Holenia opened her eyes to find herself back in her room, with reality slapping her face like a cold breeze. This wasn't a poetic awakening; it felt more like returning from the dead to visit hell once again. Jean's words from her dream were still eating at her brain like worms: "I've been watching you since the first day... do you really think your past is real?"
Holenia felt like her head was going to explode—not from a headache, but from a desperate urge to kill someone. She glanced to the right, only to see her father, the Duke, sitting on the sofa like a statue of misery, while doctors swarmed her bed like flies on an expired piece of candy.
She literally bared her teeth and kicked the blanket with legs that felt like they were made of wood. The Duke jumped in fright.
— "What happened? Are you awake?"
He approached to check on her, but she shot him a look that could freeze blood in anyone's veins. She spoke with a voice that sounded like it came from a dark well:
— "Stay where you are... unless you want a punch that sends you back to that sofa as a piece of decoration."
She tried to stand up, but her legs betrayed her. She looked at the doctors, who were running around with nerves-shredding tension, and asked sharply:
— "How long have I spent in this pathetic slumber?"
One of them replied with a trembling voice: "An entire week, my Lady."
She turned to the Duke and asked about that cursed "Organization." He only shook his head in regret—they hadn't caught anyone. At that moment, Holenia lost what was left of her mind. The veins in her face bulged; she felt her luck was so bad that if the sky fell, it would land only on her. She grabbed a nearby vase and smashed it on the floor, unleashing a stream of curses in every language known to man—insults so bad they would make demons cover their ears in shame.
— "Curse the day I met that girl! They said sweet faces are innocent... she carries the malice of the whole world! I will burn hell under your feet, Jean... I'll show you who Holenia really is!"
Ignoring the pain, she stood up, wobbling like a drunk and pushing away anyone who tried to help. She reached the door, grabbed the handle, and the moment she decided to step out—BAM! The door swung open and slammed right into her forehead.
She hit the floor hard. The person entering was the Crown Prince. He looked at her with royal stupidity and said, "Oh... you're awake?"
She replied while clutching her forehead, which felt like it was about to fly off: "I woke up just to see your stupid face!" She then took off her shoe and threw it at him with all her might. "Watch where you're going when you open a door, you idiot!"
— "And why are you out of bed anyway?" the Crown Prince asked coldly.
— "None of your business! Get out of my way!"
He gave up on arguing. With total ease, he leaned down, grabbed her waist, and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of flour.
— "What a naughty girl... go back to your bed."
She started drumming on his back with her fists, screaming: "Put me down, you bastard, or I'll break your face!"
And then, the unthinkable happened. In a move that shocked everyone and shattered Holenia's dignity, the Crown Prince slapped her backside as if he were punishing a toddler in daycare!
Holenia froze. Her prestige evaporated. Her power collapsed. The family's honor died in that one slap. Her face turned so red she looked like a tomato about to explode. The Crown Prince laughed triumphantly: "Look at you, calmed down by one simple move."
The Duke exploded in rage, half-drawing his sword with bulging veins: "How dare you do that to my daughter?"
The Crown Prince replied coolly: "Do you have a better idea to stop this wild lioness?"
The Duke turned his face toward the window in despair, as if asking heaven for forgiveness for this embarrassing situation.
The Prince placed her gently on the bed and said, "Stop acting foolishly, you haven't healed yet."
She panted, out of breath: "I'll stop... on one condition. Send the Advisor to me immediately."
— "Why?" he asked, surprised.
— "Send him and stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!" She then grabbed his nose and squeezed it hard until he gave up and everyone left.
Hours later, the Advisor entered, cackling with spite: "Well, well... look who's here! The mighty Holenia, sick in bed? Where is your pride now, little girl?"
Holenia turned red with anger, but she forced a wicked smile and whispered: "Come closer... I discovered something dangerous about that organization. I don't want anyone to overhear."
The Advisor leaned in like a fool. Suddenly, she pounced on him like a tiger, grabbed his hair, dragged him onto the bed under her, and began raining heavy punches on his face.
— "What were you saying? Tell me! My ears aren't working very well!"
The Advisor screamed, trying to use defense magic: "Stop, you maniac! People will misunderstand this!"
She replied, still punching: "Let them go to hell! I'm going to break this annoying face!"
At that dramatic moment, the Crown Prince walked in carrying a food tray. He froze. The tray hit the floor with a deafening crash. He looked at the Advisor, who was pinned under Holenia in a "suspicious" position, and said with a face so dark it looked like it belonged in a horror movie:
— "You... Advisor... you are going to prison. Immediately."