The designer’s dress shop was spacious and luxurious. Isabel was welcomed warmly by the owner, who greeted her with smiles all over his face.

“I came to buy something for her today, not for me.”

“Ah, who might this distinguished young lady be?”

“She’s my sister.”

“Ah. Sister…”

The shop owner seemed puzzled, wondering if the Earl of Hèrn had another daughter but didn’t probe any further.

“We need a dress in blue for the festival. It has to be the most dazzling. We’ll buy shoes to match the dress, and jewelry too. So please reserve them while we get her measurements. Ah, she’s growing quite fast so make it one size larger.”

Isabel issued directions as if accustomed to such matters. While the female staff measured Ariana’s sizes, Isabel flipped through the catalog, showing Ariana pretty dresses one by one.

“This style would also look good on you. Ah, this is pretty too. This one might be a bit too mature for you… How about this?”

Isabel seemed as happy as if she was shopping for her own dress.

Kwang—! Bang—!

Just as the measurements were nearly done, a loud explosion from the street shook the ground.

“I’ll go and check it out.”

The knight guarding the store’s entrance left, and a shout was heard immediately after.

“Who’s there!”

Ching— Ching—

The sound of swords clashing.

“Ugh.”

A groan.

People in the shop scattered screaming, and Isabel, holding tightly onto Ariana’s hand, stepped back while eyeing the store’s door.

Swish—

The door opened and it wasn’t the knight who came in. Three masked men with dripping bloodied swords. One of them was severely bleeding from the arm, seemingly injured while fighting the knight.

Ariana’s eyes met with the eyes of the man in front.

Her heart sank.

‘Serje Hu sent them!’

Although life in Chase Castle was comfortable, she wasn’t unprepared for situations like this. But she never expected it would happen today with Isabel. It was sooner than she’d expected.

‘They were probably told to capture me alive if possible, kill me if not. Panicking won’t help. I have to think of a way out. Think, Ariana.’

Fighting here risked Isabel getting hurt.

‘I’ll let them take me. They won’t suspect I’ve hidden a weapon. When the moment comes, I’ll stab and run.’

Her weak and young appearance would induce their negligence. The self-defense techniques she’d learned from Cyrus weren’t perfect but could provide her an opportunity to escape.

“Sister, run.”

But Isabel did something unexpected.

“Who are you? Dare you know who I am and still commit such an act?”

Dropping her young, naive noblewoman facade, Isabel had transformed into a warrior with icy eyes.

Cyrus had said, ‘In Dongryung, even women are great warriors.’

The masked man spoke.

“We have no business with you. If you wish to live, step aside.”

“I’ll be grateful if you do.”

As Isabel, holding Ariana’s hand, tried to step aside, the masked man spoke.

“Leave her behind.”

“Ah, are you assassins sent from Seoryung? It’s quite audacious to come all the way to Dongryung to kidnap my sister.”

At Isabel’s words, the masked men flinched. Another masked man behind them raised his sword.

“If she knows who we are, she should die.”

As the masked man lunged forward, Ariana shouted.

“Wait!”

Ariana had the tip of the hidden dagger to her own throat. The lunging masked man stopped and stared at Ariana.

“If you take me alive, you’ll get a bigger reward. You must’ve promised that. If you lay a finger on this girl, I’ll die right here.”

“He’s bluffing. Kill her.”

Ariana’s quick thinking and actions had changed the dynamics, adding another layer of complexity to an already tense situation.
Ariana mercilessly plunged the dagger into her own neck. The blade dug into her skin, and blood trickled down her white neck.

“Wait!”

A masked figure behind her shouted.

“Saving that wench will be twice as beneficial.”

“Hurry, the knights are coming.”

Hearing the masked lookout’s warning, the other masked figures sheathed their swords, cursing. Ariana also lowered her dagger. As she walked toward the masked figures, Isabelle held her back.

“Don’t, Ariana.”

Ariana quickly hugged Isabelle and whispered softly.

“Sis, if they catch me, they’ll kill you. While I go to them, you run out the back door and alert others.”

“But…”

“They won’t chase after you; it’s the only way for both of us to survive.”

Ariana let go of Isabelle and swiftly turned around. Simultaneously, she heard Isabelle running away.

A masked figure roughly grabbed Ariana by her hair.

“Smart little wench.”

Ariana fearlessly glared at the masked figure with her blue eyes.

“Isn’t one enough? If you all escape alive, the testimony of that young girl won’t serve as evidence anyway.”

If all the assassins survived, as Ariana said, Isabelle’s testimony would only sound like slander against Seo Jee-hoo.

Moreover, since the assassins weren’t even locals, even if they died and left their bodies, it couldn’t prove that Seo Jee-hoo sent them.

The assassins left the scene, taking only Ariana with them.

+++