Should I jump off the balcony? Should I just end it? It's better to die than to stay with the Rosens. I can't endure it again.
My hands kept trembling, and I was afraid I'd drop the pin, my only lifeline. Eris's presence only fueled my fear. Her sharp eyes watched me like a predator eyeing its prey, every calculated movement a reminder of the power she held over me. I felt the cold metal of the pin against my skin, a sliver of hope in my otherwise bleak reality.
As if he had heard my thoughts and sensed my anxiety, Euston walked in and looked in our direction. His gaze was piercing, and his demeanor exuded a confidence that was as unsettling as it was imposing. He nodded in approval and approached Eris with a smug smile.
"You did a good job," he praised, his voice dripping with condescension. Eris's face lit up with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Of course I did, it's my little brother's wedding. I feel so proud, I'm like a mom giving her son away," she said, her laughter echoing hollowly in the room. The sound grated on my nerves, a stark contrast to the grim reality I was facing.
"I just need everything to be perfect. Once we throw off Alden, we'd go after that second prince. It won't matter whether he has the country's support or not," Euston said, his tone matter-of-fact as if discussing a simple business transaction. The casual mention of overthrowing a prince sent a shiver down my spine.
"That second prince is rather handsome, what a waste," Eris sighed, turning to face me with a look of mock sympathy. Her gaze was cold and calculating, a stark reminder of the danger I was in.
"His existence has always been a thorn in my side, especially with Alden supporting him. Once he's gone, Augus's position will be stronger, and I can move on to my next plan," Euston continued, his ambition clear in his eyes. The thought of their plans unfolding was terrifying.
"I'll always support my dear brother," Eris said with a sickening sweetness that made my stomach churn.
"But, Eris, why is she wearing a black dress? Isn't it customary to wear a white dress on your wedding?" Euston asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. Eris clicked her tongue twice, waving her index finger at him.
"She needs color so we'd be able to see the bride," she said dismissively. I just watched their exchange through the mirror, feeling more like a puppet than a person.
"Oh, I see," Euston nodded in understanding. "Be ready in a few minutes," he said and walked out, leaving me with a sense of impending doom.
"You heard him," Eris said to me, but I didn't respond. "I'll be back to take you to the hall," she said and walked out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I didn't see Faina Alden, the professor of Galliel, or Lady Myra's daughter. I didn't see the person who had been working hard to survive. I saw Faina Rosen, the doll, the one with no voice, the scared, sick person I was, and the one with no will to live.
I looked down and exhaled, holding my chest. I had been chained by the past for years, and now I was literally chained. I hadn't escaped them in the end; I had been brought back to this torturous life. And to add to that, my mother, Teon, and everyone's lives were in danger. I bent my head on the table in front of me and banged my head on it, craving the pain, wishing for a seizure that would take my life. But I didn't get what I wanted.
I was dragged out of my thoughts by a commotion. I looked at the door; no one was coming in, but I could hear noises coming from the window. I walked to the window and looked down. There were a few people dressed in black, their faces covered, so I couldn't make out who they were.
I turned to go back and take my seat, but my eyes landed on a familiar white hair. Is that... I couldn't confirm who it was because his face was covered.
I didn't give myself the opportunity to doubt; I couldn't afford it. I needed to survive, and to do that, I had to use the opportunity before me. I bent my hand enough to reach the lock of the chain. I wasn't sure that I could pick the lock but had to. I kept trying until I heard a snap and it fell. I sighed in relief and ran to the door.
It was a now-or-never situation. If I didn't leave, I'd be forced into the marriage and dragged back to the south, back into a life of torment. I held the handle and sighed, pleading with my body to cooperate, to find the strength I needed for one last desperate attempt at freedom.
I peeped out and scanned the halls; they were empty, a small mercy. Summoning every ounce of courage, I stepped out and started running. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the urgency of my escape. The walls around me seemed to blur as I focused solely on putting one foot in front of the other, faster and faster.
It didn't matter if it was Teon or not who had created the distraction outside. All that mattered was finding a horse and getting as far away from the Rosens as possible. My mind raced with plans and contingencies—find a horse, ride hard, and don't look back. Every step was a victory, every breath a reminder that I was still alive and fighting.
As I reached the stairs, I paused, my breath ragged, and my body protesting the exertion. The path to freedom lay just ahead, but I knew it wouldn't be easy. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever lay ahead. I just had to get out, no matter the cost.
I reached the stairs and intended to run out, but I saw one of the faces I didn't want to see. Wearing a black suit, dressed the part, with a frown on his face.