The hallways of the World Tree Palace were quiet. Too quiet. The polished marble floors reflected lantern light like still water, and the long vine-carved pillars cast shadows that looked almost alive.

  And down the center of that silence—

  Hina skipped.

  She hummed a tune that didn’t sound like any song that should exist.

  It had no rhythm. No pattern. Just sharp rises and drops that felt wrong to hear.

  Behind her walked Sir Reginal, posture stiff, jaw tight.

  “Princess,” he said carefully, “you are going to be scolded later. Most likely confined again.”

  Hina twirled mid-step without even looking at him.

  “Ohhh, probably,” she sang lightly.

  She clearly did not care.

  She never did.

  Sir Reginal watched her carefully.

  He knew better than anyone—

  Hina was unpredictable.

  And lately…

  She had been getting worse.

  Hina suddenly stopped skipping.

  She turned around slowly, looking at him with that wide, crooked grin.

  “You know,” she said casually, “Mother only keeps you around because you’re loyal.”

  Her eyes gleamed.

  “Not because you’re strong.”

  She leaned sideways slightly, like a puppet whose strings were tugged unevenly.

  “You’re clumsy to a fault.”

  Her smile widened.

  “One of the weakest members of the Sinister Seven.”

  She giggled.

  Sir Reginal didn’t react outwardly.

  But inside—

  He felt the sting.

  Not because the words hurt.

  Because they were too observant.

  Too precise.

  She had always been perceptive.

  But now…

  She was cutting.

  Something had changed since Ace and her younger sister queen had left.

  Sir Reginal’s thoughts darkened.

  She’s been unstable since the dragon sisters departed.

  Is it separation anxiety… Or something worse?

  His mind flashed back to his private audience with Queen Seraphine.

  Her fan closed.

  Her voice low.

  “Monitor her. Do not restrain her unless absolutely necessary.”

  “I want to see how she behaves without Ace and her younger sister present.”

  “Let her reveal herself.”

  Sir Reginal had bowed.

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Now, watching Hina twirl ahead of him—

  He wondered if that decision would destroy them all.

  As Hina spun again—

  Her form flickered.

  Not a full transformation.

  Just a slip.

  Her jester dress shifted.

  Black deepened.

  Pink brightened into neon lightning streaks.

  Green lines crawled through the fabric like living vines.

  The center of her outfit vanished for a moment, revealing her bare midriff.

  Magic circles appeared under her feet.

  Glowing crimson.

  Then—

  Her horns glowed brighter.

  Her grin widened unnaturally.

  Her eyes sharpened into something predatory.

  For a moment—

  She wasn’t playful.

  She was dangerous.

  Sir Reginal felt his hand instinctively twitch toward his weapon.

  Then—

  The magic faded.

  The circles vanished.

  Hina snapped back into her smaller, cheerful form.

  She giggled again like nothing had happened.

  Hina tilted her head thoughtfully.

  “I wonder what it’s like,” she said aloud, almost dreamily.

  “To own a calamity book.”

  Her smile sharpened slightly.

  “That queen in the throne room looked so angry.”

  She laughed softly.

  “Two grown ladies fighting over one boy.”

  Her eyes darkened.

  “That boy just wants peace… but can’t have it.”

  Sir Reginal’s stomach tightened.

  She understood far more than she should.

  Hina’s humming resumed.

  Off-key.

  Warped.

  She turned the corner—

  And saw them.

  Lenora.

  Lewd.

  Two calamity bearers.

  Two emotional targets.

  Her grin widened slowly.

  Sir Reginal saw it immediately.

  He stepped forward and grabbed her shoulder.

  “Hina. Don’t.”

  The instant his hand touched her shoulder—

  Her body glowed.

  Her aura surged.

  She grew slightly taller.

  Magic circles erupted around them.

  Crimson thorn-vines burst from the floor, stopping inches from his throat.

  Her voice dropped.

  Cold.

  Deadly.

  “Touch me like that again…”

  “I will end you.”

  Then—

  She covered her mouth.

  Giggles returned.

  The magic vanished instantly.

  The vines crumbled to ash.

  And she shrank back into her playful form.

  Like nothing happened.

  Sir Reginal swallowed hard.

  Hina skipped forward happily toward Lenora and Lewd.

  She rolled across the floor and popped up in front of them.

  “HELLO THERE!”

  Lenora immediately stepped in front of Lewd protectively.

  Lewd blinked, overwhelmed.

  “Um… hello,” Lenora said cautiously. “How can I help you?”

  Hina spun again proudly.

  “My name is Hina! And this is Sir Reginal—my personal bodyguard.”

  Her head twitched slightly.

  Her eyes darted rapidly.

  She circled them quickly—

  Examining. Observing. Studying.

  Her questions came like a machine gun.

  “Where did you get your armor?”

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  “I love your dress!”

  “You smell nice!”

  “Is that a calamity book??”

  “Are they heavy??”

  “Do they talk to you??”

  Lewd’s face turned red from overstimulation.

  Steam practically rose from her ears.

  Lenora finally grabbed Hina’s shoulders.

  “Okay! Calm down!”

  Hina froze.

  Then blinked.

  Then laughed awkwardly.

  “Sorry.”

  She shook her head quickly.

  “I was actually looking for my caretaker… Ace.”

  Lenora relaxed slightly.

  “Oh. She and her sister just came back. They’re in the mess hall.”

  Hina’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second.

  Just a twitch.

  Lenora noticed.

  “…Are you okay?”

  Hina giggled loudly.

  “I’m more than okay!”

  But Lenora could tell—

  She wasn’t.

  Not at all.

  Hina skipped away toward the mess hall.

  Her humming resumed.

  Still wrong.

  Still unsettling.

  Sir Reginal followed silently.

  And for the first time—

  Lenora felt a chill.

  Not fear.

  Instinct.

  The feeling of something unpredictable moving through the world.

  Something that did not follow rules.

  Something that might break them all.