The Prince She Cast Aside

[Beep——]

[Temporal correction program activated.]

[Host Alexander William Windsor detected outside original timeline.]

[System will forcibly correct temporal error in 72 hours.]

[Countdown: 71:59:59.]

One hour until the wedding.

And less than three days until I leave this era behind.

I sat in front of the dressing room mirror, phone screen still open to the gallery.

Every photo was of me and Evelyn Carter.

When I first arrived in this era ten years ago, I didn't even know what those little glowing screens everyone carried around were.

I came from London—a city of steam, carriages, and crowns. My London.

Back there, they called me Prince Alexander William Windsor.

First in line to the British throne. The future king of the empire.

In that world of steam, horse-drawn carriages, and crowns, a single word from me could keep all of London's high society up at night.

One accident threw me ten years into the future.

It took me a full decade to learn how to use phones and the internet—to adapt to this world.

And here, I met Evelyn.

Once, I thought maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad.

Until half an hour ago, when she sent me a message.

[Alex, I'm sorry.]

[Ryan might not have much time left.]

[His only wish, before he goes, is to have a wedding with me.]

[It's just a ceremony. After it's over, I'll still marry you.]

[You understand... don't you?]

Three days ago, I might have been furious. Demanded answers.

I planned everything for this wedding—the venue, the rings, the guests, the vows!

But now, I just calmly turned off my phone.

Because I only have seventy-two hours.

The system told me that once temporal correction starts, it can't be stopped.

Seventy-two hours from now, I'll leave this world for good—return to the day I disappeared.

My family. My enemies. My business. All the people who once served me. They're all waiting there.

And I need to use every last second to absorb everything I can about this era's technology, finance, and politics.

Compared to that—a wedding stolen by someone else? It means nothing.

"Alex?"

The makeup artist pushed the door open.

"You ready?"

I adjusted my cuffs. The man in the mirror wore a black tuxedo, ten years older than before—less sharp around the edges, more composed.

No one knew that the man about to be abandoned by his bride was once the crown prince standing at the center of London's royal power.

One word from me used to keep the entire British upper class awake all night.

"Ready."

I pushed the door open. At the end of the hallway, Evelyn stood in her white wedding gown.

She was beautiful. But beside her stood another man.

Ryan Bennett.

Evelyn's childhood friend. And the third person who'd always stood between us.

Ryan's face was pale, dressed in a tuxedo identical to mine.

"Alex, I'm sorry."

He put on a guilty look. "I know today was supposed to be yours."

I looked at him. "It's fine."

Ryan and Evelyn both froze.

I continued: "The wedding arrangements are all set. Just go ahead with it as planned."

The silence hit like a wall.

Evelyn stared at me. "You... really mean that?"

"Why wouldn't I?" I smiled. "Didn't you say this was his last wish?"

Ryan's eyes flickered with triumph, though he dropped his head in fake guilt.

"Alex, I know this stings. You don't have to force yourself."

Then he coughed—deliberately.

Evelyn immediately reached for him, then turned to me.

"Alex, what are you trying to do?"

"Nothing."

"Then why are you suddenly being so reasonable?"

As if my calm was somehow the problem.

Ryan let out a soft sigh. "Forget it, Evelyn. Alex probably wouldn't actually leave, right?"

He looked at me, a knowing smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"After all, in this era, who else does he have besides you?"

Evelyn's expression finally relaxed.

Yeah. Everyone knew. I had no family. No past.

After showing up in this world out of nowhere ten years ago, Evelyn became my only anchor.

I slipped the ring off my finger and pressed it into her palm. Then I glanced down at the countdown only I could see.

[69:43:17]

I turned and walked away.

Behind me, Evelyn's voice: "Alex!"

I stepped out of the banquet hall and onto the busy street, swallowed by the crowd.

When I first met Evelyn, I thought this could be my home.

Only now do I realize—the place I truly want to go back to never changed.

The Crown.

One last look back at the wedding venue. Then I turned away.

My return had already begun counting down.