Days passed in a blur of politeness, forced smiles, and careful calculations. Every movement, every word felt like a precarious step on a tightrope. If I stumbled, if I said the wrong thing, I was doomed to repeat Evelina's fate. But it wasn't just the political intrigue or my interactions with the court that were making me uneasy. It was *him*—Crown Prince Kael.
I hadn't expected to see him again so soon, but there he was, standing in the grand dining hall, his cold eyes scanning the room as if looking for an enemy. The tension between us crackled, thick as smoke.
"Lady Evelina," his voice was distant, almost clipped, as he acknowledged my presence. "I trust you're settling in."
I stiffened, instinctively reaching for the silverware on the table, anything to keep my hands occupied. "I am, Your Highness. Thank you for your concern."
The table was lavishly set, with food that looked more like a work of art than a meal. I couldn't focus on the feast in front of me. My mind was too preoccupied with the man seated directly across from me, his gaze unwavering. He hadn't said much since the confrontation in my chambers, but his presence alone made my heart race.
"You're quiet tonight," Kael observed, his voice low but carrying an edge.
"I prefer to listen," I said carefully, "It helps me understand the matters at hand better."
Kael studied me for a long moment, and for the briefest of seconds, his eyes softened, as if seeing me through a different lens. Then it was gone, replaced once again by the cold, calculating gaze I had come to expect from the prince. He picked up his goblet, swirling the wine before taking a measured sip.
"Listening is a valuable skill," he said, "but it can also be a sign of weakness. People will use it against you."
I had to fight the urge to laugh. Of all people, Kael was the last one who should lecture anyone on weakness. He had a reputation for cold decisiveness, for ruthlessness when it came to the kingdom's protection. And yet, there was something in his voice—something that hinted at layers I had yet to uncover.
The rest of the meal passed in strained silence, broken only by the occasional murmur of conversation from the other nobles seated around the table. But my mind was elsewhere, lost in the question of how I could turn this dangerous situation around. *Could I really change the course of fate, or was I destined to play the villainess until the very end?*
The moment the meal ended, I excused myself from the table, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the hall. But as I made my way through the corridors, I heard footsteps behind me, heavy and deliberate.
I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Lady Evelina," Kael's voice rang out, louder now, commanding. "A word."
I froze. My instincts screamed at me to run, but instead, I turned, pasting on a polite smile. "Yes, Your Highness?"
Kael's eyes locked with mine, and for the first time, I felt the weight of his gaze like a physical force. "You're different from the woman I knew," he said, voice hard but laced with curiosity. "But whether it's genuine or just a carefully crafted act... I can't tell."
My heart pounded in my chest. He was so close now, standing in the flickering light of a nearby chandelier. His presence was overwhelming, and despite my best efforts, my body betrayed me—tension coiled tight in my stomach.
"I don't expect you to believe me," I said quietly. "But I am trying, Your Highness. I'm not the woman you think I am."
A flicker of something—maybe doubt?—passed across his face, and for a brief moment, I saw a crack in the cold façade. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. With a sharp nod, Kael stepped back, his expression unreadable once again.
"We'll see, Lady Evelina. We'll see."
As he walked away, I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
The stakes were higher than I had imagined. If I didn't play this game perfectly, not only would I die—but I might take the kingdom down with me.
The weight of my new life as Evelina Frost was starting to sink in.
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