Author's Preface
I was given a chamber of my own, guards stationed outside to keep me from escaping. Sora, assigned as my lady‑in‑waiting, wasted no time bursting in.
Sora Laef, my best friend, and a servant at Treotor Palace. She risked a lot by sneaking me in today. I thought I could get out, but I got caught instead. And if things had played out differently? Sora might’ve been dead too. After all, being an accomplice is as much of a crime as being the actual culprit.
“I can’t believe it,” she hissed, pacing before collapsing onto my bed. “You bit Darian Treotor?”
“I’m sorry, Sora,” the guilt washing over me, but I stopped, processing her words, “ That’s what you’re worried about?”
“I mean, I’m also worried about other things, but you bit the Crown Prince. That’s not something you see every day. What were you thinking?!”
I groaned, collapsing on the bed beside her. “You’re supposed to tell me it’s going to be alright. Sora, what do I do?”
She ticked options off on her fingers. “One, escape — terrible idea. Two, marry him— not the worst deal, even if he’s an arrogant peacock. Three,” she paused, “we fake your death. Though that might involve fire, and I know how you feel about arson.”
I shot her a look. “Sora, I hate fire. That’s not happening. And I’m definitely not marrying him.”
She winced, sitting up and raising her hands. “Okay, okay. Option three is definitely off the table. But so is the first option, probably. The castle’s a fortress, hence proven a terrible idea.”
I sat up straight, the idea hitting me like a lightning bolt. Pushing my shoulders back, I spoke, “C’mon, Sora,”
She looked at me with a knowing look. One that told me she already sensed what I was going to say, and she did not like it one bit. My lips curved into a mischievous grin, “You’re talking as if all my ideas aren’t terrible ones.”