The royal family had learned the truth only hours earlier:
the magic used in the second assassination attempt on Riven was forbidden soul–magic—a spell so dangerous it was outlawed centuries ago.
And when Princess Lyria heard this, she didn't sleep.
Neither did Kara.
So at dawn, they hurried straight to the orphanage.
⸻
At the Orphanage
Sister Marie greeted them with sleepy eyes and a warm smile, unaware of the storm swirling around their visit.
"You came very early, Your Highness… Lady Kara," she said kindly. "If you wish to see Riven, she is still sleeping."
Lyria's heart tightened.
Still sleeping?
Was she injured? Exhausted? Did the magic harm her?
"I want to see her," Lyria said immediately. "Please… let me check on her."
Sister Marie blinked. "I can wake her, dear."
"No," Lyria insisted, voice firmer than usual. "I want to make sure myself."
Kara lifted an eyebrow but said nothing.
The nun nodded eventually. "Very well. Her room is the second door on the left."
Lyria swallowed hard and walked down the corridor alone.
⸻
The door creaked silently as Lyria slipped inside.
What she saw made her heart stop.
Riven lay curled on her side, face calm and peaceful—almost childlike. Both hands tucked beneath her cheek. Her hair spread across the pillow in soft waves, catching the early light.
But what made Lyria freeze—
what made her face turn crimson—
was Riven's shirt.
It had lifted slightly while she slept, revealing sharply defined abdominal muscles, smooth skin, and a curve of strength that Lyria had never expected.
Her heart practically exploded in her chest.
Why… why is my heart doing this?
Why does she make me feel like this every time I see her?
She slowly sat on the floor beside the bed, resting her hands against the mattress. She gently brushed away a small lock of hair that had fallen over Riven's eyes.
Her voice dropped to a whisper—quiet, trembling, filled with emotions she didn't understand.
"Why won't you let me protect you…?"
"Why must you be so stubborn…? Just let me help you… please."
Behind her, unseen, Morrivayne watched with a wicked little grin curling across her invisible face.
"Oh, princess… how adorable."
Suddenly, Riven shifted a tiny bit in her sleep.
Lyria nearly jumped out of her skin.
She scrambled to her feet—face blazing—and hurriedly rushed out of the room, nearly tripping over her own dress as she fled.
⸻
Kara and Sister Marie looked up as Lyria reentered, red as a tomato.
"Where's Riven?" Sister Marie asked.
Lyria blurted the first lie she could think of:
"I—I couldn't find her room."
Kara stared at her suspiciously.
The nun simply nodded.
A few minutes later, footsteps echoed down the stairs.
Riven walked in, still half–asleep, hair messy, eyes barely open.
She blinked at the sight of Kara and Lyria.
"…what are you doing here?" she asked flatly.
Sister Marie smacked the back of her head lightly.
"Don't be rude to our guests!"
Kara burst into laughter.
Lyria giggled behind her hand.
Kara spoke up and said, "Are you okay? We heard what happened."
Sister Mary looked between them in surprise and asked, "What happened to Raven?"
Raven shook her head at Cara and Leria without speaking; she didn't want to worry Sister Mary.
Lyria said in a gentle voice, "We heard that Raven is sick and we came to check on her."
Sister Mary smiled and said, "That's very kind of you," and patted Raven hard on the shoulder, adding, "But Raven is as strong as a horse and she's never been sick in her life, so don't worry about her."
Raven glanced sideways at her and said, " A Horse, is that a compliment or an insult?"
They all laughed at Raven, and Sister Mary said, "Please have a seat, and I will get you something to drink."
Once the nun left the room, the atmosphere shifted.
They were alone.
⸻
Kara crossed her arms tightly.
"We heard what happened," she said sharply. "You were almost killed this time."
Riven didn't respond.
Mostly because she wasn't fully awake… and also because she didn't plan to.
Kara's voice rose.
"Do you even care about your own life? Why won't you ask the king for protection?"
Nothing.
Riven stared at them with her usual quiet, unreadable eyes.
That made Kara snap.
She grabbed Riven by the collar and pulled her forward.
"You idiot! The magic they used was forbidden soul magic! If it had touched you, YOU WOULD HAVE DIED ON THE SPOT!"
Riven replied calmly:
"But it didn't."
Kara shoved her backward, furious.
Lyria stepped forward, gentler but equally shaken.
"Riven… please. Come to the palace. At least until the danger passes. We can protect you."
Riven smiled.
A small, soft smile.
Fake.
Painfully fake.
"There's nothing to fear," she said quietly. "Everything is under control."
Lyria felt her heart sink at the sight of that smile.
Fake again… she's hiding something again…
Kara growled, but Lyria held up a hand.
"Let's calm down. It's clear she won't accept our help."
She forced a small smile at Riven. "But you haven't had breakfast yet, right? I'll get something delicious for you."
Riven blinked once.
Still tired.
Still unreadable.
But somewhere deep inside…
She knew this peace wouldn't last.