I stare at the royal guard.
"You are to be married to the crown prince of Alveris in six months' time."
My mind blanks.
What?
Silence fills the room.
I look over, and Emily's head is bowed.
Did she know?
No, there's no way.
"Why… Why am I to be married?" I ask, my voice firmer than I feel.
"You were the chosen candidate to keep the peace treaties with Alveris. Any objection?"
I sigh.
"No, sir."
"Very well. You will go through various procedures to prepare for the marriage and the treaty."
His voice fades slowly as he leaves the room.
I exhale, the breath I didn't realize I was holding finally escaping.
I look at Emily.
"Do you… do you know what this means?" I ask.
"No, my lady," she murmurs quietly. She seems upset.
Emily has raised me my whole life in the duke's household. She's been at my side longer than anyone else — a sleek, quiet mother when I had neither one of my own.
I stroll through the duke's mansion grounds after lunch.
Today feels… off.
I have this eerie feeling I can't shake, maybe because of the sudden news.
My mind struggles to grasp the idea of being married to a foreign prince.
I thought I might finally leave these walls, yet I've never been allowed out alone.
They say it's for my safety.
Still, it bothers me deeply.
There's a whole world out there I don't know. And now… my chances of ever seeing it are even slimmer.
What if the prince is cruel?
What if I never get to see the town?
What if…
My thoughts loop like a broken record.
I wonder where Emily has gone. I search the gardens.
"Hey! How may I be of help to you, Lady Aurelia?"
"Do you know where Emily has gone?" I ask.
"She left for affairs at the palace, my lady," the servant replies, bowing. "Preparations for your marriage."
"Ah… alright. Thank you," I say, forcing a slight smile.
I walk away, the emptiness of the mansion pressing in.
It is unbearably lonely.
Every echo, every gilded wall, feels like a cage, not a home.
Night begins to fall.
Emily still hasn't returned.
She's been gone far too long.
Knock. Knock.
"Come in."
John — the butler.
"My lady, I wish to inform you that Emily will not be joining us tonight."
"What— why?" My voice comes out sharper than I intended.
"It seems matters at the palace are taking longer than usual. She will be staying overnight."
…No.
Something isn't right.
"Alright. You may leave."
He hesitates for a brief moment before slowly closing the door.
The room falls still.
Too still.
The air feels tighter,
heavier,
pressing against my chest.
Something is wrong.
I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to brush it off — but the feeling won't leave.
Minutes stretch into hours.
My heart refuses to slow.
I need air.
I open the window and peer down.
It's not far.
I climb out, drop — landing flat into the bushes below with a sharp rustle. I straighten and begin walking along the garden path.
Crack.
Branches snap.
Slow.
Careful footsteps.
My breath catches.
An animal?
No.
I hear it — heavy breathing.
Someone's there.
Do I run?
Do I hide?
I lean forward, straining to see through the darkness.
My body moves before my mind can stop it.
One step.
Then another.
Huff.
Huff.
They step into the moonlight.
My heart stops.
"Emily?"
Before I can think, I'm running.
"Emily!" I call out, my voice breaking. "What's wrong?"
I don't notice the blood yet.
"Emily—you're here!"
I stop.
Wait.
She isn't supposed to be here.
"Emily?" She's breathing heavily.
Too heavy.
"I—I thought you were staying overnight at the palace," I say, the words tumbling over each other.
"What's wrong?
Why are you—"
Red.
Dripping.
I stare.
No.
No, that's not—
I blink hard.
My vision swims.
I'm hallucinating.
I have to be.
But Emily is covered in blood.
Huff.
Huff.
My throat goes dry.
My body refuses to understand what my eyes are seeing.
I take a step back.
Emily stumbles forward, shaking.
"A… Aureli… a…" Her voice is thin, torn. "They're… lying… to you."
Lying?
"Who is lying to me?" I whisper.
"Emily, what's going on?"
I can't breathe.
The world tilts.
I need to get out.
I need—
"Don't…" she gasps, reaching for me. "Don't… do it…"
Her knees buckle.
And then—
I hear galloping in the distance.
What is that noise…?
Who's coming?
My heart slams against my ribs.
I grab Emily, pulling her toward me, trying to move her.
"Emily—"
She doesn't budge.
She grips my sleeve instead, weak but desperate, pulling me closer.
Blood smears across
my hands,
my dress.
Warm.
Too warm.
"Listen—" she gasps.
"The royal… family…"
Her breath stutters.
"It's in the papers—"
Huff.
Huff.
"What?" I shake my head,
panic clawing up my throat.
"What papers?
Emily, what are you talking about?"
"No—" she winces.
"Just… stop. Don't waste your breath."
"I'll save you," I choke. "I promise—"
"No—!" She pushes me back with what little strength she has left.
"You, Aurelia…" Her eyes lock onto mine.
"You are… the t-true—"
Whish.
The sound cuts the night open.
An arrow pierces her chest.
Silence.
My body freezes.
The galloping grows closer.
Closer.
I can't move.
I can only stare as blood spills from Emily's lifeless body.
"No," I whisper.
No.
No.
I can't breathe.
I can't breathe.
Her body is still.
Cold.
My hands are stained red — her red.
No.
My eyes drift back to the arrow.
The crest.
The royal crest.
My stomach churns violently.
My vision swims.
Voices.
Getting closer.
Louder.
"I—I can't—"
My breath stutters.
Huff.
Huff.
Huff.
My heart is pounding so loudly it drowns out everything else.