Lady, are you alright? That woman, I've been holding myself back from splashing tea on her face this whole time." Mai said as she hurried towards Lyra from outside the Pavilion, her hands clenched as if she was holding back her anger.

Lyra sighed for a moment, as if releasing a heavy burden. She held her slightly dizzy head and leaned back in her chair for a moment. "That woman... really... I expected to meet her, but I didn't expect it to be this soon. She even came to see me herself..."

Lyra sighed softly, then she turned to Mai with a smile. "Calm down, Mai... I'm fine."

Mai looked at Lyra with a worried expression, "Lady...." she said briefly, her eyes welling up, "That woman... is she crazy? She dares to approach the woman who will marry her former fiancé."

Mai continued to mutter in a voice that sounded so annoyed, while Lyra remained silent, she did not respond to Mai's chatter and let Mai do it. "For some reason, seeing Mai, I'm reminded of Atika..." she murmured with a smile.

Her gaze then shifted to the empty cup, she clenched her hands and placed them on the table. Isabelle came not merely to congratulate Lyra. She came to assess. To weigh. To observe who the woman who would now stand beside Keith actually was. Her seemingly gentle gaze and sweet words were merely a thin veil over her true intentions.

In the original novel, even after Keith married Celestia, Isabelle reappeared, as if there had never been any wounds or separation between them. She re-entered Keith's life and of course only to take advantage of Keith whose mind was still filled with her.

In the end, she was the beginning of Keith's downfall.

"If that happens, I can't return to my world and will die in this world...." Lyra murmured softly while ruffling her hair. After that, without any warning, she stood up from her seat.

The chair she had been sitting in made a sound due to the smooth friction, surprising Mai who was still busy with her previous chatter.

"Lady...?" Mai was startled, she then looked at Lyra with a worried expression.

Lyra remained silent, her eyes looking towards the garden visible from the Pavilion window. Her expression looked serious, her fingers that had been trembling were now clenched tightly at her side.

Meanwhile, Isabelle walked slowly along the path from the Edeviene residence. The evening breeze ruffled her fine golden hair. A faint smile was still visible on her lips.

"As I expected," she thought as she walked slowly with a thin smirk on her face. "I didn't find a threat from her,"

She then stepped out of the Edeviene residence with the smirk still on her face. As she passed through the gate of the residence, her gaze was diverted by something in front of her. A magnificent horse-drawn carriage.

Isabelle's eyes examined the carriage carefully. The imperial emblem displayed on the side of the carriage was clearly visible. A sign that was so clear, reminding her of something.

"His Highness...?" she thought.

The carriage door opened slowly, and inside appeared a man with sharp golden eyes, sparkling like sunlight touching the surface of the water, His tall and straight body descended from the carriage.

 "Isabelle..." the man called her name so softly.

Isabelle looked at the man, a smile returned to her face, and without hesitation, she immediately stepped closer and hugged him. The man, Richard Kireon Avaris, the Second Prince of the Empire, smiled softly as Isabelle approached him. He embraced her with care, as if there was no distance separating them. In an instant, the two seemed so close, even more than just political allies.

"My goodness, I didn't expect you to meet me here, Your Highness," said Isabelle, her voice sounding so soft, then she tilted her head slightly and looked into Richard's eyes. "Didn't I say I would contact you after nightfall through the communication orb?"

Richard returned the hug, and with a gentle movement, he kissed Isabelle's forehead with affection. His face looked serious, although the faint smile on his lips showed happiness.

"How about this, because I missed you too much," he replied in a low and attentive voice. "I couldn't wait until night to meet you."

The scene between them looked like a moment that was intertwined so tightly, anyone who saw it would think they were more than just colleagues or allies.

"If that's what you want, I'll tell Your Majesty everything now..." said Isabelle, her eyes sparkling for a moment. She released her hug and stepped back slightly, making sure Richard could see her so clearly.

"Alright," Richard replied casually, He extended his hand to Isabelle as if asking the golden-haired woman to hold his strong hand.

"How about talking inside the carriage? I'll listen to your story while I take you home to the Ardent residence."

Isabelle nodded, her smile widening, as if feeling very comfortable with the man who was with her now. She then took Richard's strong hand and walked towards the waiting carriage and got in.

As soon as the carriage door was opened by a guard, Isabelle climbed the small stairs and sat on the inside facing outwards. Richard followed, then sat beside Isabelle. The door closed again and the carriage started moving.

Isabelle looked at the man beside her with a gentle gaze, "As I said, I will tell you everything. About my meeting with Lady Edeviene today." said Isabelle.

Isabelle then leaned on Richard's shoulder and closed her eyes. Meanwhile, Richard moved his body slightly closer to Isabelle and held her waist, he looked at Isabelle, "I will listen."

Isabelle opened her eyes and smiled thinly as usual. She told Richard everything about her previous meeting with Celestia Edeviene. Richard, who listened to Isabelle's story, smiled smugly, feeling satisfied with what Isabelle had just told him.

"As I said, Your Highness," Isabelle raised her face slightly, looking at Richard with a sweet smile full of self-confidence.

"There's nothing to worry about. That woman... is nothing more than a naive girl who doesn't even understand anything." she said casually, as if Celestia or rather the body now occupied by Lyra was just someone unimportant to her and Richard's plans.

"She does have a sweet face and a charming personality at first glance," continued Isabelle, her fingers slowly drawing small circles on Richard's arm, "you could say, she's just too fragile and pure."

Richard chuckled softly at that. His fingers tapped lightly on the back of Isabelle's hand, his expression showing satisfaction.

"I was worried because Count Edeviene supported Reginald," He said casually, then he leaned back against the carriage seat. "I guess there's nothing to worry about."

 "I'm counting on you, Belle," he whispered in a warm voice, then he reached for Isabelle's hair and kissed it, "As usual."

Isabelle lowered her head for a moment, her cheeks turning pink. There was a flash of joy in her eyes, as if with just one touch from that man, her whole world became more colorful.

She gripped the hem of her dress on her lap, trying to hide her slight nervousness. Although she was used to the affection from Keith, her former fiancé, only now did her heart beat as if she were a young girl who had just known love.

Calmly, Richard touched the back of Isabelle's hand and stroked it, their hands then clasped together without saying anything. The carriage continued to move slowly on the cobblestone road, carrying them away from the Edeviene residence.

Meanwhile, at the Edeviene residence at this time, the atmosphere that had been calm was suddenly broken by the sound of hurried footsteps and a door slamming open hard.

The door was pushed so hard that it shook the walls and frames of the surrounding paintings. A middle-aged man with brown hair and a sharp gaze full of anxiety burst in, making Lyra and Mai who were in the room startled for a moment.

He was Darian Edeviene, the owner of the Edeviene house and the biological father of Celestia, now standing in the doorway with a breathless breath.

"Tia, my daughter!" he exclaimed, his voice heavy and sounding almost trembling. He stepped into the room and quickly held Lyra's shoulder, "You're alright, right?"

Lyra, who had been frozen in surprise, regained her expression at this moment. She looked at the man with a little confusion, but still put a gentle smile on her lips.

"Dad, you're home?" said Lyra, smiling at the middle-aged man.

Darian looked at his daughter's face and shook his head quickly, his face still covered with worry. "That's not important, honey." He said in a firm voice. "How are you? Are you alright?"

He then grabbed Lyra's hand tightly, as if unwilling to let go. His breath was heavy, clearly he was holding back his emotions at this moment. Without giving Lyra a chance to answer, Darian continued his words.

"Dad heard the lady from the Ardent family came to see you while dad was on duty outside." His voice sounded lower now, he had imagined the bad things that could have happened to his daughter during his absence.

Seeing Darian's obvious anxiety, Lyra took a slow breath. She smiled softly, trying to remove the tension on her father's face at this moment, actually she didn't know what the relationship between father and daughter was like in general because she never got it but, at least she wanted to comfort the man who was her father at this moment.

"Dad, calm down. I'm fine," she said softly, reassuring. "Lady Ardent just came to chat for a while, there's nothing to worry about."

Mai, who was standing not far from the two of them, clenched her hands tightly as if wanting to add something, but she only restrained herself and bowed politely. Darian looked at Lyra deeply, as if wanting to read the truth from her eyes. Slowly, his previously tense face became a little more relaxed, although the worry had not completely gone away.

"I am worried," he murmured, more to himself. He released his grip on Lyra's shoulder, but still stood near her, as if worried that his daughter would disappear if he was even slightly careless.

"The Ardent family are not people who come without purpose, let alone letting their daughter meet the fiancé of a man who was previously going to be her son-in-law." He clenched his hands, then his gaze fell to the marble floor.

Lyra held the middle-aged man's shoulder, she understood his feelings very well. Darian only hoped for the best for his daughter, she could only answer with, "I understand, Dad. I'll be careful."

Darian sighed heavily, then patted Lyra's shoulder again, as if wanting to calm himself down. "Alright Tia, if someone from that family comes to see you again, tell dad immediately, do you understand?"

Lyra nodded slowly. "I understand, Dad."

Darian looked at his daughter for a moment, as if wanting to make sure her answer really came from the heart. Only after that, he gently stroked Lyra's hair, an old habit of his that made Lyra feel a little touched.

"Good," Darian finally murmured, before turning around. "Dad will talk to the head servant about security. You rest, Tia. Dad doesn't want you to worry about anything."