Medaini seemed to transform into a vampire bursting into flames at sunlight’s touch—shrieking wildly, her body trembling as she scrambled backward until she huddled in the farthest corner from Yifia.
Curled tightly into a ball.
Even through her hooded cloak, palpable terror radiated from her.
What was happening?
Yifia stood frozen, utterly bewildered. She’d already steeled herself for a heroic death!
Damn it! After all that effort to be brave… was *this* it?
What on earth was Medaini playing at?!
￣へ￣
“W-wah… Yifia, are you okay? It’s all my fault… Wahhh… If only you…”
While Yifia remained utterly confused, Jesina finally regained control of her body—but her legs gave way, and she collapsed weakly to the floor.
Tears streamed down her face without pause, as if they cost nothing.
The once-impeccable noble lady now sat disheveled on the ground, her feather fan tossed aside, forgotten.
Her sobs poured forth like a flood.
So overwhelmed with grief she seemed ready to weep herself to death—as if Yifia had already fallen protecting her.
Yifia twitched her lips speechlessly and patted Jesina’s shoulder reassuringly.
She didn’t know how someone as death-averse as herself had mustered such courage moments ago… yet she couldn’t bear watching Jesina in danger.
After all, despite Jesina’s tsundere quirks and occasional tantrums, she wasn’t a bad person—just a straightforward noble who valued fairness.
Remember how Jesina bravely condemned George during the exam results? Now it was Yifia’s turn.
(Though if it were any of the main heroines? Yifia would’ve bolted without a backward glance!)
“Jesina, I’m totally fine—see? I can run and jump!”
“But if not for me, you could’ve escaped… Wahhh… I held you back. I’m such a bad person… Sob…”
“Alright, if you feel guilty—just Venmo me 50 gold coins! Rich girl~”
“…”
Though Jesina often didn’t grasp Yifia’s quirks, seeing her joke confirmed she was unharmed. Her sobs softened into hiccuping cries, patting her chest doing nothing to stop them—making her look both pitiful and endearing.
Yifia sighed in relief. She truly couldn’t handle tears… Remembering how *she’d* once sobbed into Amelia’s arms? Mortification flooded her—so cringey she could dig a Barbie Dreamhouse with her toes.
Dark history. Absolute dark history!
Thankfully, only she and Amelia had been there…
After calming Jesina, Yifia turned toward Medaini huddled in the corner. Curiosity burned: *Why did she stop?*
But first—
[System, what’s wrong with Medaini? Why lie earlier calling it a scam?! I almost died!]
[System! If you dared deceive me, show yourself! Don’t play dead—I know you’re there!]
Silence. The system pulled its classic “pretending to sleep” vanish act.
Yifia huffed. She knew this trick—total refusal to engage.
“AAAAH! I was wrong! Please spare me!”
Just as Yifia mentally cursed the useless system, Medaini—who’d seemed calm—suddenly shrieked, flailing her arms like someone in a psychotic episode.
Both girls snapped their gaze toward her.
Then—glitch-like—Medaini froze again.
Yifia and Jesina exchanged a deeply confused look. Jesina, once fascinated by divination, now swore: *Never again.* One visit was already life-threatening!
“Hey, Medaini… what’s going on?”
Gathering courage, Yifia stepped forward, grabbed a strange rod from a cluttered pile, and poked the motionless figure.
*Tap. Tap.*
On the third poke—Medaini’s hand shot up and seized the rod.
Yifia blinked. Had she imagined dark wisps curling from Medaini’s hands? A second glance revealed only black-gloved fingers.
“Milady, spare my life! I was blind to your greatness!”
Making terrifying gestures while begging pathetically, Medaini clutched the rod—then dropped abruptly to her knees.
The eerie tension shattered.
Yifia was utterly speechless.
“I was wrong, I was wrong, I was wrong—”
Before finishing, Medaini stiffened again. Her body convulsed violently, jerking the rod—and Yifia along with it.
Damn it, what *is* this?!
Yifia yanked her hand back and stumbled backward.
*Trip.*
She stepped on something and toppled—*Not dying from Medaini’s scare… but a fall?!*
What a ridiculous way to die!!!
Jesina was too far, too frozen to help. Yifia squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact—
—but no pain came. Instead, arms wrapped gently around her waist.
She blinked up… and her eyes widened in shock.
“AAAAH! Lady Barron! Am I dreaming?! It’s *really* Lady Barron!”
Before Yifia could question reality, Jesina’s flushed, starry-eyed fangirling confirmed it: Amelia had arrived—and caught her just in time.
“Yifia, be more careful,” Amelia murmured softly as she released her waist.
Yifia scratched her nose sheepishly, nodding fast. *Again?! How many times must I embarrass myself in front of her?!*
Once Yifia steadied herself, Amelia turned to the soldiers behind her and clapped once.
“Medaini is here. Arrest her.”
