The world lay hushed, with the little courtyard blanketed in snow so bright it stung the eyes. Though new snowfall had erased the footprints from last night's unexpected visitor, Lina Riley's mind remained far from calm.
Her busybody older sister, Sophia Riley, had gone to the palace early, leaving Lina with uninterrupted time to think. She leaned against the doorway, a handwarmer cupped in her hands, brows faintly furrowed as though worried. Now and then, a gust of wind carried snowflakes beneath the eaves, and she caught a few, watching them melt in her palm and trickle along the lines of her hand—setting off a flurry of memories.
For so many days, she still wasn't accustomed to having two functional hands. In her previous life, she had lost her right hand early on. Lifting that hand, she patted her cheek, feeling the warmth from the handwarmer. Over and over, she reminded herself: "It can't possibly be worse than before."
"Miss!"
Daisy Harper's bright voice cut through the swirling snow. Lina glanced up to see the girl running over with a long spear in her arms. The spear was taller than she was, its crimson tassel swaying as she jogged. The sight made Lina smile.
When Daisy arrived, she stomped off the snow clinging to her boots and reached up to brush some from her hair. Lina lifted a hand, wanting to help, but Daisy waved her off, leaving Lina to watch helplessly. After Daisy finished shaking off the snow, she held out the spear like a proud child showing off a gift. "Miss, here it is! They didn't give me a hard time."
Lina nodded. Though she couldn't guess why Sophia had recently grown so friendly, at least it had helped ease the barbed attitudes around the general's estate. Handing the handwarmer to Daisy, Lina took the spear and inspected it. It was a simple weapon with cracks at the bottom of the shaft, but Lina trusted her own skill.
The moment she grasped the spear, Daisy sensed her mistress transform, though she couldn't pinpoint how. Gazing at the thick carpet of snow, Lina smiled faintly. She leapt into the courtyard, spear in hand. Her fierce offensive moves cut through the wind and snow, startling Daisy under the eaves. Lina gradually recaptured the feel of her former life, imagining the whirling flakes as enemy soldiers. She struck with ever-increasing ferocity, each thrust charged with deadly intent. Even from a distance, one felt a shiver of dread.
Daisy stepped back. If she hadn't grown up by Lina's side, she might've believed an imposter had taken Lina's place. After her final strike, Lina smoothly stopped and flung the spear. It lodged in a tree, the trembling shaft buzzing audibly. Daisy snapped out of her daze and hurried over, her eyes brimming with admiration. "You're more impressive than Master ever was!"
Lina, amused, asked, "Aren't you curious how I know martial arts?"
Daisy blinked. "I'd never mistake you for someone else. You're my lady whether you know martial arts or not."
Though the weather was freezing, a warm swell of emotion rushed behind Lina's eyes. She didn't want to cry, so she slipped into the house, taking a deep breath until the urge faded. Seating herself at the table, she poured tea. The clear liquid reflected her face, reminding her of how precarious this lifetime was. Setting the cup aside, she glanced outside and saw Daisy trying in vain to retrieve the spear from the tree. Each time she jumped, she was still too short. Eventually, Daisy returned to the house, brushing off snow with a pout.
"Miss, you should be more careful. There are too many opportunists here in the general's estate. Next time, you might not be able to get your spear back."
Despite her youth, Daisy had long adopted the habit of worrying. It was the same in Lina's previous life—after she lost both her right hand and her eyesight, Daisy fussed even more. Lina's gaze dropped. "Daisy, what do you think of my elder sister?"
Uneasy, Daisy still answered honestly: "She's kind. Why do you ask all of a sudden?"
Lina couldn't reveal too much. Knowing too many secrets helped no one. "Would you want to serve her instead?"
Daisy's eyes reddened as she dropped to her knees, tears spilling. "Miss, don't abandon me! If I made a mistake, punish me, but don't drive me away!"
Alarmed, Lina pulled her up and wiped away her tears, speaking as though soothing a child. "Alright, alright. It's not that. But I've provoked a truly dangerous person. My life could be in danger. It's unsafe for you to stay."
Daisy sobbed harder, now frightened, but mustered her courage. "That's all the more reason I can't leave. I'll protect you. Who dares to bully you? Tell me, and I'll—" Daisy's voice faltered, seeing Lina's stricken face. Lina just fell silent.
After a moment, Daisy revised her question. "If you won't name them, can you describe what they look like?"
What they look like…?
Without warning, Lina recalled her adversary's smile, the threat beneath it, how moonlight streamed through her hair, turning her skin a luminous white. If Lucille Everard were anyone else, Lina might've found her breathtaking, but because she was who she was, Lina felt only dread. Yet even so… Lina touched her chest, aware of her heartbeat, and sighed softly. "Yes, the moonlight was truly beautiful."
Daisy cocked her head in confusion. "Huh?"
Just then, someone outside announced, "Miss Lina, Her Highness Victoria requests your presence."
Lina's hand clenched into a fist. Carefully containing her emotions, she replied, "I've come down with a chill and can't receive visitors."
Sounds outside made Lina fall quiet. She heard footsteps—soft, unsteady, yet unwavering. From her previous life, she remembered that gait; after losing her sight, she had become sensitive to such things. There was no doubt: Victoria Ashwood had come in person.
A pair of pink embroidered shoes shuffled in, accompanied by Victoria's gentle, tender voice. "Are you ill, Miss Lina?" Lina bowed in greeting but kept her head low, feigning polite courtesy. "I haven't been well. Last night, I was woken by nightmares and came down with a cold. It wouldn't do for Your Highness to risk catching anything."
Victoria noted her bowed head, just like before in another life, and felt slightly relieved. Her gaze did snag on the spear lodged in the courtyard's tree, but the heavy snow had erased all tracks, and a simple weapon in a general's estate proved little.
Conflicting thoughts swirled in Victoria's mind. She also recalled running into Sophia that day, who had quickly taken her leave, unwilling to chat. Having savored what power could bring, Victoria refused to let it slip away. Reginald Riley held real influence, and his two daughters, one favored and one deeply capable, each offered unique advantages. Personally, Victoria found Lina bland in looks, dull in temperament, and painfully awkward—far inferior to Sophia in her eyes. But she couldn't place all her bets on one person; in some ways, Lina would be easier to manipulate.
Victoria scanned the humble room and sighed sympathetically. "It seems too modest for someone of your standing."
The false sincerity made Lina's skin crawl. She fought off the urge to throttle her visitor. "Father is frugal and expects the same from me. Yet I have food, clothing, and a roof—nothing is lacking."
Victoria's smile froze. Technically, Lina's words were true, but they felt vaguely off. In fact, Victoria's former Cold Palace cell had been even worse, its occupant restricted in diet and dress. Forcing a mild expression, she studied Lina's bowed head. A wave of doubt flickered, but Lina still looked as timid as ever, dispelling Victoria's suspicion. She pressed on with gentle kindness, "You and I have met before. I felt an instant connection, which is why I came by today to see you."
Her saccharine concern made Lina queasy, fists trembling as she suppressed her fury. Victoria read her trembling as fear. Feigning concern, she poured forth affectionate words, as if she truly cherished an unremarkable general's daughter. The scene overlapped with Lina's memories of their past. Strangely, Lina grew calmer. Imitating Victoria's act, she smiled gratefully, drawing on the persona she'd once inhabited. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."
The familiar display reminded Victoria of their early days in the other timeline. For a heartbeat, a twinge of guilt arose, only to vanish as smug satisfaction took its place. Trying not to grin too widely, she murmured, "I'll visit you again in a few days."
Lina feigned the flustered humility of someone dazzled by royal favor, waving her hands. "You shouldn't waste your precious time on a nobody like me."
Victoria patted Lina's shoulder. "You're worth it."
At last, the charade ended with Victoria's departure. Lina's face darkened. She stripped off her outer robe and told Daisy in disgust, "Heat water for a bath."
Daisy scooped up the discarded garment and, after a brief hesitation, left to fetch water. Soon she returned, hauling bucket after bucket to fill the tub. Standing beyond the screen, Daisy asked, "Miss, do you dislike that princess?"
The water stilled for a moment. Then Lina's weary voice emerged. "Yes."
She was exhausted—her current body was nowhere near as fit as it had been in her days at war. Even her earlier spear practice left her drained, not to mention fending off Victoria's fake compassion. "Daisy, go rest. I'd like some time alone."
Though worried, Daisy knew Lina needed quiet. She left, pulling the door shut. She debated closing the window but, mindful of the burning coals, decided to leave it ajar. Now alone, Lina let her mind wander, sinking deeper into the water until it covered her nose. She held her breath, releasing pent-up emotion in a stream of bubbles. Something about that eased her spirit.
The water's temperature was perfect, surrounding her like a warm embrace. Even that, however, felt insufficient. She slipped further beneath the surface, hugging her knees at the bottom of the tub as if seeking comfort. She wasn't trying to drown—just venting her anger and fatigue.
At last, her frustration ebbed, and she prepared to resurface. But as she glanced upward through the water, she glimpsed The Princess Royal's impassive face looming over her, and with a jolt of panic, she gasped and inhaled water.
Coughing violently, she stood up and sputtered, "Cough, cough, cough!"
An icy chill raced along her spine. Lucille Everard's voice prickled her scalp: "Seems you don't actually want to die."
Alarmed, Lina batted away Lucille's hand, which had been about to pat her back, then realized she was completely undressed. She floundered, not knowing what to cover, eventually hugging her chest as she sank back into the water. She stared at Lucille's half-smile in near collapse. "Your Highness… might you wait outside?"
Lucille perched on the tub's rim, swirling a hand lazily in the water, indifferent to her damp sleeve. Lina, on the verge of dying from embarrassment, noticed how bright the room was—unlike that first time in near darkness.
Her mind spinning, Lina tried again, "Your Highness…"
Unsteadied by panic, her voice quavered. Lucille paused her aimless splashing, meeting Lina's eyes. "Fine."
She stepped behind the folding screen. "No need to get out. I'll leave soon."
Fighting for composure, Lina sank lower, took a calming breath, and asked, "Why have you come looking for me, Your Highness?"
Lucille eyed her own soaked cuff and chuckled softly. "I've finalized your registration for the martial exam. Just show up."
With that, Lucille hopped out the window.
Standing there, half-submerged, Lina was left in a daze. She couldn't fathom why Lucille would go to such lengths personally. Meanwhile, out in the biting wind, The Princess Royal also wondered the same, shaking her head in mild disbelief. "Maybe I really am going mad, taking care of such trivialities myself."