Chapter 5
“Reina!”
Josefina rose abruptly, bolting forward to block my path to the door. It was almost comical; I had never seen my sister lose her composure so thoroughly.
In the past, I was always the one on my knees, clinging to her.
Please, don’t take Edwin from me.
And after he was gone: Please, give him back.
“Wait just a moment!”
“And why should I? This is a matter that could have shaken the very foundations of this empire. As the future Crown Princess, I cannot simply overlook it.”
“Reina, stay right there. I told you—it wasn’t me!”
When I tried to brush past Josefina, Edwin stepped in to block me. I bit my lower lip, staring him down.
Edwin, now as withered and dull as a rotting flower, was no longer precious to me. There is only one place for a rotten flower: the trash. You can’t even press them into a book to keep them beautiful.
However, if I changed my attitude too suddenly, these loathsome people would be waiting to suspect me. I wanted revenge on everyone who had driven me to a miserable death. I couldn’t afford to ruin everything over a slip of emotion.
And so, I forced a look of sorrow onto my face and appealed to Edwin.
“Edwin. If it had only been me coughing up blood yesterday, I would have forgiven the maid as Sister asked. I didn’t die, after all. I would have shown the same mercy you did.”
“Reina.”
He called my name tenderly, hoping to persuade me. But I had no intention of listening to his nonsense, so I cut him off quickly.
“But I cannot forget the sight of you coughing up blood before my very eyes! I can’t!”
“I am—”
“Even if you say you are fine, I am not! That maid claims it was merely an emetic, but it could have been a deadly poison! If it had truly been lethal… if I had lived but something had happened to you…!”
Of course, that would have been wonderful. Perfect, even. If Edwin had died and I remained unscathed.
But Euros was a poison that caused a dramatic display of blood but was never truly life-threatening. That was likely why Josefina chose it for her first attempt to frame me.
“I could never have lived with myself. So please, understand. I didn’t want to go this far with my sister, but Edwin, you are more important to me than anyone!”
With that, I tried to brush past him. But unlike his usual self, he grabbed my wrist with surprising gentleness.
“Stop. I don’t want this. If you report this to the Emperor, Pipi will be in trouble.”
It was laughable—worrying about Josefina while his own life had supposedly been at stake. I stared at him in silence.
As I did, I noticed Josefina standing behind him, clutching the ring on her necklace just as she had before. She looked desperate, as if the ring were some sort of talisman.
…Why is she holding that ring so often?
“Edwin. Then what should I do? My heart still races every time I think of what happened!”
That wasn’t a lie; my heart did race with fury every time I thought of him. I suppressed an internal yawn and forced my eyes to well with tears. He avoided my gaze.
“That is of no concern to me. Reina, just do as you’re told.”
Then, as if he couldn’t bear to touch me a second longer, he flung my wrist away.
“I don’t want to… ugh…”
Just as I reached out to cling to him again, my eyes met Josefina’s. Suddenly, a high-pitched ringing pierced my ears, and my head throbbed with a sharp pain.
That was the end of it. My body went limp, as if I had lost consciousness on the spot.
Something was definitely wrong with Josefina.
The fact that I lost consciousness the moment she touched that ring left a foul taste in my mouth. It seemed there was a secret I didn’t know—something beyond her simple schemes to strip me of everything.
Furthermore, I possessed a constitution that neutralized almost all magic. Aside from one specific instance, magical items never worked on me. In this world, magic had declined to the point of near extinction, surviving only in a few national treasures. As the future Crown Princess, I had seen many artifacts, but I had never heard of a ring like that.
The only time my constitution had ever clashed with magic was when I encountered a relic of the Vilhelium Imperial Family. Back then, the powerful magic had violently rejected my presence, knocking me unconscious.
What on earth was that ring?
How could Josefina, a mere Marquis’s daughter, possess such a magical item? Her adoptive father might buy her anything she desired, but magic items weren’t exactly paintings by Devine that you could just pick up.
The sound of footsteps made me flinch.
“Reina.”
Hearing Josefina’s voice, I closed my eyes and then opened them slowly.
“Sister…”
I intended to act like someone who had just woken up from a deep, accidental sleep. But I couldn’t help but stiffen, my fists clenching beneath the covers.
Josefina’s eyes had changed. They were slit vertically like a snake’s, glowing a vivid yellow. Her eyes should have been violet, like mine.
“I must have woken you. Go back to sleep.”
Josefina whispered, placing a hand on my chest. Her skin felt cold and jarringly textured—like snake scales. I almost recoiled in horror.
I forced myself to keep my eyes shut, feigning deep sleep as she intended. Once my breathing became rhythmic, Josefina suddenly threw back the duvet. The cold air hit my skin, making me shiver involuntarily.
Faking a sleepy groan, I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and stole a glance at her. Her mouth was… wrong. Just like her eyes, her mouth was torn wide, stretching toward her ears like a serpent’s maw.
I nearly gasped in shock.
To avoid detection, I curled into a ball, tucking my head down. Josefina grabbed my arm and yanked up my nightgown, as if checking for something on my body.
“Hmm. Why isn’t it there?” she muttered, sounding frustrated as she pushed me around.
After flipping me over to check my back, she let out an annoyed sigh and whispered, “Let’s just bury what happened yesterday and today. You’re enduring this for Edwin’s sake.”
When I remained still, she let out a satisfied little chuckle. She smoothed the nightgown and the sheets back into place.
What is she thinking…?
More than the violation of her searching my body, a nauseating wave of terror washed over me. Josefina didn’t feel human; she felt like a predator. I felt like a deer standing before a beast.
Having finished her business, she hummed a tune as she walked away. I shifted again, hiding my face with my elbow to watch her. Even as she left the bedroom, she never let go of that ring.
There was definitely a secret in that ring. Perhaps that grotesque face was an illusion caused by it?
I wanted to get up and investigate immediately, but my body felt leaden. I fell back into a death-like sleep and didn’t wake until half a day had passed.
When I finally rose, I looked around slowly. The memory felt hazy—I couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality. Since there were no physical traces left behind, I tried to convince myself it was just a strange nightmare. After all, why would Josefina need to check my body?
Putting the unsettling dream aside, I felt much better. And, right on cue, an uninvited guest arrived.
Knock, knock.
“Who is it?”
“It is I, My Lady. If you are feeling well enough, may I have a moment of your time?”
“Ah, Prince Leonhardt. Of course.”
I had no choice but to open the door. He stood there with two knights at his side; their disapproving glares made me feel like a prisoner under watch.
“May I ask the reason for your visit?”
“The hallway is no place for this conversation. If you don’t mind, I would like to speak inside.”
“Of course.”
I led him in, glancing at his guards. Leonhardt hesitated for a moment before waving the knights away. As soon as the door closed, I pulled the bell cord and turned to him. He was standing in the center of the room, smiling at me.
“Please, sit.”
I gestured to a chair and spoke to the knight waiting outside. “When Emily arrives, tell her to bring tea.”
“Yes, My Lady.”
I took my seat opposite Leonhardt. It wasn’t hard to see that his smile was a complete facade.
“Yes, thank you.”
He was smiling, but it was forced, like a man suppressed by immense rage. It was unsettling, but I didn’t care to ask why. I remained silent, waiting for him to speak first.
“My Lady, I realize this question may seem abrupt. Do you remember how old we were when we first met?”
“I was five. It was right after I was entered into the Elvain Marquisate’s register.”
“You remember accurately, despite how long ago it was.”
When I answered calmly, his lips twisted into a fleeting, genuine smile.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
The maid, Emily, entered just as Leonhardt was about to speak again. She bowed to us and began setting out the tea. The teacups were ornately decorated; the Marquisate possessed a collection of tea sets that rivaled the Imperial Palace’s.
Usually, I enjoyed seeing the new designs. But today, the fine porcelain only reminded me of my own situation. No matter how beautiful it looked on the outside, it was still just glass. One drop and it would shatter into a thousand pieces, only to be swept away without a trace.
“Your Highness, My Lady. The tea is ready.”
“Thank you, Emily. You may go. I have much to discuss with His Highness, so take a rest.”
“Not at all, My Lady. I shall take my leave.”
Emily left the teapot so that I could pour—a habit of mine she remembered. I always insisted on pouring tea for my guests.
“Your Highness, if I may be so bold, what brings you here?”
I started the conversation as I poured the tea. The amber liquid trickled into the cup, reflecting the light from the chandelier.
“After you and my brother collapsed the day before yesterday, I paid a visit to Pipi’s room.”
I poured my own tea and listened. In my past life, Leonhardt was the only person who sought me out when I was framed for the first poisoning. But everything had changed now. I couldn’t guess his motive.
And why mention Josefina’s room? Was he planning to name her as a suspect? If so, his angry expression made sense—he would feel betrayed.
I feigned ignorance. “…You must have been worried about Sister. Is she alright? She seemed very shocked when Edwin and I suddenly coughed up blood.”
“Yes, we spoke for quite a while because of that.”
“I see. Forgive me for asking so abruptly, but it’s been on my mind… Did Edwin come to my room after he woke up?”
“…No. After my brother woke, he was busy speaking with Pipi…”
Leonhardt’s voice trailed off, looking apologetic. To a fiancée, that should have been an insult, but my heart had long since cooled. I felt nothing.
Still, I needed to play the part. I lowered my gaze, letting my eyelashes quiver as if I were hurt by Edwin’s neglect. I made sure he couldn’t see my true wish: for Edwin and Josefina to hold hands and disappear forever.
“My Lady, I am sorry to bring this up while you are distressed, but there is something I must ask. I found something suspicious in Pipi’s room.”
Without touching his tea, Leonhardt reached into his coat with a solemn expression. I sipped my tea, unbothered. It was the best thing I’d tasted in days.
“My Lady, look at this.”
He thrust a small glass vial toward me. It was the Euros poison.
“I trust you won’t try to feign ignorance. Why did you intentionally leave this poison in Pipi’s room?”
He shook the vial. The clear liquid turned blood-red, then pitch black, before returning to its transparent state.
“…I have no idea what you are talking about. I have never seen that vial before. And I certainly didn’t know what was inside until you told me.”
“Do not lie. I know you put it in her room. I also know Pipi tried to cover it up out of pity for the trainee maid. But after seeing the way you cornered her at breakfast this morning, I cannot let this go.”
“I am sorry you found my behavior at breakfast unpleasant.”
“How shameless. It would be wise to confess to me now.”
I stared at him in silence. He seemed to think he had caught me off guard. His voice rose, growing more arrogant.
“You were right; it’s impossible to cough up that much blood from a simple emetic. And I found the poison in Pipi’s room—placed so obviously that anyone could find it.”
“…So, Your Highness believes I hid poison in my sister’s room? That I am trying to frame her?”
Leonhardt fell silent, unable to answer immediately.
“Your Highness, I have been staying at the Imperial Palace. I had no way to even obtain such a poison. Surely you know that better than anyone.”
“…But you were the last to arrive at the dining room. And once you arrived at the Marquisate, you could have obtained it through a servant.”
His logic wasn’t entirely flawed, but I maintained a cold, detached expression.
“You are being truly rude. Do you not remember Sister asking why I had changed my dress? I was late because I was changing.”
“…Why did you change? I heard you were given the same dress as Pipi.”
“The day before yesterday wasn’t just Sister’s birthday; it was mine as well. It was my birthday, and I wanted to wear that dress. As you know, I am to be the Crown Princess. Must I check with you every time I decide what to wear?”
I pushed back hard, acting as though I had been gravely insulted. He faltered for a moment but didn’t back down.
“Don’t try to talk your way out of this! That wine was meant for Pipi. Did you not switch the glasses and then encourage my brother to drink it? All to frame Pipi!”
The more I heard, the more absurd his theory became. I didn’t know why he was so certain, but it was becoming pathetic. I watched him, waiting to see what else he would say.
Then, for some reason, Leonhardt suddenly looked away.
“I can help you, My Lady,” he said, his voice dropping. “So please, just tell me the truth.”
His ears were turning bright red.
