Ramir's visit didn't last long since he had works piling up back at home. He just wanted to see his lovely sister and inform her of a possible attack and went home.

Later that night, Adira couldn't get Ramir's words out of her head and dreamt of that moment—the time when she surrendered herself to madness and sought revenge against everyone that turned their back on her.

She dreamt of that hell she rose—the people she mercilessly killed, the screams that begged for help, surrender, that begged her to stop and yet she turned a deaf ear to all of those.

She dreamt of the bright blade that pierced through her heart and killed her. She dreamt of that light pink hair that fluttered against the dark velvety sky as she fell down to her death.

Adira woke up with a start, feeling beads of sweat trickle down from her forehead as well as felt chills running up her spine. It was a nightmare.

"Casey. Heise." She immediately looked towards her side to check if both father and son were beside her and she was not inside that gruesome nightmare anymore.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she gingerly reached out her hand to caress Heise's face snuggled beside her and Casimir who had an arm draped across her.

Good. It's only a dream.

She thought to herself and remembered Ramir's words earlier. Maybe it was because of those that she was reminded of how she died—of how she's supposed to die.

...

"So what's the deal with you and Latifolia's daughter?"

Ramir suddenly asked that made Adira embarrassingly choke on her tea. The former was alarmed—like he always was when it came to his favorite little sister—and patted the girl's back softly.

"Careful now. My god, how am I supposed to leave you alone when you're still as clumsy as this?"

Ramir commented which made Casimir clear his throat—not because his throat was itchy but because someone was forgetting his presence.

Yeah, yeah. I know you're there. I just choose not to see you.

"Brother... Why do you ask?"

"Because the girl approached me, said something vague about you, which didn't sound nice at all, before I excused myself. And I'm sure I'm not the only one she's approached.

I swear that woman's plotting something against you, Adira. You best be on your guard and be prepared for whatever she throws at you. I'll do what I can on my side as well."

Her brother reassured her while petting her head as gently as she remembered him to do whenever he tries to comfort her.

And this gesture warmed Adira's heart. No matter which life, she knew her brother loved her more than life itself. She knew she always had her family at her back. And though she was not able to protect them from her mistakes back then, she will make sure she does this time around.

"Thank you, big brother."

...

Adira walked back inside from the balcony when a shine—reflected from something—caught her eye and she saw a woman in maid clothing raising up her hand, a knife in her hand, as she stood beside Casimir's side of the bed.

In one smooth and quick movement, Adira already had a sharp bread knife against the woman's neck before the latter could even make a move.

"One wrong move and you die. I really don't want to make a mess in our bedroom so you'll have to come with me." Adira eerily whispered into her ears that the maid could only follow her demands.

So they moved next door and there, Adira extracted as much information as she could get from this assassin.

"Who are you and why were you attempting to assassinate your prince? Who sent you?"

Adira, who elegantly sat with crossed legs on a burgundy high-backed chair, asked the maid, who was on the floor while feeling her knees trembling too much.

The latter, trying to find her voice, opened and closed her mouth a few times and shivered even more while under this princess' intense gaze—a gaze akin to a large monster eyeing her prey.

"So? I don't have enough patience to wait forever you know? Tell me who ordered you to assassinate my husband? Talk or you die."

"P-P-Princess! I-I swear! I do not plan to assassinate his highness! That's the truth!"

The maid cried in panic at being threatened by this dangerous woman whose eyes glimmered dangerously. She oddly fit too well with the gloomy and dark aura of the night.

The darkness wasn't really helping as it even made her incredibly more threatening—with her ash-like eyes gleaming like that against the dark night. Of course, it would scare the living daylights out of anyone.

"And you expect me to believe that? Do I look like an idiot to you? Just because I act sweet outside, doesn't mean I can't kill. Trust me, my dear, I've had my fair share of death and I'm not afraid to shed more blood if I need to."

The maid was too scared for her life as she sweated like crazy while being held at knife point and begged for the woman to spare her life in exchange for information.

"It wasn't the prince! It was you princess! I was paid to assassinate you!"

Adira was taken aback. It was the first time she had an assassination directed at her. For the longest time, it was always Casimir, who was always targetted, and she even swore to herself that she would protect him from it all.

But was it really Casimir's life?

"Is it Iris Latifolia?"

Adira suddenly asked, already sure who the culprit was, but the maid shook her head in response.

"There's no use lying to me, you know? I've known for a long time about how much that woman hates me."

"It really isn't her, princess. It's the ex-Baron Latifolia. He thinks you are the reason why his daughter can't rise to the throne despite being the Maiden of Light. He wants to kill you so the Lady Latifolia could be Queen."

At the servant's words, Adira froze for a little bit. She wasn't expecting the Baron to target her.

She didn't have to deal with him from her past life because his wrong doings and underground dealings were not uprooted.

Because Iris thrived and succeeded at seducing Triton—the next in line after the princes assassination.

And because Casimir didn't have a reason to investigate him. So he continued to live the high life.

However, when Iris decided to use an aphrodisiac to make trouble for Adira, Casimir had to use whatever means to exact his personal revenge against the girl who hurt his woman.

The Baron was just collateral damage as the prince accidentally uncovered his trafficking business and that basement littered with dark spells and forbidden rituals.

"I see. So they've started to move, huh? How much is he paying you?"

"His whole fortune, princess."

"Which clearly isn't much by now."

Adira mused quietly and struck a thinking pose before smirking evilly and languidly leaned on the arm rest—making her look sadistically beautiful, it was enough to blow the girl away.

"I'll pay you double the amount he's offering you. In exchange, I want you to act as my eyes and ears in their midst."

Of course, the choice was a no-brainer as the girl on the floor bobbed her head in acquiescence.

It wasn't just because of the large sum of money being offered to her, but also because this woman, who exuded might and strength, spared her little life despite being paid to take hers.

And also because she was starting to like this princess, who was light years away from the image she displayed at daylight. She was, in truth, not all that sweet.

"Go back and make sure they do not suspect anything."

"Yes, princess!"

And with that, the woman went out to return to the Baron and report her failure.

Adira was also about to return, after she stayed for a few more minutes thinking and planning for her next move, when she heard a cold voice speak from behind her.

"Am I supposed to be wary of women as well from now on?"

Notes:
Hey! I'm back!!! I rested and slept after our exams and was feeling refreshed so I decided to write the new chapter! I really love how Adira keeps this hidden evilness! Because I don't want her to be just another damsel-in-distress main character who can only wait to be saved.

So anywaaaay~ Thank you so muuuch to everyone who expressed their support for me and even asked me to rest! I love you guys a lot! 😘😘😘 This chapter is dedicated for all of you ❤️ Banzaaaaiii~ 🎉