Rika sat at her desk, staring at the piles of intelligence reports spread before her. The maps, the strategies, the orders—it was all so overwhelming. But her mind kept wandering to a completely different matter. She had to figure out how to navigate this new role she'd been thrust into. And more importantly, the people around her.
Kael Ashford, her ever-faithful knight, was the one who seemed to make her the most uneasy. His unwavering loyalty had always been a key aspect of Elias's character, but Rika couldn't help but notice how different it felt to be Elias. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate Kael's support—it was just... the whole situation was so awkward.
A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Lady Elias," Kael's deep voice resonated from the other side of the door. "The royal court has requested your presence for a gathering in the grand hall."
Rika sighed. "I'll be there in a moment."
A moment later, the door creaked open, and there stood Kael, looking every bit the perfect knight in his polished armor. But for some reason, today, Rika couldn't shake the feeling that he was looking at her differently. His gaze lingered for a moment longer than usual, and she swore she saw a faint blush on his cheeks before he quickly averted his eyes.
"Is something the matter, Kael?" she asked, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
"Ah, no, nothing at all, my lady," he stammered, his usual composure faltering for a split second. "The court awaits."
Rika narrowed her eyes. This was… unusual. In the game, Kael had always been stoic, unwavering, his loyalty unquestionable. But now, there was something different in his behavior. Something… flustered? Was he really that affected by her?
No. She couldn't let herself get distracted by these thoughts. She had a mission—she had to play this part perfectly.
---
The grand hall was bustling with nobles and courtiers, the air thick with political chatter and feigned smiles. Rika walked in, her heels clicking against the marble floor as all eyes turned toward her. She had become used to the weight of their gaze, though it still felt strangely alien. Today, she wasn't just Elias Drayven the villainess—she was playing the role of someone who should command respect, but also be a figure of mystery.
As she made her way through the crowd, Kael stepped to her side, his presence almost protective, yet... oddly distant.
"Lady Elias," a nobleman greeted her with a bow, his voice dripping with insincerity. "I trust the military plans are progressing as anticipated?"
Rika pasted on a polite smile. "Of course. The Southern Border will remain secure."
A flirtatious chuckle rang from a man across the room. "Lady Elias, your beauty is only outshone by your brilliance. I must confess, I am captivated by your strategic mind."
Rika's smile faltered for a moment. This again? In the game, Elias had always been surrounded by such sycophants, but now, with her own mind in control, she found the compliments insufferable.
Before she could respond, Kael stepped in, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder as he turned to the nobleman. "My lady is preoccupied with more important matters," he said, his tone sharp. "Perhaps you should direct your… attentions elsewhere."
The nobleman blinked, clearly taken aback, but quickly recovered with a forced smile. "Of course, Sir Kael. My apologies."
As the nobleman retreated, Rika felt a peculiar warmth spread across her cheeks. Why had Kael defended her so fiercely?
But before she could dwell on it, Kael's voice broke through her thoughts. "My lady, you seem... distracted today."
"Distracted?" Rika blinked, suddenly realizing she had been staring at the knight in front of her for far too long. "No, I—just thinking."
Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Thinking, huh?"
"Yes, thinking about how exhausting these political events are," she lied, hoping to cover up her momentary lapse in composure.
Kael seemed to take that at face value, though Rika swore she saw a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
Before she could further analyze the situation, a courtier approached, this time with a delicate fan in hand. "Lady Elias, it is so rare to see you at these gatherings. Might I steal a moment of your time?"
Rika didn't want to engage in any more small talk, but the woman seemed insistent. "Fine," Rika said, plastering her best smile on. "A brief moment, then."
As the woman began speaking about an upcoming ball—something Rika could not have cared less about—she felt an odd sense of relief when Kael suddenly interjected. "My lady, the council is waiting for you. The military strategy discussions must not be delayed."
Rika blinked, and for a split second, she swore she saw a faint smile tugging at Kael's lips. He was being unusually… helpful. Maybe too helpful.
"Ah, yes," Rika said, her heart racing slightly. "The military strategy."
But as she moved away from the courtier, she caught Kael's eye again. He was looking at her with a strange expression, and she could have sworn she saw him blush.
"Kael, are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.
He straightened immediately. "Of course, my lady. It's just... it's nothing." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Shall we?"
Rika watched him as he turned, and despite the confusion swirling in her mind, a small, almost nervous laugh escaped her lips. "Yes, let's."
As they walked through the hall together, an odd sense of comfort settled in Rika's chest. She had no idea what was happening with Kael, but something about his increasingly flustered behavior—combined with her own confusion—felt oddly normal for the first time since her reincarnation.
It wasn't much, but maybe she was starting to adjust to this new life after all. And, just maybe, Kael was starting to look at her in a way that made her feel something... different.
---
The rest of the evening was a blur of political scheming, but the thoughts of Kael's reaction lingered in her mind, distracting her from the larger issues at hand. There was no denying it. Despite all the war strategies and ruthless plots she had to manage, Rika was starting to get tangled up in something unexpected—feelings. And for once, she wasn't sure how to deal with them.
But one thing was certain: this new chapter in her life wasn't going to be as simple as she had once hoped.