Quiana didn't move for a long moment after Cyma left.
The corridor felt smaller somehow, the air heavier.
Her fingers trembled as she pressed them against the cold stone wall.
"She didn't even raise her voice," Quiana muttered. "She didn't have to."
That frightened her more than shouting ever could.
"Your Highness?" Willa's soft voice came from behind.
Quiana turned sharply. "Where were you?"
"Close," Willa replied quickly. "As you instructed."
Scarlett leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, eyes bright with interest. "Well? Did the little princess finally learn her place?"
Quiana's laugh was short and brittle. "She almost made me forget mine."
Willa frowned. "That's not funny."
"She looked at me like she already won," Quiana snapped. "Like she could destroy me without lifting a finger."
Scarlett smirked. "Maybe she was bluffing."
"No," Quiana said quickly. "She wasn't."
She began pacing, skirts swishing sharply. "She's changed. Or maybe she was always like this and I was too blind to see it."
Willa stepped forward hesitantly. "Then perhaps… you should stop."
Quiana whirled on her. "Stop what? Watching her take everything?"
"She hasn't taken everything," Willa said carefully. "And threatening her will only make things worse."
Scarlett laughed softly. "Worse for who?"
Willa shot her a warning look. "Scarlett..."
"She's right," Quiana interrupted. "It's already worse. Dorian won't even look at me anymore. And Ace..." Her voice cracked. "He looked through me."
Scarlett's eyes gleamed. "Then we make them look again."
Willa shook her head. "That's dangerous."
Quiana stopped pacing. "Dangerous is doing nothing."
Scarlett leaned in, lowering her voice. "If she won't step aside willingly, we push her."
Willa's breath hitched. "Your Highness..."
"No more half measures," Quiana snapped. "I won't be intimidated by someone who only just learned how to stand straight."
Scarlett smiled. "Now you're thinking clearly."
Willa grabbed Quiana's sleeve. "Please. If this gets exposed.."
Quiana pulled away. "I don't care."
The words startled even Scarlett.
"I won't lose to her," Quiana continued, voice shaking with fury. "Not in my own palace."
Scarlett tilted her head. "Then we act quickly. Before she grows bolder."
Willa whispered, "This will end badly."
Quiana stared into the mirror at the far end of the room at her own frightened eyes.
"Then it ends," she said coldly. "On my terms."
Scarlett bowed slightly. "Just say the word."
Quiana exhaled slowly, her fear hardening into something reckless.
"Find me someone," she said. "Quiet. Desperate. Someone who doesn't trace back to us."
Willa froze. "You're not serious."
Quiana's gaze never left her reflection. "I am."
Scarlett smiled, already turning away. "I know just the type."
Willa's voice trembled. "Your Highness, pleas..."
Quiana closed her eyes briefly.
"She warned me," she said. "So now I'll show her what happens when warnings are ignored."
The torchlight flickered.
And in that light, Quiana made a choice she wouldn't be able to undo.
Morning sunlight crept softly through the palace windows, spreading across the elegant chamber.
Princess Cyma was still asleep when the door opened quietly.
A familiar voice whispered urgently.
"Princess Cyma… Princess Cyma, wake up."
Cyma stirred slightly beneath the blankets.
"Mm…"
"Princess, please wake up."
Cyma slowly opened her eyes.
Standing beside the bed was Alpena already fully dressed and looking unusually energetic.
Cyma blinked sleepily.
"Alpena…?"
Alpena looked excited, almost glowing.
"Your bath is ready. I prepared your clothes and everything else."
Cyma pushed herself up on her elbows, confused.
"My bath?"
She glanced around the room.
Everything looked perfectly arranged.
Her dress was laid neatly on the chair. Fresh towels folded. Steam faintly rising from the bathing room.
Cyma looked back at her.
"…What's the special occasion?"
Alpena blinked like the answer should be obvious.
"Ace is back."
Cyma paused.
Alpena clasped her hands together excitedly.
"I couldn't sleep properly after seeing him last night."
Her voice softened.
"He was like an elder brother to me when we were young."
Cyma watched her quietly.
Alpena continued happily.
"We lost so many years after he disappeared. I want us to make up for all that lost time."
The joy on her face was impossible to hide.
But as she looked at Cyma again…
Her smile slowly faded.
"…Princess?"
Cyma wasn't smiling.
Instead, she looked… worried.
Alpena frowned.
"What's wrong?"
Cyma looked down at the blanket in her hands.
"I don't know."
She sighed softly.
"It's just… strange."
"Strange?"
Cyma nodded.
"Ace suddenly appearing again after all these years."
Her brows knit slightly.
"Where has he been all this time?"
Alpena tilted her head.
Cyma hesitated before continuing.
"And when I was with him yesterday…"
She paused.
"…it felt awkward."
Alpena blinked.
"Awkward?"
Cyma nodded slowly.
"I felt like… I was doing something wrong."
Alpena looked confused.
Cyma sighed.
"Like I'm betraying Dorian."
For a moment the room was quiet.
Then Alpena suddenly laughed.
Cyma blinked at her.
"You're overthinking."
Cyma frowned.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
Alpena sat beside the bed.
"Yes, you liked Ace when we were younger."
Cyma looked away slightly.
"But that was years ago."
Alpena shrugged lightly.
"That's in the past."
She leaned forward.
"You should just welcome him as a friend."
Cyma looked back at her.
"Forget about betraying Dorian or not."
Alpena smiled warmly.
"Just go with the flow."
Her eyes softened with nostalgia.
"Just like old times."
Cyma stared at her thoughtfully.
Before she could answer—
The door suddenly opened.
Both girls turned.
**Nena** stepped inside the room.
Her expression was calm.
But her eyes immediately landed on Alpena.
Sitting comfortably on the princess's bed.
Talking with Cyma like they were equals.
Something flickered in Nena's gaze.
She walked forward.
"Princess Cyma, I came to prepare your bath."
Alpena spoke before Cyma could.
"I already did it."
Nena paused.
Her eyes slowly moved toward Alpena.
Cyma noticed the tension immediately.
"Oh."
Cyma smiled slightly.
"Then I'll use Nena's bath instead."
Alpena blinked.
"Princess.."
Cyma shook her head gently.
"You don't need to do these things for me anymore."
Her voice softened.
"You're not a slave anymore."
Nena's heart lifted slightly at those words.
For a moment she felt relieved.
The princess chose her.
But Alpena understood Cyma differently.
To her, it meant Cyma didn't want to burden her with servant work.
So she didn't argue.
Instead she stood up.
"Then I'll pick out your dress."
Nena spoke immediately.
"I already prepared one."
She pointed toward the chair.
Cyma looked over.
It wasn't a dress.
It was a male outfit
The same type Cyma usually wore when she disguised herself as a royal inspector.
Cyma shook her head.
"I'm not going out as an inspector today."
Both girls looked at her.
"I'm going out with Ace."
Then she smiled.
"And Alpena."
Nena's fingers tightened slightly around the fabric she was holding.
Her smile didn't fade.
But her grip did not loosen either.
"I'll prepare a suitable dress then."
Cyma waved her hand lightly.
"You don't need to."
Nena blinked.
Cyma smiled kindly.
"Take the day off."
The words landed like a quiet blow.
To Cyma, it was a simple kindness.
But to Nena…
It felt like something else entirely.
Her nails pressed into her palm.
To her, it felt like Alpena was slowly taking everything away.
Her position.
Her duties.
Her closeness to the princess.
Yet her expression remained perfectly calm.
"As you wish… Princess."
She bowed slightly.
But as she turned to leave the room…
Her jaw tightened.
In her mind, one thought repeated itself.
Alpena is trying to take my place.