There was no red carpet at the royal tribunal.

Just cold marble, colder nobles, and the coldest stares Aria had seen since she’d “come back from the dead.”

She didn’t care.

She walked in like she owned the place—because eventually, she would.

The chamber was packed.

On the high dais sat three judges:

Duke Bernard, old and deaf, but very bribable.

Lady Halden, sharp as a guillotine.

And in the center, Crown Prince Kael—young, unreadable，and bored out of his mind.

Until he saw Aria.

Then his eyebrows lifted.

Just a little.

Alert: Potential Male Lead Detected

Name: Prince Kael of Thorne

Title: “The Golden Snake” (officially) / “That Arrogant Bastard” (unofficially)

System Note: Warning — He’s hot and dangerous. Handle with care.

Cassian von Roth stood in the center of the chamber, trying very hard to look concerned.

“This… this creature claims to be my daughter,” he said, clutching his handkerchief like it owed him money. “But we all saw her drown! There must be witchcraft involved!”

“Then it’s a good thing I brought proof,” Aria said sweetly, stepping forward.

She was wearing a black velvet gown with gold embroidery, a sharp tiara, and the expression of someone who knew exactly how to kill a man with a letter opener.

Elin, standing behind her, handed over a sealed envelope.

“Eyewitness testimony,” Aria said. “From the maid who found me alive. Sworn under truth spell.”

The judges opened it.

Lady Halden’s eyes flicked over the words. Then she looked up.

“...She claims you were gasping for air. Covered in bruises. And your stepfather had already ordered your body to be cremated.”

Oops.

Cassian went pale.

“That’s—! That’s slander!”

“Then I suppose the second letter will really upset you,” Aria purred.

Another envelope.

This one contained a forged letter ordering her murder, supposedly signed by Cassian.

Forgery Successful

+3 Deception

Passive Effect: Villains start sweating before you speak

Crown Prince Kael leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand.

“This is… entertaining,” he said lazily. “I’d hate to interrupt. But if Lady Aria is truly alive, we must test her identity.”

“How?” Halden asked.

“Simple,” Kael said. “She must answer a question only Aria von Roth would know.”

He turned to Aria. “What’s the secret name of your horse?”

Aria blinked.

Then smirked. “Which one? The royal-approved one, or the one I actually used?”

Kael raised an eyebrow. “The real one.”

Aria looked him dead in the eye.

“Prince Hairy.”

Kael burst out laughing.

Charisma Check Passed

Judges: 2 Favorable, 1 Confused

Public Opinion: +12%

Enemy Rage Level: 73% (Cassian is now 1 insult away from an aneurysm)

Lady Halden cleared her throat. “Well. I suppose that’s conclusive.”

Kael gave her a lazy salute. “Let the record show: Lady Aria von Roth is very much alive… and extremely inconvenient.”

Just as the judges prepared to end the session, a scream rang out.

BOOM!

A tiny explosion went off near the chamber’s entrance. Smoke filled the air. People shouted.

Elin calmly stepped forward, handed Aria a smoke-proof handkerchief, and whispered, “Distraction worked. We can exit now.”

“Perfect,” Aria said, completely unbothered.

As chaos unfolded behind her, she swept out of the tribunal like a queen on her coronation walk.

Quest Complete: Prove You're Not Dead (Again)

Rewards: +10 Charisma, +1 Reputation Tier, 1 Custom Skill Unlock

New Skill Available: “Royal Presence” – Your enemies stutter when lying in front of you

Outside, Elin handed her a small box.

“What’s this?” Aria asked.

“Message from your next enemy.”

Inside was a single black feather… and a note that read:

“The crows remember you.”

Chapter 5: The Crows, the Curse, and the Crimson Ring