Marked by the Ruthless Princess

The Hall of Diligence was where the Emperor handled daily matters of state. Though this Emperor was a mere puppet, she at least lived up to the hall's name by appearing diligent.

At this moment, the Emperor sat rigidly behind a rosewood desk stacked with memorials, unmoving. The palace maids around her all kept their heads bowed.

The Emperor swallowed nervously, set down her brush, and turned toward Lucille Everard, who stood quietly to the side. She dared not show any displeasure and asked respectfully, "Elder Sister, do you not trust me?"

The silence stretched, and outside the palace, snow howled even more fiercely, as if it longed to burst into the room.

Within the Emperor's mind, a tempest raged. Once calm returned, fear took hold.

Recently, Lucille Everard had released that certain princess from the Cold Palace. The Emperor immediately sensed danger. Victoria Ashwood's low birth meant nothing to Lucille Everard, who scorned such worldly prejudices.

So the Emperor had been very obedient these past few days.

Under immense psychological pressure, one tended to overthink. The Emperor tried to guess Lucille's intentions, and the more she pondered, the weaker her legs felt. At least she was seated.

Everyone in the hall hardly dared breathe, praying not to be drawn into the coming storm.

But they needn't have worried so much. Lucille was lost in her own thoughts, troubled by a perplexing issue: she kept wanting to visit the Riley household. Moreover, the violent turmoil in her mind seemed to ease whenever she saw Lina Riley. That sense of peace had been absent too long.

Yet Lucille was cautious. She would wait for the quack physician's return before making any decisions.

If by some chance their scents matched and Lina's presence could cure her ailment, all would be well. If, however, Lina was trying to trick her, Lucille would show no mercy.

Still, Lina seemed too dim-witted to fool her. A bit of petty cunning might deceive others, but not Lucille Everard.

While the maids nearly broke their necks bowing so low, the Crown Princess remained distracted, forgetting her earlier appreciation of Lina and focusing only on the girl's limitations.

Perhaps she thought too much. Lucille eagerly awaited tomorrow's knighthood trials. Though she had ordered this event, her poor health had prevented any direct involvement until now.

She finally looked up, easing everyone's pounding hearts. "Tomorrow is the final test of the trials. The five finalists—have you looked into them?"

The Emperor, drenched in cold sweat, misunderstood this as a test of her competence. She dared not slack off. Her hand clenched beneath the table.

"As Elder Sister commanded, there shall be no policy debate, only martial skill," she replied carefully.

Lucille impatiently raised a hand, cutting her off. "Stop. Just tell me whom you favor."

"General Wang's eldest daughter, Lana Warren, is most promising, skilled in mounted archery."

At the mention of Lana Warren, Lucille recalled her mother, Wang Fu, more vividly. Wang Fu was of humble origin, a veteran who rose through the ranks in the empire's early days, earning honor through countless campaigns. She bore a daughter at the age of forty and treasured her beyond measure.

Lucille smiled. Wang Fu and Reginald Riley had long been political rivals, often compared due to their similar backgrounds. Reginald came from a noble lineage that once served the previous regime, while Wang Fu's origins were humble. Such comparisons had always annoyed Wang Fu, who despised aristocrats like Reginald Riley.

Raised in this atmosphere, Lana Warren naturally hated the Riley family.

Observing Lucille's strange smile, the Emperor's imagination ran wild. The feud between the Wang and Riley families was common knowledge. On more than one occasion, their quarrels in court nearly turned the imperial hall into a martial arena.

Both generals adored their daughters. Whenever disputes arose, they even hurled insults at each other's children. Many tears had been shed over the years.

The Emperor discreetly wiped sweat from her brow, recalling Lucille's peculiar move of adding Lina Riley to the trials at the last minute.

Given what she knew, Lina Riley was unremarkable. Not even Wang Fu bothered to curse her by name. Could Reginald Riley have offended Lucille somehow, prompting this setup?

The Emperor felt pity. Lana Warren was no gentle foe. Yet as a mere puppet ruler, what could she do? She ventured, "Though Lana is fierce, she's arrogant and rash. If Lina Riley faces her, Lina may not escape unscathed."

Lucille sneered. "You care about her?"

The Emperor's heart jumped. She hurriedly denied it: "I hold no such concern."

Seeing the Emperor's submissive posture calmed Lucille's inexplicable irritation. Though still uneasy, Lucille frowned for a while before saying, "Perfect. This will curb their arrogance."

With that, she rose and left. Her departure took the room's tension with her.

The Emperor slumped, shaking her head. Suddenly, an idea sparked: invite Sophia Riley to the palace and have her persuade Lina to surrender. It wasn't just sympathy—she hoped to woo Reginald Riley's loyalty this way.

In a firm tone, the Emperor ordered, "Summon the eldest Miss Riley to the palace."

Lucille left the Hall of Diligence and raced across rooftops, disregarding palace walls and gates. The streets were empty in this bitter winter, and none dared venture out.

After traveling some distance, Lucille halted on a rooftop, hearing lively chatter below—a gambling den.

Initially planning to leave, she paused at the sound of familiar names drifting upward.

"I'm betting on Miss Lana Warren."

"Me too! She once routed an entire bandit stronghold by herself!"

"Not me; I'll bet on Winifred Falkner."

"Who's that? Some nobody?"

"Count me in for Winifred. Two years ago, traveling merchants were saved from river pirates by Miss Winifred. She's known for helping many without asking reward, a true heroine!"

Eavesdropping, Lucille heard the gamblers dividing into rival camps: one supporting Lana Warren, the other Winifred Falkner. Occasionally, they mentioned the other three finalists. Yet no one brought up Lina Riley. If they did, it was with scorn or confusion.

This annoyed Lucille. Leaping down, she approached a little girl huddled outside the gambling hall. The child was bundled in red, sniffling in the cold, and when she saw Lucille's white embroidered shoes, her eyes widened and she smiled, "A fairy!"

Amused, Lucille maintained a polite distance, wary of the child's runny nose. The revelers inside were too loud to notice.

Lucille took out a heavy purse. Initially, she intended to toss it near the child's feet and leave, but the girl's innocent gaze pricked her conscience. Instead, Lucille gently placed it in her hand and coaxed, "Help the fairy with a task, and your wish shall be granted."

Inside, bets raged between the "Warren faction" and the "Falkner faction." No one noticed a tiny figure clambering onto a stool and placing a heavy purse down on Lina Riley's name.

Silver clinked against wood, and the child's sweet, milky voice stilled the crowd.

"Lina Riley, one thousand taels."

The gambling hall's owner, stunned, picked up his child and examined the purse. It contained silver lumps and notes exceeding a thousand taels.

Shocked, he asked, "Child, where did you get this money?"

The girl sniffled. "The fairy lady gave it to me."

She pointed outside, but beyond the swirling snow, there was nothing.

Satisfied, Lucille continued toward the Riley residence. Seeing the familiar walls made her involuntarily smile. She vaulted over the wall, slipped through the window, and deftly caught Lina Riley in bed once more. This time, Lina's eyes were less fearful—she was getting used to it.

Lina calmly sat up. "Your Highness."

"No need for courtesies."

Lina considered leaving the bed, but something felt off. She remained seated, a bit uneasy. This new life had made her lazy. In her past life, she'd spent most of her time on battlefields, nerves taut. Now, she relished her leisure. Sleep felt like a reward, though it left her slightly groggy.

Leaning against the bed frame, she gazed at her former nightmare calmly. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Your Highness?"

Lucille noted Lina's drowsy eyes, her disheveled hair seeming to have a mind of its own. Lina's slightly parted lips and chubby cheeks reminded Lucille of a messy-haired puppy she once kept. Lucille loved cute things—cats, dogs—and would often leave their fur in disarray by petting them.

Now Lina looked like that scruffy puppy. Caught in a moment of whimsy, Lucille reached out and ruffled her hair even more.

Lina dared not protest. She glanced upward, puzzled. In this strange new life, Sophia behaved unexpectedly kindly, her old enemy Victoria feigned kindness as before, and Lucille Everard was acting oddly too.

After a moment, Lucille took out a handkerchief and wiped her hand disdainfully. Then, suddenly leaning in, she lifted a lock of Lina's hair near her neck and inhaled softly.

Lina's pupils contracted. Was she being teased?

Fighting panic, Lina pulled her hair free. "Your Highness, please… This isn't appropriate."

Lucille grinned at her flushed ears. "Don't you feel guilty saying that?"

Lina flinched. Memories surged, and her defiance waned. "I… I…"

She lowered her voice, "If someone saw us, it would damage your reputation."

Lucille sneered, "Then I'll just kill all who witness it."

Horrified, Lina grabbed Lucille's sleeve and cried, "You mustn't!"

In her panic, Lina didn't notice they'd drawn closer, but Lucille did.

Unmoved, Lucille scoffed, "When have I ever feared the world's opinion? I've never had a good reputation to begin with."

She considered leaving, but Lina's presence amused her, so she lingered. Her eyes danced with laughter. "I came to tell you: if you lose tomorrow, you won't have to forfeit your life."

Lina's eyes brightened. She almost thanked Lucille, but the princess continued, "However, I placed a wager of ten thousand taels on you. If you lose, you must repay every coin."

Lina's grateful smile collapsed. Lucille enjoyed her stricken look, then strolled to the window and added, "And your shampoo water is terrible. Change it."

She leapt out into the night, leaving Lina scrambling through her purse and jewelry box, calculating her assets. After counting again and again, Lina concluded she was nine thousand nine hundred ninety taels short.