Nothing like the red I kept seeing.
"What do I do?" I whispered.
The alley didn't answer.
Eventually, I wiped my face with shaking hands and forced the tears back.
I couldn't stay here.
I couldn't let anyone see me like this.
I stood, smoothed my clothes, and practiced breathing until my chest stopped trembling.
Whatever this was fate, punishment, consequence I would endure it.
Because if the future refused to give me answers anymore…
Then I would have to survive without them.
The castle gates loomed ahead, familiar and unforgiving. The guards let me pass without question.
Good. I still looked composed.
Inside, the corridors were quiet, lantern light pooling softly along the walls. I was halfway to the inner wing when a voice stopped me.
"Rihanna?"
I turned.
Seren stood near the junction of halls, documents tucked beneath his arm.
Claude's adjutant. His shadow in matters of state. Calm. Precise. Unfailingly kind in a place where kindness was usually calculated.
His gaze lifted and stilled.
"…You're hurt."
"I'm fine," I said too quickly.
He didn't argue. Seren never pushed.
"It's late," he said instead. "You shouldn't be walking alone."
"I needed air."
A pause. Then, gently, "May I walk you back?"
I hesitated then nodded.
We walked in silence. He matched my pace exactly, positioning himself just slightly to my side. Not guarding. Shielding.
When we reached my door, he stopped.
"If you need anything," he said quietly, meeting my eyes, "send a word. I'll make sure it reaches someone you trust."
Not the prince.
Someone you trust.
I nodded, afraid my voice would break.
"Rest,Lady Rihanna."
Just my name.
The door closed behind me.
But the echo of Landon's hand.
the certainty in his voice.
and the red sky waiting somewhere ahead.
followed me inside.
Claude had already decided to knock.
He'd been standing close outside the room longer than he'd admit, posture perfect, expression unreadable.
"She'd been gone too long."
He lifted his hand.
And stopped.
Voices.
Low. Controlled. Male.
His gaze sharpened as he turned.
By then she had already gone to her room.
Seren stood a few steps from her door.
Seren noticed him first.
"Ah," he said mildly. "You're back."
"I am."
"I know you brought her here because she claims she can see your death," Seren said carefully. "But do you truly believe her?"
Claude said nothing.
"She came back with red eyes," Seren continued. "Crying isn't proof of power."
Still nothing.
"I know this isn't my place," Seren said quietly, "but are you humoring her because she's interesting… or because you believe her?"
Claude reached out and patted Seren's shoulder once.
Dismissive. Calm. Unreadable.
And said nothing.
I changed into a nightgown, the soft fabric settling against my skin. It had been so long since I'd slept properly since I'd gone to bed because I wanted rest, not because exhaustion finally dragged me under while I chased answers. Tonight was supposed to be different. Tonight, I would sleep.
I sat on the edge of the bed, hands folded in my lap, staring at nothing as my thoughts spiraled. The room was quiet. Too quiet.
Before I realized it, tears slipped down my face, warm and silent, falling without permission.
What if I just killed Landon?
The thought surfaced quietly, almost logically, and that terrified me.
It was the only answer that seemed to connect everything. Landon was always there at the center, untouched, watching.
What if he was the one who kidnapped the girl? What if her disappearance started with him?
If Landon wasn't there, then Claude wouldn't die.
If Claude didn't die, then the girl wouldn't either.
If none of that happened, then maybe just maybe the war wouldn't happen at all.
The future unraveled in my mind, piece by piece, all leading back to the same point. Remove Landon, and the chain breaks.
My chest felt tight as I followed the thought to its end.
It made sense. Too much sense.
And I hated that part of me didn't recoil from it, didn't panic or feel sick but instead kept thinking, Would it work?
Maybe this was the answer.
Or maybe this was the moment I became the thing I was trying to stop.
But how would I even kill him?
That was the part my brain kept tripping over. Landon was untouchable. Everyone loved him. He had allies everywhere inside the family I literally married into, and across other kingdoms too. If he died suddenly, people wouldn't mourn quietly. They'd investigate. Obsessively.
And who would they look at?
Probably me especially if I get caught, no one would believe me even if I said it wasn't me.
There would be no one on my side. Not Claude. Not the court. Not the people. I'd be executed before anyone even pretended to hear my explanation just like last time.
So yeah. Killing him sounded nice in theory. Real clean. Real simple.
In reality?
It was a speedrun to my own death.
What if he just gathers more allies than Landon, so that if Landon ends up dead, no one would even suspect me or my family? Where would I even start?
I'm already the Duke's daughter. I was married into the royal family. Solid footing, right? But titles alone don't mean jack unless someone actually backs you. My dad? Yeah, he wouldn't help.
Claude popped into my head.
If I could just convince him…
Ugh but how?
Maybe I should act like Eliana, the female lead the "saving type" and seduce him instead of giving off an "I don't care" vibe.
He might notice my attitude toward him changed too suddenly… or maybe not. In the novel, Eliana just acted sad, like she needed saving, and that softened him enough to help. Maybe I should do the same it's not that unlikely.
he already had connections everywhere. Allies through the court, the nobility, everywhere. Maybe if I could get some of them on my side, and get him to actually agree… maybe, just maybe, I could actually change something.
Rationally speaking, I had four months. That's all this stupid contract gave me. Might as well try anything.
I got up, planning to head to Claude's room, but stopped dead at my door. He was there. Talking to Seren.
Both of them saw me, and their eyes narrowed to my nightgown.Claude shoved Seren back, then pushed me into my room, slamming the door behind me. Seren was left outside, blinking, clearly confused.
"Yeah, he's definitely fallen for her," Seren muttered to himself.
This wasn't how I'd planned it.
Or maybe it was and I just didn't want to admit that to myself.
"You shouldn't be walking around dressed like that," Claude said again, his voice lower now. Not angry. Controlled. His gaze didn't linger openly, but I felt it anyway like he was deliberately not looking too closely.