Episode 11
“Wendy, stop. This makes it look like we came to bully Reina.”
“But, Isabelle, she started it…”
“I said stop. Are you ignoring me?”
Isabelle’s cold retort made Wendy huff and step back.
Reina stared at her.
Like Reina, Isabelle held a lantern.
The difference? Hers burned unusually fiercely.
Isabelle stepped closer, smiling gently.
“Sorry if we scared you, Reina. I just wanted to talk.”
“…”
“I’m honestly hurt, Reina. Hearing about your engagement from others? We’re sisters in the same palace. How could you be so cold?”
Her tone seemed to express sisterly disappointment, but her eyes were icy.
Reina recalled a moment from her past life when Isabelle tormented her.
She’d thought it was baseless cruelty until Isabelle revealed why.
“You asked why I bully you? Simple. I’m stronger. The weak are just toys for the strong. That’s why you’re targeted, Reina. Got it?”
That day, Isabelle “accidentally” set Reina’s dress ablaze.
She knew it was a gift from Reina’s missing brother.
Reina suffered leg burns and permanent scars.
The loss of her brother’s gift hurt more than the wounds.
Reliving that memory, Reina’s gaze sharpened.
“You’re as cruel as ever.”
Right now, Isabelle was clearly planning to burn her again.
Isabelle smiled thinly, stepping closer.
“Cruel? That’s harsh. You brought this on yourself. The weak are at fault, not me.”
Could a smiling face be so chilling?
Reina’s body trembled with past memories.
‘Get it together, Reina. You’re not that helpless girl anymore. She’s still a novice.’
Reina chanted to herself, quelling her shaking.
As Isabelle “accidentally” moved to drop the lantern, Reina swiftly deflected it with Kaiden’s jacket.
Thwack! Whoosh!
The lantern veered toward Isabelle, landing on her voluminous dress hem.
“Kyaaa!”
Isabelle screamed as her dress caught fire.
Her followers backed away, alarmed.
Their bell-shaped dresses risked spreading the flames.
No one helped, and Isabelle stomped, shrieking.
“Put it out! It’s hot! Please!”
Her shrill voice was unlike her usual poised elegance.
Seeing Isabelle cry like a child, Reina snapped to.
If this continued, Isabelle might suffer severe burns.
Reina didn’t care if she got hurt—she started it.
But this party was the Emperor’s gift for her and Kaiden.
Causing a scene could anger him.
Reina wanted to leave quietly for the North.
‘Ah!’
Her gaze landed on the fountain.
That water could douse the fire.
Reina shoved Isabelle into the fountain with all her might.
*Splash!*
Flopping ungracefully, Isabelle, soaked like a drowned rat, yelled.
“Pfft! What are you doing, Reina!”
The fire was out, but she looked pitiful.
Reina stepped back, saying,
“You asked for the fire to be put out. I helped. You should’ve handled your lantern better.”
“What?”
“Why’d you clumsily drop it? I nearly caught fire too.”
“Should’ve managed your dress better. Why stand there stupidly and catch fire? I almost got burned too.”
Reina echoed Isabelle’s past words.
Stunned by the sharp comeback, Isabelle was speechless.
“You…!”
Her layered petticoats prevented burns, but the emotional shock was immense.
Then, a sound.
“Pfft.”
Someone stifled a laugh, approaching.
Their shoulders shook with barely contained mirth.
Wendy recognized him first, gasping.
“Duke Crencia?”
Kaiden?
Reina’s eyes widened, realizing who it was.
She didn’t know how much he’d seen, but it was a compromising scene.
‘If Isabelle plays victim now…’
As if on cue, Isabelle burst into tears.
“That’s too much, Reina. How could you? I just wanted to congratulate you.”
As expected, Isabelle seized the chance.
Reina rushed to explain.
“Kaiden, this is…!”
He approached, wiping soot from her cheek, and said,
“Had fun playing with fire?”
His face brimmed with amusement, as if he’d enjoyed a spectacle.
* * *
When Reina left the hall, Kaiden noticed a group trailing her.
The same ones eyeing her all night.
Ben’s report confirmed they’d long harassed her.
They’d clearly waited for her to be alone.
“Tch.”
Their intent obvious, Kaiden clicked his tongue and followed.
He worried Reina might be in trouble, but the scene he found was unexpected.
Far from a victim, Reina wore a bored expression.
She countered their taunts methodically, pressing them with ease.
Her responses flowed naturally, as if she’d anticipated this.
Kaiden watched, intrigued.
Unlike her bold proposal, she never leaned on him.
She questioned his kindness, almost absurdly so.
She seemed used to handling things alone.
“Why’d you clumsily drop the lantern? I nearly caught fire too.”
Reina’s lantern deflection was unexpected, even for Kaiden, but she resolved it without giving him a chance to intervene.
Witnessing it all, he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Pfft.”
She was utterly unpredictable.
Ignoring the others’ late recognition, he focused on Reina, approaching slowly.
She looked startled, likely worried he’d heard her sharp words.
What would she do if he said he heard everything?
Blush in embarrassment?
Or play it off?
