On one side of the forest, small branches crunched under the feet of the two princesses of Haynes.


    Althea walked with a casual grace, while Katelyn kept stealing nces at her half-sister, unsure whether she was more afraid of the forest''s dangers or Althea herself.


    Althea had been trying to ignore it, but her patience finally snapped as she looked at the girl beside her. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"


    Katelyn startled, then turned her face away. Her cheeks puffed in defiance. "I am not looking at you. I am just wondering why Vyan told me to stick with you, of all people."


    "That is because he wants you to be safe," Althea reasoned, leaning forward to catch a glimpse of Katelyn''s expression.


    "That is so dumb," Katelyn grumbled, her face still puffy. "How would I be safe with the person I feel the most unsafe with?"


    "That''s just how you feel; that''s not the truth," Althea pointed out.


    "Whatever." Katelyn crossed her arms over her chest. "We haven''t seen a single monster so far. Maybe you are the bad luck charm."


    Althea chuckled softly. "Perhaps."


    "Why are you agreeing?" Katelyn scowled at her.


    "Why not?" Althea replied with an innocent look, which only seemed to infuriate Katelyn further.


    "You patronize me," Katelyn spat out, her green eyes narrowed into suits.


    Althea halted, a sting of hurt shing in her eyes.


    "Do you think you can fool me with that nice act of yours?" Katelyn continued, her tone harsh. "Even if Mother and Vyan trust you, I don''t believe you for a second. You are just a snake waiting to bite the ones closest to you."


    The venom in Katelyn''s voice was nothing new to Althea. Katelyn had never been one to please people. She often even came off as rude. Especially with Althea.


    Meanwhile Althea had no idea what she had done to earn such animosity from such a young girl. She couldn''t remember a single time she wasn''t nice to her.


    She already had no familial bond with Easton, nor did she have any desire to form any. But she had hoped to befriend her younger half-siblings, particrly Ronan and Katelyn.


    However, Ronan was terrified of her and Katelyn''s heart seemed to be full of hatred. They never shared their reasons, neither did they allow her to get close.


    Althea liked to believe that they were good at heart and would open up eventually. But… now that seemed like an impossible mission.


    Just then, a certain memory decided to sh in her mind.


    "Did your sibling finallye around?" she had once asked Clyde.


    "Nope," he had answered. "But that hasn''t stopped me. Not then, not now. I might be fighting a losing battle, but giving up isn''t my style. And I bet you are just as stubborn."


    Althea took a deep breath and confronted Katelyn without giving it a second thought, "Okay, fine, don''t believe me. That''s alright. But you have to tell me why. What have I done to make you hate me so much? Is it just because we don''t share the same mother? Is that reason enough for you to loathe my existence?"


    Katelyn flinched at the unexpected confrontation. Althea usually gave up at this point of their conversation and stopped talking, but today, she was determined.


    "Why should I tell you?" Katelyn mumbled, quickening her pace to avoid looking at Althea.


    "Because if you don''t tell me, how will I know what to work on?" Althea''s voice was firm but gentle. "If there''s something about me that you don''t like, you should let me know. Otherwise, how am I supposed to improve?"


    "You can''t improve," Katelyn snapped, her voice getting an octave higher. "Even if you do, I don''t care. I don''t ever want to form any rtionship with you!"


    With that, Katelyn picked up her pace, almost running away from Althea.


    But Katelyn''s sprint came to an abrupt halt as she collided with something solid, sending her sprawling backward.


    "Ow!" she winced, feeling the sting of scraped palms against the rough ground.


    "Watch where you are going," a chilly voicemanded.


    Recognizing the voice, Katelyn look up eagerly. "Lady Iyana!" she eximed, her eyes wide with surprise.


    Iyana''s cold gaze softened just a fraction as she looked down at her. "Oh, Your Imperial Highness," she said, offering a hand to help Katelyn up. "Are you alright?"


    "Yes," Katelyn replied, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "My apologies for bumping into you."


    "It''s alright," Iyana said, ncing up as Althea hurried towards them.


    "Katelyn, are you hurt?" Althea asked, her voice filled with concern. She took her hand to examine her palm.


    Katelyn snatched her hand back and shook her head. "I am fine," she replied in an aloof voice.


    "Greetings, Your Imperial Highness," Iyana said, curtsying gracefully, without noticing the tension between the two sisters.


    Althea turned her attention to Iyana and nodded, trying to let Katelyn''s attitude bother her. "Greetings, Lady Iyana. Have you been hunting in this area?"


    "Yes, I just finished clearing it," Iyana casually responded, as if it was as easy as plucking a flower from the garden.


    "That exins why we can''t find any monsters around here," Althea said, smacking her forehead in realization.


    "My bad," Iyana said with a chuckle. "I personally love hunting, so I might have gotten a bit too excited. Overkill, you know?"


    Altheaughed, shaking her head. "No worries. I am sure His Grace took your enthusiasm into ount. There should be plenty left for everyone."


    At the mention of Vyan, a light blush dusted Iyana''s cheeks. "I hope so."


    Althea grinned, noting Iyana''s blush. She didn''t often get to talk to Iyana directly, but it was fascinating to be face to face with the woman her brother was set on marrying, the same woman Vyan used to—or maybe still did—love.


    "Would you like to join us?" Althea asked with a weing smile.


    Katelyn''s eyes sparkled as she nodded eagerly.


    "Sure, if you will have me," Iyana agreed readily.


    Despite her love for hunting, it did get a bit lonely to go around all alone. No other noblewoman dared to apany her, given her reputation.


    Althea and Katelyn both smiled at her agreement, though for entirely different reasons.


    Althea was happy that she would finally have a chance to get to know Iyana more. Although Katelyn''s joy made her a little suspicious.


    Normally so cautious around people, Katelyn showed no fear in Iyana''s presence—the woman with one of the worst reputations among the nobility, or at least she used to have.


    Since returning from the Ganlop war, Iyana''s reputation had improved. Still, Althea couldn''t help but wonder: why was Katelyn so happy?


    "Oh, my gosh, that''s such an adorable creature!" Iyana eximed. Her voice brimmed with so much excitement one would think she had discovered a fluffy rabbit.


    But in reality, it was a sizable E-grade monster, gruesome and downright heinous.


    "That''s… adorable?" Althea was bbergasted. She even tilted her head and tried to find an angle from which this creature might look remotely cute. But nope, it was ugly from all angles.


    "Your Imperial Highnesses, may I take this one down?" Iyana asked, her eyes pleading, despite her stoic expression. "I promise I will let you have the next kill!"


    Aww, how could Althea resist those pleading eyes? Of course, she could have it.


    But before she could respond, Katelyn chirped earnestly, "Please do! I want to see you in action!"


    Iyana nodded eagerly, unsheathing her sword while Althea shot Katelyn a narrow-eyed nce, a new thought swirling in her head.


    Was it possible that Katelyn admired Iyana?


    She seemed to have stars in her eyes since Iyana''s arrival. So, that was the only logical exnation. But when did that happen?


    Iyana wasn''t known for being particrly friendly or fond of kids. Then it clicked—


    Ah, the annual swordpetition.


    Every year, on Empire Foundation Day, a swordpetition was held, and Iyana had been champion twice in a row. She would have imed the titlest year too if she hadn''t been at war.


    Katelyn loved sword disys, and Iyana was the best at it. It made sense. Of course, Katelyn was a fan of Iyana.


    Althea became more sure of it as she observed Katelyn''s admirable gaze.


    Iyana leaped at the ugly monster, taking it by surprise, while Katelyn watched with intense focus, her fists clenched in anticipation.


    With a smooth attack, Iyana severed the monster''s hand andnded gracefully. She spun on her heels, immediately slicing through its knees.


    As the monster howled in agony, Iyana stabbed its heart, freezing it in ce.


    Once the monster''s heart bled out, it slumped to the ground and vanished, teleported by the magical spell that tagged their bodies upon death.


    Katelyn pped the hardest at Iyana''s seamless victory as she hollered, "That was so cool, Lady Iyana!"


    Despite herself, Iyana shed her a satisfied grin, and Katelyn looked almost like she had been struck by a thunder of love.


    Suppressing augh, Althea thought, Vyan has some seriouspetition.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, the person from Althea''s thoughts was pinned brutally against a towering tree, the cold gleam of a sword pressed menacingly to his throat.


    "Your Imperial Highness," Vyan sneered, his voicecking fear even as he faced imminent death. "Do you not feel a pang of shame, holding a defenseless man at your mercy?"


    Easton stood mere inches from Vyan, and leaned in. He pressed the de dangerously close to his skin, a thin line of blood beginning to appear. "Shame?" he growled, his eyes zing with a fury that seemed almost feral. "Not in the slightest. People like you deserve nothing less."


    Vyan''s lips curled into a defiant grin, a chuckle escaping him despite the danger. "Then, you leave me no choice."