Marked by the Ruthless Princess

"What are you looking at?"

Lucille Everard turned to face Beatrice Byrd. "What are you staring at me for?"

Beatrice sighed. "I'm just bored. I never planned to keep you company this long. Staring at the royal palace ceiling day after day is dull."

If things were normal, she could chat with Lina Riley, but Lucille had been merciful enough to let that silly girl go home for two days. Without Lina's presence, these days felt tedious again.

Lucille didn't care to listen to Beatrice's sighing. Before her lay a stack of old books, each well-thumbed. She picked one up, skimming through its unimpressive contents. Of course, she hadn't spared even Beatrice's private collection—she confiscated it all.

Beatrice looked resentfully at her beloved books. She couldn't resist pleading, "I don't serve in the palace, anyway. It's fine if you confiscate theirs, but can I have mine back?"

Lucille raised an eyebrow and sneered, "You may not work here, but you're still a subject of Ravenwell. Everything falls under my purview."

Beatrice's face fell instantly, her fine wrinkles deepening. She muttered under her breath, "Heartless…"

"Hmm?" Lucille's tone held a warning.

Beatrice immediately pasted on a smile. "I said: Your Highness, you're as kind as you are beautiful."

Obviously flattery, but Lucille wasn't in the mood to argue. Before leaving, she noticed something: some of these books came from the emperor's quarters. She'd been so preoccupied with Lina lately that she'd slacked off on watching the emperor. A slight lapse, and look what happened.

She'd have to set things straight again.

"Is the Crown Princess inside?"

Just as she was thinking this, Emilia Everard's voice floated in from outside.

Beatrice, ever the opportunist, opened the door and cast the emperor a meaningful look: "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is expecting you."

Emilia visibly paled, lowering her head and following Beatrice inside. She took a seat but didn't dare look up. The stack of books on the table might as well have been her death warrant.

Lucille's impression of this younger sister was vague at best. Judging by the petitions Emilia reviewed, the emperor was far too softhearted—no virtue in these chaotic times.

Lucille's gaze chilled. She tossed two books onto Emilia's lap. "Explain."

Emilia trembled, knowing lying wouldn't help. She confessed directly, "It's my fault. Sister, punish me as you see fit."

Lucille's voice revealed no emotion. "How should I punish you?"

Emilia's voice quavered. "Sister…"

Hearing that word "sister" made Lucille think of Lina, softening her mood unexpectedly. Now that her health had a chance of improving, she didn't need to be as harsh as before. They would soon go to war; this was a small matter.

Lucille turned her head away, flipping through the pile of books to get a general sense of their contents. Finally, she pulled out two volumes and threw them back to the emperor. "These two are acceptable."

Emilia's sweat had barely dried before receiving these from her formidable sister. She looked up, shocked and suspicious, wondering if Lucille intended to depose her.

Impatient, Lucille waved a hand. "Go on, I need to review your memorials today."

Realizing she hadn't been deposed, Emilia clutched the books in relief and retreated quietly.

Beatrice, watching the emperor leave with shaky legs, couldn't help laughing: "You were too fierce."

Lucille rolled her eyes. She hadn't raised her voice or done anything extreme. Ignoring Beatrice, she ordered the maids to remove the books.

Beatrice gazed mournfully after her cherished volumes, silently mourning their loss.

Glancing at the sky, Beatrice judged the time and patted her clothes, grinning: "Time to see a patient."

Lucille looked up. "How is Sophia Riley's condition?"

Beatrice took pride in her skill, lifting her chin confidently: "For others it might be a big issue. For me, it's just tricky. I'm off."

After Beatrice left, Lucille thought of Lina again. She recalled Lina's earnest plea for her elder sister's well-being. The silly girl would be thrilled to hear the good news. Lina always wore a serious face, panicking when things went wrong, then trying hard to find solutions. Her emotions were plain as day.

Lucille knew Lina wasn't stupid. Lina could hide her feelings from others quite well. Did that mean Lina showed her true colors only around the Crown Princess?

The realization brightened Lucille's mood. Her stern facade melted away, leaving her softly smiling alone in the empty hall. "Silly girl," she murmured.

Beatrice walked briskly down the corridor and soon spotted the emperor ahead. Lucille might be able to treat the emperor lightly, but Beatrice could not. She stepped forward and curtsied. "May blessings be upon Your Majesty."

Emilia, knowing Beatrice was Lucille's confidante, dared not be rude. "Dr. Byrd, please relax."

Guessing Beatrice's errand, Emilia realized Sophia Riley would be placed in the palace to recover. She mused on how highly her sister regarded Lina, and envied the Rileys' close bond. Meanwhile, she herself hardly dared meet Lucille's gaze.

Trying to break the awkward silence, Emilia sought conversation with Beatrice. "How is Sophia Riley's health?"

Beatrice hadn't expected this question. The emperor had previously shown resistance to Sophia's presence. Perhaps the emperor was just making small talk. Poor emperor—no entourage now, likely to avoid losing face.

Beatrice examined Emilia's face. The emperor looked too harmless to command true authority. But Beatrice liked harmless children; her own daughter had the same gentle aura.

A wistful smile crossed her face. "She's fine, but it will take a long treatment—perhaps three years."

"Three years?" Emilia sounded troubled.

Beatrice, still lost in thought about her daughter, didn't notice the emperor's discomfort. "Yes, three years. It's remarkable Sophia has survived this long. She's very strong."

Emilia suspected her sister's motives. Perhaps Lucille placed Sophia in the palace deliberately. Annoyance flared again, and the emperor let the topic drop.

They walked in silence until Emilia returned to her study hall, while Sophia's residence lay further ahead. Beatrice watched the emperor's retreating back, then thought of Sophia, shaking her head.

She grumbled quietly about Lucille: "She mocks me for matchmaking, yet look at her own haphazard arrangements. Mine are more reliable!"

Smugly certain of her superiority, Beatrice hummed a tune as she arrived at Sophia's temporary quarters.

After examining Sophia, Beatrice smiled reassuringly. "No need to worry. Everything will improve."

Sophia was understandably moved. Sickly from childhood, she had watched other children play while she could only sit quietly, awaiting death. Though people called her a treasured pearl of the Riley household, she felt only loneliness. Mostly forgotten, pitied by some, she rarely stood out in anyone's mind.

But now things were changing.

Not knowing how to express her gratitude, Sophia spoke earnestly, "Your great kindness is beyond repaying. If you ever need anything, no matter how difficult, I'll do my best."

Beatrice had heard such declarations many times over the years. She smiled. "I'm acting on someone else's behalf. You have a good sister."

"I'll remember both you and my sister," Sophia vowed.

Seeing her sincerity, Beatrice recalled her own daughter and said casually, "Then, if possible, take care of my daughter."

Sophia was surprised. Beatrice didn't seem like someone who had married. "You're married?"

While writing a prescription, Beatrice laughed. "Not exactly. My daughter was entrusted to me by a departed friend. I raised her from infancy, so she's as dear as my own."

The mention of lost friends quieted Sophia, who dared not probe further. Life in the palace demanded restraint. After a moment, Sophia's thoughts drifted back to the outside world's simple pleasures, like the sweet treats sold by street vendors.

"It's sweet, sure, but is this all you're offering?"

Willa Langley glared at the sugared water in her cup. Across from her, Winnie Wren sipped gracefully, while Willa drank like a horse. Lina Riley had already finished hers and was wiping her hands.

"Gifts need not be expensive to show you care," Lina said.

Willa, clueless about sentiment, retorted, "Don't be stingy."

Lina wasn't stingy; she was poor. The Crown Princess had given her two days to pack, but Lina owned so little that there wasn't much to prepare. It was better this way. She'd taken the chance to invite these two out. Remarkably, they'd managed to get leave as well.

She eyed them, curious. "A friend of mine said she saw you two in the mountains that night, when we were drinking. Is that true?"

Winnie choked on her drink, lowering her head to speedily gulp it down. Willa frowned, leaning closer. "Slow down."

Lina felt a surge of discomfort—probably the sweetness. Seeing Winnie was okay, Willa answered Lina's question with a goofy smile. "Yep, we were out there. I found it strange, but Winnie said the stars in the mountains at night are gorgeous, all twinkly."

At that, Willa blushed like a maiden in love. Lina felt her eyes burn. She thought bitterly that wild animals' eyes shone beautifully in the dark forest too. Who'd go there just for the stars?

After a moment of awkwardness, Willa grew suspicious. "Lina, since when do you have other friends besides us?"

Lina fell silent. If she didn't know Willa's head wasn't wired for cunning, she'd suspect that was a deliberate jab at her lonely life.

Deciding magnanimity was the better part of valor, Lina let it slide. "Of course I have friends."

Willa grinned. "I don't believe you."

Winnie, exasperated by Willa's tactlessness, jabbed an elbow into Willa's side. Unfortunately, Willa didn't get the hint. "Winnie, why are you poking me?"

Winnie covered her face and turned away, distancing herself from the clueless pig.

Lina followed them, watching their playful bickering. The comfort of unchanged friendships was beyond words.

Before long, they reached the Riley estate's entrance. Lina bid the two troublemakers farewell, then turned to step inside.

Hoofbeats thundered behind her. Lina paused and turned. A figure leapt anxiously from the horse and knelt before her.

"Miss, the General has fallen in battle."