Chapter 5

SHEBA'S POV

After a lot of thinking, I decided that the first thing I needed to know was exactly where I was in the novel. If I knew what point in the story I had entered, I could figure out what needed to happen next.

More importantly, I needed to find a way to reach Ezra.....That was my priority.

Ezra first.

Everything else could come afterward.

I also needed to avoid Preston, that idiot prince.

Thankfully, that shouldn't be too difficult.

My father loves me, and from what I remembered of the story, his kingdom was the one with the real advantage in this alliance. They were the ones who needed this marriage to happen.

Which means I have leverage.

I still couldn't understand how that entire situation had played out in the original story.

It always baffled me. His kingdom needed this marriage to strengthen its position, yet that idiot had the audacity to cheat on the princess and eventually contribute to her death.

A fool, that's what he was.

An absolute fool.

"Ahh, how I hate him."

I crossed my arms, just thinking about him annoyed me. I would rather die again than marry him and considering I had literally just died once, that statement said a lot.

There was absolutely no chance I was going to willingly marry that man. Now I just need to convince my father.

I stood from the bed and began pacing around the room. I needed a good excuse, something convincing enough that my father wouldn't immediately dismiss it.

Hmm.

I could tell him the prince was ugly.

I stopped.

Then shook my head.

No.

That was probably too childish.

Although...

I did like pretty things.

"I could say he's ugly and I like pretty things." I considered it for a moment before laughing softly.

No.

That would definitely not work.

Perhaps I could bring up the rumors surrounding his entanglement with that girl.

That might work better.

If the princess was already hearing rumors about the prince's behavior, then refusing to marry him wouldn't seem completely unreasonable.

Or...

I could simply tell my father that I didn't love him.

I frowned.

Actually, that might be the simplest explanation , I didn't love him and I had no obligation to marry someone I didn't love.

Well...

Technically, princesses had been forced into political marriages for centuries, but I wasn't going to start explaining that to myself.

This could work.

I really could avoid the marriage.

A small smile appeared on my face.

For the first time since waking up, I felt like I had some control over my situation.

Now that the most urgent matter was somewhat settled in my mind, I looked around my room again, I haven't explored this place yet.

Everything was so unfamiliar.

If my bedroom was this beautiful, I couldn't imagine what the rest of the palace looked like, I wanted to see it.

I needed to know where I was living and maybe exploring would help me understand this world a little better.

I walked toward the door.

Just as I opened it, however, someone was already standing outside. I nearly jumped. A man stood there, dressed in formal black clothing.

He looked like a butler.

His face was cold and composed, and he stood so straight that I immediately understood he was someone accustomed to discipline.

He bowed slightly.

"Good morning, Your Highness."

"Good morning."

He straightened.

"I hope you had a great night."

"I did. Thank you for your concern......." The words came naturally, I froze.

Oh, Right.

I had just arrived and I didn't know any of these people's names. I didn't have any of Alera's memories.

I was too distracted by everything happening around me to consider that little problem, If someone asked me something about Alera's life, I could easily expose myself.

That was a problem. As though my thoughts had summoned it, something suddenly happened.

Pain exploded through my head.

I gasped.

My vision blurred.

I grabbed the doorframe.

Memories that weren't mine rushed into my mind so quickly that I couldn't process them.

It was overwhelming.

I clenched my jaw and endured it.

I didn't want to attract attention again, I already gave these people enough reason to worry about me for one morning.

Slowly, the pain began to fade and I took a careful breath.

The butler was staring at me.

"Are you feeling alright, Your Highness?"

I straightened.

"I am fine, Wilbert. Nothing to worry about."

The name came out as naturally as if I had known him all my life.

Wilbert.

So that was his name.

He studied me for another moment.

He looked reluctant to accept my answer, but eventually gave a small nod.

Then he spoke again.

"I have come to inform you that His Majesty the King has asked that you attend dinner tonight."

"Dinner?"

"Yes, Your Highness. We will be having guests from Firildia joining us."

Firildia.

The name immediately registered in my mind.

My stomach dropped.

"Alright, Wilbert. I'll keep that in mind then."

He bowed.

"Of course, Your Highness."

Then he turned and walked away.

I remained standing in the doorway.

Firildia.

I knew that name. Unfortunately, I knew it very well. Firildia was the kingdom of that stupid prince.

My eyes widened.

That meant...

Today was the day.

The day they came to formally discuss the marriage.

The day the two kingdoms would begin arranging the alliance that eventually tied Princess Alera to the prince.

I stared down the corridor.

"Oh my..."

The realization hit me all at once.

I hadn't arrived at some random point in the novel.

I had arrived right at the beginning of one of the most important parts of Alera's story.

They were coming today.

The prince was coming today.If the story followed the same sequence I remembered, everything was about to begin.The eventual destruction, somewhere in all of that...was

Ezra.

My heart began beating faster, I didn't have time to prepare, I was just dropped straight into the middle of it.

"Oh my..."

I pressed a hand against my forehead.

"I am in so much trouble."

The plot was moving far too fast.