Chapter 12: Who Are You?

Rita had imagined countless scenarios: gentle caresses, rough demands, or even a near-plundering possession.

But she never expected this.

Cecilia clung to her like a small animal seeking warmth in a snowy winter night, carrying exhaustion and a barely perceptible vulnerability, treating Rita—a dangerous figure who’d just snapped a magical beast’s neck—as a human pillow.

That was all.

Yet, this outcome wasn’t bad.

At least it calmed Rita’s racing heart.

But Cecilia’s heartbeat remained loud, almost deafening to Rita’s ears.

Then, all sounds softened, settled, and faded into a steady rhythm, leaving only their faint breaths.

Dawn drew near.

The Next Morning

In a haze, Rita heard a dull thud.

What was that? Did she kick her phone off the bed again?

Rita rolled over, eyes closed, reaching blindly across the floor.

Her fingers brushed a fuzzy carpet but found nothing.

Wriggling like a worm, she stretched her upper body off the bed. This time, she touched something warm and soft.

What’s this? She pinched it twice.

Hmm, feels off—not a phone.

Rita groggily opened her eyes, meeting Cecilia’s helpless, bewildered gaze as she sat on the floor.

Oh, right. She’d been transmigrated for a while now.

Guess she slept well last night, huh?

Wait—last night!

Rita’s memories were clear and intact. She’d fallen asleep at dawn, holding a sleeping Cecilia.

So, the memory loss from their first night was really due to an overload of her succubus aura?

Glancing at Cecilia, Rita realized her hand was still on her.

Not like a manga’s lucky protagonist grabbing Cecilia’s modest chest, but clutching her face.

Sigh, what a pity.

“Rita.”

Cecilia reacted first, swatting Rita’s hand away, standing with the bed’s support, and rubbing her backside.

Seeing this, Rita realized she’d kicked something else to the floor.

“Your Highness!”

Rita scrambled off the bed, nearly dropping to her knees before Cecilia.

“No need to explain.” Cecilia sat on the bed’s edge, waving a hand. “The money will be sent to your room. Nothing happened last night, right?”

“Right.” Rita nodded vigorously.

Even with ten times the courage, she wouldn’t dare say the Princess clung to her, crying half the night. No one would believe her anyway.

“It’s dawn. Staying here longer will raise suspicion. There’s an exam today. Leave the way you came.”

So, the Princess wasn’t holding that bad-sleeping kick against her?

Great news!

Rita nodded, slipped on her boots, and headed for the door.

“Rita.”

Cecilia called her again.

“Your Highness, any further orders?”

Cecilia gave her warmest smile yet, pointing to the window facing the bed.

“I meant, leave the way you came.”

That Vengeful, Scheming Woman!

Fuming, Rita strapped on her sword and marched toward the exam site.

Last night was temptation; this morning was coercion!

Under Cecilia’s pressure, Rita had to climb out the window.

She couldn’t reveal her wings in daylight, so she scaled down layer by layer—only to get caught halfway by patrolling soldiers.

This time, she didn’t suffer much. Halfway through being escorted, a maid whispered to a soldier, who muttered, “The Princess sure knows how to play,” and let her go.

The thousand gold coins arrived as promised, delivered to her room on a small tray.

None of that mattered. She still had to take the Holy Knight exam.

She didn’t escape last night—what was the point of skipping now?

Waiting for Cecilia to suspect her?

Cecilia’s unusually soft demeanor last night made Rita realize she was a living person, with a normal girl beneath the Princess’s cold exterior.

But Rita had no interest in digging into why. It was none of her business.

For now, relying on Cecilia wasn’t bad.

Speaking of Cecilia, she stood on the platform, continuing yesterday’s interrupted opening ceremony.

After the chaos, security was tighter, and civilians were kept at a distance. If not for the ceremony’s role in calming the public, it might’ve been skipped.

“This exam tests both your abilities and character. Holy Knights uphold virtues: loyalty, humility, compassion, honesty, justice…”

A low but sharp voice cut through near Rita’s ear.

“Honesty? Justice? What a joke. How many candidates down here are honest? How many examiners up there are just?”

Everyone knew the Holy Knight exam was riddled with corruption, but no one dared say it openly at the venue.

And the only people near Rita were fellow candidates.

Puzzled, she turned to the voice’s source. A girl, about her age, with short emerald hair and purple eyes glinting with magic, stared at her.

Seeing Rita turn, the girl smirked. “What do you think?”

“Me?” Rita pointed at herself.

“Yup. Most people are here because of this.” The girl mimed flipping a coin. “But you’re different.”

Rita’s permit was scavenged, costing her nothing—of course she was different.

Still, she eyed the girl warily.

Flattery for no reason? Trouble or a trap!

“How do you know?”

“It’s obvious!” the girl replied matter-of-factly. “I saw you protect the Princess yesterday. That’s not something rich heiresses do. And you were hauled off by guards but stand here unscathed today. You’re no ordinary girl.”

She grinned. “So, let’s team up.”

“Team up?”

“Yeah, snatching spots from those who paid their way isn’t easy.” The girl extended a hand. “Oh, I’m Valphis.”

Rita didn’t plan to shake hands but felt obliged to give her name.

“Nice to meet you. I’m—”

“Hmph, since yesterday, your name’s been the talk of the town.” Valphis didn’t press for a handshake, crossing her arms instead. Her smug expression froze.

After a moment, she scratched her head. “Wait, who are you?”