Vera found Teresa’s attitude oddly unsettling.

In her memory, her little sister had been close to Teresa since childhood—sometimes even closer than Vera, her own blood sister.

But something must have happened. When Vera returned from school, she noticed Loko no longer sought Teresa out to play, and Teresa hadn’t come looking for Loko either.

She assumed they’d had a falling out and tried to mediate.

Unexpectedly, both girls separately insisted nothing was wrong. That unspoken harmony only deepened Vera’s suspicion.

Back then, school kept her too busy to dig deeper.

A month later, when she came home again, Loko had resumed visiting Teresa. Relief washed over Vera.

Yet half a year after that, when Teresa and Loko appeared together at her house, Vera saw their dynamic had shifted.

What was once a friendship of shared secrets now felt like a master-servant bond.

Loko no longer used Teresa’s given name, calling her “Young Miss” repeatedly—as if she were a servant. And Teresa accepted it without protest.

Vera’s hackles rose instantly.

Yes, the York Family had done the Gallina Family a favor—but humiliating a noble like this? Wasn’t that going too far?

Strangely, when Vera asked Loko if she’d been mistreated, Loko just shook her head. “Teresa treats me well.”

Vera stood bewildered.

*Could they really be into some weird roleplay?*

Later, she never heard of Teresa bullying Loko. Though uneasy about how Teresa treated her sister, reason overruled emotion.

The Gallina Family clung to the Yorks’ shadow. No one dared speak against them.

Not Pellan. Not Vera either.

So when Vera heard Teresa suddenly wanted to bring Loko to the royal banquet—without reason—her mind leaped to the worst.

“Loko… you haven’t offended Teresa lately, have you?”

“Mm.” Loko nodded.

If anything, refusing would’ve been the real offense.

“Well… since you’ve already agreed to go, all I can do is wish you luck, little sister.”

Vera patted Loko’s shoulder, then let go.

She’d wanted to promise: *If she hurts you, big sister will have your back.*

But the chasm between their families rose in her throat—a bitter taste.

This family… relying on its youngest, most cherished child to bear the weight.

The words died on her lips.

Then she forced a bright smile.

“Oh! Back in my day, I was quite the belle of the ball. Come on—I’ll pick your gown. We’ll make sure the Gallina name shines!”

…

Second floor. Guest room.

Shilufei leaned against the windowsill, having overheard fragments of Loko and Teresa’s talk. Emotions swirled inside her.

This was the first time she’d personally witnessed them discussing *her*.

Before, despite reincarnation memories and corroborating clues, she’d clung to a faint hope: *Maybe this life is different. Maybe Loko isn’t a spy.*

But now—Loko suggesting Teresa skip the house *because Shilufei was home*?

Clearly, to hide their closeness.

*It couldn’t be she actually favors me over Teresa… could it?*

Yet hearing Teresa’s words—*“All because of one Shilufei”*—a tiny flicker of warmth sparked in her chest.

As if, in Loko’s heart, Shilufei mattered more.

Eyes closed, evening breeze brushing stray hairs across her cheek.

Two paths lay before her.

Flee. Live incognito. A quiet life—no power, no vengeance, but the fresh start she’d promised Loko.

Or…

Destroy the enemy from within.

Her family’s ruin wasn’t one person’s doing. She’d dismantle the entire York Family—and their collaborators.

A perilous path. One misstep, and she’d vanish like last time.

If the Yorks planted Loko beside her… surely other eyes watched from shadows.

That “chance” meeting on her first school day? Never a coincidence. They’d tracked her long before enrollment.

“Heh.”

Shilufei crouched, hands covering her face.

“To you, I’m just an ant. Erasing me would be effortless…”

*So why keep me alive?*

*Because I’m still useful.*

Greed destroys not just one soul—but legions.

Silently, Shilufei steeled her resolve. She closed the door on her last escape.

…

“Here, try this one!”

In Loko’s room, Vera surveyed the mountain of gowns piled on the bed, holding each against Loko.

“Hmm… too mature. Nope! Our Loko goes *cute*.”

Loko grimaced, staring at the mere tenth she’d tried.

“Sis Vera… where’d you even get all these? You didn’t attend *that* many banquets.”

“Hm? Oh, these? Gifts from town kids.” Vera waved a hand, utterly nonchalant. “Never worn. Clean, I promise.”

Loko’s jaw dropped. *Gifts? So they’re suitors?*

Her seemingly carefree sister… had *that* many admirers?

Finally, Vera held up the winner: a white-based gown glittering with jewels, a calf-high slit—modest yet flattering Loko’s figure perfectly.

“This one! Go change!”

Vera pointed to the closet. With a resigned sigh, Loko took the dress and disappeared inside.

Vera waited in the bedroom, heart fluttering with anticipation for the stunning vision about to emerge.