Five

Lila's POV

"I reject the bond."

My words echoed through the Grand Hall.

No one breathed.

The silver light surrounding Elias and me slowly faded, but the mark of the fated bond remained glowing between our wrists.

The matebond hasn't been completely broken as long as he hasn't accepted the rejection.

For several seconds, Elias simply stared at me. His lips were parted while his hand clutched his chest as if he could feel the pain of the rejection. Then all of a sudden, his expression hardened.

"What did you just say?"

I met his eyes.

"I said I reject you."

A collective gasp swept through the hall.

Someone whispered, "She rejected the Crown Prince?"

Another voice answered, "She's his fated mate. She can't be serious."

I heard them but I didn't care.

Elias stepped forward. His eyes never left mine.

"You don't get to make a decision like that without an explanation."

A strange feeling passed through me.

In my previous life, hearing his voice had been enough to make my heart race. Now, it only reminded me of the man standing beside Clara while I died.

If only he knew what he had done in my previous life. How he left me dying without any explanation why he chose Clara instead of me.

I lowered my hand.

"I don't owe you one."

His jaw tightened.

"You just rejected the bond in front of the entire kingdom. You…rejected me.”

"I did."

"Why?"

I looked at him.

Because I remembered dying for you. Because I remembered my mother being dragged away. Because I remembered watching another woman wear the crown meant for me. Because I spent years loving you only to discover that I never truly knew you.

But none of those words left my mouth.

I simply said,

"Because I don't want you."

The hall went completely silent.

Elias looked as though I'd struck him. He must be having a hard time processing this. He was the Crown Prince, after all. He was proud and arrogant. He couldn't take rejection lightly.

Clara was the first to recover. She stepped toward us.

"Lila, stop."

I turned to her. Her face was filled with concern.

"You don't have to do this."

I almost laughed.

There it was. That same gentle expression. That same sweet voice. The same woman who had once smiled at me while wearing my Luna crown.

I remembered her looking at me as I lay dying. I remembered that smile.

My fingers curled.

"Do what?"

"Humiliate yourself." Her voice softened. "You've always loved Elias. Everyone knows that."

A few people nodded.

She was right and everyone knew because I had never been subtle about it.

I'd followed Elias around when we were younger, found excuses to speak to him, and spent years hoping he'd notice me.

After discovering our fated bond, I'd become even more obvious.

I had been foolish, but that girl was dead.

I looked at Clara.

"That was before."

Her smile faltered.

"Before what?"

"Before I learned better."

Elias stepped between us.

"Enough." His eyes remained on me. "You're coming with me."

I raised an eyebrow.

"No."

His expression darkened.

"That wasn't a request."

"And you're still not my king."

A few nobles sucked in a breath.

Elias stared at me. For the first time, I saw something I'd never seen in him before.

Uncertainty.

He didn't know how to handle me.

Good. Neither did I but I was learning.

The priestess stepped forward.

"Your Highness, the bond has been rejected. It is up to you if you will accept the rejection. It's either Miss Lila take it back while you haven't accepted it or you accept it and completely break the bond."

Elias looked at her.

"How long?"

"The bond may still take months to sever completely if none made immediate action."

My stomach tightened.

Several months. That's still too long. That meant we weren't finished. That means I will still be associated with him for months if he doesn't accept my rejection.

I looked down at the glowing mark on my wrist.

In my previous life, I had treasured that mark. Now, I want it gone.

I turned toward the exit.

"Lila." I stopped. Elias's voice followed me. "You can't just walk away."

I glanced over my shoulder.

"Watch me."

Then I left.

The moment I stepped outside the Grand Hall, I released the breath I'd been holding.

My hands were shaking but not because I regretted rejecting him.

But because I had actually done it.

I had stood before Elias, in front of the entire kingdom, and rejected the man I had once been willing to die for.

I should have felt victorious, instead, I felt exhausted.

"Lila."

My mother's voice came from behind me.

I turned.

She hurried toward me. Her eyes were wide.

"What happened in there? Why did you…”

I stared at her, then I smiled.

"I rejected Elias, mama."

She looked at me as though she was trying to understand what I did.

"But…w-why? I thought…”

"I rejected the bond." Everything was starting to sink in now.

My mother looked toward the palace doors as though expecting Elias to come storming through them.

"Why?"

I took her hand.

"Because I don't want the life I once wanted."

She studied me. I know my mother will never judge me. She always tries to understand.

Slowly, her expression softened.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"For the first time in my life."

Her eyes softened. She squeezed my hand and offered me a gentle smile. Not harshness or hostility. Not judgement or scolding.

"Then, I'm proud of you."

My chest tightened.

I hadn't expected those words.

Before I could answer, a familiar voice came from behind us.

"Lady Lila."

I turned.

A royal messenger stood at the bottom of the palace stairs.

He bowed.

"His Highness requests your presence."

I almost smiled. Of course, he did.

I shook my head.

"Tell him no."

The messenger blinked. Stunned by what I said.

"Your Highness said you are to return immediately."

"And I said no. Tell him that I will only talk to him if he's ready to accept my rejection."

He hesitated then bowed again.

"I'll deliver your answer."

He left.

My mother stared at me.

"Is that really you, my daughter? You…you really have changed."

I looked toward the palace.

"I had to."

__________

Inside the Grand Hall, Elias stood exactly where Lila had left him.

The crowd had begun dispersing, but whispers still filled the room. He ignored all of them. His eyes remained fixed on the doors where Lila left.

Clara approached him.

"Elias."

He didn't respond so she reached for his arm. He moved away causing Clara's hand to stop in midair.

"You've been staring at those doors for ten minutes." Elias didn't answer. "She'll come back."

Finally, Elias looked at her.

"Why?"

Clara froze and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

"Because..." She forced a smile. "Because Lila has always loved you."

Elias's expression darkened.

"Has she? Why did she reject me then?”

Clara's smile faded but she maintained her soft composure that always seemed to captivate everyone, except for Elias.

He looked toward the doors again.

For years, Lila had chased him. He had grown used to her presence. Used to seeing her waiting after his training. Used to her shy smiles. Used to her finding reasons to speak to him.

He had never thought much about it because he always disregarded her. She had always been there no matter how much he pushed her away. But today, she wasn't.

Had I pushed her too far?

Elias thought to himself.

And for some reason, the empty space she left behind bothered him.

He clenched his jaw.

"Why did she change?"

Clara's eyes flickered.

"I don't know."

Elias looked at her.

For a moment, neither spoke, then Clara smiled softly.

"Perhaps she's only angry."

"At me?"

"Who else?"

He said nothing. Clara stepped closer.

"You should give her time. My sister is just probably overwhelmed.”

Elias's eyes narrowed.

"Why do you sound so certain?"

Clara's expression froze but only for a second. Then she smiled again.

"I know Lila."

Elias stared at her.

Maybe she was right. Maybe Lila was simply angry. Maybe tomorrow she'd return to the girl he knew. The girl who loved him. The girl who always chased after him. The girl who had never once walked away.

But something in his chest told him otherwise.

For the first time, Elias wondered—

What if she really meant it?

_________

That night, I stood in front of my bedroom mirror.

The silver mark on my wrist was still glowing faintly. The rejected bond hadn't disappeared.

Yet.

I stared at it, then I looked at my reflection.

I had spent my first life trying to become worthy of a crown. This life, I wanted nothing from the throne. I wanted my mother alive. I wanted my freedom. And I wanted the truth.

I opened the drawer beside my bed. Inside were old letters.

Memories from my previous life. I had no reason to have them now but one thing remained unchanged.

Clara.

If she had been responsible for everything, then somewhere in this timeline, she was already making her plans.

But this time, I would be watching. I would make sure to be ready.

I closed the drawer.

Tomorrow, I will start digging. Not for Elias. Not for the crown.

For the truth.

And if someone had truly destroyed my first life, I would make sure they couldn't destroy this one.

Because now, I know how to play my cards well, so they better step up their game.