Chapter 006: Prayers

"Are you feeling better now?"

Sophia Riley regarded her sister—who lay curled on the bed—with evident concern, unaware that most people would consider her, so frail and weak, the more delicate one.

Lina Riley found it hard to interpret such overt kindness. She was certain Sophia wasn't reborn; in their previous life, they'd had nearly no contact. Lowering her gaze, she concealed her emotions behind her lashes. "Thank you for your concern, Sister. I'm fine now."

Sophia coughed lightly, wary her illness might spread to Lina. She shifted her seat a bit farther away, angling herself so as not to face Lina directly. "If you're well enough, why not get up?"

Being overlooked had its perks: no one seemed to mind Lina lying in bed for three straight days. But those three days also saw Sophia coming daily to this little courtyard, inevitably raising a few eyebrows.

Lina quietly sighed. Mostly, she'd refused to get up because she dreaded reality. She felt sure she could catch The Princess Royal's attention through her abilities, but "value" depended on The Princess Royal's judgment. No matter how well Lina did, if Lucille Everard found it lacking, she'd be doomed regardless.

Best not to dwell on it. She looked at Sophia, who obviously awaited some kind of reply, and changed the subject. "How are you feeling these days, Sister?"

Relieved at Lina's show of concern, Sophia's smile deepened. She clutched her handwarmer more tightly. "The manor is warmer than the mountains; I feel better than before."

She let out a sigh and tried to excuse Reginald Riley. "Ravenwell's neighboring domain has been stirring up trouble. Father is kept busy, so if he's overlooked you, it's unintentional."

Lina felt no reaction. In her past life, she'd never cared much for kinship, and she certainly wouldn't start now after having died once. Besides, Reginald and Sophia had perished fairly early in that former life; the burden of continuing the Riley name had then fallen to Lina alone. With most people believing she stood no chance, she led the collateral branches of the family in battle, proving the Rileys were still alive and well. But she also knew Victoria Ashwood. Once the kingdom stabilized, she'd target them for "threatening" her rule. No one from the main house would likely survive.

These memories of her old comrades made Lina a little sorrowful. Sophia, misreading the expression, assumed Lina was upset with her father's neglect. She proposed, "You've stayed cooped up here for too long. Why not come out with me for a while?"

That didn't sound wise. In her previous life, Sophia rarely left home; here, she was acting oddly. Curious, Lina neither refused nor accepted outright. "Where did you plan to go, Sister?"

Sophia removed a pendant-like token from her sleeve. Its intricate design was refined, and in the center was the surname "Everard."

"Autumn Clarke—Her Majesty's attendant—gave me this, saying I can enter and leave the palace freely from now on."

Sophia furrowed her brow, uneasy. "Her Majesty summoned me. I'm to go tomorrow."

Lina's heart clenched at the sight of that token. Though she'd never seen it before, she recognized it from memory. In the previous life, once she had lost her sight, Victoria Ashwood had placed that same token in her hand—and Lina had touched it countless times.

Back then, after Lina was blinded, her senses sharpened to everything else. She distinctly recalled Victoria's trembling voice as she explained, "I knelt to our aunt for ages to get it. Many in court resent you, and with your eyesight gone, the palace is safer for you—and easier for me to look after you."

Victoria's words had been so heartfelt that it eased Lina's dread of the darkness, making her lean on Victoria even more. Now Lina had to wonder what expression Victoria wore that day as she spoke. Likely disgust.

Autumn Clarke told me I may bring someone near my age along," Sophia added, "and I thought of you."

Seeing her sister's bright eyes gave Lina a chill. There was no way she'd step foot in the palace! She was banking on The Princess Royal being too busy to remember her. Why throw herself into the lion's den?

She ignored Sophia's hopeful stare, bluntly declining. "I'm not well enough for that."

Her excuse only stirred Sophia's anxiety. Grasping Lina's hand, she demanded, "Not well? Are you sick? Something happened that day in the palace, didn't it? Did someone bully you?"

A torrent of questions came at Lina, who slipped her hand free. Recalling that dreadful night, she turned away and buried her face in the blankets. But her silence only deepened Sophia's misunderstanding. Incensed, Sophia swore, "You can tell me who hurt you. I'll see justice done!"

An inadvertent twitch of Lina's mouth. She could hardly tell the truth—that on a moonlit night, she'd taken advantage of The Princess Royal in some bizarre, tangled way. Or maybe it was the other way around. Now, recalling that night's labored breaths, Lina felt her heartbeat quicken. Even in her desperation, The Princess Royal had shown a modicum of restraint, stifling her moans.

Moonlight had eventually filtered in through a gap in the clutter, highlighting a flush on Lucille's face—and Lina found herself briefly entranced.

"Keep staring, and I'll gouge your eyes out."

Shuddering at the phantom echo, Lina touched her eyelids. She decided no more reminiscing, though her face had grown a shade paler.

This was pure torment.

"Speak to me, Sister—I know you hear me. Just say the name, and I'll defend you," Sophia insisted, sensing Lina's quiet fury.

Driven to frustration, Lina poked her head out from beneath the covers, a dark look in her eyes. "Really?"

Sophia brightened. Owing to her poor health, few ever hoped she might accomplish anything, so helping her sister felt good. With confidence, she said, "Of course. Tell me."

Lina's lips curved in a sardonic smile. She quietly enunciated, "The Princess Royal."

Sophia paled, as though the room had dropped below freezing. She stammered, "Wh-what did you say?"

Lina had been feeling miserable, but the flash of mischief in Sophia's expression brought her a thread of amusement. "Lucille Everard."

Sophia's newfound bravado dissolved in an instant. "That female tyrant? No wonder you're hiding—she could terrify anyone."

Lina noticed her shock morph into disgust. Suddenly, Lina no longer felt like teasing. She sat up, staring into the distance with an air of resignation. "Don't worry about me, Sister. I'll bear the consequences alone and won't drag anyone else down." She added a gentle smile. "But thank you for caring."

Sophia's grip on the warmer tightened. She noticed how innocently Lina smiled, and shame flooded her. Moments earlier, she'd been worrying about whether Lina's trouble might implicate the family. She felt guilty. Renewing her resolve, she clasped Lina's hand again. "Don't worry—just rest well."

Then, with surprising strength for someone so frail, she pressed Lina back onto the bed. Lina squirmed uneasily. "What are you—?"

Sophia coughed, feeling the weight of her decision. "You're a good sister, but I haven't been a good older sister to you. Tomorrow, I'll go to the palace. Meanwhile, you stay home safely."

Lina's confusion peaked—but the mention of the palace made her recall Victoria Ashwood, who'd do anything to reach her goals. And there was some link between Victoria and Sophia. Lina seldom underestimated her adversaries. Victoria was still alive and kicking—heaven knew what might happen.

She watched Sophia head to the door and called out, "Sister!"

Shivering, Sophia forced a calm expression and turned back. "Yes?"

Standing against the red wooden threshold, her thin frame swallowed by an oversized cloak, Sophia's pallid face was nearly hidden by her scarlet hood, her smile identical to the one she had worn just before dying in Lina's previous life. Lina felt a jolt of dread and, in a grave tone, warned, "Take care around the Fifth Princess, Victoria Ashwood."

The name was foreign to Sophia, but she recognized "the Fifth Princess." Sensing that Victoria might be linked to the day's troubles (and possibly The Princess Royal as well), Sophia frowned in distaste. "I'll remember."

Watching her sister disappear, Lina still felt the weight of her predicament. She sighed. "I'm probably overthinking everything. Maybe I should just rest more."

Next day, Sophia rode to the palace at dawn. Autumn Clarke extended her every courtesy, but even so, an uneasy feeling burdened Sophia, who was now seated in a private reception hall alongside Emilia Everard. The latter, wearing a sour look, said nothing. Burdened by worries of her own, Sophia hardly noticed.

Eventually, Autumn announced, "The Princess Royal has arrived."

Sophia tensed, rising to pay respects. But before Lucille could speak, Sophia knelt, pressing her forehead to the floor. "Your Highness, please spare my sister!"

Lucille had intended to scold her younger sibling, the reigning monarch, but Sophia's dramatic plea abruptly sidetracked her. Eyeing the prostrate woman, Lucille guessed she must know far more than she should.

Her voice turned frosty. "Did she tell you?"

Sophia trembled, bowing even lower. "My sister is timid. If she offended you, she was surely set up. Please, Your Highness, in light of her youth, forgive her error."

Without a word, Lucille waved Autumn away, who hurriedly ushered Emilia out. Only Sophia and Lucille remained. Descending from her seat, Lucille examined Sophia's trembling frame. So afraid…

Her intelligence suggested the sisters rarely interacted, and it seemed her sources might be off. She towered over Sophia, her tone glacial. "What exactly did Lina tell you?"

Struggling to breathe, Sophia stammered out the tale. Hearing that Lina had holed up for three days, Lucille found it amusing. Lina was clever—she'd realized the political climate and seized her one chance at survival by showcasing her hidden ability. Yet now she cowered at home like an ostrich.

Yes, she had made a fine bet, but Lucille hated feeling manipulated. In the chaos of recent events, she'd nearly forgotten Lina. Now, it came rushing back.

Meanwhile, Lina suddenly felt a chill. Tugging her blanket tighter, she remained cold. Restless, she sat up, gazing at the snow outside. Memories of her dilemma flooded back. Lina never believed in gods or spirits, but at this moment, she pressed her hands together in a rare display of piety.

"O gods above—if you can hear me, Lina Riley promises to go vegetarian forever, if only The Princess Royal forgets what happened."

The wind howled, scattering flakes in fierce currents. Whether the gods would heed her plea, none could say.