"I don't think this is a good idea, Your Highness," Anna pleaded, her voice trembling with worry as I hastily pulled my hair into a messy bun. Her eyes were wide, filled with concern as she stepped closer. "Please... Hear me out."
I shot her a grin, though it felt more like a mask than anything genuine, as I finished securing my hair. "We wouldn't know unless we try, Anna," I said, my voice a bit too light for the gravity of the situation.
"But it will be too dangerous," she pressed, her words heavy with fear. "You can't go out there. It's not safe."
I stopped mid-motion, the knot of tension in my chest tightening. I could see the fear in her eyes, the way her hands trembled slightly at her sides. She was right, in a way. What I was about to do could cost me everything—my position, my safety, even my life. But I didn't care. I couldn't sit idly by any longer, not when there were questions that gnawed at me, not when there was a chance—just a chance—that I might uncover the truth for myself.
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I understand the risks, Anna," I said softly, my voice steady. "But I need to see for myself if there are Eldorians in the Capital. I need to know the truth."
Anna opened her mouth to protest again, but I silenced her with a gentle shake of my head. There was no turning back now.
I changed quickly, donning Anna's clothes—simple, plain, and unremarkable. For the first time, I would leave the palace not as Princess Karina, but as Lily. Just Lily, a girl without a crown or title, blending into the crowd, unnoticed. The weight of the identity shift hit me, but it also gave me a strange sense of freedom. In that moment, I was no longer bound by the expectations of royalty. I was free to act, free to see what others wouldn't—or couldn't.
I took one last look at Anna, her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. "Stay here," I told her, my voice softer now, a faint trace of regret in it. "And pray that I come back."
"Let me at least alert my brother that you are heading towards the marketplace," Anna pleaded, her eyes wide with desperation. Her hands wrung together, and her voice quivered as if this were a matter of life and death. "Please, Your Highness."
I paused, uncertainty creeping into my chest. Anna's brother was just a store-owner, and though he was well-connected in the lower circles, I couldn't see how he could be of much help if anything went wrong. But her concern was genuine, and I didn't want to dismiss her plea entirely. "Okay," I replied, my voice hesitant. I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I had no time to argue now.
"I'll send him a letter, notifying him of your arrival," Anna said, already moving toward the desk, her hands shaking as she grabbed a piece of parchment. Her gaze flickered to the window, and she frowned. "And it's still early, Your Highness. You might get caught by the guards."
I followed her gaze, my eyes narrowing as I looked outside. The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the palace courtyard. I glanced at the clock, noting the time: half past four. There was still daylight left, and with it, the risk of being recognized was too great.
I gritted my teeth in frustration. If I went out now, there was no doubt someone would recognize me—maybe not in my disguise, but the mere presence of a princess in the marketplace would attract too much attention. "Alright," I said, my voice firm despite the gnawing impatience in my chest. "I'll wait until dusk."
A soft, relieved breath escaped Anna, and I caught the fleeting look of gratitude in her eyes. She had always been loyal to me, even in the other timeline, when things were so much darker. Despite the dangers and the consequences, she would stand by me.
I smiled, though it was bittersweet. "Thank you, Anna," I murmured, feeling a pang of guilt for dragging her into this madness. But I knew she would have it no other way. She was still the same, unwavering and steadfast.
As I watched her prepare the letter, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settle in my stomach. What if this was a mistake? What if everything I was about to do would only bring more danger, more chaos? But I couldn't turn back now—not when the truth was within reach. I could feel it, just beyond my grasp, waiting to be uncovered.
---
I gazed down at the merchant carts passing through the back gate of the palace, each one leaving a faint trail of dust in the warm evening air. Anna's cloak draped over my shoulders, concealing my ashen hair—a distinct mark of royalty in our Kingdom. I could feel the weight of the disguise, but it didn't ease the anxiety swirling in my chest. Anna, ever the nervous one, was peering over my shoulder, her eyes darting back and forth as she searched for the cart her brother had promised.
"Where could he be?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, tight with worry.
I turned to face her, trying to mask my own unease. "Let us wait, Anna. Your brother's cart should be coming soon." My words were meant to reassure, but the truth was, I wasn't sure. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. How could I be certain of anything in this uncertainty?
Then, Anna gasped, and I stiffened. "There it is! There's my brother!" she exclaimed, pointing toward a weathered cart that slowly crept into view. "That's the same cart my brother drives when he picks me up."
My eyes widened as I followed her gaze. At first, I couldn't make sense of it—an old, worn-out cart, nothing special about it. But as it drew closer, something else caught my attention.
The driver.
My heart skipped a beat as I recognized him. It was one of the people who had helped me escape the palace in the previous timeline.
It was Anna's brother who had risked his life to move me out of the palace during those dark days. The memory hit me like a wave, raw and powerful, and my chest tightened. My eyes welled up as the images rushed back—his face, pale and strained, as he'd helped me escape the palace that night. I could still hear his voice, faint but steady, urging me to go.
But it wasn't the escape that haunted me. It was the moment when everything fell apart. I remembered how he had slumped to the ground, lifeless, after he'd been caught. How his last thoughts, his final breaths, had been for his sister. He had hoped, prayed even, for her safety. His sacrifice had been one of desperation, a plea for the survival of the people he loved.
Tears blurred my vision as I stood there, frozen in the present, yet trapped in the memory of his death. The weight of it pressed on me, a reminder of the cost of survival—of what I had lost.
I swallowed hard, pushing the emotions down, forcing myself to focus. I had no time for this. The past was gone. What mattered now was the truth, and the fact that I might be walking into something far more dangerous than I realized.
I glanced at Anna, unaware of the turmoil inside me, her focus fixed on the cart. She was so innocent, so full of hope. But she didn't know what I knew—that the past wasn't finished with us yet. And neither was the danger.
I wiped away the tear that had escaped and steeled myself. I couldn't afford to be weak. Not now. Not when everything was on the line.
Anna waved eagerly to her brother, and the cart came to a stop beside the narrow passageway where we hid. It blocked the view from the rest of the yard, allowing us a precious moment of privacy. The tension in my chest eased just slightly, but it didn't go away.
"Brother, please do what I said in the letter," Anna whispered urgently to him, her voice trembling with the weight of our plan. He gave a quick nod, and Anna turned to me, her eyes full of quiet pride. "This is my brother, Vincent, Your Highness," she said as she helped me up onto the cart.
Vincent gave a nervous laugh, his eyes flickering with unease. "The King will have my head if he learns about this," he muttered under his breath, but then he smiled at me, softening the tension in his words. "But don't worry, Your Highness. I'll get you to town and back safely."
I smiled back, trying to push aside the knots in my stomach. "I will compensate you for doing this, Vincent. Thank you."
He shook his head, his smile sincere, a warmth in his eyes that touched me deeply. "There's no need, Your Highness. You've done more than enough for the both of us. If it weren't for you, our mother wouldn't be getting the care she is at the royal facility. This is the least I can do." His voice was steady, his gratitude palpable.
My smile widened at his words. Despite the looming danger, the sincerity in Vincent's voice made my resolve waver, but only for a moment. I had made my decision, and there was no turning back now.
"Let's go," Vincent said, his tone firm as he waved to his sister and began to move the cart.
As the cart slowly started to roll towards the gate, my heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last. The thought of getting caught made my breath catch in my throat. If we were stopped, Vincent would face the consequences. And my mind kept turning to the worst: what if we were caught? What if he was punished for this?
We neared the gate, and my body tensed. A guard stepped forward, halting our cart. I instinctively lowered my head, trying to conceal my face beneath the hood, my pulse racing with panic. I could feel Vincent's nervousness radiating through the tense silence between us.
Please, dear Lord, do not let us get caught, I silently prayed.
The guard eyed us suspiciously, his gaze sharp. "And who is that with you?" he asked, his voice laced with authority.
Vincent stammered, but his voice barely held steady. "O-Oh, that. That's my sister, Anna Blais."
The guard's brow furrowed. "Anna? You mean the Princess' maid?"
"Y-yes. What's the matter?" Vincent's voice quivered, but it wasn't enough to calm the guard's suspicion.
"We did not recieve any notification that she will go out of the palace."
I could feel the weight of the lie hanging in the air. Vincent's nervousness was clear, and the guard wasn't buying it. I couldn't wait any longer.
I cleared my throat, forcing my voice to sound hoarse, raspy, and sickly. "Apologies, sir, but this is urgent." I coughed, it sounded fake but I'm desperate. "I'm ill—cough—and the Princess told me to rest." I leaned forward, pulling my hood lower to shield my face further. "I have blisters all over my face. I think I've contracted the pox, and it's harmful to Her Highness."
The guard's eyes widened in alarm, and without another word, he stepped aside, waving us through. "Be on your way," he muttered.
I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, the tension draining from me as the cart moved past the gate. As we gained distance from the palace, Vincent and I both exhaled in relief.
"That was close," he muttered, urging the horse to a faster pace. His voice, though light, held an edge of nervousness, and I could feel the adrenaline still coursing through his veins.
I couldn't bring myself to speak for a moment. I was still too shaken fron the scene we barely avoided. But eventually, I nodded, my voice quiet. "Too close."
The cart sped on, the city looming ahead, and with each passing moment, the realization of what I was doing settled deeper into my bones. There was no turning back now.
--
By the time we arrived at the marketplace, the sky was cloaked in darkness, the stars scattered above like tiny pinpricks of light. Yet, the liveliness of the place hadn't diminished. Laughter and chatter filled the air, mixing with the aroma of roasted food and the sound of merchants calling out to late-night shoppers. For a moment, I allowed myself to observe the people milling about—innocent faces glowing with joy under the warm lantern light. Families, couples, and merchants, blissfully unaware of the doom that awaited them.
A pang of sorrow clenched my chest, and I sighed, shaking the thought away. They don't deserve war, I thought. None of them do.
"Is this the center of the Capital, Vincent?" I asked softly, my voice barely rising above the hum of the bustling marketplace.
"Yes, Your Highness," Vincent replied as he jumped down from the cart and turned to help me. His hand was steady, reassuring, as he guided me off. "From what I've heard, some foreigners are staying at Cobalt's Inn, near my shop," he added, his tone casual yet tinged with unease as we slipped into the shadows, away from prying eyes.
I nodded, keeping my hood low to conceal my face. "That's good," I murmured. "I'll head there now."
Vincent hesitated, his hand twitching as if he wanted to grab my arm. "Alone?" His voice was taut with concern. "I can't just let you go alone, Your Highness."
"This doesn't concern you, Vincent," I replied firmly, scanning the crowd for any sign of foreign visitors. My tone softened as I added, "You've done enough."
But Vincent's expression hardened, his jaw set as he leaned closer. "Then my sister will have my head if I let you wander off alone, Princess," he said, his voice low but insistent. "Let me trail behind you. I'll keep my distance, but that way, I can spot you if anything happens. Please."
The idea of dragging him further into this dangerous plan made my stomach churn, but his earnest expression and quiet loyalty left me with no choice. I sighed, relenting. "Fine. But if something happens, you are to leave and report it to the authorities immediately. Do you understand?"
He nodded, his expression resolute. "Understood, Your Highness."
I gave him a small nod before slipping deeper into the crowd, searching for the inn Vincent mentioned. The air felt heavier now, as if the shadows themselves were conspiring against me. Cobalt's Inn wasn't far—it was one of the few establishments in the shopping district that I passed through before.
I looked up and saw the place I'm heading to. Its distinctive blue walls with yellow shutters stood out even amidst the chaos of the marketplace. The answer to my problem is now within reach. He might be here. I know he is here
I was just about to step into the inn when, without warning, the door burst open, startling me so badly that I lost my balance. A sharp shriek escaped my lips as I staggered backwards, the world tilting dangerously.
"Ho, easy now!" A deep, steady voice caught me just in time, strong arms wrapping around me to prevent my fall.
I felt the rush of warmth from the stranger as he steadied me, guiding me out of the path of the people spilling out of the establishment. A woody scent filled the air, familiar yet distant. It was a scent I'd smelled before, in a different time, a different place. Suddenly, the memory of someone from the previous timeline flashed through my mind.
I hesitated, unsure if I was imagining things. Could it be him? Could it possibly be—
His hands lingered on my arms for a heartbeat longer than necessary, sending a strange, electric shiver down my spine. It wasn't unpleasant. In fact, it felt oddly comforting, like a memory too familiar to forget.
"You should be careful when entering places like these, my lady," the man said with quiet authority, his voice steady, as if used to situations like this. Slowly, he removed his hands from me, as though reluctant to let go.
"T-thank you," I whispered, my voice shaky, betraying the panic surging inside me.
He seemed to notice my unease, raising an eyebrow, then leaning slightly closer. "Huh, are you looking for your husband here?" he asked, peeking beneath my hood. His breath was fresh, minty, and it stirred a strange reaction deep within me.
My heart skipped a beat. I turned to face him, and the world seemed to pause. The moment I looked into his eyes, I almost burst into tears. There he stood, the same man I'd seen in the previous timeline, but younger, more vibrant. His dark locks shimmered faintly in the lantern light, and his tanned skin still carried that touch of nobility, of power. Duke Alistair Michealis Reynaldi of the Eldorian Kingdom, Eldoria's military genius and the commander of their Royal Army.
The man who saved me multiple times from the previous timeline. The man who became my lifeline during those dark days. The man who tried everything in his power to let me live.
I'm right. He is here. The shock of seeing him made my breath catch in my throat. His face was unreadable, though his gaze softened just a fraction. I couldn't tell whether he was concerned or annoyed, but I felt the weight of his presence, like a storm waiting to break.
"Are you okay?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, as if he too felt the weight of this moment.
"Yes, I'm fine," I replied quickly, my lips forming a small, involuntary smile, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes tugged at something inside me, something long buried. I tried to steady my nerves. "Sorry, I was just... surprised by what happened."
His posture straightened, and I could see the sharp glint of his usual composure return. "I don't think this is the right place for you to be, Princess."
The title hit me like a blow to the chest. His tone was gentle but firm, as if he had already made up his mind about what was best for me. His words carried the weight of authority, yet there was an underlying tension in them—one I hadn't expected.
"How did you.. know?"
His Grace's eyes softened, but there was something else there now. Something I couldn't decipher. He stepped closer, his gaze locking with mine.
"Go back to the palace at once, Princess," he said, his voice unwavering, yet tinged with an edge I couldn't quite place.
I stood frozen, my heart hammering in my chest, unsure of what to say. This wasn't the encounter I'd planned for. This wasn't how things were supposed to unfold. And yet, here I was, standing face-to-face with the one person from my past who could alter everything.
"Well, I'm already here." I strengthened my resolve and stood my ground. "I need to talk to you. Privately."