and believed he could outsmart anyone. But this time, he bet on the wrong horse."

"Very wrong," Botan muttered, still processing the information.

"And it's not just the actions themselves," Tiffany continued, "It's the fact that he targeted Ranran. Such a reckless move cost him everything."

Botan nodded slowly. "I wondered what was going through his mind when he decided to do so with Ranran?"

"That she is a little grieving girl whom he can easily exploit," Tiffany decided. "But he didn't foresee unlike his two fiances, she is way ruthless she can be despite her age."

"Hey look! That traitor to Norway is back!"

Botan and Tiffany flinched at the sound of a crowd of children yelling outside the prestigious academy. Botan turned to the window, his eyes widening as he saw a group of children pointing fingers and shouting at someone approaching the school gates. He could make out Landon, his head held low, walking with a dejected expression.

"Seems like the news spread fast," Tiffany murmured, as Botan and her observed the situation indifferently.

The commotion outside the school gates drew Botan's attention. He watched as the crowd of children jeered and taunted Landon, their voices filled with a mix of mockery and contempt. Landon, once a prince, now walked with his head bowed, a defeated figure.

"He is going to have a life full of hardship ahead of him, at least 14 years left for him to be exact." Tiffany calculated.

"You think?" Botan turned to look at Tiffany.

"In Edgewood, it is normal for 3-years-old kids to complete their studies here up to the age of 24," Tiffany revealed to Botan, then added, "Considering he finished his studies midway, he still has 14 years left in this school before he can even think about going out to the work field. And the public opinion towards him, especially his reputation, will make those 14 years enrolling here feel like an eternity."

Botan's eyes shifted back to the scene outside, where Landon was now surrounded by a growing crowd of onlookers. He could see the pain in Landon's eyes, the weight of his actions settling heavily on his young shoulders.

"It's hard to watch," Botan admitted, his gaze fixed on Landon. "He can at least head to another school right?"

"That was only if he didn't do all those crimes when he was still a prince," Tiffany laughed mockingly at that thought, "Before, he had his father the Crown Prince to argue on his behalf, so did his mother. But his mother died 2 years ago due to ALS, while his father and uncle are in prison for the crimes they committed in Japan, so he is under the mercy of his grandfather, King Leif, who is already pissed off that the three of them ruined their reputation to a point that even now, the People of Norway are demanding to abolish the royal system there."

Botan couldn't help but shake his head at the tragic turn of events. "It's like a series of bad decisions just snowballed into this. He's paying the price for the choices he made. Or rather..."It now dawns on Botan, "More like this whole thing was King Leif's fault."

"Huh?"

"Cause if you think about it, had King Leif not committed adultery on his first deceased ex-wife with Landon's grandmother, things wouldn't have come to this." Botan pointed out.

"Now that you mentioned it...." Tiffany regarded Botan with a contemplative expression, "I guess karma had its own way of working things out."

As they watched from the student council office, the crowd of children continued to jeer at Landon, their voices echoing with a mixture of anger, resentment, and a hint of satisfaction. Landon, once a prince, now faced the harsh reality of his choices.

"It's a harsh welcome," Botan observed.

"He asked for it," Tiffany sighed, "I heard that he was either given a choice of ending up with child protective services-"

"Oh no, that?!" Botan shook his head in horror, "That is the worst."

"You dealt with this before, have you?" Tiffany pauses.

"I mean I only had my deceased mother and her brother, who was my uncle at that time to look after me, but then when they committed burglary, I ended up there in limbo, and I can honestly say....if it wasn't for my family relatives taking me in, I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy to end up there," Botan admits.

Tiffany nodded in understanding.

"Anyway, child protective services or this?" Botan pointed at Landon while looking at Tiffany, "Either way sounds bad."

"But to Landon, he isn't that stupid," Tiffany then revealed, "If he ends up in child protective services, there is also a chance that he would have no adult to defend him on such a huge crime he had committed overseas, and the chances of him ending up in prison like his father is high."

"What?! Really!?"

"Yes," The 10-year-old girl nodded solemnly. "Because he committed crimes like an attempted coup on the royal family, that is one.  Burglary, which is two. Then kidnapping a 9-year-old to marry, that is three. The worst one is smuggling weapons, as well as endangering minors, since he also held hostage to a 6-year-old girl in Japan. Those are a combination of things that no lawyer in the world would want to touch, due to the sensitivity surrounding it."

"But he is 10, right? I am certain some lawyers would be happy to say things like 'He is young, manipulated by his father'." Botan argued, before admitting, "When I was forced to smuggle drugs to earn money and pay for the medical fees for my sick relatives at that time, a lot of other kids like me did the same and got away scot-free."

"But so far no one had a solid video recording of you doing all those things compared to Landon, right?"

Botan paused, considering Tiffany's words. "No."

"At the rate things were going, he is F. Adding the fact that he wronged Ranran, there is no way of digging your way out of this mess." Tiffany nodded.

Botan's expression grew sombre as he absorbed the weight of Landon's situation. "Tiffany,  I am a bit worried one day...he might-"

"Cause a shootout in our school? Don't worry," Tiffany reassured him, "After that incident of that princess I told you about using a bunsen burner and trying to kill us all by burning down the school, security measures were tightened. It's practically impossible for someone to bring weapons into the school unnoticed. Besides, I'm sure the teachers and security would be keeping an extra close eye on him."

"That's good to know. I don't want anyone getting hurt, let alone, be killed when I was just getting my life back on track." Botan let out a sigh of relief.

"Agreed," Tiffany nodded. "We've had enough drama for a lifetime, don't you think?"

Botan couldn't help but chuckle. "Definitely. Let's hope things settle down now."

As they continued to watch the scene outside, the crowd of children seemed to have grown tired of taunting Landon. He was left standing alone, his head still held low.

Suddenly, Tiffany's smartphone rang. Wondering who it was, she answered, "Hello?"

"Tiffany, at around 2 pm sharp, can you make it to that 'private room' in Edgewood Academy?" It was her classmate/friend, Samantha.

Tiffany raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Samantha? Why do you want to meet in that private room?"

"It's important, Tiff. Please, can you make it? The rest of the kids are going to be there and don't bring Botan over, tell him it is something you and I can only settle." Samantha's voice sounded urgent.

"Wha-"

"The Pandora Book, Ranran sent the copies to us already!"

Tiffany's eyes widened in surprise at Samantha's words. The Pandora Book was something of a rumour among the children of Edgewood Academy, basically, it was Edgewood Academy's version of a 'Burn Book' by Meangirls, except it was written by some of the children of Edgewood Academy, children of rather high status.

"The Pandora Book? Seriously, Samantha?" Tiffany couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Pandora Book was infamous for its malicious content and had caused quite a stir among the students in the past, "Ranran, she-"

"Yes, Tiff. I've seen it. It's the real deal, you better come over. The pages written about all of us aren't good." Samantha's voice was urgent, and Tiffany could sense the seriousness of the situation.

Tiffany's heart raced at Samantha's words. The Pandora Book had always been a source of controversy and drama at Edgewood Academy, and now, Ranran had sent copies to them. This was bound to shake things up even further.

"I'll be there, Samantha," Tiffany replied, her voice steady. "I'll make sure Botan doesn't come along. Just give me some time to wrap things up here."

"Alright, hurry, Tiff. This is something we need to address ASAP."

After ending the call, Tiffany turned to Botan, concern etched on her face. "Botan, I need to step out for a bit. There's something important I need to attend to. It's a school matter."

Botan nodded, sensing the seriousness in Tiffany's tone. "Of course, go ahead. I'll hold down the fort here."

"Thanks, Botan. I'll be back as soon as I can." Tiffany quickly gathered her things and made her way out of the student council office.

As Tiffany headed towards the private room, her mind raced with thoughts of what might be written about her in the Pandora Book. She knew that dealing with its contents would be a challenge, but it was a challenge she couldn't avoid. The reputation of her and her friends was at stake, and they needed to address the situation head-on.

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

Now the private room they mentioned wasn't your ordinary kind.

If anything, this room used to serve as a meeting place for students with particular concerns or sensitive matters they wanted to discuss away from prying eyes. It had been established by the school administration as a safe space for students to voice their worries or troubles.

This room merely existed because many centuries ago, the founder of the school had a son who wanted such a room that would give him privacy, as this room would benefit him academically in terms of paying attention towards his studies. But the reality was he was merely using it to chill out with his friends while skipping classes.

Soon, this private room had evolved over the years to become a place of refuge and confidentiality for the students of Edgewood Academy. By the time the last person had left the room, its walls bore the marks of past generations, filled with messages, drawings, and scribbles from students who had sought solace within its walls. In a sorry state back then, it was filled with dust.

But then years later, it was revealed through a book that this room was also used to store a collection of incidents that took place in Edgewood in centuries leading up to the 80's.

And unknowingly for some odd reason, the room was cleaned up by someone whom no one knew who it was.

Regardless, the first person to enter long before Tiffany and the others did back then...was none other than a 3-year-old Kudo Ranran, instructed by Christopher to head there to do their old duties back then, before she was sent away to Japan and never to return.

The private room was filled with a sense of history and mystery, its walls bearing witness to the secrets and confidences of countless students over the years. As Tiffany entered, she couldn't help but be struck by the atmosphere of the room. Although it looked seasoned, it was still luxurious, its walls bearing witness to the secrets and confidences of countless students over the years. As Tiffany entered, she couldn't help but be struck by the atmosphere of the room. Although it looked seasoned, it was still luxurious and comforting.

And the two girls aren't alone, among them present were Veronica, Ellis, Georgina, Walter, Teddy Nicolas and many other children, wondering why were they called her.

"Alright, everyone," Samantha began, her voice steady, "I'm sure you're all wondering why we're here."

"Can we get it done as soon as possible?" Ellis raised his hand, "I had to film a YouTube video in Las Vegas in 2 hours tops!"

"No you can't, cancel those plans," Samantha spoke bluntly to her 10-year-old classmate, "And also, I don't think your idea titled 'I sneak into a Casino' would be achievable, Ellis, since you are a minor, and minors ain't allowed to enter one!"

"You didn't have to be a killjoy, you know!? I am trying to make a living." Ellis deflated slightly at Samantha's response before arguing, "I achieved a lot of feats easily when you think I won't be able to achieve it, and they are all titled-"

"I snuck into every single Girl's Washroom around the world?" Georgina brought it up, "That video which earned you 10 million views ended up getting removed, remember?"

"It ain't my fault that the video grew in popularity!" Ellis insists, "If it wasn't for our Principal Mr Alex to sternly remove it or I am at risk of getting expelled, I would've defeated Pewdiepie in subscriber count!"

"What about 'I Snuck into a Haunted Mansion and Met Real Ghosts'?" Walter chimed in with a smirk, "You literally peed yourself when sounds were made there!"

"Ok, who was the one who left the light on there without warning because of this?" Ellis glared at Walter.

Veronica couldn't help but chuckle at the banter between Ellis, and Walter.

"What about 'I snuck into a Girls-Only Sleepover and Survived'?" Nicolas chimed in with a grin, "You were beaten up black and blue with pillows by the Crown Princess of Spain, even a group of those girls who are born of higher status than your family were this close to shooting you with a real gun!"

The room filled with laughter as the children recalled Ellis's past escapades. It was clear that the young YouTuber had a knack for finding himself in unique and sometimes hilarious situations, while Ellis was displeased with them laughing at his efforts.

"Alright, alright," Samantha finally said, trying to regain control of the conversation. "As entertaining as these stories are, we're here for something important. Let's focus, everyone."

The laughter died down, and the children turned their attention to Samantha, their expressions now more serious.

"We need to address....the Pandora Book," Samantha continued her tone firm.

"Wait, what!?" Georgina, Tiffany's best friend was stunned, "Pandora book!? You mean...as in-"

"Yes, the same rumoured book that Christopher's ex-fiance wrote sadistic stuff in it, but no one was ever able to confirm its existence till recently." Samantha finished the words of the glasses girl before she could.

As Samantha revealed the purpose of their gathering, a hushed murmur of surprise and concern swept through the room. The Pandora Book was infamous among the students of Edgewood Academy, and its existence had been the subject of countless rumours and speculations.

"You mean to say... this book actually exists?" Veronica asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Samantha nodded gravely. "Yes, it does. And Ranran has sent us copies. We need to address the content written about each of us."

"Wait, how was she able to obtain the book?!" Walter demanded to know, "I remembered when Samantha and the other royal children in this room tried to pull some strings to obtain it after Christopher died. Even with the connections, we were not able to obtain it due to its secrecy and the fact that Christopher's ex-fiance had so many influential children of higher status surrounding her."

"This one you should all hear because you are bound to be amused," Samantha said. The room filled with anticipation as Samantha prepared to share the story. "Before that, I want to ask how many of you are aware of Landon's situation?"

"Who wouldn't? Didn't he have a 6-year-old girl held hostage?" Nicolas spat in digust.

"Or attempted to stage a coup with his father against his uncle, General Stefan?" Veronica recalled.

"Plus the fact he gaslighted 2 fiances?" Teddy scrunched, then almost forgot that Lucretia was in the same room as him, "Oh, I am sorry, I didn't mean to bring your ex up."

"No worries," Lucretia responded with a small smile, "It's not exactly a secret."

"Back to the story," Samantha continued, "Apparently, when Landon was escaping from General Stefan at that Edgewood Academy, he flew to Japan and headed to Tantei Association, the agency that Ranran is in charge of. And knowing her, I know she is very wary of his intention to seek their help given his questionable character, which is why she had him sign a contract, and guess what Landon put as collateral?"

The room was filled with curious anticipation, everyone wondering what Landon could have possibly used as collateral in such a precarious situation.

"He put the Pandora Book," Samantha revealed, her tone carrying a mix of surprise and amusement.

Gasps and whispers of astonishment filled the room. The irony of Landon using the very book that held potentially damaging information about him as collateral was not lost on anyone.

"He what!?" Walter's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's...bold, to say the least."

"Bold is one thing, but stupid is another." Veronica chuckled emptily as she processed this information, "Really...how stupid can he be!?"

"It's like giving your enemy a gun so that they can use it to shoot you dead," Georgina mused, "What on earth was he thinking? Is he a moron after spending so much time with his second ex-fiance, Helena back then?"

"It's a level of arrogance and poor judgment that's hard to fathom," Nicolas added, shaking his head. "I mean, how did he expect that to turn out in his favour?"

"It's Landon, after all," Walter said with a wry smile. "He's known for taking risks, but this...this is on a whole other level of stupidity in the history of Edgewood Academy."

"I can't even imagine what was going through his mind," Teddy remarked, clearly bemused by the situation, "I mean with his status and everything, was he that stupid to underestimate what 6-year-old Ranran was capable of?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if he was," Lucretia, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "I mean Landon has a thing for girls who shed tears when we were still engaged back then. It ain't surprising for him to underestimate her, assuming she is still grieving and in an emotional state to be manipulated by him."

"But the cherry on top was that he is no longer a Prince," Tiffany gleefully laughed in response, "I mean did you see how he showed up live on TV alongside his father and General Stefan at the airport in Japan? And that Landon was covered with paintball balls all over him."

The room erupted into laughter at the mental image of Landon, the once-proud Prince, covered in colourful paintball splatters.

"Oh, I wish I could have seen that!" Veronica exclaimed between fits of giggles. "Talk about a fall from grace!"

"And using the Pandora Book as collateral? That's just... poetic justice," Georgina added, wiping away tears of laughter.

"What was him with the paintball paint all over him anyway? It's so unlike him," Walter wondered.

"This is what Ranran told me on the phone, what happened was...." Once more, Samantha laughed to herself over how absurd the situation was before revealing, "After all of the crap Landon has done to her association: From attempting a military coup in Norway, committing kidnapping, burglary and all of the nonsense they had to put up with when Landon was fleeing from the cops, Ranran shot him with a real gun."

The room fell into stunned silence, broken only by the sound of Samantha's laughter. It was a shocking revelation, even for those who were familiar with Landon's antics.

"You're kidding, right?" Walter finally managed to sputter.

Samantha shook her head, still chuckling. "I wish I were. Apparently, Ranran decided she'd had enough of his nonsense and took matters into her own hands."

"Good grief," Nicolas muttered, his disbelief evident.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I almost feel sorry for the guy," Teddy mused, a mixture of sympathy and incredulity in his voice.

"I don't," Lucretia stated firmly. "He brought all of this on himself. Though I wasn't expecting a real gun to be involved."

"How many times was he shot?" Georgina inquired.

"9 times, at the thigh, the back shoulder, then at the arm." Samantha revealed.

The room was filled with a collective gasp. It was beyond anything they could have imagined. Landon's audacious attempt had ended in a way that was nothing short of jaw-dropping.

"Nine times?!" Tiffany exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.

"I can't believe she actually shot him," Veronica said, still trying to process the information.

"Ranran doesn't mess around, does she?" Walter remarked, shaking his head in amazement.

"That's... brutal," Nicolas muttered, clearly taken aback. "Why did she do so anyway? And where did she even get the gun? She is six!"

"I don't know where she got the gun, but Ranran did it because Landon held one of the members hostage, after shoving the hostage and making an attempt to flee, it only made sense for her to fire the shots while he was fleeing 50 m-"

"Wait, pause that." Nicolas stopped his arranged fiancé as he confronted, "Say that again?"

Samantha raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled by Nicolas's interruption. "I said after Landon held one of the members hostage and shoved-"

"No, after that. The distance, how far was it?"

Samantha's brows furrowed in thought. "About fifty meters," she repeated a note of uncertainty in her voice.

Nicolas's eyes widened in disbelief. "Fifty meters? Ranran, a six-year-old, managed to shoot accurately from fifty meters?"

Samantha nodded slowly, realizing the significance of what she had just revealed. The room fell into a stunned silence once more, "Ok, which one of you taught Ranran shooting years ago!?" Nicolas confronted. Samantha's eyes widened as she looked around the room, but no one spoke up. Silently, the Crown Prince soon witnessed a hand raised, "Ted!"

"Listen, I know it may sound dangerous for a child to carry firearms, but hear me out." Teddy tries to justify, "After I employed Ranran and Christopher's services at that time, I had to pay up their expenses....."

"Didn't you pay up with your father and stepmother's aeroplane program at Edgewood Academy?" Tiffany confronted.

Teddy cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably. "Well, you see, I had to employ their services again, since not long after that, I found out that my gambling drug addict biological mother had been siphoning money, the same one through my father's child support fees that was meant for me. So again, I had fees to settle, and then Christopher said 'Either I teach her something valuable to waver the fees, or pay up'."

"Seriously, what were you thinking to offer 3-year-old shooting lessons!?" Veronica was in shock.

"I caught her once pick locking the Animal Hunting club to steal those guns, since Christopher is homeschooled, she had to bring those guns to him to teach her how to shoot. Since it wasn't practical at that time given his mother doing things to him, it only made sense for me to teach her how to handle every single gun."

Earning deadpanned looks from the other noble children, Teddy justifies, "I ain't touching my allowance money, and that is something I had no regrets!"

"You are still acting like a cheapskate!" Tiffany groaned.

"I ain't a cheapskate!"

"Just admit it, Ted," Ellis confronted, "You would give Mr Krabs a run for his money!"

"Am not!"

"Am so!"

 "Well, regardless of how Ranran acquired her shooting skills...she fired a good shot." Walter decided.

"Anyway, I ain't done," Samantha once more picked up where she left off, "Thanks to Ranran, he was so badly injured, that he was placed in a hospital room to recover. Of course, to prevent him from escaping and holding people hostage, he was bound up to the bed. And this is the part that gets interesting."

Samantha paused for effect, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she prepared to drop another bombshell on the already astonished group.

"While Landon was immobilized in the hospital, Ranran and her team took the opportunity to head over to teach Landon a lesson, by shooting him with paintball guns, and he wasn't completely recovered at that time from the bullets Ranran shot him with a real gun yet."

The room erupted into laughter once again, even louder and heartier than before. The image of Landon, bound to a hospital bed, getting pelted with paintballs by a group of determined Tantei Association members was almost too absurd to believe.

"Oh my goodness, that's priceless!" Tiffany exclaimed, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.

"I can't believe she actually did that!" Veronica gasped, her laughter infectious.

"Ranran really doesn't mess around, does she?" Walter marvelled, shaking his head in amazement.

"I have a newfound respect for her," Georgina admitted, still chuckling. "That's some next-level retaliation. I wish I did that on my sister."

Nicolas couldn't help but join in the laughter. "I never thought I'd say this, but I think Landon got what he deserved."

Teddy, too, was in stitches. "I have to hand it to Ranran, she certainly knows how to make a point."

As the laughter subsided, a sense of camaraderie and unity filled the room. Despite the bizarre and often absurd circumstances they found themselves in, they were bound together by shared experiences and a shared determination to face whatever challenges came their way.

"Alright, let's get back to the Pandora Book," Samantha said, once the laughter had died down as her expression turned serious, "Anyway, according to Ranran, this is supposedly the cheat sheet of Ernestine and the rest of our enemies back then."

"What sort of cheat sheet?" Lucretia enquired.

"This one involving our future," Samantha's face darkens before revealing, "Do you remember that rumoured party that was held in one of the palaces of Ernestine's family?"

"The one that there were rumours of A.I projector that could project the future, right?" Ellis suddenly remembered, "I heard that only children of super high status are only allowed to go back then to get a glimpse of their future selves and that the accuracy rate was around 90 percent."

"But what is there to confirm about the party anyway?" Georgina scoffed, "We verified that projector, it was the real deal and it is with Ranran now."

"No, the reason Ranran sent copies of the book here isn't to prove it." Samantha dismisses them.

"Then...why are we here to begin with?" Tiffany asked.

"This book here," The Crown Princess flipped before them, "Is solid evidence to confirm our suspicions, whether those children who are our enemies foresee our endings in the future to be so crappy, that they could have benefitted their future through our downfall."

With their eyes growing wide, her fiance Nicolas who had been hearing this said, "You want to use this book to bring them down, do you? Especially towards Christopher's murderers?"

Samantha's gaze was unwavering as she met Nicolas's eyes. "Yes," she affirmed, her tone resolute. 

"But if we do so...."Nicolas sounded reluctant, "That would mean..."

"....rereading our painful past all over again," Walter gulped at that thought.

The gravity of the situation settled over them like a heavy shroud, and they all grew pale. "Do we....really have to do this?" Veronica said, "I mean the enemies all have their hands tied to a point beyond return, why should we relive rereading what we had to deal with?"

"Because Ranran already did her part," Samantha grew sombre.

"Eh!? She did!?" Everyone gasped in response.

"Honestly, she didn't sound good when I last spoke to her on the phone. And I can't blame her, after reading all of the things Ernestine planned to do to her, as well as everyone else."

The room fell into a heavy silence as they absorbed Samantha's words. It was a stark reminder of the toll that this undertaking would have on them all. Ranran had shouldered the burden of reading through the book, and now it was their turn to face it.

Veronica's voice broke the silence, her tone soft with concern. "Is she going to be okay?"

"Honestly no," Samantha shook her head, "Especially the things she planned to do to Christopher, and the rest of us were beyond....sadistic."

Silence.

"Also..."

"What now?"

"Ranran says this would be a good money-making opportunity for us," Samantha said.

"Money-making opportunity?" Georgina finally broke the silence, her voice incredulous.

"Ah! As in exploit, right?" Teddy guessed, "So like Ranran, she is good when it comes to that."

Samantha nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. "Exactly. Ranran believes that there are individuals who would pay a significant sum for the information contained in this book, especially those who may have been affected by our enemies' actions in the past. It's a way to turn the tables and potentially gain some leverage."

"Wow, that's... actually a pretty shrewd move," Tiffany mused, a glint of admiration in her eyes.

"Leave it to Ranran to find an opportunity in the midst of all this chaos," Georgina remarked, shaking her head in both amazement and amusement.

"You know...I could use the money to buy myself better editing equipment for my YouTube channel," Ellis decided with a glint in his eye.

"Same here," Veronica nodded, "I could do good with some better quality V-tuber avatar."

"I need it to open a new series of drinks for my bubble tea business," Tiffany sighed. "But the ingredients are costly, the money will do us just fine."

The idea of turning the Pandora Book into a source of income seemed to lift the spirits in the room. It was a practical approach to an otherwise daunting task. They could use the funds for various personal projects and, more importantly, as a way to protect themselves from potential future threats.

"So, we're all in agreement, then?" Samantha asked, looking around at her friends. "We'll go through the book, gather the information, and then decide how to proceed with this opportunity."

Walter, though still visibly apprehensive, found the strength to say, "Just one more thing, do we have a Rage room prepared."

"Hah....!?" Everyone shifts their attention to the young fashion designer.

"I mean whatever is written about us...." He then pointed at the Pandora book Samatha was holding, "It is going to open up some old wounds and stuff. And even if we want to take revenge on our old enemies who had all received their punishments, some of them are deceased to even do a thing to them."

The suggestion hung in the air for a moment before a slow, thoughtful nod from Samantha indicated her agreement.

"I think that's a valid concern," Lucretia chimed in. "Emotions will likely run high, and it might help to have a space where we can release some of that pent-up energy and frustration."

Tiffany raised her hand with an excited grin. "I know a place nearby that has an amazing rage room that Christopher once took Ranran when he was alive."

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

The following day, they gathered at the rage room that Tiffany had recommended. Though the children were not quite expecting the sight.

"Hang on a minute," Samantha pointed at the place, "Isn't this Ernestine's house!?"

The revelation was met with stunned silence. The group stared at the building in disbelief, the irony of the situation not lost on any of them.

"You're telling me we're going to release our anger and frustration in the house of one of our former enemies?" Walter's eyebrows shot up in incredulity.

"In the first place, when Ernestine was still his fiance, as a royal, it ain't surprising her family own multiple mansions around the world," Tiffany, who had been so enthusiastic about the idea, insists, "Anyway, now that she ended up in the mental hospital after being exposed for playing a role in Christopher's murder, who says we ain't allow to use her property?"

Georgina, always one to find humour in the most unexpected situations, chimed in with a smirk. "It's almost poetic, really. Turning a place of past hostility into a space for catharsis and release."

"But how did you end up getting the keys?" Nicolas questioned the noble girl.

"Let's just say that some things have a way of finding their rightful owners. A little birdie might have told me where Ernestine's spare keys were kept."

"Just out of curiosity," Lucretia raised her hand, "I have concerns about Ernestine's people or supporters witnessing us entering the mansion."

"Don't worry too much about it, Ranran stripped her out of everything. Even if she knows about it, she can never leave the mental hospital till she turns 17 or 18 after what she did." Tiffany reassured them.

"Alright," Samantha said, breaking the brief silence. "Let's proceed. We have a purpose here, and using this space may be the best way to achieve it."

With that, they made their way into the mansion, the air thick with a sense of anticipation. The halls were grand and opulent, a stark contrast to the raw emotion they were about to unleash within its walls.

They entered the designated rage room, finding it well-equipped with a variety of items for smashing, breaking, and venting frustration. The walls were reinforced, ensuring they could unleash their emotions without causing any lasting damage to the house.

As they each selected their tools, a mix of baseball bats, sledgehammers, and even some unconventional items like old electronics, there was a palpable sense of tension in the room. This was their chance to let go of the anger and pain that had been stirred up by the Pandora Book.

Walter stepped forward, taking a deep breath to steady himself before he swung the bat with a powerful force, shattering a mirror that had been propped up against the wall. "This is for blaming me for no reason, Colleen!" He yelled out the name of his deceased enemy as he shouted with his lungs.

The force of Walter's swing reverberated through the room, the shattering mirror offering a satisfying crunch of glass and a sharp tinkling sound as it fell to the floor in a cascade of fragments. His shout echoed through the room, filled with a mix of anger, frustration, and a deep-seated need to release the pent-up emotions that had been festering for so long.

The others watched in silence, respecting the intensity of Walter's moment. They understood the weight he carried, the burden of being falsely accused and blamed. In this room, in this act of destruction, he found a way to confront that pain head-on.

"My turn."

Tiffany stepped forward, her own determination evident in her eyes. She selected a vase, the delicate porcelain contrasting sharply with the strength in her grip. With a swift, powerful motion, she sent it crashing to the ground. The shattering of the vase joined the chorus of destruction, a visual representation of the release she felt.

"This is for manipulating me into blaming others, Christina!" 10-year-old Tiffany yelled to no one, her voice filled with a mix of anger and sorrow.

One by one, they took their turns, each person finding their own way to channel their emotions. Veronica, normally poised and composed, took a sledgehammer and swung it at an old piece of furniture with a force that surprised even herself. The loud crash echoed through the room, a testament to the strength she held within.

Lucretia, her usually serene demeanour replaced with a fierce determination, selected a framed painting from the wall. With a powerful thrust, she drove her chosen weapon through the canvas, the sharp sound of tearing fabric adding to the symphony of destruction.

As each member of the group took their turn, they shouted out the names of their past adversaries, giving voice to the pain and anger they had long held within. It was a cathartic experience, a way to confront the ghosts of their pasts and find closure.

The sound was loud and satisfying, the room echoed with the sounds of destruction, a cathartic symphony that seemed to wash away the weight of their pasts.

Samantha, normally composed and reserved, swung a sledgehammer with fierce determination, smashing through a piece of furniture. It was a side of her that few had seen, a raw vulnerability that she allowed herself to express in this controlled environment.

Tiffany, with a fierce glint in her eyes, took a baseball bat to an old television set, each swing a deliberate release of the anger she held towards those who had wronged them.

Even Lucretia, who had always carried herself with a quiet strength, found solace in the act of destruction. She took a moment to select a vase, then sent it crashing to the ground, the shards scattering in all directions.

As the minutes passed, the intensity of their actions began to subside.

One by one, the others followed suit, each finding their own way to unleash their frustrations. The room echoed with the sounds of destruction, a cathartic symphony that seemed to wash away the weight of their pasts

Finally, it was Samantha's turn. She stepped forward, her expression focused and resolute. She selected a stack of papers, remnants of what might have once been an important document. With deliberate force, she tore through them, the sound of ripping paper a satisfying accompaniment to her controlled movements.

"This is for trying to tear my life apart, Josephine!" she declared, her voice firm and unwavering.

They stood together, a united front, each person having faced their own demons and emerged stronger for it. In that moment, the mansion that had once been a symbol of tension and hostility had been transformed into a space of empowerment and healing.

Then, all of their eyes fell on one particular portrait of 8-year-old Ernestine.

It hung on the wall, a haunting reminder of the past. The image captured her icy gaze and calculating smile, frozen in time. It seemed to radiate a malevolent energy, a silent testament to the pain and turmoil she had caused.