Olivia didn’t say anything else, even after I told her I was willing to listen.

  For a moment, it felt like escape was within reach. We sat in silence on the stone bench as night crept in. Soon, a staff member from the infirmary arrived and spotted us.

  “Greetings,” she said. Her calm expression shifted the moment she saw Olivia’s condition.

  I told her everything. After that, she helped me bring Olivia to the infirmary.

  “You should’ve brought her here sooner,” she muttered.

  I held my mouth shut. What could I say? That I was waiting for Olivia to tell me her escape plan?

  “I told her I needed to rest my feet before we continued walking,” Olivia said quickly.

  Her words barely swayed the nurse, who kept eyeing me with suspicion.

  “I’ll get some salves and potions for you. Do you have any allergies?”

  Olivia shook her head. The nurse walked over to the cabinet, where rows of potions were neatly arranged.

  I took the chair beside Olivia’s bed, unsure if I should bring up our earlier conversation. It made me uncomfortable but this might be my only chance. Opportunities like this didn’t come twice.

  I cleared my throat. “What were you saying earlier?”

  She turned to me with a wide smile. “Visit my dorm after tomorrow’s classes. I’ll show you something.”

  The nurse returned with a bottle clear-white liquid. I assumed it was a salve.

  “What are you still doing here?” she asked, pausing mid-pour. “It’s getting late, my lady. Please return to your dorm before curfew. I’ll call you tomorrow for some questions.”

  I glanced at the clock. It was already eight. Bresdan Royal University enforced curfew strictly. All students had to be in their dorms before eight in the evening. No exceptions. Even the library closed at that hour. It was to prevent students from staying up late with their noses in books or from sneaking into the city.

  I bid Olivia goodbye and stepped outside the infirmary. The cold wind embraced me. Pale yellow lights lit the path, guiding me and students alike back to our dorm buildings. They felt like warm, comforting fireflies.

  When I reached my dorm, I stopped at the stairs leading to the entrance. My thoughts returned to the group of girls I’d met earlier. Now that I thought about it…

  There was dirt on their clothes. I don’t want to suspect them, but I have to ask if they had anything to do with what happened to Olivia.

  After my second class the next day, I received a summons from the infirmary. Apparently, the person I’d met yesterday was the head nurse of the University’s infirmary. When I arrived at her office, she was waiting. Her light brown hair was tied in a bun, and she wore a long white and red coat.

  “Lady Goldhain, thank you for coming. Please, have a seat,” she said. “I just need to confirm a few details about yesterday’s incident.”

  She handed me a note that contained Olivia’s statement. At the bottom, I saw her signature.

  ‘…it was an accident. I tripped on one of the plants and received injuries due to my own carelessness.’

  My fingers clenched around the notepad. I repeated her words in my head. If looks could burn, the paper would’ve caught fire.

  “Lady Goldhain,” the nurse asked gently, “may I ask, did it truly happen like Lady Ignarion claims?”

  I pressed my lips together. It was clear Olivia hadn’t fallen by accident. But I didn’t have enough proof. Dirt on those girls’ uniforms wasn’t evidence.

  “What do you think?” I replied.

  I hadn’t meant to sound sarcastic, but I couldn’t help it. I felt annoyed and hurt. I never thought Olivia would lie. But why? Why cover it up?

  The head nurse lowered her eyes to the table. Her hands trembled.

  “I’ve known for some time now that Lady Ignarion is being mistreated by her classmates.”

  “And you didn’t report it?” My hands tightened around the fabric of my skirt.

  “She asked me not to. The first time I saw her injuries, I knew someone had hurt her. I told her I would report it to the Academica Advisor, but she said it would only make things worse.”

  My hands curled into fists.

  “You shouldn’t have listened to her. She’s a student, you’re an adult! You should’ve known better than to hide something like this.”

  The nurse bowed her head, silent.

  “You’re right,” she finally said, voice heavy. “What I did was wrong. I’m sorry. Please… if you can convince her to speak up, I promise I’ll testify on her behalf. It’s the least I can do.”

  The head nurse raised her head. She looked to be in her fifties, with fine lines beneath her eyes and around her mouth. They gave her an expression that was both strict and kind. Suddenly, I was reminded of my aunt who lived in a coastal city. It had been so long since I last saw her. The last I heard, she had become bedridden. She had no choice but to stay in her room, with her bed placed close to the window so she could look out at the sea she once loved.

  I remembered the embroidered handkerchief she gave me, adorned with whales and coral. I wondered if it was still in my room at the manor.

  I bowed to the nurse and stepped outside. I still had one more class to attend that morning. As I walked down the hallway, I spotted a familiar trio: the same three girls I suspected were involved in Olivia’s incident. But suspicion was all I had. A bit of dirt on their uniforms wasn’t enough to be considered evidence.

  For all I knew, she might’ve been frolicking with another noble in the garden.

  What a strange thought.

  The hallway suddenly burst into motion as students spilled out of their classrooms. For some reason, their eyes landed on me. I saw them glance at each other, giggling.

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  I clasped my hands in front of me and straightened my posture. A habit from my previous life. I did this whenever I felt a rush of intense emotion, especially anger or disgust.

  They’re all children, I reminded myself. Starting a fight with someone who’s just a child compared to my age would be stooping too low.

  A loud laugh broke from the trio. Heads turned toward them. A few noblewomen nearby raised their brows in disapproval. The girls quickly covered their mouths, trying to muffle the sound.

  As a former empress, I never started conflicts unless it was a battle worth fighting. Something worth the risk of expulsion of my own expulsion.

  But fate didn’t favor me today. These girls were clearly provoking me.

  “She called her name,” one of them whispered loudly, “and when she saw us, her expression changed. She’s always such good entertainment.”

  If they wanted something from me, I’d give them a memory they wouldn’t forget.

  The girl with long black hair stared at me. I couldn’t recall her name, but I remembered her face. She was the one who harassed Olivia before. She wasn’t the first to eye me like this, and I’d learned over the years that people like her only got bolder with time. The younger concubines and mistresses of Griffin during my reign acted the same way. And every time I retaliated, I made sure it didn’t end with just their removal from the palace.

  I was the Empress. They needed to know their place. And sometimes, that place was in a forest, a ditch, or a falsely marked grave.

  Being eyed like that… I hated it. It made me feel like a prey.

  I halted in the middle of the hall and glanced around. Coincidentally, I saw Griffin step out in one of the classrooms.

  “I bet that lowly wench learned her lesson now,” one of them said. “And if she didn’t, we could always remind her just like the retarded girl she is.”

  Empress Valeria, Griffin’s mother, had always told me never to let anyone trample my pride.

  If you let them get away with it, she said during one of our afternoon training sessions, they’ll tell others, and before you know it, everyone’s preying on you.

  “I bet that lowly wench never learned her lesson,” I said aloud, turning toward them, “because here you are, standing in the hallway like fools.”

  The trio froze. Their grins vanished.

  “What a pathetic excuse for noble ladies,” I added with a smile. “You even had dirt on your uniforms yesterday. I didn’t want to raise suspicion, but… were you frolicking with someone?”

  The crowd around us erupted in giggles and murmurs, repeating my words with glee.

  “What? Are you talking about us?” the black-haired girl asked. Her smile returned, brittle but defiant.

  From the whispers around me, I caught her name: Madrina of House Sturmfels. A Marquess’s daughter. I didn’t even like the sound of her name.

  “It seems that aside from never learning your lesson, you’re also an idiot. And the same goes for your two companions. Unmannered. Didn’t your etiquette teachers cover proper hallway behavior? Or perhaps your family couldn’t afford tutors?”

  Gasps and more laughter followed.

  Their faces flushed red. They stared at me, and I raised my brows. I recognized this look. They wouldn’t back down, not after such a public humiliation. They’d either try to salvage their pride or drag me down with them to the mud.

  I wasn’t interested in playing their game.

  “I don’t understand why you’re suddenly provoking a fight,” Madrina said. “You’re calling us lowly and idiots out of nowhere. Isn’t that a reflection of your own character? We were just chatting like friends, and then you barged in.”

  That smug smile returned.

  I wanted to wipe it off her face.

  The three exchanged glances.

  “But being lowly and an idiot is still better than what we’ve heard about you, Lady Goldhain,” she said sweetly. “You act like you’re above us, but the truth is, you were deposed by the Imperial Family. So, what should we call you now? You’re not the Crown Princess anymore.”

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Griffin step forward, preparing to intervene.

  I didn’t need his help. He’d only make it worse.

  “At least I was considered,” I said calmly. “The three of you can only dream of that kind of power. And no matter how much you pray or scheme, you’ll never reach what I’ve already achieved.”

  I took a step closer, lowering my voice just enough to make the crowd lean in.

  “And after today, you’ve ruined any chance of securing your place in High Society. Forget a proper proposal, no nobleman would want someone who was publicly humiliated."

  I smiled. “After all, who would want to marry someone like you? They might as well just enter the priesthood.”

  The crowd’s attention shifted, whispers passing between them. It was loud enough for her to hear. I knew too well the weight of those judgmental eyes, always eager to tear someone's reputation apart.

  “I’ll take my leave,” I said, walking away in the opposite direction.

  Curses and insults flew from Madrina’s mouth. My heart was still pounding from the commotion. I glanced behind me and saw her, holding a potted plant, charging straight at me.

  Her face was twisted with rage, red with fury, tears streaking down her cheeks. She looked less like a noblewoman and more like a storm let loose.

  Everyone scattered, panicked, trying to stay clear of her path. That insane girl!

  She hurled the pot in my direction. It flew through the air too fast. Before I could react, it was already too close to dodge.

  But just in time, someone grabbed me. I stumbled, nearly falling, but the stranger pulled me into his arms. The pot shattered against the floor where I'd been standing seconds before, scattering shards and dirt across the hall.

  “Are you okay, Lady Goldhain?” he asked.

  I stepped back, heart racing faster than before. I never imagined Madrina would go that far. I shouldn’t have provoked someone that unhinged.

  “Yes. Thank you? And you?”

  He smiled. “I’m fine.”

  The shouting hadn’t stopped. Someone had finally restrained Madrina before she could cause more damage. Her two friends stood nearby, crying, likely more from embarrassment than concern.

  Madrina didn’t struggle, but she kept shouting, calling me names I didn’t even think she knew. Her voice cracked with betrayal, and for a second, I wondered what pushed her this far. Was it pride?

  Griffin rushed toward me, his face tight with worry.

  “Morgana, are you hurt?”

  I flinched, but quickly forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

  “If you may excuse us, Your Highness,” I said, turning to my rescuer. “I must thank him personally for saving me. We’ll be taking our leave.”

  I was relieved for the excuse to get away from Griffin. But as we walked, I glanced over my shoulder and caught him watching us. His glare burned into my back, his eyes filled with hatred.

  I shivered. It was the same look he gave me on the morning after my first miscarriage. That was also the moment I first questioned why I ever married him.

  Even then, those eyes didn’t hold sorrow. Just blame. Like my pain had inconvenienced him.

  “You’re shaking,” my savior said gently. I’d nearly forgotten about him.

  “I am?”

  “Would you like to go to the clinic?”

  I shook my head. “No. I was just there earlier. I’ll be fine after some rest.”

  He offered to escort me back to my dorm, and I didn’t protest. We walked in silence. As we neared the building, I realized I hadn’t even thanked him properly or asked his name.

  “May I know your name?”

  “I am Lukas of House Himmelspalter. A pleasure to meet you, Lady Morgana of House Goldhain.”

  Lukas had tousled wheat-colored hair and gray eyes like steel. His gaze held a mischievous glint, like he was always one step from trouble.

  “I presume you know me,” I said.

  “Only by name, my lady.”

  I smiled and said nothing more. At my dorm, I thanked him again before we parted. Then I made my way to the building next door to Olivia’s dorm.

  “May I know where I can find Olivia’s room?” I asked the guard at the entrance.

  “Olivia?” The guard sneered, barely glancing up from his newspaper. “Second room on the third floor.”

  “Olivia? You refer casually to a noble lady by her name?” I snapped. No matter her reputation, Olivia still deserved respect.

  The guard paled. “Forgive me, my lady. I didn’t mean to—”

  I clicked my tongue. “Her being bullied doesn’t give you the right to disrespect her. Know your place.”

  I walked past him, climbing the stairs to the second floor. A spacious hallway greeted me, much like the one in my own dorm. Doors lined both sides, each marked with a golden plaque.

  I soon found Olivia’s door. But I immediately halted as I noticed the claw marks against the wood. What happened here?

  The door swung open before I could knock.

  “Hi!” Olivia greeted brightly.

  “I’m here about what you mentioned yesterday,” I said.

  She invited me inside. Her room was smaller than mine, but clean, with sunlight spilling through the windows. White curtains fluttered gently in the breeze.

  I sat in a chair as she prepared tea.

  When the tea arrived, I took a sip, savoring the warmth. Then, out of nowhere, Olivia asked:

  “Lady Morgana, what do you think about making a smoke bomb?”

  I froze, cup halfway to my lips. My hands trembled.

  “Where do we begin?” I asked.

  Her eyes stayed on mine, then her face lit up as she began to explain her plan.