Chapter 015: One After Another

After the uninvited guest left, Lina Riley couldn't help but run her hands over her newly acquired weapon. Daisy Harper had already gone to bed, and Lina, not wishing to disturb her, fetched water herself, bathed, and prepared to turn in.

Yet in the dead of night, a strange noise caught her ear. Lina stilled her footsteps and waited by the courtyard wall. Sure enough, before long a shadow appeared at the top of the wall and leapt down. The intruder likely intended a graceful landing—but instead went sprawling at Lina's feet.

"Ow! At least no one saw."

In the moonlight, Lina recognized the figure immediately. "Willa Langley, what are you doing here at this hour?"

Willa, startled, instantly turned defensive, anger flashing across her face. She scrambled upright with a neat flip, only to wrench her injury and grimace in pain. Lina sighed, realizing her night's rest was doomed. "If you don't mind, you can come inside."

Even though she was sweating from the pain, Willa still refused to lose her bravado. She followed Lina into the small house and sat, casting a critical glance around the bare interior. "You actually live here? Ugh, what a dump."

Lina had heard similar remarks multiple times—her place was indeed quite shabby, though being reminded of it repeatedly wore on her nerves. In her previous life, she had used her significant military merits to ensure the welfare of her troops, rarely spending on herself. Snapping back to the present, she realized she needed to find out why Willa was climbing over walls in the middle of the night.

So she repeated her question. "Why are you here, Miss Langley?"

Having finished her inspection, Willa lifted her chin haughtily. "Why do you keep hiding your strength? You'd only benefit from revealing your abilities. During the day, you kept glancing around, but now, under cover of night, no one's paying attention."

Lina rose to turn up the lamp. As the flame brightened, she noticed a fresh wound near Willa's ear. Startled, Lina asked, "What happened to you?"

Willa clapped a hand over the injury. "Don't ask. If you must know, my mother gave me a beating."

Settling down across from her, Lina found Willa's awkward, aggrieved expression rather amusing. "What for?"

Willa's mouth twisted in frustration. "All because of you. Everyone knows your father's situation, so I asked my mother to try pulling you onto our side. She responded by knocking me around." Then she perked up defiantly. "Hah! She told me not to come see you, but do you know who I am?"

Lina obligingly supplied, "A spoiled brat who gallops around town?"

Willa's eyes went round, as though ready to devour Lina. "Hey, I took a beating for you! Look at how badly your father treats you. Why not change your last name and join my mother and me? Life would be so much better."

Only Willa would break into someone's place at night to try and "poach" them. Lina shook her head. "I serve only one person."

Willa's face fell. She'd guessed that would be the answer but felt compelled to try. She had been near enough during that final duel to hear The Princess Royal's words:

"Someone I've set my eye on could not possibly have won by luck."

That had spelled it out loud and clear. But this was The Princess Royal, infamous for slaughtering siblings and nephews alike—a dangerous person to follow. The duel also gave Willa a peculiar impression. Lucille Everard was nearly thirty, unmarried, and… well…

Willa studied Lina's face. In the soft lamplight, the simple scarlet robe stood out vibrantly in the cold night. Her eyes were shaped gently, yet the resolve within them radiated quiet force.

Reluctantly, Willa admitted her admiration and finally stopped looking down on Lina. With a sour note, she muttered, "You're far too good-looking. Be careful."

Lina blinked. "Be careful of what?"

Willa glanced around suspiciously and lowered her voice. "Watch out for The Princess Royal making a move on you."

Alarmed, Lina clapped a hand over Willa's mouth. She couldn't believe someone would babble such nonsense so openly. "Watch your words."

Impressed by Lina's sternness, Willa nodded mutely. When Lina withdrew her hand, she hesitated, then asked shyly, "Am I…really good-looking?"

Willa gaped. "How could you not be! Then what am I? If you're fishing for compliments, I swear I'll knock some sense into you! Don't be like the rest of the Riley family—humblebragging when you're secretly pleased."

When Willa misunderstood her, Lina quickly clarified. "No, I just—someone once told me I have an ordinary face."

Enraged, Willa demanded, "Who's that? Must be blind!"

Lina said nothing. The person in question was Victoria Ashwood. The more Victoria's power grew, the more admirers flocked to her side. Lina rarely saw her except when returning from the battlefield—her own rough, travel-worn appearance felt out of place among the other Heavenblessed. Lina had once asked Victoria about it, but the answer she received was a dodge, feeding her insecurities.

In her previous life, she had tried to quell those insecurities by driving herself into the ground. Ultimately, it had left her empty-handed.

She forced a laugh. "Never mind. An old acquaintance, not worth mentioning."

Willa realized Lina must have been genuinely hurt. But she found Lina's timidity exasperating. If it were her, she'd have punched fate in the face. That resolve morphed into a fierce desire to see Lina toughen up.

She sprang up, bracing one foot on the table, but forgot her injuries—pain shot through her leg, turning her posture stiff. Pretending not to notice, she spoke in a lecturing tone. "You're plenty strong already. Who cares if you look pretty or not? If someone bullies you with their looks, punch back! After a few rounds, they'll back off."

"People want to run their mouths? You know how to use your fists!"

Yet Lina wasn't listening. She had just noticed a deep crack splitting her only table. Willa, in her excitement, was oblivious—every time she punctuated her speech, she stomped the table with her injured leg.

Finally came a cracking sound. The fragile table collapsed with a loud crash, sending the teapot and cups to their untimely demise. Willa's foot missed its footing, and she nearly toppled onto a bed of broken shards.

At the last second, Lina kicked her onto the chair instead.

Willa gasped, "Why'd you kick me so hard?!"

Lina withdrew her leg and swallowed her annoyance. "I… panicked."

Wincing, Willa massaged her chest. She'd already lingered too long—her mother would be suspicious if she didn't return soon. With characteristic bluntness, she said, "Don't be such a doormat. Start acting more like me. I'm out."

She stomped (or limped) toward the door. Lina called after her, "Wait."

Irritated, Willa barked, "What now?"

Lina held out a small container of medicine. "This'll help your wounds."

Willa paused, taken aback. From the start, she had treated Lina with hostility, yet Lina never took offense. After a moment, Willa took the medicine with a brusque "Hmph" and vaulted over the wall.

Lina looked up at the moon. "Beautiful night," she murmured to herself. Exhaustion weighed on her, so she headed back indoors to finally sleep.

But once again, she heard footsteps. Pushing open the half-closed door, she felt exasperation rise. Enough was enough—how was she supposed to rest when everyone else was prowling around at all hours?

Following the sound, Lina returned to the courtyard wall, but at a different section this time. A second figure perched upon it, leaping down with far more grace than Willa had displayed. Right before the person could land, Lina swept her foot out, tripping the intruder.

"Aah!"

The startled cry sounded oddly familiar. Lina halted her next move as realization struck—this was Winnie Wren. Indeed, once the figure's face came into view, Lina knew she was right.

She didn't bother helping her up, merely demanded, "What are you doing here?"

Winnie wasn't as brazen as Willa; she had deeper motives. Coming at midnight to Lina's place suggested there was more at stake than random mischief. Resigned to losing more sleep, Lina waited for her answer.

Propping herself against the wall, Winnie blinked. "Why are you here, Miss Riley?"

Lina's simmering rage flared again. "Because this is my home, obviously!"

Winnie glanced around in confusion, as though she had only just noticed where she was. Her brow furrowed. "Your home?"

Watching her clueless expression—so unlike the cunning strategist Lina believed her to be—Lina had a sudden hunch. And sure enough, Winnie gazed around with growing bafflement and mumbled sheepishly, "I'm sorry, I think I got lost."

Then, brightening as though she'd found a savior, she pleaded, "Good thing you're here, Miss Riley. Could you point me to the Fortune Inn?"

Lina's face darkened. The Fortune Inn was all the way at the other end of Nymor Avenue. Exactly how had Winnie managed this spectacular detour?

With a sigh, Lina relented. "Just hop back over the wall. Then head west until the very end of the street."

Winnie looked uncertain. "Oh… oh, got it! Thank you. I'll treat you to dinner sometime!"

She clambered back over the wall. Still uneasy, Lina jumped up on it to watch her. Biting her lip, she called out, "That's east!"