Livia advanced through the hall with steps that narrowly missed becoming a run.
The measured calm shattered amidst the nervous glances she cast over her shoulders.
I waited for her in the side corridor, motionless, like part of the architecture.
The book pressed against her chest offered her little comfort. She barely heard the greetings and worried looks the servants directed at her.
She advanced down the central corridor and turned toward the east wing. She approached where I was without seeing me, even though I made no effort to remain unnoticed other than standing still.
She passed by me, or tried to. I grabbed her wrist, firm, but without violence, and pulled her into my room.
The door closed silently behind us. I locked it.
She almost let a curse word slip in surprise.
— What the fuc... — and immediately failed in the attempt to recompose the mask.
Good. That peculiar expression of the modern world was the introduction I needed.
— Your Grace — she said, voice steadier than it should be. — Invading a lady's privacy this way... is not appropriate.
— Many things are far from appropriate in this house for the last few days, my dear. — I replied. — And we don't have time for games.
She kept the book against her chest. I didn't know if she wanted to hit me with it or use it as protection.
— Then say the reason for this urgency at once — she demanded taking a stumbling step back.
I hesitated. Her nerves were on edge, it wasn't my intention nor in my interest to corner her more.
— The prince — I replied. — And what happened in the garden.
She stiffened her posture.
— There was nothing to—
— Don't dare lie to me, Lady Roseheart.
The interruption made her blink. In seconds I saw her expression transform from fear to irritation.
— I saw how you avoided his touch before he even moved his hand — I continued. — I saw your precise reading of the space, the way you escaped the corner without breaking etiquette. That is not a noble reflex. It is not education. It is not luck.
She swallowed hard.
— Then what is it? — she asked.
— Anticipation. — I replied. — Previous experience that you shouldn't have. Not in this world.
Her eyes trembled.
A micro gesture — but significant.
— And what does Your Grace think that... I am? — she asked, carefully.
I took a deep breath.
— Not just Livia Roseheart.
Silence fell like snow — light, but freezing.
— At the funeral — I continued — I went through a peculiar experience. You lifted the veil and something seemed to change. I felt headaches, nausea. — I omitted the memories for now — In your eyes I saw... or rather, felt a presence.
I paused and observed her reaction. She just looked at me anxiously.
— You also presented the same symptoms, my sister informed me and your maid confirmed to me later. Since then, I observed your movements and hesitations. Your reactions are not of someone who is surprised. They are of someone who already knows what is going to happen.
She stood still. Didn't breathe.
— Continue — she asked. Voice low, tense.
— I noticed that the only times you react with curiosity is when I do something. That is why I came to a conclusion. — I let the sentence hang in the air before finishing: — There is another life inside you. Another story. Another name. And I know what it is.
Her hand gripped the book tightly.
I approached, with the caution of someone trying to approach a feral cat.
— Say it — she whispered.
— Shizuo.
This time, the surprise was real.
She blinked slowly. She seemed to evaluate what I said.
— ...Shizuo — she repeated, as if testing the word. — That name... also belongs to me.
So I was right.
She raised her face, eyes more lucid. I noticed her left hand, sunk between the folds and lace of her dress.
— Suppose Your Grace is right. That I carry another soul. That there is something more in me besides Livia. What do you intend to do with that? — She took a cautious step in my direction, determined.
— Prevent you from being destroyed — I replied. — That's why you won't need the dagger hidden in your dress.
That disarmed her for an instant.
— How did you know?
I approached and grabbed her hand before she could react. I took it out of the hidden pocket and made her drop the weapon, firmly.
— It is not I who is the greatest threat to your well-being.
— And who would it be, the prince? — she asked, retreating tremblingly and letting herself fall sitting on the edge of the bed.
— By him. By the sage. By the empire. And by the story that I already know where tries to push you. — I saw she was getting more and more nervous and moved away. Turned my back to her. A gesture of peace, of trust. I sat on the window seat, on the opposite side of the room.
She narrowed her eyes.
— And Your Grace? — she asked in a low voice. — What prevents you from following what is written for yourself?
I smiled humorlessly.
— Because I got tired of following a script. We are alike. I am Lucian Vane, but I was once someone else, someone who came from the same place as you, Shizuo.
Her eyes narrowed with a silent question:
How much does he know?
— That is all I can say for now — I finished.
She evaluated every fragment of my face, as if trying to reassemble a puzzle with missing pieces.
— So... we are two anomalies — she concluded.
— Similar, but not equal — I added. — But yes.
— And what does Your Grace suggest?
— A temporary alliance. You will not survive the prince alone. Nor the sage.
She crossed her arms, protecting herself.
— If you really came from where I came from you should know there is a way. I already succeeded once.
— This time you are not controlling a representation. This time it is you here. Do you really want to risk it?
She paused, biting her lips thoughtfully. She saw logic in my words and hated it.
— And why do you believe I would trust you right away?
— I don't — I replied. — But I believe you prefer to survive.
The corner of her mouth almost — almost — trembled.
— And what do you gain from this? — she asked.
— The chance to rewrite my own future — I replied. — And perhaps... correct a miserable plot.
She stayed silent.
I thought I saw an almost personal indignation cross her face — something that didn't suit Shizuo, nor Livia. But it disappeared too quickly for me to understand.
Shizuo seemed sulky now.
There is more to her, I thought. Something I still don't reach.
Finally, she nodded — a minimal gesture.
— Very well. I accept your... cooperation. For now.
I nodded. It was the best I could expect for now.
I unlocked the door.
— As you wish, Shizuo. I will accelerate your move for today. If you allow me, I suggest you go straight to my office, your Abigail is there.
I went to her and extended my hand. She stared at it for long seconds and then took it. Firmly.
I helped her stand up, taking care not to touch her more than necessary.
— Try not to be alone from now on.
She nodded, but hesitated at the threshold.
— Tell me... You... Is there anything of the villain left in there?
I needed to think to answer that question.
I am one hundred percent the Lucian Vane you knew in your game. I just received memories that alerted me to what I would become.
She stared at me, blue eyes like electric sparks.
Then, softly, she said:
— Understood. Then call me Livia. That is my name too. It is... simpler that way.
And left.
I watched her go. I had confirmed a part of her.
I wondered if that was all I needed to know about her, but soon discarded that idea.
I had solved part of the enigma, the most obvious part.
How much of the board would change when the rest was revealed?