Chapter 004: Overstepping Bounds

Passing through winding corridors, the surroundings grew steadily bleaker: dead trees, collapsed structures, cobwebs ready to snare the unwary. Victoria Ashwood clearly knew the way well, deftly dodging each maid and guard's line of sight at every subtle turn.

Lina Riley trailed behind at a moderate distance, her face devoid of emotion. Yet she noticed Victoria's shoulders trembling slightly, which made her narrow her eyes in thought. Victoria was a con artist, yes, but not everything about her was fake. For instance, her shoulders would quiver when she was genuinely excited. Lina wondered if she'd also shaken like that while taking Lina's life in their previous lifetime.

She quickly stifled the thought, letting her gaze return to Victoria. If she were only nervous, as in Lina's previous life, that would be expected—she had seized this opportunity, because failing today meant no next time. But was she trembling from excitement now? That was unusual.

A possibility sprang to Lina's mind, fueling her own excitement: what if Victoria possessed memories of their past as well? Her revenge would feel all the more meaningful.

Momentarily lost in speculation, Lina slowed her pace. Looking up again, she saw Victoria had also stopped not far ahead. Ever the successful deceiver, Victoria crouched to free a butterfly ensnared by a web among some shrubs. Seeing Victoria's sweet smile made Lina feel nothing but disgust. Surely Victoria was just stalling until Lina caught up, masking her real motive with this show of compassion. In her last life, Lina might've believed it, but she now saw through Victoria's ruse.

And indeed, Victoria was acting. She knew Lina had a kind heart, so saving a butterfly would impress her. Confident in her success, Victoria rose and went on. Noting Lina still followed, she grew almost too delighted to hide it.

Before long, they arrived at a locked, run-down palace hall. The plaque over the entrance, once reading "The Cold Palace," lay blanketed in dust. Indeed, all around was dull and gray. Time and neglect had stolen any trace of grandeur.

Victoria gazed at the place she had spent her early life in, and her eyes filled with loathing. As the fifth princess of the former monarch, her lowly-born mother—little more than a palace maid—had lost favor, thus landing them in this forsaken palace. Victoria was determined never to end up like her mother. She saw her chance in today's events.

Suddenly, a sharp voice pierced the silence. "You worthless wretch!"

A tall, skinny maid kicked Victoria hard in the stomach, sending her sprawling. Victoria hit the ground with a thud, curling up to shield her head. Yet even as she clutched her arms close, she peeped over at Lina, hidden behind a dead tree, eyes brimming with desperation.

That was exactly how it happened in the previous life: seeing Victoria so brutally mistreated, Lina had stepped out to halt the assault, scaring off the maids before gently helping Victoria up. She would check Victoria's injuries, worry plain on her face.

Victoria expected the same now. She let out a strangled cry as another kick landed on her lower back, nearly making her sob aloud. But compared to the final torture inflicted by her aunt in the past, this pain was bearable. Through the haze, Victoria locked her tearful eyes on Lina, praying for rescue.

But Lina neither moved nor even looked at her. Her focus seemed to drift elsewhere. As Victoria's beating worsened, Lina quietly slipped away to the left, following a cluttered path out of sight. Hope shattered on the spot, leaving Victoria overwhelmed.

Those palace maids, of course, didn't let up simply because she begged for mercy. Pain rained down, and Lina's figure vanished from Victoria's world.

No longer hearing screams, Lina took her leave once the little drama was done. The main route was too far, so she chose a shortcut she knew from her past. The palace was not unfamiliar to her, and she knew a hidden way back.

Discarded junk lined the path, but Lina navigated it smoothly. Despite that, unease prickled at her: some looming event was closing in. In her days on the battlefield, she had honed instincts like these. So she slowed, watching for anything unusual. Her gaze settled on a small, half-hidden window behind a heap of debris, from which flowed a cool, faint scent of plum blossoms.

Alarm sparked within her. Quickly clamping a hand over her nose, Lina realized too late that an Earthbound in heat was nearby. She pressed a palm to the back of her neck, feeling an ominous warmth. She could scarcely believe she'd stumbled on someone in a heightened "mating season." They might literally die from the strain if they lacked medicine or a Heavenblessed partner to mark them. And the medical hall was far away. They'd never make it unaided.

Lina flushed red. She was, at heart, very conservative. In two lives, she had zero experience with these matters. A "heat-crazed" Earthbound was dangerous, but maybe she could ferry them to the physician quickly using her martial skill. She still had enough presence of mind to handle the weaker scent… or so she thought.

Resolved, Lina held her breath as best she could and cleared the debris. She kicked open the door, calling gently, "Who's there?"

She'd expected a soft, moaning voice. Instead, she heard a dangerously low tone, made husky by the tension: "Who dares!"

The room was dark. The sweet, heavy aroma of plum blossoms pressed in on Lina, making her dizzy. Yet she realized in horror: The scent wasn't weak at all. In fact, it was too potent. Lina's head swam. Then came a cold jolt of recognition—she knew that voice. It belonged to The Princess Royal, Lucille Everard.

Her clothes and hair might be out of place, but the familiar sound was unmistakable. Lina's heart sank. She tried to keep calm, though sweat beaded on her brow. The thick fragrance assaulted her senses, draining her clarity. It was far stronger than she'd guessed.

Lucille peered through the gloom at the silhouette standing gawkily in the doorway, fury rolling off her in waves. She'd wanted to hide in this remote corner until the feverish surge of her "poison" subsided. Instead, this clueless intruder had ruined her plans. She caught a whiff of fresh pine layered over her own plum scent—intermingling in an oddly seductive way.

Suddenly, waves of desire hammered Lucille's body. Crimson tinted her usually cold cheeks, the severity in her gaze melting like ice. She clutched the bedding beneath her with such force she almost tore it. Clearly, there would be no easy escape.

"Your…Your Highness?" Lina ventured. Her mind reeled. She was already woozy from the floral musk swirling in the dark. Panicking, she bit hard on the back of her hand, hoping the pain would steady her mind. But the effect was slight; the haze kept thickening.

Lucille took note of that. She thought the newcomer a fool, but a pretty enough fool at that.

"Trust me, I'll get you to the medical hall," Lina slurred, though she was on the edge of delirium. Marking The Princess Royal to calm her heat was unthinkable. They needed proper care. Lucille said nothing, only glaring with violence behind that lust-hazed mask. Then, in one swift motion, she tugged Lina forward and used scattered junk to barricade the door. Shadows engulfed them.

In the blackness, Lina felt cool fingers brush her face. The floral scent overwhelmed her, making her dizzy. Fearing she'd lose control, she tried again to bite herself. But Lucille pinned her arms, leaving her unable to move or bend her head enough.

She disliked darkness, or rather, she was more sensitive to it since her last lifetime. Fear clawed at her. "Your Highness?"

She flinched, feeling Lucille tugging at her collar. Her brain short-circuited. "Your Highness!" she cried. Lina was clinging to the last shred of self-control, like a small boat battered by waves, ready to be swamped at any moment. Her heart hammered. Each breath of Lucille's tickled her neck like a feather, sending tremors through her.

As her mind slipped into chaos, Lucille's voice murmured by her ear, "I'll allow you one act of boldness."

Meanwhile, Reginald Riley's face darkened further with every passing moment. Lina had slipped away from the banquet and vanished. The emperor had graciously overlooked her absence, even sending people to help look for her. Sophia was frantic, trying to join the search—but after only a few steps, she dissolved into wracking coughs. Her father insisted she rest, so she yielded, staying with him.

Sensing his daughter's deep worry for Lina, Reginald found it perplexing. Yet, glancing at her pale face, his concern overshadowed everything else. "Go back inside," he urged gently.

Still anxious, Sophia pressed a hand to her lips and coughed. "Father, I'll wait here for my sister."

Reginald frowned, but her resolute eyes won him over. He sighed, "Pity we didn't see The Princess Royal tonight. We may not get such an opportunity again."

Sophia disagreed quietly. "She's too dangerous. It's better not to get involved with her." Casting a worried look at the setting sun, she fretted aloud, "Where could Lina have gone? I hope nothing bad has happened…"