After showing Scarlett the dress, Xao quietly made her way toward her own room. The long day had tired her, and she was ready to have dinner and finally rest for the night. But as she walked through the hallway, her steps slowed.
On the balcony of the second floor, she noticed Reiza sitting alone. With her tall frame and long hair flowing in the night breeze, it was impossible not to notice her, even though she was curled up, hugging her knees, her eyes fixed on the stars above.
The loneliness in Reiza's face was hard to ignore. Xao hesitated for a moment but then decided to approach. Without saying anything at first, she walked over and gently sat down beside her, letting the night air wrap around them both.
"What are you doing here?" Xao asked softly, her eyes lifting toward the starlit sky as well. "Lady Scarlett herself picked out a dress for you, you know."
Reiza's voice came out low and quiet. "I'm… feeling puzzled."
Xao turned her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Can't you tell me the details? I suppose we haven't became that strangers after loosing our home, Just because we didn't had any conversation for past few days.",
Reiza shook her head quickly. "Of course not. You're still like my elder sister, Sister Xao." But even as she said the words, her fingers began fidgeting with each other nervously, twisting and rubbing her index fingers together. Her hesitation was clear.
"Actually…" she paused, her voice trembling a little, "I've been feeling… inferior."
Xao stayed silent, letting her continue at her own pace.
Reiza's gaze dropped to her knees as her arms tightened around her legs, pulling them close. "Lunatic has her heart pact with Scarlett—that's proof of her love. And Scarlett herself always talks about her human wife, Irish… how Irish supported her, even though humans despised her. That's love too, a kind of proof." She swallowed hard, shame creeping into her tone. "And then there's me. I… I lose control in bed, I give in to my lust every time. Compared to them, I feel more like a beast than a person. I have nothing that proves my love."
Her fingers dug slightly into her legs as she squeezed them tighter, her voice growing smaller and heavier with guilt.
Xao listened carefully, then, almost too gently, she added, "And also… is it because Lady Scarlett is becoming more and more beautiful each day, and you're afraid you're no longer meeting her standards?"
The words struck straight through Reiza like an arrow. She froze, her breath caught in her throat, and then her face turned crimson. She buried her head deep in her knees, trying to hide the warmth of her cheeks.
"…Yes," she whispered, so soft it almost disappeared in the wind.
For a few moments, the two of them sat in silence, the sound of the night filling the space. Then Xao lifted her hand and softly patted Reiza's head, her touch gentle and reassuring.
"Do you really need to prove yourself?" she asked, her voice calm and warm.
"What do you mean by that?" Reiza asked, her voice full of puzzlement.
Xao sighed softly. "Huff… You're barely forty years old. That's why you still think like a child and haven't matured yet." She paused for a moment, her eyes drifting toward the night sky before continuing.
"I know your relationship with Lady Scarlett started more like an arranged marriage… but not all arranged marriages are bad. Not when both people truly like each other," Xao said gently.
Reiza tilted her head, still confused. "Umm… I still don't understand a thing," she admitted awkwardly.
Xao shook her head with a faint sigh. "What I mean is—you're overthinking too much. Lady Scarlett has never once complained about you. Just because you weren't there during her darkest times, or because you don't have some big proof of your love, doesn't mean you're unworthy of her."
Hearing those words, Reiza's tense shoulders relaxed. A faint smile appeared on her lips. "I feel… kind of refreshed now."
But then Xao's expression shifted into a sly smile. "That doesn't mean you don't have flaws. Try being more open with her. Tone down that tsundere attitude of yours, control your lust a little, and most importantly—show small acts of affection. Bring her little gifts, give her morning kisses, or hug her more often."
Reiza's face turned so red it looked like smoke was coming out of her. She quickly buried her face in her knees again. "Y-You're single! How do you even know so much about these things?"
Xao chuckled softly. "Haha… Mother used to tell me these things, saying they'd come in handy later. I never thought it would be useful like this, though."
---
The next day arrived.
Scarlett followed her usual morning routine. She brushed her teeth, tortured Dr. Magi for a short while just to satisfy herself, then bathed in her personal hot spring before dressing up for the day.
The party at Victoria's place was starting in the evening, so they had to leave in the morning. Scarlett could have teleported there in a second, but using teleportation was considered rude for formal occasions. She wasn't exactly Victoria's friend, but she wasn't her enemy either. The last thing she wanted was to leave a bad impression.
The wyvern carriage was already waiting outside, its scales glistening under the morning light.
Scarlett stepped out of her mansion wearing the beautiful outfit chosen by Xao. Lunatic followed beside her, dressed in a dark blue party gown with shades of black, the shimmering fabric clinging to her curves and perfectly matching her sparkling blue eyes.
Xao herself wore another elegant Chinese-style dress that made her stand out with quiet dignity, while Seiira appeared in a gown similar to Lunatic's but in earthy brown colors, highlighting her calm nature.
But the one who drew the most attention was Reiza. Her outfit looked like it had come straight out of a science-fiction story—fitted hoodie-style clothes with bold designs in shifting colors, paired with pants like cargo trousers. It surprisingly matched her hairstyle and gave her a fresh, bold look, but Reiza herself looked uneasy in it.
Her cheeks flushed red as she tugged at the fabric nervously. "W-What kind of design is this? This is way too strange…"
Scarlett chuckled softly and patted her back. "You look great. Just have more confidence in yourself."
With that, Scarlett turned toward the carriage. "Let's go."
The four of them walked together and climbed into the wyvern carriage one by one. Outside, Li Feng, Baron, Semiath, and many other villagers stood in a group, waving goodbye. Some even had tears in their eyes as if they were parting forever.
Scarlett's lips twitched as she watched them. "We're only going to a party, not to die," she muttered in her mind, half amused, half speechless.
The wyvern carriage didn't just move on the ground—it soared through the skies as well, covering long distances with ease. Still, this world was far larger than Earth, and even though all the kingdoms rested on the same continent, the journey was long.
By the time evening came, the carriage finally reached the Kingdom of Victoria. Scarlett leaned forward and softly opened the window, her blindfolded eyes glancing outside. Wherever she looked, she only saw beast kin roaming about.
"Tigers kin, wolves kin, dogs kin, cats kin, foxe kins… hardly any humans at all," Scarlett murmured. "Is it because Victoria herself is a beast woman, or did she simply become their leader because there are so many beast kin here?"
The soldier driving the carriage overheard her and chuckled. "The first one, my lady. But there's also another reason."
Scarlett raised a brow. "And what's that?"
The soldier's expression darkened. "Humans have been disappearing across all six kingdoms. No one knows how, or who is behind it. But here, where humans were already few, the fear has only made them even rarer."
Scarlett's lips tightened. "All six kingdoms? Leonidas didn't tell me a thing… was he too afraid to speak?"
"If this matter is so serious, then surely the Holy Knights should already be investigating?" she asked.
The soldier nodded firmly. "With the number of disappearances piling up, it's only a matter of time before the Holy Knights step in."
Scarlett leaned back, silent. She chatted a little more with the others, but her thoughts lingered on what she'd just learned.
By around 7 PM, as the sky grew darker, the carriage rolled to a stop outside Victoria's palace.
The palace was dazzling white, with detailed murals carved across its walls. Inside, red carpets stretched across the floors, though white was still the most dominant color, giving everything a sharp, clean brilliance.
Scarlett stepped down from the carriage, glancing at the palace walls. "It seems Victoria's favorite color is white," she thought to herself.
---
At the entrance stood a round, chubby man greeting every guest that arrived. When he saw Scarlett, his eyes froze for a moment. Then, quickly recovering, he bowed deeply.
"It is my first time seeing you in person… Incarnation of the Goddess of Beauty indeed," he praised, his tone full of awe. He then turned his gaze toward Xao, Lunatic, Reiza, and Seiira. "Of course, the ladies accompanying you are not inferior either. Please, enter."
Scarlett nodded gracefully and stepped inside.
"You're quite good at flattery," Lunatic teased lightly as she followed Scarlett in, a small smirk on her lips. Xao, Reiza, and Seiira walked behind them.
They entered through a long passage, where two neat rows of attendants stood waiting. Each attendant bowed their head as Scarlett and her companions passed.
The sight tugged at Lunatic's memory. She remembered Scarlett once saying she would make humans bow down to her. Seeing this now, Lunatic smiled to herself. "She's already begun to fulfill that promise."
Finally, they reached the grand banquet hall. The room was lively—guests sipped fine wine, some sat in cozy corners chatting, while others twirled on the dance floor.
For Seiira and Reiza, the glittering scene was overwhelming. Their eyes darted from the chandeliers to the elegant gowns and so many humans around, their hearts pounding nervously—it was their first banquet. Xao, too, was new to such gatherings, but she carried herself with controlled grace.
When Scarlett stepped into the hall, heads turned instantly. The soft murmurs of conversation paused, and gazes locked on her and the women beside her. Scarlett's beauty was unmatched as always, her presence so dazzling that even women found themselves blushing at the sight of her.
Scarlett had already expected this. She knew the men, in particular, would soon try to surround her with flattering words and offers. She leaned closer to her companions and spoke quietly but firmly.
"Listen carefully, all of you. Don't get angry if someone says something foolish. But if anyone dares to cross the line, or act… creepy, just tell me. I'll deal with it."
Her companions nodded, though nervousness still flickered on Seiira's and Reiza's faces.
Of course, chances of trouble here were slim. Only a complete fool would misbehave at such a high-class banquet filled with powerful and respected guests.
But then again—Scarlett thought with a twitch of her lips—people in this world had a way of surprising her with their foolishness. Which was exactly why caution was necessary.