Seated in the luxury of an upscale inn, Ravenna leaned ba her chair, feeling the soft silk of her attire against her skin. She wore a sleeveless crop top crafted from a light, breathable silk, intricately embroidered with fihreads and hints of gold that shimmered uhe inn’s warm lighting. The top was a deep, royal purple, a trast to her midnight-bck hair. Paired with it was a high-waisted, flowing maxi skirt that allowed her both freedom of movement and a subtle elegance, with side slits adding a hint of allure. In the swelteri of the northern Ana Empire, this ensemble felt both luxurious and practical—suitable for both her atus and the climate.

  Ravenna’s sharp gaze swept across the room. Her knights and servants were seated nearby, engaging in casual versation. The entire inn was filled with her ente, leaving no space fur patrons. Despite his distaste for Ravenna, the local lord had grudgingly arrahis aodation. Although as a member of the imperial nobility he was obligated to host her, he had subtly expressed his displeasure by hosting them at the inn instead of his grand manor.

  It had been three weeks since Ravenna and her ente had departed the capital, eventually arriving in the coastal town of Ronin. Their objective now was to find a ship willing to carry them to the isnd city of Jo. But so far, no captain had dared agree to sail to the so-called cursed nd, leaving Ravenna and her people stranded here.

  She turned her gaze to the rge window beside her, watg the o’s restless waves. The sun was high, and its brilliant light danced across the water, casting a mesmerizing dispy like glimmering pearls scattered on the waves. With a soft sigh, she dismissed the view and refocused on the system panel in front of her.

  [ Reputation Points Log ]

  Daily Points: 600 PointsEarned 2 Points: For making an unfettable impression on the nobility.Earned 1 Point: For causing an unfettable annoyao the Imperial Prince.Spent 1200 Points: Emergenullify Major Poison Damage on SelfSpent 300 Points: Access I x 3 hoursRavenna had already checked the panel several times i weeks, but she did so agaiing the log entry for the 1,200 points spent on poison nullification. A more detailed description unfolded before her eyes.

  [ Reputation Points Log ]

  Spent 1200 Points: Emergenullify Major Poison Damage ohe system detected a slow-ag poisoly administered by order of Prince William Sorius of the Ana Empire. Upon activation, emergency measures were taken to prevent further harm. Auto Emergency Spending only occur twice per year.The truth behind the inal Ravenna’s fate before her starkly clear. Prince William had orchestrated more than her exile; he had intended her to die along the jourhe poison would have dos work by the time she reached Jo, ensuring she never returned. It expined why, in the inal novel, Ravenna had vanished from the story, quietly erased by a deadly scheme.

  A shiver ran through her as she thought of how close she had e to a simir fate. If she hadn’t stumbled upon the East Wing’s hidden chambers or the Imperial Museum of A History in her search for the secret vault, she might have perished unknowingly, just as her st life. But luck had been on her side— she unlocked the Reputation System that had now saved her life.

  Her gaze flickered back to the panel, lingering on another entry that doted her use of points to access the i yesterday. Curious about the feature, she’d tested it, though there had been disappois. Rather than providing the vast, ever-updating resource she had known, the "i" here was more like a time-locked archive, seemingly frozen on the day of her death in her inal world. Still, Ravenna found a silver lining; although not as prehensive as she'd hoped, the archive was far from useless.

  But the reprieve was brief, as her miuro more pressing matters. Someone must have pnted spies among her ente. After all, Prince William wouldn’t have bothered poisoning her unless he had a way of firming whether his pn succeeded or not. Her suspi was growing, but the question of who or how they might be rep back was still unanswered.

  As she mulled over this, her Knight Captain, Hughes, approached with news. “Yhness, a mert has agreed to ferry us to Jo,” he announced, a touch of excitement in his voice. “But, he’s asking for double the usual fee—a full mana to transport all 360 of us.”

  Ravenna sighed. She had no room to haggle. The mert was their only option, the only one brave enough to sail to the so-called cursed isnd. “Very well, let him have it,” she replied. “We leave as soon as everything’s ready.”

  After sending off letters and arranging final preparations, Ravenna boarded the ship with her retianding in her private , she let her gaze drift over the waves outside the window, steeling herself for the st stretch of their journey.

  After an hour, She summoned Hughes to her quarters. Moments ter, he knocked, entering with a respectful bow. “Yhness, you called?”

  “Yes, Captain. Take a seat.” Ravenna’s intense gaze fixed on him as he sat across from her, visibly nervous. The ship gently rocked with the waves, adding to the tension in the room.

  Ravenna leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with quiet determination. “There’s a high ce there are spies in Jo,” she said.

  Hughes blinked, a bit puzzled. “Yhness, why would they send spies? You’re already being exiled to that forsaken pce. Surely they don’t need ag you now.”

  She smiled—a beautiful, moonlit smile, but ohat carried a dangerous edge, like a raven cirg its prey. “Someoempted to poison me before we left the capital,” she revealed.

  Hughes’s face paled. “Yhness, I assure you, no assassin or spy will get within reach of you. I won’t fail in my duty to protect you,” he promised fervently.

  But Ravenna waved a dismissive hand. “That’s not why I called you here, Hughes. I want you to spread a rumor,” she said, her tone calm but her eyes sharp. “Tell everyohat I’m gravely ill and will be fio my quarters once we arrive. They o believe I’m on the verge of death—or already dead.”

  Hughes’s brow furrowed, but he kept his silenodding attentively.

  “This way, whoever tried to kill me will think their pn succeeded,” Ravenna tinued, her smile being more uling. “And if there are spies, they’ll reveal themselves, thinking they’re safe.”

  Her head tilted slightly as her smile grew, a haunting expression that made Hughes’s blood run cold. “Then we simply wait for them to report back… or we catch them i.”

  “Yes, Yhness,” Hughes stammered, springing to his feet and bowiedly as he left the in a hurry, eager to carry out her orders.

  When he was gone, Ravenna exhaled with a faint smirk, admiring her refle in the window. “This face is truly beautiful,” she mused. “But oiful smile is all it takes to scare the life out of anyone.” Ravenna taking in the effects of real Ravenna's reputation.

  A familiar panel blinked into view.

  [ Reputation Points System ]

  Earned 2 Points: Left an unfettable impression on Knight Captain Hughes. Effects of title : Raven of Sun PaceRavenna raised an eyebrow, amused. “What do you mean? I was only having a versation…” she sighed, shaking her head.