Meanwhile, Lynn clung tightly to Sid, refusing to approach Aurora or even meet her gaze. Aurora, on the other hand, seemed thoroughly entertained by the lively atmosphere, like a child too carefree to worry about anything. Of course, that was only on the surface—her vigilance remained sharp. She was fully aware that she was being watched.

Someone in this place knew her true identity.

After all, her father was the one who had placed her here, so it was only natural that at least one out of a hundred people knew exactly who she was, watching the movements of those around her carefully to prevent a massacre. The name of the Al Batris family’s princess was infamous—Aurora cared for nothing and showed no mercy. If someone made a mistake in her presence, no amount of apologies would save them. Without hesitation, she would take their life.

It made perfect sense that someone in the shadows was pulling the strings discreetly, keeping the balance without drawing attention.

Not far from Aurora, Hector watched her in silence. There was something strange about her. Something that unsettled him. But she wasn’t the one he was looking for.

A pounding echo of doubt resounded in his mind.

"Could it be her? No… There’s no way. The person who pushed me away last night, that eerie calmness masking pure darkness… there’s no way she’s that same reckless fool. Is this just my mind playing tricks on me?"

His thoughts tangled into a spiral of questions, but what truly caught his attention was Lynn’s reluctance to be near Aurora. That, more than anything, made him suspicious.

A smug, knowing smirk curled on his lips as he moved toward Sid and Lynn, his footsteps deliberate and slow, like a predator closing in on its prey.

Sid was already perplexed by Lynn’s discomfort, and his confusion only deepened when he saw Hector approaching, muttering under his breath, “Where did that person disappear to last night…?”

The unease spread to him as well. There was something off about all of this.

Then, with a voice far too gentle, too warm—completely unlike himself—Hector spoke.

"Are you nervous, miss?"

The two of them were visibly taken aback, while, further away, someone was struggling to keep their emotions in check.

Aurora moved from place to place, her expression filled with childlike wonder as if she were mesmerized by everything around her. But beneath that mask of fascination, a thought gnawed at her.

"How dare he speak like that to someone else?!"

She was exceptionally skilled at controlling her own moods, an expert at keeping herself composed. So, rather than letting her gaze linger on them, she turned her attention elsewhere—though not completely. A hidden part of her was still watching from afar.

Meanwhile, Hector remained standing before Lynn and Sid, waiting for a response.

Sid was the first to speak, though his words were hesitant and disjointed.

"Ah… ah, I think… remembering the past made her anxious. Right, Lynn?"

He turned to Lynn, who had been staring at Aurora’s back for a moment—perhaps lost in thought—until Sid placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Lynn!"

Hector followed her gaze, his own eyes landing on Aurora’s back. A flicker of suspicion crossed his face.

"Something definitely happened."

Then, Lynn finally spoke.

"Ah… ah, yes… it’s… it’s making me uneasy."

Her hands clenched, as if trying to suppress a tremor.

Hector took a step closer, his voice still gentle, filled with deceptive warmth.

"Is there something else? You keep watching her."

His eyes flickered toward Aurora, who seemed completely detached from their conversation, lost in whatever had captured her attention.

Lynn lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper.

"She’s… she’s… terrifying."

Hector barely caught her words.

"What?"

He urged her to repeat herself, but instead, Lynn recalled last night’s encounter with Aurora. Her cheeks flushed, and sweat gathered at her brow.

"Ah… she’s a little strange… but she’s… she’s also kind."

A deep blush spread across her face as if embarrassed by some memory.

Sid and Hector exchanged bewildered looks.

"What is she even saying?"

Sid took her hand, his concern growing.

"If you’re uncomfortable, let’s leave."

But Hector merely chuckled, a smug smirk curling his lips.

"Do you think coming and going from this place is some kind of joke?"

His voice dripped with arrogance as he shot a piercing glance at Sid before lazily returning to the chair he had been sitting on.

He left the two standing there, shifting uncomfortably—perhaps even regretting coming here in the first place.

This place was filled with lunatics.

And they needed to find a way to survive.

The filming location was ready. All that remained was for the participants to prepare. Makeup was applied to each participant, and their outfits—formal, as per the program's requirements—were being readied. Both Sid and Hector wore black formal suits, each fitting impeccably, but Hector seemed to stand out. His athletic physique and tall frame, along with the sharpness in his gaze, gave him an undeniable edge. They stood together, waiting for Lynn and Aurora to finish getting ready.

It was just a matter of minutes before Lynn appeared, her blonde hair fluttering with every step she took in her medium-length pink dress. She looked beautiful, even with minimal makeup. She walked toward Sid, her face flushed with a hint of shyness—she wasn’t used to wearing formal attire. Sid gazed at her with a soft smile, saying, "The dress suits you."

Lynn smiled back, a soft "Thank you" escaping her lips, but she seemed to be searching for something.

"What’s the matter?" Sid asked.

Lynn replied while Hector only listened to their conversation, "Ah, I need a chair. Aurora is still in there; she hasn’t figured out what to wear yet. And she says she can’t walk in high heels, so she refuses to wear them. She seems a bit difficult to please."

A mischievous smile spread across Hector's face. Without another word, he turned and headed straight for where Aurora was, leaving Sid and Lynn surprised by his sudden reaction.

On the right side of the filming location, near the dressing room, there was a commotion as if a mischievous child were shaking up the place. Hector made his way there quietly, his gaze scanning the floor covered in dresses and shoes, muttering to himself, "What is this nonsense?"

As he got closer, his eyes fell on Aurora, standing in front of him in a red dress with a high slit, her figure sculpted beneath the fabric. Her long legs were visible as strands of her hair swayed on her neck and back with every movement. She was in the midst of a conversation, clearly agitated.

"I won’t wear this. Don’t you understand? Are you going to help me if I fall?" she complained to a member of the wardrobe team.

The team member tried to convince her, "Don’t worry. Just wear them."

She refused, adamantly not wanting to wear the black high heels in front of her. It wasn’t because she didn’t know how to walk in them—Aurora could scale walls in high heels. Her moods, however, were another story.

Aurora turned, as if unaware of Hector’s presence, only noticing him when she felt the gaze of the person in front of her shift. With deliberate grace, she half-turned, her expression a mixture of anger and childlike annoyance, making it clear nothing would please her.

Her eyes locked with Hector’s, and he stood there, frozen for a moment, mesmerized by her beauty. His hands slipped into his pockets as the familiar air of arrogance returned to his face. Slowly, he approached her.

"What’s with this Eastern attitude?" he asked, his voice dripping with disdain. "Is there no one else here you could talk to in this circus?"

He took slow steps toward her, attempting to allure her with his gaze. Yet Aurora, either oblivious to his intentions or unbothered by them, pointed toward the shoes and said, "I can’t wear them."

Hector chuckled at her response. "Just wear them," he said, his tone still soft. "I’ll hold your hand until we reach your seat."

Aurora seemed to contemplate for a moment, her thoughts likely focused on something else. "This arrogant fool, does he think he’s being gallant or something?" she thought.

Then, with a sense of innocence, she replied, "Alright, I’ll trust you then."

Finally, the wardrobe assistant helped her into the black high heels. She stood tall, the heels making her almost the same height as Hector. They stood next to each other, motionless, but with an undeniable tension in the air. Hector’s mind wandered to the memory of last night on the suspended bridge, the way Aurora had moved closer to him, the way her presence had felt. He leaned in closer, perhaps more than necessary.

Aurora, however, acted as though she was unaware of him, taking a step back as if feeling uneasy. Seconds later, she looked as though she might topple over, her unfamiliarity with high heels clear. Hector instinctively moved to catch her but hesitated at the last moment, his mind flashing with the image of Aurora on the bridge. "She’s almost the same height, but it’s not her," he thought.

Aurora fell to the ground, drawing the attention of everyone around. Some even mocked her, whispering about her clumsy fall. Hector, too, seemed unaffected, watching the scene unfold with a detached air.