Annalise's POV.
After Duke Edward left, I also made my way to Iris's room. My stomach fluttered as I tried to imagine what It would look like.
I twisted the door open and stepped into her bedroom. Immediately, I was enveloped in a sense of luxury and serenity, one similar yet different from the moon castle.
The fantasy I read in my books once again came alive in the soft, warm pinkish-peach hues that danced across every surface.
My gaze was drawn to the magnificent bed, its tufted, pale pink velvet headboard and footboard adorned with carefully detailed carvings and gilded accents that seemed to shimmer in the soft light.
As I wandered further, I noticed the beautifully crafted, ornate dresser with a soft pink marble top.
My eyes were drawn upward to the elegant, high ceilings. As I basked in the soft, warm glow of this indulgent space, I felt my senses come alive.
I felt like I could feel every piece of Iris in the room come alive.
Moving closer to her dressing table, I sank into the chair and spotted a small leather-bound notebook, its edges worn from handling. "Iris's?" I murmured, feeling a flicker of curiosity. I opened it, glancing over the first few pages.
It seemed to be a diary, kept since she was young, with little details about her life recorded in delicate, slanted handwriting as if she were trying to hide her thoughts from the world.
My fingers traced a few lines, and I paused to read:
"This morning, father asked me what I wanted for my sixteenth birthday. I wanted to ask him to take me to the baker's shop where mom and I used to go but I knew he wouldn't grant my wish so I asked for the rare moon-bloom necklace I saw the last time I went shopping, he would prefer that kind of answer anyways."
A tight knot formed In my stomach as I absorbed her words. Flipping through, I scanned for more and found another passage:
"Father has been gone for three moons now. He missed my birthday and it's disappointing as usual but I think I've grown used to the way he pretends I'm not there. Hannah made cake, and it's delicious."
"Edward, you bastard," I spat under my breath. My anger burned as I thought of him, but I couldn't look away, and soon another entry caught my attention:
"Father says we are going to the capital for a royal ball at the castle. I am happy and cannot stop thinking of what to wear. I think I need to get a new dress. I also get to meet the crown prince. I heard he's very breath-taking. I'm really nervous about meeting him. Oh moon goddess! What shall I do when I see him?"
A pang of guilt tightened in my chest. "She was just a girl." I bit my lip, surprised by the bitterness in my voice.
I'd always seen her as the villain she was meant to be, the thorn in Vincent's side and I even rooted for her downfall. But here, she seemed so human, so real. I turned to the next page:
"I met the crown prince. He's my mate. We both felt it during the party. Father is thrilled and says I'm to be engaged to him, to be his future Luna. I am so excited to be Vincent's. Father also says I will be moving to the capital soon to be by his side, I can't wait!"
"Oh, you poor thing. If only you knew." I scoffed softly, closing the book, the weight of her naïve hopes pressing down on me. "If only you knew…" I whispered, my voice mingling with the heavy silence.
The ache lingered as I readied myself for dinner. I settled at the table across from Duke Edward, who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else, his face set in a mask of indifference as he stabbed at his steak.
The awkward silence gnawed at me, broken only by the clinking of utensils. I took a shaky breath, trying to gather my courage.
"Okay, you can do this," I whispered to myself.
"Duke-" I cleared my throat, correcting myself. "Father, I want to discuss my marriage with Vincent, that's why I'm here."
He paused, the knife in his hand still, his expression darkening as he looked up. I swallowed hard but pressed on, my gaze dropping to the plate before me.
"I no longer wish to be engaged to Vincent. I want to-"
"Have you lost your mind?" His voice sliced through the air, low but simmering with anger.
My head shot up, meeting his icy gaze, his orange-streaked hair casting a shadow over his hardened rough and wrinkly face. The blood drained from mine, but I held my ground, refusing to tremble beneath his stare.
"No, Father, I haven't lost my mind," I replied, exhaling deeply as I held his intense gaze, feeling his sharp eyes bore into my skin.
"I simply don't want to be mated with Vincent anymore," I continued, keeping my expression blank and serious.
Duke Edward stared for a few seconds before dropping his utensils and clasping his hands together, a deep sigh escaping his lips.
"Why have you suddenly changed your mind, Iris?" he asked, narrowing his gaze. "You love Vincent, don't you?"
A knot formed in my stomach, but I kept my face steady. "Not anymore, Father… and neither does he. I don't want to waste my life chasing after a man's heart."
Duke Edward's mouth twisted with a faint, almost mocking chuckle as his eyes narrowed further. "Iris, is that what you're worried about? You're afraid your husband won't love you?"
My fear began to melt away, replaced by a prickling irritation that sparked within me. "It's more than that, Father." My voice rose, steady and unyielding.
"Then what is it, Iris?" he demanded, his voice dripping with condescension. "What possible reason could you have for throwing away such an opportunity for your future?"
"My future?" I scoffed. "Or do you mean your future? Or maybe the future of the entire Valenhart pack that you so desperately wish held more power than it already has?" His expression darkened immediately, but this time, I felt no urge to back down.
A strange sense of déjà vu washed over me, a feeling like I was standing up to my own mother. The thought hit me, how similar Iris and I were, both molded by the expectations of a parent who only saw us anything but their own children with feelings.
"You hardly see Iri-…" I paused, stopping and correcting myself. "…me as your child father!" I continued, feeling a rebellious thrill as I leaned forward, "and more as a tool for your own glorification."
I could almost taste the chaos simmering in the air, a chaos I felt strangely at home with. I couldn't confront my own mother before she passed away, but now, here was Iris's father, a man with the same disregard for his own child's feelings or desires and I had the chance to say everything I'd held in for years.
"You have no idea what I've sacrificed for you Iris. Everything I do, I do for this family," he growled, his voice barely containing the anger boiling beneath the surface.
"Right. And I bet that includes me, too, doesn't it?" I said, the bitterness slipping into my voice.
"Yes, Iris, I've given you everything you ever wanted!" he shot back, his eyes blazing.
My lips curled with an unbidden smile, almost a dare. "Oh, sure. And that's just so you can justify being such a shitty father," I replied with a calm indifference, looking down at my plate as I sliced another piece of steak.
"Iris!" he bellowed, standing so abruptly his chair scraped against the floor. His fists clenched as he roared, rattling the carefully arranged utensils, sending one clattering to the floor.
He took a sharp breath, his expression darkening even further, though I could see the flicker of something else, maybe shock, maybe guilt, though he quickly buried it beneath a sneer.
"Iris," he said again slowly, a dangerous edge in his voice. "You truly don't understand, do you? This family is everything. Our name, our alliances, our legacy, that is what matters. You may think I'm cruel, but I've sacrificed everything to ensure our future. And you would throw it all away… for what?"
His words echoed in my ears, drawing a bitter smile to my face. "If you cared so much, Father… then why didn't you show it before?" I said, rising slowly from my seat, keeping my gaze locked on his.
"I've made up my mind," I continued, my face settling back into a mask of calm resolve. "Since I cannot dissolve this bond alone, I'm asking for your help to break my engagement with Vincent."
Duke Edward's face twisted, a hint of anger breaking through his practiced control.
"Then you have wasted your time, Iris," he thundered, his voice reverberating through the quiet room.
"Very well," I replied, keeping my voice even and steady. "Then I'll remain here in Everett, with you, until you change your mind." A faint smile played at the corners of my mouth. "Goodnight, Father."
Without another word, I turned and left, feeling his disbelief weigh on me as I walked out of the room. I knew he hadn't expected this, but that was precisely the point.
"Ugh," I mumbled, collapsing onto Iris's bed, exhaustion seeping into my bones. I let out several deep breaths, feeling the tightness in my muscles ease from the heated argument I'd just had.
My mind buzzed with a thousand conflicting thoughts. "This didn't go exactly as planned. Duke Edward might not be as reliable as I thought." I thought.
"What if I can't get out of this?" My breath hitched as the thought crept in, a cold fear clutching my chest. But I quickly shook it off. "No, no… I can't give up. There has to be another way," I reassured myself, my voice barely a whisper in the silence of the room.
After that night, Duke Edward and I barely crossed paths, despite us both being in and out of the same house. He clearly avoided me, and I steeled myself to stay firm.
It was better for me anyway, no Vincent, no mating pull to cloud my mind. I hated that feeling. It made me weak, and the more I gave into it, the faster I'd reach the tragic fate that awaited me.
Days passed, and I threw myself into my trip to Everett. The Valenhart pack estate was more beautiful than I could have imagined, and the Spring-like charm of Everett soothed something deep inside of me.
It was quiet here, the busy bustle of the capital replaced by the hum of nature and the simple lives of farmers, fishers and the others that lived there.
With Hannah's help, I explored the area, including the picturesque fisher's port, which seemed like the perfect place for a beach house. This was also the most activity I had ever done since entering this world.
The salty breeze, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, it was the perfect escape. If only I could leave everything behind and stay here forever.
A week had passed, and still, Duke Edward and I exchanged only a few words. I worried he might begin to suspect I wasn't really Iris, but he never seemed to notice.
On the contrary, he attempted to buy his way out of a real conversation with expensive clothes and jewelry, just like he did with the original Iris. But soon, he gave up, realizing my firm resolve wasn't so easily swayed.
On a breezy, cool night, I sat by the window in Iris's room, reading more of the contents in her journal, when a sharp knock echoed through the door.
I jolted, flinching at the sound. Holding my breath, I waited, hoping it wouldn't come again. But then it did, another knock, this time heavier than the first.
My anxiety tightened in my chest as I stood up and slowly approached the door. It didn't sound like the usual knock from a servant or even Hannah. "The duke?" I wondered, a hint of dread creeping in.
"Who is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice sharp and firm, but my nerves betrayed me. There was no answer. Just the knock again, more insistent this time.
"What the hell?" I muttered under my breath. I asked again, louder this time, but still no response. My patience was wearing thin. "Well, whatever." I shrugged, throwing caution to the wind, and opened the door.
And there he was, those damn bright green eyes staring back at me, glowing in the dim light of the hallway.
"Ah, fuck…" I cursed, feeling the heat of frustration and something else rush through me, my blood running hot.