Igor swept Rihannans hair that was still wet with water. He kissed her on her forehead reassuringly.

Dont worry. I swear I will capture them.

No matter who they were, or where they hid, hed find them and kill them. He thought of ripping all of their skin off their bones. He had given up so much to get her back, after all. He had gone through hell itself, and to take her away from him like this, hell not accept such a thing.

He grasped Rihannan right onto his body. He promised himself over and over again that he would never let go of this warmth from her body ever again.

First, lets warm up our bodies for a moment here then go back to the palace.

Hearing his words, Rihannan nodded without much strength left in her body.

But who could that be? Who would do such a thing to me

No matter how much she thought, there was no one that would hate her enough to do this.

The best guess would be Seraphina Rissel from the previous banquet. However, she wasnt seen even once outside after that banquet and even gave an excuse of having a cold to skip attending this competition. Of course, she could have had thoughts of revenge after that moment and carried out this plan, but would she really do it this way where it was too obvious?

For someone to have a hatred so strong enough to cause someone to murder, one must have had even stronger resentment than just that. Not just hate for the person, but pure malice that wanted to completely destroy the person

Leticia.

Suddenly, the thought of Leticia came to mind. She was a person Rihannan hadnt thought of for so long. The face of her sister from a different mother smiled genuinely as she handed her poison.

Thats right, die here like this. Miserably. Thats the best end for you, sister.

Remembering the violent hostility she had felt from her from that moment in the past, Rihannan unconsciously shivered her body. The nightmare of the past enveloped her mind again.

Could it have been Leticia? No, theres no way thats possible.

Leticia had disappeared for a long time after her father had passed away. As a young woman with no guardian or family to protect and take care of her, what would she be able to do? The best thing for her would be if she was just still alive. There was no way she would be able to set foot in a place like this.

Rihannan? Are you still cold? seeing Rihannan shiver her body again, Igor asked her with a worried voice.

Rihannan shook her head side to side as hard she could. She tried her best to stop her shivering, but it didnt work as well as she wanted.

The feeling of nearing her death just a few moments ago kept returning into her mind. As well as the memory of drinking poison in the past and feeling her throat burn up from the inside, a horrifying death. The despair and horror that she thought she had forgotten now had come back again and swallowed her mind whole.

Sob

As the emotions became stronger, she finally let a single hot tear roll down her cheek.

Her life, something she was finally able to get back after returning. She thought those memories no longer had anything to do with her. As she had gained an additional life, its fine for her to die whenever she said to herself that she no longer had any regret. But as she found herself again at the doorstep of death, she realized that it wasnt the case.

She wanted to live no matter what. Thats why she struggled. As she didnt want to be left alone in the darkness where no one was there for her again.

Rihannan!

Igor noticed that Rihannans condition didnt seem well, and tapped his hand on her cheek.

Rihannas blue eyes that overflowed with tears just vacantly stared back at her. Every time she blinked, her tears flowed down her cheeks. Feeling like she was completely empty inside, he quickly spoke.

If you are feeling sick, then well return to the palace right away

Embrace me.