Seraphina's POV
"I'm not going."
The words come out before I can stop them. Helena's hand freezes on my arm, her nails still digging into my skin.
"What did you say?" Her voice is deadly quiet.
I yank my arm free and step back. "I said I'm not going to the palace. Not today."
Helena's face turns purple with rage. "You ungrateful little—"
"I don't care what the Emperor wants." My heart pounds but I keep my voice steady. "I'm not ready. Tell the guards to come back in three months like they're supposed to."
For a second, Helena just stares at me like I've grown a second head. Then she laughs—a cold, cruel sound that makes my skin crawl.
"You think you have a choice?" She steps closer, towering over me. "The Emperor of Valendros has issued a royal decree with your name on it. Do you know what happens to families who disobey the Emperor?"
I do know. In the novel, a family who refused a royal order was stripped of their titles and lands. Their children were sent to work camps.
But I also know that going to that palace three months early means everything has changed. The story is already different. And different could mean more dangerous.
"Please," Lucy whispers beside me. "Miss, maybe you should—"
"Stay out of this!" Helena snaps at her. Then she grabs my face, forcing me to look at her. "Listen carefully, Seraphina. Those guards downstairs aren't asking permission. They're here to take you whether you like it or not. The only question is whether you walk out with dignity or they drag you out screaming."
Her eyes bore into mine, cold and calculating. "And if you embarrass this family, I promise you'll regret it."
The threat hangs in the air between us.
I think about the mysterious letter under my pillow. About someone at the palace who knows my secret. About the Emperor who chose me by name three months too early.
Something big is happening. Something the original story never predicted.
And maybe... maybe that's a good thing. Maybe if the story has already changed, I have a chance to survive.
"Fine," I say quietly. "I'll go."
Helena releases my face and smooths her dress. "Good. You have ten minutes to pack. Lucy will help you."
She sweeps out of the room, leaving me and Lucy alone.
"Miss," Lucy whispers, her eyes wide with fear. "What's happening? Why would the Emperor—"
"I don't know." I sink onto the bed, my legs suddenly weak. "But I need to find out."
Lucy starts pulling clothes from my closet with shaking hands. "Should I pack your nice dresses? The blue one with the—"
"It doesn't matter what I wear, Lucy." I stand up and grab her hands to stop her frantic packing. "They're not going to let me come back."
Her face crumples. "What do you mean?"
"Once I go to that palace, I'm the Emperor's property. Even if he doesn't choose me as his bride, he decides when I leave. Not me. Not my family."
Tears fill Lucy's eyes. "But miss, you'll be all alone there. At least here you have me."
The words break my heart. Sweet Lucy. She really thinks this house is better than the palace.
She doesn't know that my own family planned my death.
"I'll be fine," I lie, squeezing her hands. "Just... take care of yourself, okay? And if my stepmother tries to fire you after I'm gone, go to the servants' guild in the city. Tell them I sent you."
"Miss, you're scaring me."
"Good. Be scared. Be careful." I pull her into a hug, probably the last one I'll ever give her. "And don't trust anyone in this house."
A loud knock on the door makes us both jump.
"Time's up!" Vivienne's voice calls out, sounding way too happy. "The guards are waiting!"
I pull away from Lucy and grab a small bag. I shove in a few dresses, my mother's silver locket (the only thing I have from her), and—after a moment's hesitation—the mysterious letter.
"Ready?" Lucy asks, wiping her eyes.
No. I'm not ready. But I have no choice.
"Let's go."
We walk downstairs together. The entire household has gathered in the entrance hall, servants whispering nervously. Father stands with Helena and Vivienne, all three watching me with different expressions.
Father looks bored, like always.
Helena looks angry but also... satisfied? Like this is going exactly how she wanted.
And Vivienne looks absolutely furious.
The guard with the scar steps forward when he sees me. "Lady Seraphina Ashford?"
"Yes."
He bows slightly—more respect than anyone in my family has ever shown me. "I am Commander Aldric, head of His Majesty's personal guard. The Emperor requests your immediate presence at the imperial palace."
"May I ask why?" I try to keep my voice from shaking.
Commander Aldric's expression doesn't change. "His Majesty does not explain his orders to me, my lady. Only issues them."
Of course not. That would be too easy.
"Very well. I'm ready."
As I move toward the door, Vivienne suddenly grabs my arm. "Wait."
I turn to face her. Up close, I can see the jealousy burning in her eyes.
"Why you?" she hisses, quiet enough that only I can hear. "You're nothing. You're nobody. I'm the beautiful one. I'm the talented one. Why would the Emperor want you?"
Part of me wants to tell her the truth—that beauty and talent don't matter when you're just a pawn in someone else's game. That the Emperor doesn't want me; he wants whoever fits the prophecy.
But I just smile sweetly. "I guess he has terrible taste."
Her face turns red with rage. She raises her hand to slap me—
Commander Aldric's sword is suddenly at her throat.
Everyone freezes.
"Touch the lady again," he says calmly, "and I'll take your hand as payment for insulting the Emperor's choice."
Vivienne goes pale and stumbles backward. Helena looks like she might faint. Even Father finally looks up from his newspaper.
Commander Aldric sheathes his sword and turns to me. "Shall we go, my lady?"
I nod, not trusting my voice.
As I walk out the door, I hear Helena whisper to Father, "This is perfect. The Emperor clearly wants her specifically. And when she fails... when the prophecy comes true... our family will be free of her forever."
My steps falter.
When the prophecy comes true.
They know. They know about the curse. They know the Emperor's bride is supposed to die.
That's why they sent me instead of Vivienne. I was always meant to be the sacrifice.
Commander Aldric helps me into the royal carriage, and I collapse onto the velvet seat, my whole body shaking.
Through the window, I see my family standing in the doorway. Father has already gone back inside. Helena wears a satisfied smile.
And Vivienne... Vivienne is crying angry tears.
The carriage starts moving, taking me away from the only home I've ever known.
"Are you alright, my lady?" Commander Aldric asks from his horse beside the carriage.
"No," I whisper honestly.
He nods, like he expected that answer. "The journey to the palace takes four hours. Try to rest."
Rest? How can I rest when I'm being taken to meet an emperor who's supposed to kill me?
I pull out the mysterious letter and read it again for the hundredth time.
I know what you are. I know you remember.
Who sent this? Who knows about my time travel?
As the carriage rolls through the city streets, I notice something strange. People are staring. Pointing. Whispering.
"Look! It's the Emperor's chosen bride!"
"So young and pretty!"
"Do you think she knows about the curse?"
My blood runs cold. How do they know about me? The selection wasn't supposed to happen for three more months!
I lean out the window and call to Commander Aldric. "Why do these people know who I am?"
He looks uncomfortable. "His Majesty issued a public announcement this morning, my lady. The entire empire knows you're coming to the palace."
"But why? Why announce it before I even arrive?"
Commander Aldric hesitates, then says quietly, "Because the Emperor wants everyone to know that you're under his protection. Anyone who tries to harm you will face him directly."
Protection? The Emperor wants to protect me?
That makes no sense. In the novel, he barely spoke to his bride before the wedding. He certainly didn't protect her.
What's changed? What's different?
As we leave the city and enter the forest road toward the palace, Commander Aldric suddenly raises his hand. "Stop!"
The carriage jerks to a halt.
"What's wrong?" I call out.
He doesn't answer. He's staring at something ahead on the road.
I lean out the window to see better, and my heart stops.
A man stands in the middle of the road, blocking our path. He wears a black cloak with the hood up, hiding his face.
But I can see his eyes glowing silver in the shadows.
Just like the Emperor's eyes in my dreams of dying.
"Get back inside the carriage!" Commander Aldric draws his sword. "Now!"
But before I can move, the man speaks.
"Lady Seraphina Ashford." His voice is deep and commanding. "I've been waiting for you."
He pushes back his hood.
And I see the face of Emperor Cassian Draegor himself.