Sairenne's Point of View 
Xavier and I headed downstairs, and he led the way to the dining hall. If he weren’t here, with how massive this mansion is, I would’ve been lost a long time ago. They’d probably think I’d gone crazy after whatever happened to Celestia.
Right… what exactly happened to her? Why does she have a head injury? Is this part of another scheme so she could skip class?
No… she’s not like that.
“Celestia’s here, Aunt,” Xavier announced.
Celestia’s mother, Celeste Fontaverde, seated at the far end of the long table, smiled. She lifted her hand—a signal for us to sit.
I bowed slightly and took the chair on her right. But the moment my gaze fell on the guests, my blood boiled.
Sitting there was the woman who destroyed my family—Revecca de Villa.
Beside her was a young man about our age, smiling at me like he already knew me. “Hi,” he whispered.
I glared back. Judging by their smug smiles—as if they’d just won the lottery—they were clearly plotting something.
“Celestia, meet Revecca de Villa and Vrent de Villa,” Celeste said.
“I know. I know exactly who they are,” I replied with thinly veiled sarcasm.
I had no intention of playing along with whatever that mistress wanted. They were the reason my father left my mom… the reason she became who she is now.
“Revecca and Vrent de Villa, this is my daughter, Celestia Fontaverde. Greet them, Celestia,” she ordered.
I glanced at Xavier, but they didn’t even notice him. They didn’t bother asking his name, where he came from, anything. Typical.
God… now I’m even talking like Celestia. Well, her accent and attitude are easy to mimic. She’s lucky I was the one in her body.
“Hello. It’s nice to meet you,” I said flatly.
“Manners, Celestia. You’re a Fontaverde. Greet them properly, with enthusiasm,” her voice echoed through the entire hall.
She didn’t have to yell—we were sitting close. She just wanted to show authority.
Even if it killed me on the inside, I nodded.
“Feel at home, Miss Revecca—oh, I mean, Mrs. Revecca. I heard you got married five years ago.”
Revecca’s eyebrows knit in confusion.
So Celestia wasn’t supposed to know that?
If I could laugh out loud, I would.
Sorry to them… I’m not Celestia.
I turned to Vrent and gave a polite smile. “Hello, Vrent. Enjoy the meal.”
“That’s right—” Celeste began, but I cut her off.
“And I want you to meet… my best friend, Xavier Oliverez.”
I looked at Xavier, and he bowed slightly. When I turned back to Celeste, she was grinding her teeth. I smiled sweetly at her; she inhaled sharply.
She cleared her throat and forced a smile.
Impressive acting—Celestia must’ve inherited her fakery from her.
“Well, let’s proceed to the main reason we’re gathered today,” she began.
I took a sip of water. “And that is…?”
“Starting today, I want you to date Vrent de Villa, Celestia. The de Villa family is well-known and wealthy. They have branches outside the coun—”
“What?! You can’t just tell Celestia to date him!”
Xavier’s voice stopped the entire room. Of course—Celestia is his best friend. He wouldn’t just sit and watch them dictate her life.
I clenched my fists beneath the table. If Xavier hadn’t said that, I could’ve just agreed. After all, this is Celestia’s body, not mine.
But until I find a way back, I’m the one who’ll suffer.
“Impudent!” Celeste roared, eyes blazing at Xavier. “Who gave you the right to meddle in this family matter?!”
“Me,” I said. Her fiery gaze snapped toward me.
“And I don’t want to date him. I don’t even—”
“Shut up, Celestia!”
I fell silent. Of course. The de Villas, ruining my life in every universe, even in a body that’s not mine.
At this point… maybe I don’t want to go back to my own life either.
“And you, Xavier Oliverez—KNOW YOUR PLACE!”
I saw Xavier’s fists tighten under the table.
Revecca continued sipping her wine, completely unbothered. And Vrent? He was smirking at Xavier.
“Xavier,” I whispered, reaching for his hand. “Calm down.”
“Have you forgotten where your family came from? If not for the Fontaverdes, your people would still be eating dust! Don’t you ever talk back to me like that again!”
Ah. So this is the great Fontaverde family.
Elitists.
Worse than the power struggles in the campus.
“Mom! Don’t talk to Xavier like that. You know he’s my childho—”
“Xavier?” she repeated, eyes narrowing.
Right. Celestia only calls him Xavier when she’s mad. She calls him Sivy the rest of the time. Simple detail—yet I still messed up.
“Sivy. Don’t talk to Sivy like that. He’s just protecting me.”
“And when did you learn to answer me back?!” She stood, furious.
So the campus social butterfly everyone adored—feared, even—was nothing more than her mother’s obedient puppet?
Well, I’m not Celestia.
No one gets to belittle me.
I refuse to become like my own mother, who obeyed her cruel employer even while being mistreated.
“Now. I learned to answer you back now,” I said, rising to my feet with Xavier. “You just insulted Xavier in front of me.”
“He’s the one who started it!”
I chuckled, pulling Xavier up to leave.
“Celeste Fontaverde, I don’t have time for your games. And I will not date a de Villa—not in this lifetime. Over my dead body.”
“Celestia, sit down or I’ll throw that boy out of this house!”
I raised an eyebrow.
“No. I won’t befriend any of them. Especially that woman—who seduced a married man.”