Reina had never been more frustrated in her life. No matter what she did, Myraa always managed to come out on top—sometimes literally covered in glitter, yet somehow looking victorious. And worst of all, Kyra was always there, stepping in to save Myraa, cementing her status as the school's "Untouchable Princess and her Knight."
But Reina wasn't giving up.
"This is my last chance," she muttered to her minions as they gathered in her dorm room. "If I don't take her down now, I'll be stuck living in her shadow forever!"
"What are you planning this time?" one of them asked nervously.
Reina's smile was cold and calculating. "Something so big, so dramatic, that there's no way she can recover."
---
The Setup: A Schoolwide Scandal
The opportunity presented itself in the form of the Reizei Charity Exhibition, a prestigious event organized by Camellia Academy to showcase the Reizei family's influence and contributions. The exhibition featured art, historical artifacts, and interactive displays—all designed to highlight the family's legacy.
Myraa, of course, was the guest of honor.
"This is perfect," Reina said as she reviewed the event program. "If I can create chaos during the exhibition, Myraa will never live it down. And when she's humiliated in front of the entire school—and the press—she'll finally lose her crown."
Her minions exchanged nervous glances but didn't dare question her.
---
The Exhibition Begins
The exhibition was held in the school's grand hall, which had been transformed into an elegant gallery for the occasion. Myraa felt a mix of awe and dread as she wandered through the displays, surrounded by priceless artifacts and curious students.
"This feels like a museum," she muttered to Kyra, who was walking beside her. "A very, very fancy museum."
"Try not to break anything," Kyra replied, smirking.
"Why would you say that?" Myraa hissed, glaring at her. "Now I'm paranoid!"
Kyra chuckled but didn't respond, her dark eyes scanning the room with quiet vigilance.
---
Reina's Trap
Unbeknownst to Myraa, Reina had set her plan in motion. One of her minions had tampered with the school's security system, ensuring that a display case containing a priceless Reizei artifact—a centuries-old ceremonial katana—would "accidentally" fall open during the event.
The goal was simple: make it look like Myraa had damaged the artifact in a clumsy moment, ruining her reputation as the family's heiress.
"It's foolproof," Reina whispered to herself as she watched from the shadows.
But, as always, things didn't go according to plan.
---
The Sabotage Backfires
As Myraa stood near the display case, admiring the ceremonial katana from a safe distance, she felt an uneasy sense of being watched.
"Is it just me, or is this whole event kind of… tense?" she muttered to Kyra.
"It's not just you," Kyra replied, her sharp gaze sweeping the room.
Before Myraa could respond, a loud clang echoed through the hall as the display case's lock gave way, sending the katana crashing to the floor.
The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Myraa.
"Oh no," she whispered, staring at the artifact in horror. "I didn't do it! I wasn't even touching it!"
"Step back," Kyra said calmly, placing herself between Myraa and the growing crowd of onlookers.
Reina stepped forward, her voice dripping with fake concern. "Oh dear, Miss Myraa. How clumsy of you. It would be such a shame if the Reizei family's legacy were tarnished because of this little… accident."
Myraa glared at her. "I didn't do anything, and you know it!"
Kyra crouched down to inspect the fallen katana, her sharp eyes noticing something unusual about the broken display case. "It was tampered with," she said, her voice loud enough for the crowd to hear.
Reina's smug smile faltered. "What are you talking about?"
Kyra held up the lock mechanism, which had been sawed through. "This wasn't an accident. Someone planned this."
The crowd gasped, and Reina's face turned pale.
---
Myraa's Bold Move
For once, Myraa didn't panic. Instead, she stepped forward, her voice steady.
"Someone wanted to make me look bad," she said, addressing the crowd. "But guess what? It didn't work. Because I have nothing to hide."
The audience murmured in agreement, and Myraa felt a surge of confidence. She turned to Kyra, who nodded subtly, as if to say You've got this.
"And whoever's responsible," Myraa added, her gaze locking onto Reina, "should know that the truth always comes out."
Reina's minions immediately began to distance themselves, muttering excuses and disappearing into the crowd.
Reina, meanwhile, clenched her fists and stormed out of the hall, her plan in shambles.
---
A Quiet Victory
Later that evening, Myraa and Kyra sat on the rooftop, watching the stars.
"You handled that well," Kyra said, breaking the silence.
"Thanks," Myraa replied, leaning back against the railing. "I guess I'm finally starting to figure this heiress thing out."
Kyra chuckled softly. "Don't get too comfortable. There's always another challenge waiting."
"Great," Myraa muttered, rolling her eyes.
For a moment, they sat in companionable silence, the cool night air brushing against their faces. Then Myraa glanced at Kyra, her expression thoughtful.
"Hey, Kyra?"
"Yes?"
"You… you're not just helping me because you have to, are you?"
Kyra tilted her head, her dark eyes studying Myraa. "No. I'm not."
"Then why?" Myraa asked softly.
Kyra hesitated, her usual composure faltering for just a moment. "Because you're important to me. More than you realize."
Myraa felt her heart skip a beat, but before she could respond, Kyra stood and offered her a hand.
"Come on," Kyra said, her smirk returning. "It's getting late."
Myraa took her hand, her mind swirling with questions she wasn't ready to ask.