Katherine nodded her head, grateful for the motivation. However, deep down she knows that it is not possible in her case.

Brina sighed. Understanding what's going on in Katherine's mind.

"It's hard and they had to be stronger than you to inflict the pain in you. However, using your mind to trick them, turning their own game against them, will always do the trick here. Do they know your identity?" Brina asked.

"No," Katherine said.

"But you knew their identity so you were afraid," Brina said, for which Katherine nodded her head.

"You know what, you are on advantage here. Use it to prove yourself" Brina said, packing her bag.

And, before Katherine could ask Brina about anything, another person appeared, stopping her.

"Beatrice, it's already night! Why are you here?" he worriedly said.

"You came searching for me, Noah (Nickolas)?" Brina asked, exasperated.

"Yeah! I went to your room and you weren't there" he said, walked to them and took Brina's bag in his hand.

Brina rolled her eyes. "I can take care of my own!" she angrily said, storming out.

After that day, Katherine started following Brina, wishing to befriend Brina.

Eventually, they become best friends.

….

To present..

Brina reached the shrine which didn't even change by a bit. It looked just like how it was a few years before.

She didn't waste her time anymore and went to sit in her usual place, which Katherine knows very well.

She even brought the snacks with her

It was out of pure coincidence that she had a few left with her . In the past, Brina and Katherine used to eat the same snacks whenever Morgana used to send those snacks for Brina.

Meanwhile, Katherine reached.

The nostalgic feeling is evident in her eyes and it is very obvious that she is missing her best friend Beatrice.

However, she got used to waiting for Beatrice to show up.

It's been years she saw her and the last time they met was here itself. Since then, there has been no trace of Beatrice.

"Hi, Athena. You are late" Brina said, as she nonchalantly continued eating the chips.

Katherine was startled. She almost felt like her heart would pop out of her body.

These are the exact same words her best friend Beatrice used to say.

So, when she heard those words, she quickly turned around just to see Brina sitting there.

"Lady Brina..you??" She asked, as she stared at Brina with confusion.

"And...do..do...yo..you know my friend Beatrice?" she asked.

This is not the first time Brina recited the exact same words as Beatrice. It happened once when they were having dinner a few days back.

Brina chuckled when she saw Katherine's face which is filled with anticipation and anxiety.

"I do know her." Brina said, chuckling.

"You know!!!" Katherine almost shouted out, shocked.

"Of course I know myself" Brina answered. "Hete, have these snacks" she added before passing the snacks she brought.

Katherine looked at the snacks. She of course remembers these delicious home snacks Beatrice used to get. Till date, she was clueless how Beatrice used to get her hands on these snacks when she used to not have any visitors to bring from home.

Her eyes shifted from that snack to Brina's glowing face. And, it was only when she actually registered Brina's words.

Of course I know myself..

Her eyes flew wide as she shockingly started at Brina. Her mind is totally blank to even react.

That's how shocked she is!

Brina is Beatrice??

That's a totally unexpected one. No one would even dream of this possibility.

There are no hints, not even one, that would point out to this connection.

"How?" Katherine managed to ask after a few moments.

Even that single word took her a great effort to produce.

"How?" Brina repeated the same question, chuckling. Her mouth was stuffed with the cheese balls.

"Athena, I don't have an answer for that question. Well, my comeback was indeed unexpected and even I didn't expect it to happen. However, at the end of the day, fate brought me back" Brina said.

"I should sit. My story is going to be long" Brina said.

Katherine, robotically, sat down. Still not sure if Brina is really Beatrice.

She needs more than words to believe.

And, as her best friend, Brina of course understood what's really going on in Katherine's mind.

Truth to be spoken, Brina was the reason for Katherine's glory now. Before they met and Katherine learned things from Brina, she was no more than a naive and timid woman.

The reason why Katherine is good at playing mind games and using her cunning mind, is just because she learnt from the best - Beatrice / Brina / Sabrina.

Brina drank some water and fished out a box from her bag. "Here," she said, giving it to Katherine.

Katherine took it and opened it, just to see a beautiful bracelet.

She hurriedly removed her neck chain and removed it's locket, before comparing the design embedded on them.

They are actually words in Greek, too minute to see but once focused properly, it was no big deal to infer what's written on it.

If you hurt my best friend, I can make your death look like an accident.

That's the meaning of it.

'If you hurt my best friend' these words are engraved on Katherine's locket, while 'I can make your death look like an accident.' These were engraved on Brina's bracelet.

Katherine smiled.

This quote is really a weird one but her Beatrice was always eccentric with her words. Not a surprise she gifted this on friendship day.

"Still, how can I believe that you are really Beatrice? I can't take chances when it comes to my best friend" Katherine said, running her fingers on the bracelet.

She always knew that Beatrice was not a 'commoner' of how she used to portray herself as.

Beatrice was someone with many secrets and a powerful background. Even her attitude, brain and aura used to be nowhere near to that of commoner.

However, she also knew that Beatrice had many dangers following her even back then. Her other friends were always restless when Beatrice used to pull out some reckless stunt right under their nose.

So, when Beatrice didn't meet her on the scheduled day, Katherine knew that her best friend was in trouble. But she never thought it would take years for Beatrice to return.

"I understand your concern, Katherine. Why don't you ask me some questions about Beatrice and about your friendship? Something that was only to know both of you" Brina said.

Katherine nodded her head.

Actually, when she thought about it, Brina being Beatrice didn't shock her much.

Katherine always had suspicions on Brina that how could she be so capable and experienced.

And, she is also aware of what all had happened between Brina and Olivia during the events.

That horse drugging…

Adding some drugs to Brina's food…

Trying to use Kiara…

She was partially aware of the details.

And, that credit goes to Beatrice's training. Thanks to her, she mastered up her observation skills. And, thanks to the influence Beatrice had on her, she was always good at connecting the threads between the unconnected incidents.

However, she remained silent. But, Katherine certainly observed how Brina was always one step ahead of Olivia.

And, even though she was not aware of how Brina actually pulled out those stunts, she was able to tell that Brina had help from someone inside the Royal family.

But, again, thanks to Beatrice, she also knows that it's always better to remain calm and let others fight. Her friend always taught her to jump into the war only after knowing each and everything about her competitors.

So, wisely, Katherine allowed Brina and Olivia to play their games while she made her plans.

Not to win the Queenship, but to save her house from Olivia's family. At first, her eyes were on Prince himself, but some abrupt circumstances made her change her goals.

Katherine knew long back that she can't fight face to face with Olivia. So, she was preparing her own plan that could turn the tables around, making Olivia herself give up .

And, that was the very reason why she never intervened. Like others portrayed her, Katherine is a sly fox.

"All right. I will ask you a very simple question. If you are really Beatrice you will definitely answer this" Katherine said, looking at Brina.

"What is Beatrice's nickname named by her brother?" Katherine asked.

That's a very general question and others will definitely try to fluke.

And, Katherine knows that Beatrice's brother always used to call her with a special name. But Beatrice never told her what that name was.

"Actually there is a special name. But I didn't tell you what it is. So, my answer has to be nothing." Brina said, smiling.

Katherine indeed became what she expected her to become.

If Katherine would have asked some difficult questions, there are possibilities others might have known the answer.

If someone were really trying to act like Beatrice to trick her, they must have been adequately prepared to answer the questions asked.

Especially the difficult questions. But definitely, not the most general questions like - what's her nickname, etc.