The garden was quiet, too quiet.
It felt like the world had moved on without her.
Lilac sat beneath the flowering tree, her silver hair falling over her face as her shoulders trembled. The soft petals drifting around her only made everything worse. It was beautiful… and she hated it.
"I don't want this…" she whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't want to go there… I don't even know him…"
"You don't need to."
The voice cut through her thoughts like a blade.
Lilac stiffened.
Slowly, she looked up.
Rael stood a few steps away, his dark figure almost swallowing the light around him. His golden eyes were steady, cold, watching her like she was something unfamiliar.
She quickly wiped her tears, turning her face slightly. "You shouldn't be here."
"And you shouldn't cry in open spaces," he replied. "It makes you look weak."
Lilac frowned, hurt flashing across her face. "Do you always speak like that?"
Rael shrugged faintly. "Truth usually sounds unpleasant."
She let out a shaky breath. "Then why come here? To watch?"
A pause.
"…I wanted to see what kind of person I'm marrying," he said.
The words hit harder than they should have.
"And?" Lilac asked quietly.
Rael's gaze lingered on her, thoughtful but detached. "You cry too easily."
Lilac clenched her hands. "And you feel nothing at all."
"Feeling doesn't change outcomes."
"It does for me!" she snapped, her voice rising despite herself. "This is my life!"
Rael's eyes narrowed slightly not in anger, but in interest. "Then fight it."
She froze.
"…I can't."
"Then accept it."
Her breath hitched. "You accepted it too easily."
Rael tilted his head slightly. "Refusing wouldn't change anything. It would only waste time."
Lilac looked away, her voice dropping. "You could have said no…"
"And you think that would have saved you?" he asked quietly.
Silence.
Her chest tightened.
"No," she admitted.
Rael turned slightly, as if to leave then paused.
"…You'll survive," he said.
Lilac laughed softly, bitterly. "That's the second time you've said that."
"It's still true."
"That's not comforting."
"I'm not trying to comfort you."
She looked at him then, really looked at him.
"You don't know how to, do you?"
That… made him pause.
For a brief moment, something unreadable crossed his face something almost human.
"…No," he said finally.
And somehow, that hurt more than anything else.
From the shadows beyond the garden, Riven watched.
His silver eyes glinted faintly, burning with restrained fury. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened.
"She's crying… and he just stands there," he muttered.
His jaw tightened.
"I won't let this happen. I don't care what the queen says… I'll get her out of here."
"Enjoying your moment?"
The voice was sharp, cold.
Lilac turned slowly.
Aria stood there, arms crossed, her gaze filled with open disdain.
"Aria…" Lilac whispered.
Aria stepped closer, her boots crunching softly against the gravel. "You must be proud."
"I didn't choose this"
"Stop lying," Aria snapped. "You always act innocent, but somehow you always end up taking what belongs to others."
"That's not true!"
"Isn't it?" Aria's eyes burned. "That was my engagement. My future. And now everyone will look at you instead of me."
Lilac shook her head. "I never wanted it"
"But you didn't refuse," Aria cut in coldly.
Lilac fell silent.
Aria leaned closer, her voice dropping to something dangerous. "Stay away from me, Lilac. Because if you think I'll just accept this peacefully…"
She straightened.
"You don't know me at all."
She turned and walked away without another word.
Lilac stood there, frozen, her chest aching.
"Lilac…"
Soft arms wrapped around her.
Liana.
Lilac broke instantly, burying her face against her sister as the tears came again.
"I don't want this," she whispered. "I don't want to leave… I don't want to marry him…"
Liana held her tighter. "I know… I know…"
"Why me…?"
Liana didn't answer.
Because there was no answer.
Only silence… and a fate that had already been decided.