"Fate is a game played by the gods. But what if I was never part of their game?"
---
Lara—or rather, Zara—stared at the man who had just called himself her fiancé.
Prince Kadir.
He stood tall, his sharp jawline framed by a neatly trimmed beard, his gray eyes far too deep to read. His gaze was neither warm nor cold, yet sharp enough to make Lara feel stripped bare before the hundreds of noble eyes watching them from the shadows of the marble pillars.
"I… I'm sorry," Lara murmured, keeping her voice steady even as her thoughts crumbled. "I don't remember you."
Prince Kadir gave a faint smirk. "That makes it easier for us. Perhaps this time, you can fall in love with me from the start—without the bitter memories between us."
What did that mean?
Had Zara hated him before?
Lara was about to ask, but Sultan Alim had already risen from his seat. His gaze was cool, but the tightness in his jaw betrayed something restrained.
"This meeting is over," he said. "Princess Zara is still recovering. It is improper to trouble her further."
Prince Kadir bowed, yet his eyes never left Lara.
"In that case, I shall take my leave, Your Majesty. Until we meet at tonight's banquet. And you as well, my Princess…" His smirk deepened. "Rest well before a long night."
With a stride full of confidence, Kadir left. His back straight, his cloak trailing behind him, the faint scent of spice and musk lingering in the air like an invisible signature.
---
Lara couldn't think clearly until she was back in her chambers.
"Am I… engaged to him?" she asked Elif, her loyal maid—now feeling like the only friend she had.
Elif looked uneasy. "The engagement was… announced two months ago. Your Highness had asked for it to be annulled, but before the decision was finalized, the accident happened."
Lara frowned. "What accident?"
Elif lowered her gaze. "You fell from your horse in the palace gardens. The physician said someone might have cut the saddle strap. But no one knows for certain."
Sabotage?
And everyone just let it pass?
"If I had already called off the engagement, why is Prince Kadir acting as though we're still betrothed?"
Elif bit her lower lip, hesitant. "Because… the King of Saylan—Prince Kadir's father—is a long-time ally of the Altan Kingdom. This engagement is part of the peace treaty."
Lara stared blankly. Diplomacy. Political alliances. Love had never been part of the equation.
"And Sultan Alim?" she asked. "What's my relationship with him?"
Elif's expression shifted oddly. "You and Sultan Alim grew up together. The late Sultan—your father—united the royal family through both blood and adoption. But… your relationship has always been… complicated."
Complicated. That word was never a good sign.
---
The day passed in a haze of confusion and whispers from servants who looked at Lara as if she were a puzzle. But when night came, the world transformed again. The palace became a realm out of a fairy tale.
Golden lanterns hung from every pillar. Musicians played traditional instruments. The air was rich with the aroma of roasted meats, warm bread, honey, and cinnamon.
Lara wore a deep blue evening gown embroidered with gold thread. Her hair was styled low, adorned with tiny gems that caught the light as she moved. She felt like a character from a historical film—only reality was far more frightening.
As she entered the grand hall, every eye turned toward her.
There stood Sultan Alim—draped in a black robe embroidered with silver, a shadow drawn from the night sky itself. Across the hall, Prince Kadir stood with his father, King of Saylan, speaking with the nobles.
The moment Kadir saw Lara, he made his way toward her.
"Princess," he greeted, offering his hand. "May I have this dance, in honor of the alliance we are about to seal?"
Lara glanced around. Everyone was watching. Refusing would cause a scandal.
She gave a small nod.
Kadir led her onto the dance floor. The music shifted into a slow melody. His hand at her waist was cool and firm.
"I know you're not Zara," Kadir murmured suddenly.
Lara's heart dropped. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know who you are. But your eyes… they're not hers."
His gaze locked onto hers. "Zara was wild. You… are far too calm."
Lara parted her lips to speak, but Kadir pulled her closer.
"I won't reveal your secret. Not yet."
"Why not?"
His smirk returned. "Because you… are interesting."
---
When the dance ended, Lara quickly slipped away. She hid behind the balcony curtains, trying to steady her racing breath.
But footsteps approached. She turned.
Sultan Alim.
"I know you're not her," he said bluntly.
Lara froze. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Alim stepped closer, his voice cold yet quiet. "Because I know her. Zara was a storm. You… are fog pretending to be rain."
His eyes sharpened. "Are you a spy?"
Lara shook her head quickly. "No! I… I don't even know why I'm here."
Alim studied her for a long moment before nodding slightly. "Then hide yourself better."
"You're not going to… kill me?"
He looked up at the night sky. "If you threaten this kingdom, yes. But right now… you're just a riddle. And I enjoy solving riddles."
He turned and walked away, leaving Lara standing with her breath caught in her chest.
---
That night, Lara stared into her mirror.
She wasn't Lara. But she wasn't Zara either. She was… someone in between.
One thing she knew for certain:
She was trapped in a world that wasn't hers. With two men who suspected her. And one secret that could kill her.
And for reasons she didn't understand, her heart beat faster… every time Sultan Alim's name was spoken.
---