Victoria Ashwood sat on her bed in a daze. The royal physician had treated her injuries, and those maids who'd previously tormented her were reassigned. Moreover, she was now free to move in and out of the old palace wing where she'd been confined.
She mulled over recent events: when she came to, she saw Sophia Riley and Autumn Clarke—Emilia Everard's attendant—together. Perhaps Sophia had sympathized with her plight and asked Autumn to help?
That thought brought Victoria some warmth amid her anxious state.
Once her mind settled, she recalled what happened that day. Lina Riley had trailed her but then wandered off, apparently distracted, leaving the plan undone and Victoria with a beating for no gain. Furious, she slammed her fist on the table, making the teapot bounce. Its lid rattled against the porcelain.
"Ugh! Infuriating."
Venting the anger soothed her a bit. She inhaled deeply, only to find her thoughts drifting back to Sophia. She had intended to exploit Lina's abilities, but with Sophia, she felt entirely different. In her previous life, after Lina saved her, she secretly slipped out once more, picking up a hairpin she found behind a tree. It belonged to Sophia, who was searching for it. One accidental glimpse of Sophia was enough for Victoria to spend her remaining years longing.
Why must she follow the old path in this second chance? Both Sophia and Lina belonged to the Riley family—Sophia was the well-favored elder daughter, obviously more promising. Lina was dull, easily jealous, and only a general's illegitimate child—far from suitable for the throne. Better to use her talents first, then strip her of authority once the kingdom's affairs were stable, leaving her a mere idle commander.
Visualizing such a bright future, Victoria couldn't help smiling.
"What's so amusing?"
Her smile froze. She turned to see Lucille Everard leaning against the doorway with folded arms, smiling in a way that sent chills down her spine. This familiar face summoned unpleasant memories. Terror gripped Victoria, almost making her forget to breathe.
Behind Lucille, Sophia peeked in, then pulled back with a look of distaste. That day, The Princess Royal had explained everything: Victoria had lured Lina into the deserted wing, but her scheme was thwarted. Sophia—after hearing Lina's account—was sure Victoria was no innocent.
But what shocked Sophia even more was that The Princess Royal had bothered to clarify the situation. Perhaps all those rumors outside were exaggerated. Lucille Everard, in person, seemed a decent sort. Sophia felt gladdened by this realization. She wanted to dash home that instant, then comfort Lina, telling her that The Princess Royal was actually quite gentle.
Meanwhile, Lucille swept a disdainful glance over Victoria's dismal accommodations. At the sight of Victoria's abject fear, a fleeting sense of revulsion arose in her. She'd only come to deliver a warning, so she stood upright and brushed the dust off her sleeves. "You were a child then. Now you're grown. Understood?"
Sweat drenched Victoria's back. Eventually, she found her voice. "I understand."
With that, Lucille swallowed her disgust and turned away. "Good that you do."
Sophia hesitated, then gave Victoria one last look—catching her eye in passing—before averting her gaze in courtesy. She followed Lucille out, leaving Victoria trembling with relief. She collapsed, panting like a drowning victim emerging for air.
Her mouth felt parched, so Victoria groped for the teapot, but her hand was shaking so badly that she dropped it. Porcelain shattered across the floor. The noise sent her into a panicked cry. Clamping her hands to her ears, she crouched down. "Aah!!"
In her mind's eye, the white shards grew grotesque limbs, writhing before her. Horror-stricken, she scrambled backward until she lost all sense of dignity.
A sudden gust of wind slammed the door and windows, snapping them open with a bang.
Again, she was startled. After a while, she opened her eyes. Gone were the nightmarish visions of writhing flesh, leaving only the fluttering curtains and shards of porcelain. Realizing it was all a hallucination, Victoria steadied herself against a pillar, muttering, "It was just an illusion. As long as I let Lina live this time...I'll be fine."
Her self-reassurances helped. Her legs no longer shook. She settled back onto the bed, leaving the mess untouched.
But she was baffled. In her previous life, she had executed Lina and blamed it on a "poison plot" by her own relatives, claiming they resented Lina's power. With that, she'd wiped out Lina and her supporters, amassing all military authority for herself. She was triumphant—until her aunt returned.
When Lina helped her ascend the throne, Lucille Everard vanished into thin air. Nine years later, she reappeared. By then, Victoria had forgotten her aunt's terrifying capabilities and, from the throne, smugly challenged her: "Have you come bearing your own head?"
Lucille just stared with eyes devoid of feeling. Effortlessly, she toppled Victoria from power, leaving the self-proclaimed monarch in rags, limbs severed as she writhed like a worm. That waking nightmare replayed in Victoria's mind, forcing her to huddle up once more. "But why? They were mortal enemies. Why—?"
No answer came. Only Lucille Everard in her former life would have known, and that memory remained a hazy dream.
The farther Lucille traveled from the old palace wing, the better her mood. She shrugged it off, focusing instead on the woman walking quietly behind her. Sophia's docility appealed to Lucille. She knew the state of Sophia's health but also had a way to handle it. Ordinarily, she might have forced a marriage alliance with Sophia, Emperor or no Emperor. But Reginald Riley and Lina both cared for Sophia, and with the kingdom in turmoil, now wasn't the time for draconian measures.
Her mind teeming with possibilities, Lucille asked in a kind voice, "May I call you Sophia?"
Sophia's eyes flickered. She thought she'd misheard but realized it was real. Flustered, she bowed her head. "If that pleases Your Highness, I don't mind."
Watching her reaction, Lucille found it amusing. For all Reginald's scheming, his daughters seemed oddly straightforward. She couldn't forget her agenda. After a moment's sigh, she explained, "Her Majesty ascended young, with no close confidants and a withdrawn temperament. I heard you'd come down from the mountains, and knowing how well the Riley family raises its daughters, I hoped you—being near her age—might help guide her."
Sophia felt the weight of it. Was she truly supposed to "guide" the monarch? Some conspiracy might lie here, but as soon as she considered refusing, Lucille sighed again. "I have faith only in you."
Sophia's protest died in her throat. An earnest solemnity appeared on her face. "I'm honored by Your Highness's trust. I'll give it my all!"
Lucille smiled. Glancing at Sophia's face, she recalled how Lina would withdraw like a frightened bird. The thought deepened her smile. "I must have startled your sister. Take a message back for me: rumors are misleading. One of these days, I'll pay her a visit and ask what little gift she'd like."
Sophia, touched by The Princess Royal's warmth, marveled anew at the gulf between rumors and reality. She nodded firmly. "I promise I'll pass your words on."
They continued conversing as they walked. At first, Sophia was hesitant, but Lucille's gentle manner soon put her at ease. Having spent years in seclusion, Sophia's openness led her to reveal quite a bit of her life story, giving Lucille new insights. Yet she learned little about Lina—just that, as a child, Lina tended to wander. No one took much notice since she always returned eventually.
"One time, she was missing for a whole night," Sophia recalled.
Lucille's gaze flickered. "A child who can't help causing trouble," she teased.
They soon reached the palace gates. Sophia rarely had such a long chat with anyone, and she felt reluctant to part. But it was late, and she didn't want to worry her family. Lucille, noticing her hesitation, murmured, "Time for you to go."
"Farewell, Your Highness."
Sophia climbed into her carriage and headed back to the Riley Estate.
The moment she arrived, she searched for Lina. After all, she bore good news. She practically yanked Lina out of bed, brimming with excitement.
"Don't worry, Sister! The Princess Royal is truly kind. She was concerned to hear you were frightened and said she'd visit you soon. She even wants to bring you a present!"
Lina's drowsy eyes flew wide. The entire kingdom knew there was only one Princess Royal, but…kind? Bearing gifts? She'd rather The Princess Royal just forget she existed!
Her face drained of color, Lina muttered wearily, "Sister, I'm tired. I need to rest."
Noting her sister's distress, Sophia reluctantly held her tongue. "All right, then. I'll let you sleep."
Once she left, Lina burrowed beneath her blankets, feeling somewhat safer in darkness. It was only temporary relief, though. She tried telling herself that the realm's affairs must keep Lucille Everard too busy. Surely she wouldn't come to bother Lina right away. Relaxing a bit, Lina buried her head in the covers and mumbled, "It's just The Princess Royal—nothing to fear, nothing at all…"
But a silhouette loomed at her door. In the moonlight stood a woman dressed all in white, lips curved in a faint smile. Lucille surveyed the mound on Lina's bed, realizing Lina must be curled up inside, whispering in a timid effort to calm herself. Lucille suppressed a chuckle.
She stepped forward and quietly lifted the blanket, revealing Lina's astonished face. Leaning down, Lucille whispered with a smile, "Look at that moonlight—lovely, isn't it?"