In the biting wind, the woodshed door stood slightly ajar—something felt off.

I heightened my alertness and crept closer. Swirling snow erased my footprints, so I deliberately stepped along the packed paths servants used for firewood. My cloak’s invisibility magic rendered me a transparent shadow. Peering inside, I spotted Royce lying in the hay, seemingly asleep.

Wasn’t he cold?

But for someone on death’s door, it no longer mattered. Royce often bullied me, yet he was just a nine-year-old boy—no match for a cupcake’s sweet lure. Leave the cake and walk away. Easy.

Yes, *“easy.”* Through underhanded means. Without courage.

I slipped inside and approached cautiously. Seeing his face, I froze. Royce’s skin was ashen; blood trickled from his eyes, nostrils, ears, and mouth—classic arsenic poisoning. Someone had poisoned him before me. Impossible. Who would kill Royce?

Surely no one but me had motive…

“Elizabeth… why…” Royce murmured, barely breathing. “Elizabeth… I loved you so much… you…”

He mentioned Elizabeth? What was happening?

“Royce,” I gripped his hand. “Who poisoned you? Tell me!”

Delirious and fading, he could only whisper her name.

“Brother… are you dead?”

A voice like silver bells rang through the dark—eerily sweet. I ducked behind the woodpile, cloak magic erasing my presence. For safety, I deployed the Observer. Through its eyes: Elizabeth stood at the door in a crimson cloak, smiling as she approached her dying brother. Seeing him bleeding from every orifice, a coquettish grin touched her lips.

“Elizabeth…” Royce’s eyes snapped open with a final surge, glaring fiercely. “Why…?”

“Because you stood in my way, brother,” she cooed, stroking his cheek. “You were Mother’s key pawn to reclaim her place as mistress of House Lude. Too bad—House Lude is *mine*. I’ll never return it to that promiscuous bitch. Hehe~~~”

No… Elizabeth poisoned him? A five-year-old? Impossible.

Unless…

A chilling thought struck me: *What if she, like me, retained memories from a past life?* That explained everything. Her unnatural cleverness. Her blind confidence—she hadn’t touched me because she saw me as beneath notice.

Hehe. Dear Elizabeth… your secret is mine now.

I’ll use it well.

Stay tuned.

Royce coughed violently, crimson bubbles foaming at his lips. Near death. Elizabeth gazed down, smile widening.

“Die slowly, brother. Goodbye.”

She pulled up her hood and vanished into the night. I set the Observer on guard, then knelt beside Royce—bloodied, broken.

“Royce,” I whispered. “You’re dying. Do you want me to avenge you?”

His bloodshot eyes locked onto mine. He strained to speak, but blood choked his throat.

“Exchange your soul,” my voice dripped like sweet poison. “For the right to vengeance.”

With his last breath, he gave a faint nod.

Contract sealed.

I pressed the demon ring to his forehead—a searing brand. Royce’s soul now belonged to Chris, doomed to the abyss’s deepest flames. Hehe. One sister stole your life; the other cast your soul to hell.

Truly a miserable fate for a brother.

His breath stilled. Light fled his eyes. I watched, cold. The frenzy in my chest faded into icy stillness—like cold ashes.

“Item Vault.”

I opened a spatial rift, stored the body, pulled up my hood, and vanished. Golden eyes gleamed in the dark. Chris, now a cat, sat silently at the door.

“Victoria…”

“Hehe, Chris. Soul received?” I lifted him, stroking gently. “Don’t worry. I didn’t kill Royce.”

His body trembled, then relaxed. *Were you worried about me?*

Rest easy. The real show begins now.

Back in the attic, I connected to the Observer. It soared through wind and snow toward Saxony Barony—Katherine’s natal home. Though bordering Ludwig Barony, the primeval forest between forced long detours. Not for the Observer. It flew straight, reaching Saxony Castle in two hours. I opened the Item Vault and placed Royce’s body before the guard post, the poisoned cupcake beside it—inscribed *“Elizabeth is the cutest~”*.

“What was that?” A soldier emerged, shrieked at the warm corpse.

“Isn’t this Young Master Royce?!”

“Poisoned?!”

“Alert the Count!”

Through the Observer, I watched chaos erupt. Katherine burst out, hair wild, wailing at her son’s body. My lips curled upward. *Hehehe.* The woman who left me paralyzed last life, crippled this one—finally tasting karma. Delightful.

But Katherine… did you think this was the end?

Too naive.

A soldier handed the cupcake to a steward. The monocle-wearing man tested it with a silver needle—it blackened instantly. Poison confirmed. Reported to Count Saxony.

Hehe. All proceeding perfectly.

Truly delightful.

Next morning, commotion erupted below. Count Lud raged in the courtyard, scolding four kitchen servants. Royce was gone.

Whispers spread through the castle. Only Elizabeth wore panic. *Hehe. That little brat wonders: How did he escape? Did he have a teleport charm? Is he alive?* Her unease thrilled me.

Her “clever” move would ignite war between House Lude and House Saxony.

I’d just watch.

Cheerfully, I ate sausages and bread from the Item Vault. My health improved; my leg healed. Still frail—like a bean sprout. Unhealthy. Unlovable. Now knowing Elizabeth might share my past-life memories, caution was vital.

Escape was urgent. Before next spring.

I fastened the Psionic Headband and linked to the puppet in Golden Lion City. Connection stable—no dizziness. It rose in the cold room. Yesterday’s shopping failed; today, the commercial street awaited.

I checked the barrier, stepped onto the stone arch bridge. Black river water carried white ice chunks. The calm surface mirrored the puppet’s beauty—nearly identical to the painted woman.

But who was she? Why did the Duke’s household know her?

*Could… she be my mother?*

Dizziness washed over me. *Sorry, Mom. This unfilial daughter borrows your face only to flee crumbling House Lude. Forgive me.*

After silent apologies, I walked the canal path—then froze. A red-haired knight approached.

“Big sister! You live here?”

I spun instantly, lifted my skirt, and fled.

“Wait! Big sister, wait—!”

Lilia sprinted in full armor, red braids flying. *Her stamina’s unreal.* Her panting subordinates vanished behind her.

Not my fault—it’s Lilia’s! Don’t blame me!