Chapter 11

After everything that happened in Father's study, I decided that I needed a little peace.bThe next day, I went to the garden for tea.

The weather was beautiful.

The sun was warm without being harsh, and the gentle breeze felt wonderful against my skin. After the chaos of the previous day, sitting quietly with a cup of tea sounded perfect.

I settled into my seat and let myself relax.

For the first time since waking up in this world, I wasn't thinking about marriage proposals, political alliances, or how I was supposed to avoid dying.

I simply enjoyed the afternoon.

I lifted my cup, ready to take my first sip, then I was interrupted, rudely might I add

"Your Highness."

I paused.

A guard stood a short distance away.

"The prince has requested an audience."

I lowered my cup, the prince?...as in Luke

I stared at him.

Weren't they supposed to return to Firildia today?....why are they still here?

I sighed inwardly.

Apparently, my peaceful afternoon wasn't going be so peaceful anymore, I nodded and gestured for the guard to bring him.

A few moments later, Prince Luke entered the garden.

I watched him approach before returning my attention to my tea. Out of pure courtesy, I gestured toward the empty seat.

"Tea?"

He shook his head.

"No, thank you."

Thank God. I really didn't want to sit through an unnecessarily long conversation with him while pretending to enjoy his company. His presence felt like a bad omen.

Luke took a seat across from me.

He looked serious.

"Your Highness, I just wanted to ask you a few questions before we leave for Firildia."

I almost rolled my eyes, of course. I took a slow sip of my tea instead. I already knew what he wanted to ask. There was only one thing that could possibly have brought him here.

"Who told you about my relationship?"

There it was, he was still so curious about how a princess so far away knew of his....'love'

I lowered my cup.

I wasn't surprised in the slightest.

"No one, Prince Luke."

I kept my expression calm.

"I simply have my source, and I am not willing to share it with you. But believe me, no one told me."

Luke stared at me.

He looked genuinely confused, his brows drew together as he tried to make sense of my answer.

I took another sip of tea.

He clearly hadn't expected that. After a moment, he asked the question I had been expecting next.

"Then why did you refuse the marriage with me?"

I placed my cup down.

"Prince, I am sure I made my reasons clear last night."

My voice remained calm.

"I do not want to give up everything for a man who will neglect our relationship, even if it was built on political advantage."

Luke's expression shifted slightly.

I continued.

"To put it plainly, I desire more than you can ever offer."

He looked offended.

I could see it immediately.

"And how do you know what I can offer, Princess?"

For a moment, there was silence, I stared at him.

Then I laughed, I just couldn't help it.

The sound escaped before I could stop myself. Then I laughed harder, right in his face.

Luke looked completely shocked.

I wiped the corner of my eye, still smiling.

"Oh, Luke."

I shook my head.

"Why do you want to be a nuisance to me, huh?"

I abandoned the formalities completely.

There was no point pretending with him.

His expression changed.

I leaned back in my chair.

"YOU didn't want this in the first place. I am helping you maintain your life with your girl, and here you are asking me stupid questions."

Luke stared at me.

I could see that he was struggling to understand me, but I didn't care. I was tired of watching everyone act as though I somehow ruined their plans.

I didn't ruin anything, I simply refused to sacrifice myself for them, for people who would turn against me if I let them.

"Luke," I continued, "I know there is nothing you can offer me because you are a lovesick fool."

His jaw tightened., there was anger in his features but all he could do was sit back and take it.

"You can't even see that your obsession is toxic, and it will be the end of you and everyone around you."

The words hung between us.

For a while, Luke didn't immediately respond, his expression changed, the confusion was still there, but now there was something else.

Fear of my knowledge of everything

He leaned forward slightly.

"How..."

His voice was quieter.

"How do you know so much about this?"

I said nothing.

"No spy is this close to me," he continued. "How?"

I watched him carefully, he looked genuinely disturbed.

He couldn't understand how I knew about Evelyn, he couldn't understand how I knew about their relationship and now I spoke about the consequences of his obsession as if I already saw them happen.

I wouldn't tell him the truth, I wouldn't tell him that I had read his entire story, that I knew exactly how everything would unfold. That I knew the mistakes he would make and that I knew the people who would suffer because of them.

I needed another explanation.

Luckily, I already had one, I thought about it when I asked myself what I would say if I ever shared more than I should about the book. It was perfect, they didn't have to believe but they would not think I was crazy either.

I smiled.

"Well, Luke..."

He waited.

"Because I see visions." the words left my lips casually.

I watched his face carefully.

His eyes widened.

I lifted my teacup again and took another slow sip, I had no idea whether he would believe me, but it was the only explanation I could give him.

And judging by the look on his face...

He was certainly thinking about it.