Marked by the Ruthless Princess

"Are you feeling any better?"

Sophia Riley's face was filled with worry as she looked at her younger sister lying in bed. Strangely, anyone else would say the fragile one was Sophia herself, who could barely sit up, rather than Lina who lay under the covers.

Sophia's excessive concern puzzled Lina. She was certain her elder sister had not been reborn. Why, then, this sudden warmth? In their previous life, they'd barely crossed paths.

Lina lowered her lashes, the shadows of her eyelashes hiding her emotions. "Thank you for your concern, Sister. I'm fine."

Sophia coughed lightly, fearing her illness might spread. She scooted a bit farther away and turned slightly so as not to face Lina directly. "If you're fine, why haven't you gotten up?"

Being ignored had its advantages. Lina had stayed in bed for three days now without a single complaint from the household. Only Sophia visited this remote courtyard daily, attracting some attention.

Lina sighed inwardly. She had spent these days hidden away, refusing to face reality.

She trusted her abilities to impress the Crown Princess, Lucille Everard, if need be, but value was determined by that formidable woman. No matter what Lina did, if Lucille claimed it wasn't enough, the end result would still be death.

Better not to dwell on it for now.

Noticing her sister waiting for an answer, Lina shifted the topic. "How is your health these days, Sister?"

The younger one's concern widened Sophia's smile. She wrapped her hands tighter around the small hand-warmer she carried. "It's warmer here than on Mount Wulfham. My body feels a bit better."

Sighing softly, she offered an excuse for their father's neglect. "The Kingdom of Ravenwell faces frequent unrest from the neighboring states. Father has many duties and may have overlooked you."

Lina remained unmoved. In her previous life, she never cared about paternal affection, and after experiencing death once, she cared even less. Besides, both Reginald Riley and Sophia had perished early in that life, leaving Lina as the sole direct heir of the Riley line. She'd led distant relatives into battle and proved the family's worth to the world.

But she knew if Victoria Ashwood seized power, the newly honored Riley family would be seen as a threat. None would survive in the end.

Recalling her former comrades brought a pang of sorrow. Sophia misread Lina's silence, assuming her sister felt hurt by their father's neglect. Gently, Sophia suggested, "It's not good for you to stay cooped up here. Would you like to go out with me?"

Lina doubted Sophia's health. In her previous life, Sophia had been more reclusive. Why so different now? Curious, Lina didn't refuse outright. She asked instead, "Where does Sister wish to go?"

From her sleeve, Sophia produced a finely crafted token engraved with intricate patterns and a bold "E" for Everard at its center.

"Aunt Autumn gave me this," Sophia explained, referencing Autumn Clarke, the emperor's attendant. "It grants me free entry into the palace. The Emperor summoned me. I'm to enter the palace tomorrow. Autumn said I could bring someone my own age, which might include you."

Lina's heart clenched. Though it was her first time seeing the token, she recognized it at once. In her previous life, after losing her sight, Victoria Ashwood had given Lina this very object. Lina had touched it countless times, cherishing Victoria's feigned tenderness.

Back then, Victoria had claimed: "I knelt for ages before my royal aunt to get this. Many resent you in the outside world. Now that you can't see, the palace is safer. I can look after you."

She'd spoken so earnestly that Lina believed her, relying on Victoria in the darkness. How foolish.

Thinking back, Victoria's face must have been twisted with disgust even as she pretended to be loving.

Snapping back to the present, Lina saw Sophia's expectant eyes. Entering the palace was out of the question! Lina hoped Lucille Everard would be too busy to recall their encounter. Strolling brazenly into the palace would be begging for death.

She ignored Sophia's hopeful gaze and refused bluntly. "I don't feel well enough to accompany you."

Sophia startled, alarmed by Lina's words. "Not feeling well? What's wrong? Did something happen that night in the palace? Did someone bully you?"

Her rapid-fire questions made Lina pull her hand away. Just recalling that night unsettled her. She turned away, burrowing under the blankets as if to escape.

But this only increased Sophia's misunderstanding. Furious on Lina's behalf, she vowed, "Don't be afraid. Just tell me who wronged you, and I'll see to it that justice is done."

Lina's eye twitched. Could she possibly explain?

Explain what—that on a moonless, windy night, circumstances led her to take advantage of the Crown Princess? Not exactly—Lucille had taken the initiative while Lina fought hard to restrain herself. Who bullied whom was debatable.

Just recalling that night made her ears burn. The soft, controlled panting echoing in the darkness still lingered in her memory. Even blind in her past life, Lina had heightened senses; sound alone had nearly undone her. Then moonlight crept through gaps in the debris, illuminating Lucille's flushed eyes. Lina had stared too long, mesmerized.

"Look any longer, and I'll gouge out your eyes," Lucille had threatened.

Lina shuddered. That distant warning echoed now. She timidly touched her eyelids, not daring to reminisce further. Her face twisted in dismay.

Sophia persisted, "Speak, Sister. I know you can hear me. Just tell me, and I'll stand up for you."

Annoyed, Lina poked her head out of the blankets and asked quietly, "Truly?"

Sophia nodded firmly. Because of her illness, no one had ever placed great expectations on her. Now able to help someone, she felt a rare sense of fulfillment. "Of course. Tell me."

Lina smiled wryly and spoke three words: "The Crown Princess."

Outside, snow fell silently, yet Sophia felt as if the room had grown colder than the world beyond. Her teeth chattered. "Who did you say?"

Lina had held this in for days, and now felt a strange satisfaction at the shock on Sophia's face. "I said Lucille Everard, the Crown Princess."

All of Sophia's newfound courage vanished. The Crown Princess was a fearsome presence. No wonder Lina had stayed hidden these past days. She must have been terrified out of her wits.

Seeing Sophia's complexion go from pale to greenish, Lina lost interest in teasing. She sat up, staring distantly as if resigned to fate. "Don't worry about me, Sister. I will bear the consequences alone and never drag you into this."

She even managed a grateful smile. "Thank you for caring about me."

Sophia's heart clenched. Moments ago, she had worried Lina might implicate the family, even harboring blame. Now, confronted by Lina's courage and innocence, guilt rushed in. Determined, Sophia clasped Lina's hand firmly. "Don't be afraid. Rest well."

With surprising strength for one so frail, Sophia pressed Lina back into bed. Lina, uneasy, asked, "What are you—?"

Sophia coughed, a sorrow rising within her. "You're a good sister, but I've not been a good elder sister."

"Tomorrow I must enter the palace. You stay safe at home."

Lina was more confused than ever, but remembering Victoria Ashwood's involvement, her face hardened. Victoria would use any means necessary to achieve her goals, and she had personal ties to Sophia. Lina dared not assume everything would go smoothly just because she'd been reborn.

As Sophia's crimson cloak vanished through the red-painted door, Lina called out, "Sister!"

Sophia, trembling from head to toe, forced a smile. "Yes?"

She stood framed by the bright red door, her pale face hidden under a fiery hood, smiling softly. It reminded Lina of her final glimpse of Sophia in their previous life.

Alarmed, Lina warned gravely, "Sister, when you enter the palace, beware of the Fifth Princess—Victoria Ashwood."

The name meant nothing to Sophia, but she knew of the fifth princess. If this Victoria was involved in harming Lina, perhaps even tied to the Crown Princess incident, Sophia disliked her instantly. She nodded. "I understand."

After Sophia's departure, Lina still felt weighed down.

She sighed. "Perhaps I'm worrying too much. I need more rest."

The next morning, Sophia entered the palace. Autumn Clarke treated her kindly, but Sophia fidgeted nervously throughout the audience. The Emperor, Emilia Everard, said nothing, her face stormy and grim. Sophia barely noticed, too preoccupied with her own worries.

After a time, Autumn announced, "The Crown Princess has arrived."

Sophia's heart clenched. Kneeling immediately, she gathered her courage and pressed her forehead to the floor. "Please, Your Highness, have mercy on my younger sister!"

Lucille Everard had planned to chide her imperial sibling, but this unexpected plea caught her off guard. She paused, studying Sophia. Did the young woman know too much?

Her tone dropped several degrees. "She told you?"

Sophia trembled, prostrate and terrified, yet she pleaded on Lina's behalf. "My sister has always been timid. If she offended you, someone must have set her up. Please, Your Highness, show mercy for her youth and spare her."

Lucille waved a hand, and Autumn tactfully guided the Emperor out of the hall, leaving only the two of them inside.

Stepping down from her high seat, Lucille regarded Sophia's trembling form. She knew from reports that the Riley sisters weren't close. Could the intel have been mistaken?

Hovering before the prostrate young woman, Lucille asked coldly, "What exactly did she tell you?"

Sophia struggled to breathe but managed to recount everything. Hearing that Lina had hidden at home for three days like an ostrich burying its head, Lucille nearly laughed.

Lina was clever and cautious, skilled in martial arts, and adept at concealing her strength. At the brink of death, she'd showcased her value and bet on Lucille's need for talent. Lina had gambled correctly.

Still, Lucille disliked feeling manipulated. She'd almost forgotten Lina in her recent busyness. Now that the matter came to mind again, an unpleasant chill spread through her thoughts.

At that very moment, Lina back at the estate felt a sudden cold shiver. She pulled her blanket tighter, still feeling exposed. With nothing else to do, she pressed her palms together in prayer:

"If any deity hears this, I, Lina Riley, am willing to forgo meat for life if the Crown Princess will forget all about that night!"

Outside, the wind howled. Whether the gods would heed her plea, none could say.