The carriage rolled through the gates of House Cersenia, a world of stifled cruelty and cold velvet disappearing behind them.
Virelle sat with her hands folded neatly on her lap, eyes fixed on the silent girl opposite her—the one who had stood between her and yet another humiliation, who had slapped a noble girl like it meant nothing.
The air inside the carriage was quiet. Almost reverent.
Then the princess finally spoke.
"My name is Princess Serenthia Kael Aurelis Elarian," she said, her voice low and composed. "Second daughter of the Aurelis Imperial Line. Twin to Crown Prince Kaelon Valaris Aurelis Elarian."
A moment passed as Virelle took that in. She had known the girl was royalty—but the twin of the crown prince? That was another matter altogether. There were whispers of Prince Kaelon's strength, his power, his beauty.
But few spoke of his twin.
Because Serenthia rarely appeared in public. She was an enigma—an imperial phantom that attended politics by ghostlight and rumors.
"I'm…" Virelle found herself stumbling. Then she straightened and offered the princess a respectful nod.
"I am Virelle Elarian " she said softly, "daughter of Duke Luthair Cersenia of the Elerian Duchy."
Serenthia's violet eyes didn't leave her face.
"And her?" she asked, nodding to the white cat curled in Virelle's lap.
Virelle blinked, then smiled down at the tiny creature.
"She's Lia."
The princess's eyes softened.
Lia lifted her head and narrowed her eyes in suspicion. But Virelle could feel the tension leave the cat's small frame. Lia's tail flicked once, then again, before she leapt—light as mist—across the velvet cushion into the lap of the imperial princess.
"Lia!" Virelle gasped.
But Lia merely stretched out like she owned the royal gown now beneath her and let out a pleased chirp.
Serenthia stared.
Then—
"Oh no," she muttered. "Don't do that."
Virelle blinked. "Do what?"
"That," Serenthia said tightly, as if trying to suppress an emotion. "That purring. The blinking. The tiny paws."
Lia tilted her head. Blinked.
And purred louder.
Serenthia exhaled sharply.
"Cute things are my weakness," she confessed flatly, picking up Lia with both hands as if she were handling a holy artifact. "I am a general. I have led troops. I am the blade of the empire."
She paused.
"And I am completely defenseless against adorable animals."
Virelle laughed.
It burst out of her suddenly—too bright, too uncontrolled. A note of real joy that startled even herself.
She covered her mouth too late.
Serenthia looked up sharply, as if the sound had shattered something sacred.
Lia froze mid-purr.
Virelle flushed red. "I—I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
Serenthia stared.
Then, slowly, a tiny smile played on her lips.
"...You laughed," she said quietly. "That was unexpected."
Virelle looked away, cheeks still burning.
"It's just… no one's ever reacted to Lia that way before. They usually want to throw her out or… worse."
Serenthia held the cat against her chest like a cherished scroll.
"She's perfect," she said simply.
Lia let out a soft chirrup as if in agreement.
Virelle's eyes shimmered.
For a moment, there was no weight of nobility, no dark mansion behind them, no bruises hiding under her sleeves. Just a girl, a cat, and a crown with a human face.
But Lia… she knew.
She watched the princess quietly through half-lidded eyes, and deep in her soul, the memory stirred.
In the original story,
This girl had once stood beside Virelle at the gallows.
When the world turned its back, when even the imperial court had condemned her, Serenthia had been the only one who believed Virelle hadn't truly become the villainess the world claimed her to be.
She had fought for her. Died for her.
Not because of love. Not because of politics.
But because she had once loved Virelle's older brother.
Asterion Cersenia.
He was just 13 years old when he died. Bright, noble, the sun that lit both the house and Virelle's childhood.
He was Serenthia's first love.
Not a loud one. Not declared with grand gestures.
But Lia remembered the hidden letters, the lingering glances during imperial events, the way Serenthia's face lit up when Asterion spoke her name.
And Asterion… he had loved her, too.
But he'd kept it quiet—because his loyalty belonged to his little sister first
But then he died before telling the princess.
And after that,
Serenthia had never been the same.
She'd watched Virelle and supported her in the novel.
And when the world turned on her, she was the only one who stood between Virelle and the blade.
Serenthia had died because of Heroen.
Framed for treason. Branded as partner to the villainess.
All for standing by Virelle's side.
That was why Virelle had tried to kill Heroen—not because of crown prince, but because for her who was her everything.
Her best friend.
Her sister.
Her hope .
Lia purred louder and nestled into Serenthia's lap.
The princess's lips curled just slightly.
"You're too precious," she whispered, scratching under Lia's chin. "It's illegal. I'll have to make a decree."
"You're… not what I expected," Virelle murmured.
"And you're not as mad mannered as your stepmother have told everyone ," Serenthia replied, looking up.
They stared at each other.
Then both looked away—embarrassed by the honesty.
The carriage continued on toward Duchy Elerian, away from the poisoned halls of Cersenia estate.
But for the first time since Da-eun's soul had entered this world…
Virelle felt safe.
And maybe, just maybe—not alone anymore.