The Discarded Lady, Welcomed by the Strongest Family

Katharina confronts her father, who accuses her of draining Anna's strength and insists the crown belongs to Anna. She turns to her brothers Julian, Lorenzo, and Gareth, but each one rejects her. Framed by Anna and surrounded, she vows never to be a stepping stone again.

Reborn, Katharina chooses to accompany her mother to House Valerius. Anna's unexpected decision to stay makes Katharina suspect she has also been reborn. Three days later, the Dowager Duchess summons Katharina and shows her favor, but Lord Cedric coldly draws a line between them.

The Dowager Duchess gifts Katharina an heirloom necklace and offers her a place at St. Cuvier's Academy. Katharina accepts and begins calling her Grandmother. Cedric is ordered to escort her to the academy the next day.

Katharina comes in last at a magic assessment. Cedric mocks her and is relieved that he will no longer be scolded by their father. Another trainee taunts her, and Katharina fights back tears while refusing to show weakness.

Cedric strikes Katharina for her poor magic assessment, but Grandmother Celia stops him. She not only shields Katharina from punishment but also gifts her antique jewels, threatening to remove Cedric from her will. A servant then announces that someone from House Vance has arrived to see Katharina.

Her family demands Katharina give her St. Cuthberts enrollment to Anna, blaming her for Anna's lifelong frailty. Katharina reveals that Grandmother Celia not only allows Anna to join her but has added a second spot, letting her choose one brother to bring along, which sets the brothers against each other.

Cedric warns Katharina not to scheme against House Valerius. Word arrives that Julian and Anna will attend St. Cuthbert's Academy, which she finds unsurprising. When a servant mentions the start of hunting season, Katharina recalls that in her past life, Alistair was attacked by wolves in Black Pine Forest that very day and lost his right leg.

Katharina bursts into the hunting party and stops Alistair, warning that wolves lie in wait in Black Pine Forest and will kill him. Alistair and the others dismiss her as hysterical, but Cedric orders a horse saddled for her so she can ride after him alone.

Katharina catches up to Alistair just as a wolf pack attacks. As the hunting party is mauled, she unleashes a sudden, powerful spell to hold the wolves back, then collapses. Cedric arrives at the last moment.

The rescued lords thank Katharina, and Alistair publicly declares her his sister. Back at the estate, Cedric confronts her in her chamber, demanding to know how she predicted the wolf attack and where her sudden power came from.

Cedric barges in and demands to know if Katharina risked her life just to buy the family's loyalty, then warns her not to scheme. Alistair arrives afterward and reminds her of their grandmother's upcoming sixtieth birthday; short on coin, they agree to buy a gift together.

Katharina picks out a brooch, and Anna mocks her for being unable to afford it. When Katharina insists on paying, Anna moves to strike her. Cedric appears and blocks the blow, demanding to know who dares lay hands on a member of House Valerius.