I couldn't shake the feeling that something tragic had happened, or would happen to this character whose body I had possessed. The short lines written in her diary spoke volumes about her hatred toward herself and her life.
"Is the food not to your liking, my dear?" My father's voice cut through my thoughts. He and Soleil were staring at me, as if I had dirt smeared across my face.
"She told me she was feeling unwell, Papa. I thought perhaps a warm soup would be just the thing for my dear sister." Soleil offered me a soft, conspiring smile.
"You must take better care of your health, Sierra. Do inform me at once if you are feeling unwell again, and I shall send for the family physician to attend to you." The Duke summoned a maid to get the broth for me, and I didn't object because I think it would be the ideal excuse to explain away my recent peculiar conduct.
"Yes, Papa."
"And you must make a swift recovery," he added, "for the palace ball is close at hand."
Soleil's eyes immediately shone with brilliance upon hearing the word 'ball.' It was written in the second chapter of the book that Soleil had always harboured a great fondness for balls and parties, just as she did for jewels and gowns. That's why the Crown Prince always ensured she was the first to receive any limited edition dresses and ornaments. It would seem that the Prince was the perfect one to provide her every whim, but why, then, would she settle for the son of a marquess?
"Will Madame Jane see to our dresses, Papa?" Soleil asked with her hopeful voice.
"Of course, only the best for my dearest daughters," the duke answered with a proud smile. "I've already secured an appointment, and she shall take your measurements by tomorrow."
"Oh, Papa, you are the dearest of all!" Soleil exclaimed and rose from her chair to embrace our father, who simply laughed in response.
"Very well, go back to your seat and finish your supper before it grows cold."
Soleil happily returned to her seat and began eating. My own soup arrived, so I ate silently.
Seriously, a ball? I never even got to go to my own prom, and now I'm supposed to go to some huge royal party?
After dinner, Soleil invited me to her room for tea. I wanted to rest early, but I was afraid that refusing her would make her suspicious so I just went along. Once inside, I sat across from her. Her room was a striking vision in pink. The walls were covered in a delicate, dusty rose silk wallpaper adorned with subtle floral patterns walls. A massive, carved mahogany four-poster bed, draped in layers of lace and pink satin. There's also an ornate oil lamps casting a warm glow.
The grand scene made me uncomfortably aware of my own room, which, while large, was far less elegant and sophisticated. Soleil's room was the boudoir of a girl who had never been told "no," a room designed to nurture every delicate whim.
"How are you feeling, sister? I have heard that chamomile tea is of great benefit to the immune system, and so I asked my maid to prepare it for you."
"Your consideration is most appreciated, Soleil," I replied, and took a cautious sip of the tea. After taking a sip, I glanced at Soleil and noticed how she fidgeted her fingers, which was contrary to her smiling face.
"Can you do me a favour again, sister?" Upon hearing the word, I immediately knew what Soleil wanted. She must be planning to sneak out again tonight.
Her face, a picture of angelic serenity with eyes that sparkled, made it difficult for people to refuse her requests. But this ends now. Now that I am inside this side character's body, I must prevent the events that will put my family and myself in danger.
I placed the cup down gently and straightened my back, giving her an expressionless look to make her understand the gravity of my words. "If this is concerning your nocturnal escapades, I am afraid I will no longer be able to assist you."
The shock on Soleil's face was visible, as if she had never been refused in her life.
"Whatever do you mean, sister? Is this some jest?"
"It is precisely as you have heard. You shall no longer use my window as your means of escape. I have grown quite unwell from leaving it ajar for you on so many frigid nights."
"But... but dearest Sierra, you know I cannot abide the strictures of this house! To be confined so! And your window is so perfectly situated. What harm can there be in it? I am always so careful." Her voice that was usually a charming took on a pathetic, pleading timbre, as if this inconvenience were the greatest hardship she had ever faced.
"The harm, Soleil, is that you are speaking with a marquess's heir in the gardens at all hours. He may be of noble birth, but his family is beneath our own, and the gossips have already begun to whisper. You are betrothed to the Crown Prince, for heaven's sake!" I felt a weariness settle in my bones, heavier than any fatigue. "Do you wish to see your engagement and our family's future in ruins? The consequences would be dire for us all, and it is my reputation, and my health, you gamble with."
Her pleading expression vanished, replaced by a flash of annoyance. "And what of my happiness? Am I to be a prisoner? You were never so concerned with the 'gossips' before."
"I have since had cause to be concerned with more than your whims," I responded with my voice holding no trace of emotion. I pushed myself up from the chair.
"I am feeling tired now, Soleil. I believe I will retire for the night." With that, I gave her a small bow of my head and turned. I made my way toward the door without another glance in her direction.
When the door clicked shut, I leaned against the cool wood. The effort of maintaining that elaborate noblewoman façade was draining the hell out of me. I swear, I almost got a nosebleed just from trying to channel my inner Elizabeth Bennet.
Walking back toward my own room, my steps were heavier than when I had entered Soleil's. Had I been too cruel? I felt a pang of guilt when Soleil's shocked face flashed in my mind. The old Sierra would have given in. But I had to do this for my own survival. My harsh words were a calculated move, a cold wall built to protect myself and my family from the trainwreck that was Soleil's bad decisions. But did it have to be so blunt? Maybe. With Soleil, anything less than a stone-cold 'no' would have been an invitation for more manipulation. Still, the image of her shocked, hurt expression lingered.
When I finally entered my own room, I went straight to the small cabinet beside my bed. Sierra's diary nestled inside. I sat down on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. Since I wasn't able to read the whole story of that freaking fantasy book, the only thing I had left to go on was this diary. I opened it, hoping to get a clearer picture of the girl I'd inhabited, to understand the thoughts and feelings of the original Sierra. I needed to know who she was, so I could figure out how to keep us both alive.
But the next chapter of her diary was more surprising than the first one.
January 2nd
This day, I first made the acquaintance of His Highness. The rumors of his handsome countenance are no exaggeration. His hair is a striking hue of black, whilst his eyes possess the deep, verdant shade of a forest. He found me in a moment of utter mortification, in tears over the unkind remarks of some noble ladies who made fun of my hair. But to my astonishment, he offered me his handkerchief and touched my hair as if it were not a flaw, but the most beautiful and unique thing he had ever seen.
Oh, my poor, foolish heart. It knows that he is betrothed to my own sister, Soleil. I feel a pang of guilt that I cannot entirely extinguish, knowing that my sister's affection lies elsewhere. My loyalty to her is a duty I must bear, yet I am terrified of the day his heart will break when her treachery is revealed. When I think of her carelessness and how little she values his affection, I am filled with a dread that I cannot name. But I fear I am a traitor as well, to find my heart so stirred by my sister's intended.
Wait. What?
The original Sierra... was in love with the Crown Prince?
I stared at the words again, as if the ink might suddenly change. I felt a weird sort of vertigo, like the ground had shifted under my feet. The original story was already a disaster with Soleil's recklessness and her doomed engagement, but this was a whole new level of complication.
Was Sierra worried about Soleil's sneaking out, or was she worried about the Crown Prince finding out that his fiancée wasn't actually loyal to him? And did Soleil know about Sierra's feelings? Did she purposely flaunt her indiscretions to hurt her sister, or was she just a selfish airhead?
Ugh, this is giving me a serious headache. I came here to prevent a disaster, not to walk into a cheesy love triangle from the wrong side of the story! I'm stuck as the jealous-but-sweet side character who's secretly in love with her sister's fiancé. This is a mess.
I slammed the diary shut. I needed to rethink everything. My entire plan was built on the assumption that Sierra was a kind, harmless pushover. But she had a secret, a quiet little time bomb ticking away in her heart.
I tossed the diary onto my bedside table. I needed a clear head, but the only thing that felt clear was that this world was a lot more complicated and a lot more dangerous than the novel made it out to be.