Such a boring day, I swear. Where is this Eliana?
I shove through a stack of papers, trying to find any clue to her whereabouts, but it's like she's disappeared. Several people in the kingdom share her name, yet none match the Eliana I remember from my book.
Just then, I hear a knock on my door.
"Come in."
I froze.
Of all people, I wasn't expecting him.
"Hey, Thorson. What brings you here?"
"I was bored at home. Finished training with Liam, Emirates, and Landon, and Father is out of town meeting the Duke of the North."
"So what does that have to do with seeing me?"
"Had nothing better to do. Liam wanted to come too, but he hadn't finished training, so Emirates in London dragged him back. You should've seen the way he was whining." He chuckled.
Just imagining it made me smile.
"So I came up here to check on you. You always keep to yourself, so I'm curious how royal life is treating you?"
"It's fine. Nothing wrong with it."
"How are you and Claude? He's not treating you badly, is he?"
"Not at all."
The silence seemed to confuse him. He walked over and glanced at the papers scattered across my desk.
"Eliana?"
I tried to cover them before he could see.
"Another attempt at making friends?" he smirked.
I knew he'd always new. I prefer to keep to myself. You never thought that I wanted friends.
Great. Now he thinks I'm some sort of stalker trying to befriend people. Easier than explaining the truth.
"Yeah, I just want friends. I made my first one, and now I want more."
"Really?" he asked, surprised.
"I didn't think you'd be interested in that. You never really talk to people."
"It's a newfound interest, I guess. I became friends with Princess Samirah." A faint, genuine smile crossed my lips.
Seeing my expression shocked him.
"Is this genuinely smile?" he said teasingly with the hint of shock in his voice.
"I don't know… maybe," I replied, the most confused voice ever.
"Your smile is usually rehearsed, you know it's very rare when I see how you actually smile… it's a little different you know"
"Who knows. I guess I never had a reason to be genuinely happy often."
He stayed silent for a moment, remembering all the times I'd sat at the dinner table, staying quiet. And the rare times she tried to talk often went ignored, slowly teaching her to speak only when necessary and smile out of courtesy. Seeing her genuinely happy after a long time it broke something in him.
He glanced at the papers again, then back at me. He hadn't treated me poorly, but he realized he wanted to make a change.
"Let me help you be friends with Eliana."
I froze.
Since has anyone besides my brother ever offered to help me? Well, I'll take it.
"Really? You'd do that for me?" I batted my eyelashes deliberately.
"Of course. But… Why do you have so many papers about a girl named Eliana?"
"Uh… I saw this really pretty girl when I was a kid. Pink hair, blue eyes. I thought she was the cutest. Someone called her name Eliana but now I can't find the right one. It's been so many years, but I want her friendship because I realized how fun it is to have a friend."
I rambled, trying to sound convincing. I wasn't sure it worked.
"Oh, let me see if I can help." He grabbed a pencil and paper, jotting down her description.
"I'll find her for you. I think it's time to go." He shoved the papers into his pocket and waved goodbye.
Well, damn. Looks like I don't have to do much work now.
I grinned.
I finally have my plan straight.
Claude probably thinks of me as nothing more than someone who can be with when he's lonely. Or something close to it. Still, he's never been coldhearted. He hates boredom, hates stagnation. Asking for meetings with people of high status won't be difficult once I know who I'm looking for.
Eliana.
If things go the way they did in the novel, they'll fall in love at first sight. All I have to do is find her and make sure they meet.
She doesn't look anything like the woman who died beside him in my premonition. That woman had brown hair. Eliana has pink. That alone changes everything. Anyone who fits that description, anyone who isn't her, cannot be allowed near him.
Once Claude falls in love with someone else, that future disappears. At least, it should.
And then there's Landon.
Hopefully, I won't have to kill him. But I want to. I'm almost certain he's the one who started everything. The trigger. The rot at the center of it all.
If Claude falls in love with Eliana and nothing changes… Then I kill Landon.
If I've miscalculated and the future still tries to repeat itself… then I definitely kill him.
Even if everything goes right, even if Claude is safe, even if the premonition never happens.
I don't want Landon to live.
There's another option, of course. Once Claude and Eliana fall in love, I could disappear. Run away. Never come back.
That might be enough.
But until then, I'll move forward as planned. One step at a time. No hesitation.
I already know what I'm willing to do.
Running away honestly sounds perfect.
No more Landon. Just thinking about him makes my skin crawl. I hate that he even exists in my head. Whatever. He'll be gone soon enough one way or another.
Then there's Claude.
He's not terrible. I'll give him that. But when he gets bored? Absolutely not. I am not dealing with that. I don't want to be his entertainment, his distraction, or whatever role he's decided I fit into this week. It's just annoying.
All I need is for him to fall in love with the female lead. That's it. Once that happens, I'm out.
Claude gets his happy ending.
Landon is gone.
The future stabilizes.
Clean. Simple.
Even the princess. I'll have to leave her behind. I don't want to, but this is part of the plan. I can't stay just because it's comfortable.
I'll disappear to some far-away land where no one knows my name, where no one expects anything from me. I'll live my life quietly. Freely.
No premonitions.
No blood.
No men who think they own my fate.
Just me and finally, peace.
I was walking down the long corridor when I spotted Claude.
He glanced at me a few times while talking to his brother, but didn't stop. Didn't even say hi.
Whatever. It's not like I wanted to talk to him anyway.
I was just about to turn the corner and leave when.
"Reanna."
Great. What does this dude want now?
I stopped and turned around.
"Yes? Is there something you want from me?"
"Nothing in particular," he said easily. "Just checking in. It's been a while since I've seen you."
"I'm doing fine," I replied, then hesitated. "But… if I may ask you for a favor?"
Please. Please. Please say yes.
"Sure. What is it?"
"I was wondering if you could introduce me to the Duke of the North."
Claude frowned immediately. Confusion flickered across his face then something that looked suspiciously like jealousy.
"Why would you want to see him?"
Because he's another ally. Because getting close to him makes killing Landon easier. Obviously. Is this guy serious?
"I just want to leave a good impression across the nation," I said calmly. "As the new crown princess. Nothing more."
His expression darkened, something unreadable passing through his eyes. I didn't notice it then but later I would realize he was thinking of that night. Of how I'd come back with a red cheek. Of how I cried.
"No."
"…No?"
"Why not?"
"It's unsafe for you to travel to the North alone just to meet the Duke," he said flatly. "He dislikes traveling, so you would have to go to him. I'm too busy to accompany you."
He stared at me, expressionless.
Why do you always cry alone in the flower fields?
Why was your cheek red when you came back that night?
Why do you never talk about yourself, only smile and pretend you're fine?
He had never asked. And now, he still hasn't. just thinking to himself, not wanting her to go.
"I assure you it won't be a problem," I said lightly. "I can bring my brother Liam with me. And if that's not enough… I can reserve one of your nights to accompany me."
He paused.
He thought about it.
"…Then take Kael with you," he said finally. "He'll accompany you."
Yes. Finally, Why did he scare me like that?
"Thank you so much," I said brightly, smiling as I turned away almost skipping down the corridor.
Behind me, I felt his gaze linger.
Soft. Indulgent.
As if my childish happiness alone had been worth the permission.