"Relax, I've got this. I picked someone who looks just like you to take the fall. No one's gonna notice a thing."

Cora finally eased up, letting out a snort. "Now that's more like it. Still, I don't buy all that crap about Serena having some kind of powerful background. Come on, you really believe her half-baked skills?"

Oscar Bennett frowned but said nothing, clearly lost in thought.

Just then, a cop stepped in and leaned in to whisper something to him. Oscar's tense face relaxed a little.

"So, she really is Esther's niece? The one who got thrown in jail six years ago? Guess she is part of the Douglas family after all."

He looked toward his subordinate and asked, "You sure you've dug deep enough into Serena's background? No other shady stuff?"

"It's all verified, sir," the officer replied, handing over a file. "She got sentenced to thirty years, but was bailed out right after she got in. We couldn't trace who pulled the strings, though. Just today, General Gavin Moore wiped her record clean, calling it a wrongful conviction. Before this, there's no record of them having any contact."

Oscar let out a slow breath.

So, just some ex-con who got out thanks to someone with power. All that 'Your Highness' nonsense? Probably something Gavin Moore called her for fun.

Cora peeked at the file and suddenly burst out laughing. "Bailed out six years? Please, she was probably toyed with to hell and back by some sick freak. And now she's clinging to General Moore? Told you she was trash pretending to be pure!"

In Draco City, everyone knew the unspoken rule-female inmates had no rights, be it in prison or in front of the elite.

Especially the pretty ones.

By the time they got sentenced, half of them were already secretly auctioned off in underground rings to the highest bidder. The prison just kept record of their 'sentence'. Whether they were in a cell or warming some tycoon's bed? No one really knew.

Someone like Serena-pretty and young-getting bailed out like that? It almost always meant she'd been bought.

Most didn't last two months in that role.

But somehow, Serena was still alive. Not just that, she'd even snagged someone as high up as Gavin Moore.

That face of hers really was something.

The more Cora thought about it, the more bitter she felt. "Then let's get rid of her, Oscar. Get revenge for me!"

Her voice was full of hate, like she couldn't wait to drag Serena in and tear her apart herself.

But Oscar's face turned serious. "Not now."

Cora got impatient. "You're a director now! What's there to be afraid of? She's just a used-up ex-con!"

"It's not her I'm worried about-it's Gavin Moore," Oscar shot her a glance. "Who knows what he sees in Serena right now? Trash or not, if he's interested, and I poke the wrong spot, it's over for us.

"Until we know exactly what's going on, don't make any moves."

"Hmph! Sounds to me like you're falling for that skank too!" Cora said with a pout.

Oscar paused but didn't argue. Instead, he spoke gently, "Don't worry. I'll get her back for you. Promise."

That finally calmed Cora down a bit. But as she replayed Gavin Moore's face in her mind, her eyes glazed over with infatuation.

"Still... Gavin Moore's seriously good-looking. Way hotter than Evan. If I could marry him... someone like Serena wouldn't even matter. I'd crush her easily."

She'd only heard stories from Oscar about Gavin's military rep before, but seeing him in person today? He was the real deal.

Family name, face, skills-he checked every box.

"Help me out, Oscar. I wanna be Mrs. Gavin Moore!" she clung to his arm, pleading sweetly. "I mean, if someone like Serena can get his attention, then a family like ours? He'd totally go for me!"

Oscar Bennett frowned as he watched his sister's starry-eyed look, his face practically screaming "ugh."

Marry Gavin Moore?

What kind of wild, unrealistic fantasy was that supposed to be?

Serena? She was a plaything, someone fun to look at, not someone worth marrying.

Marriage? That was a whole different level. This was Gavin Moore they were talking about. Even if the Bennetts skyrocketed ten ranks up the social ladder, they still wouldn't be in the same league as the Moores.

And let's be real-just on appearances alone, Serena was in a league of her own. After seeing someone like her, why would Gavin even glance at Cora?

Still, when he saw the hope in Cora's eyes, Oscar half-heartedly nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll see what I can do."

The next morning.

At the orphanage.

Evan woke up earlier than expected-his meds had mostly worn off.

When he opened the door, he found Serena already out in the courtyard working out.

Her sharp movements, steady and powerful-

This wasn't the Serena he remembered.

She had changed, clearly. Gone through things she never talked about, but it was written all over her now-strong form.

He stayed quiet, wanting to keep watching for a bit longer. But she already noticed him and came over.

"Evan, it's not even light out. Why are you up already?"

He gave a soft "Mhm," grabbed a towel from the laundry line, and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"You're up early too, huh? Morning training and all?"

"Yup, body just wakes me up."

Serena leaned in, giving him a sweet grin. "You heading out for something?"

Evan nodded, pulling out a note he'd jotted down days ago.

He was supposed to buy supplies yesterday-until someone slipped something in his tea.

"We restock every six months. Missed it yesterday, so I've gotta go today or we'll run out of the basics."

If not for the mess with Cora, all the supplies would've been here by now.

He hated seeing the kids eat nothing but wilted cabbage last night. That didn't sit right with him.

"I'll take care of it instead," Serena suggested. "You're still recovering, and moving around too much will just spread what's left of that toxin through your system. Rest is the best thing for you right now."

Evan's first reaction was to disagree, "You're still young. What if someone tricks you out there?"

Then he paused, realizing she wasn't a kid anymore.

"That's fair. But since you've never handled this, I've got to tell you a few things-cough, cough!"

The morning air was chill.

Serena quickly helped him back to bed, sitting down to hear him list off all the little details.

The school supplies needed to have cute cartoons, and the soy sauce had to be that old local brand from Draco City...

"Evan, I'm not a little kid anymore," Serena interrupted, feeling his forehead with her hand. "Still got a bit of a temp. Just rest. I've got the shopping handled."

He blinked, dazed. "You're just like when you were small, always thinking of me first. Back then, barely waist-high but still trying to carry things for me..."

Serena just smiled, fed him a mild sedative, and waited for him to drift off before quietly stepping out.

Outside the courtyard, Gavin Moore was already there.

She handed him the list.

"You heard everything. Just follow that list. I want you to handle this personally. I don't trust anyone else."

Gavin took it, but didn't immediately agree like he usually would.

"Your Highness, I'm worried the Bennetts might try something."

Serena gave a short laugh. "The Bennetts? You think I'd be scared of them?"

Of course Gavin didn't.

He was a top-ranking general, and he'd already lost to her more than once.

The Bennetts? Just background noise. They were nowhere near being her threat.

But his top priority was protecting Her Highness-even if it cost his life, he couldn't let her get hurt.

So Gavin Moore still looked uneasy. "I'm worried that once the Bennett family finds out I'm leaving Draco City, they'll go all out to get back at you."

Serena gave a faint smirk, her fingers brushing over the sharp flower dart hidden in her pouch. "Perfect. If they're dumb enough to come looking for trouble, I'll treat it as training."

Gavin believed in Her Highness' skills, of course. But what worried him were the dirty tricks the Douglas and Bennett families might resort to.

Still, he knew her temper too well. There was no changing her mind now, so he could only bow his head and answer, "I'll return as soon as I can."

Morning light pierced the sky.

After checking Evan's pulse, Serena gave him one final acupuncture treatment.

He coughed up a thick stream of black blood before falling back unconscious.

Her eyes turned cold.

Cora had really gone for the kill this time.

Even after all those needles, he still vomited so much poison. If she hadn't shown up in time yesterday, and let him suffer the drug overnight with those three women circling like sharks... he'd be dead by now.

She wasn't letting the Bennetts off the hook for this.

Just as she was thinking that, the iron gate outside the orphanage was kicked open with a loud clang.

Well, that was fast.

But it wasn't the Bennetts. It was that limping blond thug-Dylan Price.

Thank goodness the kids had gone out with their teacher to draw today. Otherwise, she might've had to fight differently.

Serena closed Evan's door behind her and turned to see Dylan swaggering into the orphanage with a few guys, dragging along a skinny little figure.

It was that pigtail girl, Sarah-the one who clutched her coat yesterday.

"Serena!" Dylan's voice was raspy and mean. His good leg was shaking, and he shoved Sarah in front of him.

The second Serena stepped out, he flinched back half a step, the crushed bone in his knee still throbbing.

Sarah had never seen anything like this before. Her tiny face turned pale, and the moment she saw Serena, tears poured down her cheeks. "Serena, help me... please..."

"Let her go."

Serena's gaze went icy in a flash.

Six years ago, Esther pinned a murder on a child. Now her lapdog learned to use kids to force her hand too.

But this wasn't the same Serena from back then. She wasn't that twelve-year-old who could only watch helplessly as everything fell apart.

She looked down at Sarah and gave her a soft smile. "Hey, be a good girl. Close your eyes and count to three. I'll take you home for candy after."

Sarah nodded, scared but obedient, and squeezed her eyes shut.

The very next second, just as the thugs reached for their knives, two flashes of silver shot through the air.

Swish, swish!

Flower darts slammed straight into the eyes of the two men holding Sarah.

"Aaargh!!"

Their screams tore through the morning air.

Serena charged forward, yanking Sarah behind her. "Get inside! Hands over your eyes, don't come out!"

The little girl stumbled toward the door-then stopped.

The orphanage director always said: when things get scary, you don't run. You protect the people you care about.

Serena was protecting her. She couldn't be a coward.

So she turned around, hiding behind the door and peeking out through the crack.

Outside, Serena moved like a gust of wind. Before any of the thugs could react, her darts were already hitting their joints.

One by one, those vicious-looking tough guys collapsed to the ground howling in pain.In a flash, Serena landed right in front of Dylan Price, stomping her foot down on his uninjured leg.

A sickening crack echoed in the air.

Dylan screamed like he was being skinned alive. "Ah! My leg! Damn it, my leg!"

Looking down at him with a mocking smile, Serena said, "Well, both legs are busted now. Perfect excuse to get used to a wheelchair."

Drenched in cold sweat, Dylan still forced himself to talk tough. "Don't get ahead of yourself! Ms. Douglas won't let you off the hook!"

"You mean Esther?"

Serena chuckled, voice calm yet chilling. "Wanna live? Simple. Bring me Esther's head, and maybe I'll let you crawl away."

"Never! Even if I die, I won't turn on her-AHHH! That hurts, damn it!"

He hadn't even finished shouting when Serena added pressure to his leg, causing his face to contort in unspeakable pain. His eyes darted to his fallen men scattered across the floor-each one with their eyes wide open, dying in disbelief.

All of them got wiped out. Just like that.

And she-Serena-had done it alone.

These were trained ex-military or mercenaries handpicked by Esther. How the hell did they get shredded so fast? By one woman?

Now he couldn't even crawl-his legs totally ruined.

Serena tilted her head, still smiling. "I gotta admit, your loyalty's impressive. Honestly, being taken out by the Scarlet Valkyrie herself? That's not the worst way to go."

Dylan jerked his head up like he'd been electrocuted. His voice cracked. "Wait-what?! You're the Scarlet Valkyrie?"

There was only one Scarlet Valkyrie across the whole of Darania-an unbeatable legend.

Dead-on aim with a gun, unmatched with hidden weapons, reclaimed lost ground single-handedly... A nightmare to enemy elites.

Dylan's eyes snapped to his comrades' corpses again, finally noticing the flower-shaped mark at each of their deadly wounds.

Crimson spider lilies-her signature.

The symbol of death from hell.

He started shaking all over. So she... Serena... was the Scarlet Valkyrie?!

"Your Highness! I was wrong! I didn't know it was you! Please, spare me-I know something about your parents' deaths!"

"Talk."

"The one who took out your father wasn't just Esther. There was someone el-"

Serena cut him off before the relief could even hit his face. "Yeah. I already knew."

Her eyes turned to ice, and without a backward glance, she walked toward the orphanage. One hand rose to shield Sarah's eyes while the other slipped behind her back, fingers curling around a hidden blade.

Thwip.

A flash of silver.

Another flower dart buried clean through Dylan's forehead.

He collapsed with his eyes wide open, never believing the legend could really be his end.

Serena closed the door behind her, the blood-soaked world left on the other side.

She crouched down and ruffled little Sarah's hair. "Didn't I say to cover those little eyes? No lollipop today, okay?"

Sarah clenched her tiny fists, eyes sparkling with adoration. "When I grow up, I'm gonna be just like you and protect everyone!"

No more hiding behind others. She wanted to be the one standing in front.

Serena didn't notice the shift in the kid's heart, only smiled as she pinched her soft cheek.

Lifting Sarah in her arms, she carried her inside. "Okay, then. Try your best, alright? And about what you saw today... shh. That's between us. Promise?"

Sarah nodded so fast her ponytail bounced. Then she held out her pinkie. "Promise! Pinkie swear!"

Outside the orphanage, rows of soldiers in uniform moved quickly to clean up. In just fifteen minutes, everything looked untouched, like the chaos earlier had been a bad dream.

As the evening set in, Evan finally came to. Little Sarah bounced in, holding a bowl of medicine Serena had brewed, her voice full of excitement. "Evan, Serena is amazing!"

Evan assumed she was praising the medicine and chuckled. "Yeah, Serena's pretty awesome. You wanna be like her when you grow up? Maybe I'll send you to med school, how about that?"

"No way!" Sarah shook her head hard, eyes sparkling with determination. "I wanna be a soldier! I wanna be a badass fighter like her!"

Just like Serena, the legendary Scarlet Valkyrie-cool and unstoppable.

Evan paused for a second before smiling and tousling her hair. "Alright then, when you grow up, go be the fiercest warrior ever."

Happy with that, Sarah skipped toward the door. But as she reached the orphanage gate, curiosity took over.

She darted toward it, pressed her face close and peeked through the crack.

Huh?

All the bad guys were gone. No blood left on the ground. Even the little tree branch that had been snapped earlier was fixed and lying neatly again.

She touched the lollipop Serena gave her in her pocket and grinned, secretly delighted.

Wow, not only is she powerful, she's super thoughtful too!

Inside the house.

"Your Highness, Dylan Price's phone is ringing," Gavin Moore said, bringing over a bloodied phone. The caller ID flashed "Oliver."

Serena gave a quiet nod, and Gavin answered the call.

A greasy male voice came through immediately, full of annoyance. "Dylan, the bone marrow transplant from Mabel to Aria is starting soon. Where the hell is the doctor I told you to get? You stalling on purpose?"

Serena's gaze turned icy.

"Long time no see, Uncle Oliver."

Oliver Douglas paused for a beat before testing the waters, "Serena? That you? You're out?

"Perfect timing. Mabel raised you. You should come see her one last time."

Then, the call was filled with Mabel's furious voice, full of rage. "Let me go! You monsters! You killed Daniel and his wife, framed Serena and shoved her in prison. Now you want to take my bone marrow to save your daughter? Over my dead body!"

Right as the call ended, Gavin saw it-murder in Serena's eyes.

With a sharp crack, the phone shattered in her hand.

Her voice was cold. "We're going to the Douglas house."

Gavin stiffened and jumped into action. "Right away, I'll ready the chopper."

At the Douglas mansion.

"Mom!" Esther squeezed Mabel's arm with fake concern. "Aria's my daughter, your granddaughter! If you give her your marrow, she can live. Isn't that worth it? Didn't you always say you just want your family to be safe?"

"Safe? With a daughter like you?" The old lady's voice broke with pain. "You stole the family assets, got Daniel and his wife killed, and now you wanna use my life to save your kid? Dream on!"

Esther's face twisted with anger. "If you hadn't played favorites and handed everything to Daniel's side, would I have needed to fight for it? I didn't steal anything-it was mine!"

Oliver stepped in too, his tone pleading but fake. "Come on, Mom... let's not drag the past into this. Just help Aria now, and the whole Douglas line will never forget your kindness."

"Disgusting, both of you!" Mabel snapped, and slapped each of them hard across the face.

Oliver turned his head away and stayed quiet. Esther, clutching the red mark on her cheek, looked even more pissed. She dropped the act completely.

"Hold this old hag down. Time for the anesthetic!"

One of the nurses nearby hesitated. "But... the doctor's not here yet. If we mess up the dosage and something goes wrong, she's the best match we've got... we can't afford to lose her."

"Then what are you waiting for? Go find Dylan Price! What, is he sleeping on the job?"

Oliver nodded quickly and stepped out to make another call.

Clearly, sweet-talking wasn't gonna work-they needed something a little tougher now.

Esther smirked. "Mom, guess what? Serena broke out of prison. If I tipped the cops off about where she is, you think they'd go easy on her this time? Maybe even a death sentence?"

As she spoke, she pulled out a photo and waved it in front of her mother.

It was Serena at the orphanage-clear as day, right down to the nameplate on the building behind her.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Mabel's voice trembled as she snatched at the picture.

"Simple. If you go through with the surgery, I swear, I'll keep my mouth shut. I'll even treat Serena like my own daughter, let her live in comfort here at the Douglas house."

Her voice turned cold. "But if you don't, I make a call, tell the police she's hiding at the Angel Orphanage out in the suburbs. You can bet her life there would be hell."

While she spoke, Esther scratched Serena's face on the photo with one of her polished nails. "Live or die, you decide."

Her grin was full of fake sweetness, like she'd already won.

Mabel looked at the picture, eyes welling up. Tears rolled down her lined cheeks nonstop.

She bit down so hard her knuckles went white. "You... you promise?"

"Of course."

Esther reached out, trying to help her sit up. "We're family, Mom. Would I lie to you?"

Right then, the front door burst open with a loud bang.

Serena stood framed in the doorway, eyes like ice as they swept across everyone. "Dear Esther, I'd love to see exactly how you plan to make my life miserable."

Instant silence. Everyone turned to the door.

The girl in red stood tall against the light, her hem still damp from dew, but the aura surrounding her was thunderous, enough to choke the room.

Esther froze, shocked for a second, then sneered. "Serena? You've got some nerve showing your face here."

From the nearby makeshift surgery bed, Aria Douglas stuck her head out for a better look. Her eyes scanned Serena's striking face, and a flash of jealousy twisted her expression.

"So you're the famous Serena my mom keeps whining about? Honestly? Not that pretty. No wonder she says you're just a stray no one wanted."

"Aria, sweetie, lie back down, okay?" Esther didn't stop her daughter's harsh words. Instead, she turned and yelled at the stunned nurse. "Why are you just standing there? Give her the injection! Don't waste any more time!"

"I dare you to try."

Serena stepped forward. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chill that stopped everyone in their tracks.

The nurse froze, syringe trembling in her hand.

Esther laughed mockingly. "Who do you think you are? This is my house. Everything here goes through me. And your grandmother's already agreed to the surgery. What right do you have to get in the way?"

Serena's gaze drifted over to Mabel, who was being held down on the table. Her expression softened. "Grandma, don't worry. I'm getting you out of here today. Safe, I promise."

Mabel's tears had soaked through her collar.

She shook her head desperately, voice breaking. "Serena, just getting to see you one more time... that's already enough for me. Please, just go. Don't bother with me. Esther... she's ruthless. You're no match for her..."