The days that followed were a blur of etiquette lessons, royal court gatherings, and trying to avoid the suffocating weight of *death flags* that seemed to crop up at every turn. Each day, I found myself walking a tightrope, balancing on the thin line between survival and certain doom.
The system, as cheerful as ever, gave me little guidance other than vague suggestions, like "smile more" and "don't antagonize the Crown Prince." Oh, how helpful that was.
I had barely survived my first royal banquet, where I spent most of the evening dodging disapproving glances from nobles who had once feared Evelina's influence, but now regarded her as a curious oddity. Rumors of her sudden change in demeanor were already circulating, and the last thing I needed was to be labeled a madwoman—especially in front of Prince Kael.
But it wasn't the nobles or their whispers that had me on edge. It was the prince himself.
I had expected him to be cold, distant, and utterly unapproachable. And he was—but there were moments. Small, fleeting moments when his gaze lingered on me, not with disdain, but curiosity. I didn't know whether that was a blessing or a curse.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon on the third day after my... transmigration (was that even the right word for it?), I was summoned to the royal gardens. The invitation had come with a rather cryptic note: *The Crown Prince requests your presence.* No details, no reason. I had no idea what to expect.
---
The royal gardens were breathtaking. Lush, vibrant, and full of blooms I had only seen in paintings, it was a place of peace and serenity, a stark contrast to the chaos of court life. I stepped carefully down the stone pathway, my steps light and measured, my heart pounding in my chest.
"Lady Evelina."
The voice made me freeze mid-step. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The chill in the air seemed to sharpen with his presence. Prince Kael.
I turned slowly, meeting his eyes. He stood tall, a figure of strength and royalty, his dark hair tousled just enough to look unruly, but it was his eyes—those storm-gray eyes—that held my attention. They were unreadable, distant, but I could swear there was a flicker of something else there.
"Your Highness," I said with a carefully measured curtsy, trying to appear composed despite the nervous flutter in my chest.
"I didn't expect to see you here," he said, his voice cool. He wasn't looking at me with contempt—no, it was more like… calculation. "I thought you would be busy making plans for your next scheme."
I couldn't help but wince. Of course, he would think that. The original Evelina had been nothing if not a master manipulator.
But I was not her.
"I've learned that sometimes, silence speaks louder than schemes," I replied, my voice soft but firm. "Sometimes, it's better to listen before acting."
Kael raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but still skeptical. "You've changed, Lady Evelina."
"People change," I said with a slight smile, the words tasting foreign on my lips. "Or they can. If they want to."
He studied me for a long moment, the silence stretching between us like an invisible wall. Then, without a word, he turned and began walking down the path, his footsteps echoing softly against the stones.
"Walk with me," he said, his tone not exactly a command, but not quite a request either.
I hesitated for a second. This was a dangerous game. Being alone with the prince, even in a seemingly harmless setting like the garden, was risky. I could easily say the wrong thing, and it could all unravel.
But my only choice was to follow.
---
We walked in silence for a while, the soft rustle of leaves and distant sounds of the castle's evening activities the only noise around us. The garden was almost eerily quiet, as though it were holding its breath.
Kael glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "You don't seem like the same person. Evelina Frost was never one to keep quiet."
"I never claimed to be perfect," I said, keeping my tone neutral, though the words stung. "Maybe I've just realized that there's more to life than the games I used to play."
His lips twitched, but it wasn't quite a smile. "That's an interesting sentiment coming from you."
"I think people deserve second chances," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
That silenced him. For a brief moment, I thought I had gone too far, but Kael said nothing. Instead, he looked up at the sky, his eyes darkening as though lost in thought.
"You're fortunate to be alive, Lady Evelina," he said suddenly. His voice was cold again, but there was something—something darker—beneath the words. "The nobles in this kingdom have no love for you. Many of them would see you dead if they could."
"I'm aware of that," I said, my pulse quickening. The system had warned me about the death flags, but it hadn't prepared me for the reality of it.
Kael stopped walking and turned to face me. For the first time, I saw the weight of his past in his eyes, the burden of the crown he would one day wear. "Then why are you still here? Why are you still trying to play this dangerous game?"
"Because I'm not playing anymore," I said, my voice stronger than I felt. "I'm trying to change things. To make things right."
His gaze softened for just a moment, but the coldness returned quickly. "I'll believe it when I see it."
Before I could respond, he turned and began walking back toward the castle, leaving me standing there in the dimming light.
---
As I made my way back to my chambers, my heart still racing, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between us—something subtle, something dangerous.
Prince Kael was a puzzle, a man with layers I couldn't yet understand. But one thing was certain: the game had just begun.
And I wasn't about to lose.