Marked by the Ruthless Princess

On the morning of the knighthood trials, Lina Riley rose unusually early. After Daisy Harper helped her dress neatly, Lina retrieved the spear from her courtyard. Upon inspection, she found its wooden shaft had cracked in the freezing weather.

She didn't mind. Stepping outside, she unexpectedly encountered Reginald Riley.

"Father."

Reginald regarded this daughter with barely concealed anger. He believed the Crown Princess's summons was a form of reprimand—perhaps Lina had offended her at the palace. His face darkened. "Why didn't you heed your elder sister's advice?"

Yesterday, Sophia Riley had pleaded with Lina to yield before the competition even began. But Lina, tied by obligations she couldn't explain, had refused.

Lina didn't grow angry. After all she'd endured in her previous life, familial affection had lost much of its weight. She had once tried to live simply, hiding her talents, but in her past life Victoria Ashwood shattered that wish; now Lucille Everard forced her into the spotlight again. There was no hiding anymore. She would have to abandon that weak, humble façade.

Lina lifted her gaze to meet Reginald's, her bearing surpassing his. "I dare not disobey the Crown Princess's orders. Please step aside, Father."

This sudden assertiveness startled Reginald, then ignited his fury. "Insolence! Is this how you speak to your father? Have you no upbringing?"

Lina remained calm. "You're right, Father. I was raised by no one."

"You—!"

Mortified at the loss of face, Reginald raised his hand to strike her.

"Father, stop!" Sophia Riley hurried over, positioning herself protectively in front of Lina. Facing her beloved elder daughter, Reginald's demeanor changed. He lowered his arm angrily and stormed off, leaving the seldom-visited courtyard in a huff.

Sophia forced a reassuring smile. "Father's just upset."

Upset enough to raise a hand? Lina nearly retaliated to save Sophia's interference. In truth, Sophia had just saved Reginald from a harsh beating.

Realizing her words sounded hollow, Sophia grasped Lina's hand, upset herself. "You must go?"

Lina noted Sophia's hand felt colder than hers. Her sister's health was deteriorating. Lina withdrew her hand and nodded. "I must."

Sophia's eyes brimmed with tears. The Emperor had urged Sophia to persuade Lina to surrender. Yet Sophia refused to believe that the Crown Princess would harm Lina—Lucille Everard had seemed so gentle. The palace atmosphere was confusing, uncertain whom to trust.

Seeing her sister's tears, Lina froze. She had always dreaded seeing innocent tears—enemy tears were another matter entirely. She opened her mouth to speak but said nothing, recalling her time on the battlefield where no one cried so openly.

She suddenly remembered how she used to calm skittish warhorses. Brightening, Lina patted Sophia's shoulder lightly with her left hand. "Don't be afraid. Trust me."

Wiping her tears, Sophia realized she looked nothing like an elder sister, only burdening Lina further. She forced a weak smile. "Yes, go. You'll return safely."

Though Sophia's concern was puzzling, Lina still felt warmed by it. Lina smiled back. "Sister, wait for my return."

Sophia's eyes welled again, but she held back her tears, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Go on, then."

Waiting at the gate was a horse and a bright red spear. Lina glanced at the flawed spear in her hand and the fine spear presented by a servant.

"Second Miss, the master prepared a mount and weapon for you."

No sudden kindness—just a matter of preserving reputation. Lina kept her flawed spear, mounted the horse gracefully, and rode toward the tournament grounds.

"Out of my way, idiot!"

A shrill voice accompanied galloping hooves from behind. Lina turned to see a woman in royal-blue attire—Lana Warren. Instinctively, Lina prepared to greet her old battlefield ally from a past life. But the fierce look in Lana's eyes jolted Lina back to reality. She pulled her horse aside, letting Lana race past. Lana glanced back with contempt, then vanished into the archery pavilion.

The scene was so familiar, and yet, how changed. Lina merely sighed, "Still the same as ever."

Another set of hoofbeats approached, and Lina turned to find a more subdued figure nearing her—a woman in white clothes, carrying a sword, and wearing a polite smile. This was Winifred Falkner, who radiated a gentle, approachable charm. But Lina knew better—Winifred was cunning deep down.

Winifred halted beside Lina, voice soft and courteous, "You must be Miss Lina Riley? I'm Winifred Falkner, or you can call me Wenwen."

Lina was glad to see old acquaintances from the battlefield, though she felt weary from Lucille's manipulations. "Nice to meet you, Miss Wenwen."

Winifred smiled warmly. "I'll go on ahead, then."

Lina nodded, watching Winifred's figure retreat. She sighed. "I still can't imagine how these two ended up together in my previous life."

The trials had once unearthed three extraordinary young warriors—two of them stood before Lina now. But war was unpredictable; in the end, Lina alone survived that brutal future. Could this life unfold differently?

Burdened by such thoughts, Lina rode slowly into the archery pavilion.

At once, she felt countless eyes upon her. She glanced upward and spotted Lucille Everard sitting casually. The Crown Princess smiled and mouthed something.

Lina deciphered it: "Ten thousand taels."

Her grip on the reins trembled. The horse sensed her tension and grew restless. Lina tried to calm herself and looked aside, catching Lana Warren and Winifred Falkner's gazes. Lana seemed proud and defiant, nose in the air, while Winifred offered a gentle smile.

A wild boar charging recklessly, and a sly fox brimming with guile.

The competition began. Lucille focused solely on Lina, ignoring the Emperor's commentary. The Emperor dared not interrupt. She watched anxiously as Lina casually chose a three-stone bow, the heaviest available.

The Emperor choked on her tea. That bow was rarely drawn fully. Few could manage it with ease—her elder sister, Lucille, was one of them, but hardly anyone else.

Fearing for Lina, the Emperor coughed nervously, only to witness Lina pull the bowstring effortlessly. Shocked, she nearly spat her tea again. A maid hurried to wipe her mouth.

Now the Emperor trembled with fresh respect for Lucille. Clearly, the Crown Princess had known Lina's true strength. Another layer of intimidation settled over the Emperor's heart, Lucille's prowess once more proving insurmountable.

Lucille outwardly remained calm, but inside she was astonished and thrilled. She felt as though she had discovered a hidden treasure. Her mood soared.

The first two segments of the trial tested mounted archery. Lina faltered at first, adjusting to her old skills, and ended this phase behind Lana Warren. Lina was anxious—she lacked money and feared Lucille's wrath. At least there was one final round: close combat on the platform.

Champion so far, Lana Warren approached Lina, chin raised arrogantly. "I thought you'd be impressive, but the Riley family is all smoke. Losing to me is no disgrace. Go home and weep!"

Winifred Falkner hovered nearby. Disliking Lana's bullying, she said softly, "Miss Warren, the contest isn't over yet."

Lana despised those who spoke politely. She considered civil tongues as cunning as the realm's bureaucrats. She snapped, "Who do you think you are!"

Lina had regained her composure. In her previous life, these two had ended up a loving couple, often showing affection in front of Lina and praising each other incessantly. Now, seeing them at odds felt surreal, as if memory and reality were at odds.

Lina sighed, thinking she'd like to help them find common ground again.

She lifted her gaze, meeting Lana's provocation without anger. Lana, frustrated by Lina's calm, felt as if she'd punched cotton. Growing furious, Lana seized Lina's collar, demanding, "You dare defy me?"

High above, Lucille Everard stood abruptly. Fury etched her face as she watched the confrontation unfold.

The Emperor bowed her head, frightened of the Crown Princess's reaction.

Lina gently pried Lana's hand from her collar, still smiling serenely. Lana felt a surge of panic for no apparent reason. Snorting, Lana backed away, as if one-upped by Lina's calm.

Winifred watched and murmured, "She's so rough."

A sense of dissonance struck Lina again. In her previous life, Winifred would praise Lana as the gentlest soul alive—saccharine words without any basis in fact.

Lina pressed a hand to her forehead, sighing deeply. Lifting her gaze, she met Lucille's eyes. Lucille smiled and mouthed silently again:

"Well done."