e tied his handkerchief around her neck like a scarf. The fabric was warm, the st familiar. The image of the gruesome se fshed through her mind, his screams still ringing in her ears, tears filling his eyes, as his body vulsed, begging her for mercy, g out, "Why?"

  Yes. Why?

  e's lips curled up.

  If she ever died, she wanted her st breath to be taken by him, and no one else.

  If anything was to be taken from her, it should have been by him, and no one else.

  That's what she thought when the Rocheforts' were at their lowest point, when news of her father's death reached her ears, when only a young girl was left to carry the family's legacy.

  e blinked, remembering how her father showed up in front of her a month after the e annou, saving her from a terrible fate. His bloodied hands had cupped her face, rubbing away her tears, staining her skin with the enemy's blood, his lips f an apologetic smile.

  "How a Rochefort die so easily?" he had said, his eyes twinkling, "I'm proud of you, my little dove. One day, I'm sure, you will be the one who'll fly the highest. You have nothing to fear, and everything to gain."

  That's right. She still had so much to gain, but also so much to lose.

  e walked past the guards, and they fell into pce behind her, following closely.

  She was used to people hating on her, but why was she so bothered by Lu's words, that they echoed in her ears, and refused to fade away?

  'He is going to stab me in the back when I least expect it.’

  ‘No normal person would just five and fet, would they?’

  ‘I wouldn't have, and I doubt anyone else would either.'

  Lu's face fshed in her mind again and she tried to shake him off with new designs of sapphire jewelries, the whole line already taking shape in her head, a matg pair of earrings and neckce, maybe a bracelet, and a tiara for the finishing touch.

  Only for the image of his bright, golden eyes and the blinding smile to return.

  "Ugh," e groaned, feeliemples throb, 'He hates you. Instead of moping over him, start taking measures to prevent him from plotting against you, will you?’

  A, for some reason, her mi drifting to the days, when he would sneak inside her room at night,l to study together.

  He always came prepared with a small vial of essence or perfume, gently dabbing some onto her wrist, a small gesture that would calm her nerves, and make the studying session much more enjoyable.

  She would have a pot of tea ready, a pte of snacks for his hunger, and sometimes a new pair of gloves or socks. As winter neared, she'd have a hat and scarf waiting for him.

  They were using each other for their bes, and they both khat, ahose memories seemed to have more ore warmth, than the rest.

  She found out that she uood the cept she learned much faster if she tried to teach it to someone else instead of just memorizing it the usual way, and Lu happeo be the best option.

  She didn't have the nerves and patieo put up with another person, especially when their enthusiasm for studying was as low as the number of s in their pockets.

  Lu was the opposite. His energy aement were boundless, and his optimism was a cure-all for her gloominess and irritability.

  It was fun.

  It was...

  e's mood dropped further, her headache intensifying, the musid versations around her blurring together into a single buzzing noise.

  Yet, instead of rushing bae, she lingered.

  With the guards trailing her, e visited the garden, plopping onto the bench. Pg the book oable, she rested her in her palm and closed her eyes, listening to the crickets, the leaves rustling, the sound of a violin somewhere nearby, and the soft whispers of the wind.

  She was tired, the events of the evening wearing her out, and her feet were killing her.

  · · ─────── · ???· ─────── · ·

  Meanwhile, Jax was fuming as he threw the handkerchief at Lu, "That damned witch! Who the hell does she think she is, ag so high and mighty?! I'm never getting anywhere near her again! You hear me, Lu? Remio never make a bet with you ever again!"

  "Did something happen?" Lu caught the handkerchief, watg Jax pace around the baly, venting his anger.

  "Do you have any idea what it felt like, to ask the most stuck-up, arrogant, and rude woman in the world for a dance? And the way she looked at me, like I'm a speck of dust on her dress, an i buzzing around her head! Do you have any idea, Lu? DO YOU?!" Jax ranted, gesturing wildly, "She was a total bitch! If the Prince didn't interfere, I would have knocked some seo her and taught her a lesson!"

  "And that would have gotten you into a lot of trouble, so t yourself lucky," Lu ented, "It's not the end of the world."

  "Oh, shut up, a me enjoy the moment of wallowing in self-pity."

  "Enjoy all you want, but you're not getting off the hook that easily. You still owe me a hundred gold pieces," Lu reminded him, tug the handkerchief into his pants pockets.

  "You sadistic bastard! You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

  "I'm merely having fun, Jax, and I know you are too. This is why you agreed to the bet in the first pce, isn't it?" Lu humored him.

  Was it always this bad? He wondered. He rarely saw her i with other people when they were together, so he didn't have the full picture. It seemed that she really was disliked by many.

  Who was the person who showed him that glimpse of a different side, and what was the truth? The person, who would smile, ugh and tease him, or the one who had a perma scowl on her fad a venomous tongue?

  He was too busy with his side projects to pay attention to the rumors and gossips, and she always said they were lies and snder. He trusted her, and the times, when he heard her defend herself, she was calm, posed and her arguments were rational.

  Being too briliant and skilled would paint a target on her back, and being too weak and helpless would make her the victim of bullying. It was a fine line she had to walk, and he was sure she had mastered it over the years.

  Lu walked ihe ballroom, and began asking for the Prince's whereabouts.

  Not much effort was required. The Prince appeared in the ballroom shortly, and made his way towards him, grabbing a drink on the way while polite farewells to the guests.

  The ba was ing to an end. The staff started ing up, and the st of the darickled out, leaving the ballroom empty.

  Lu's eyes moved to The Prince’s gloves in a silent question. They didn't match the attire as if he put them in a hurry, without paying much attention.

  "I see you're having fun."

  "I'm having the time of my life, that's for sure," Lu replied with a smile, "Shall we discuss your proposal in more detail?"

  "My office is just a few minutes away from here, we'll be able to talk undisturbed there," the Prince suggested.

  "That would be great," Lu agreed, and the two of them started making their way out of the ballroom.

  On their way, Lu noticed a few flustered guards, looking around in panie of them spotted the Prince, and immediately rushed to his side, whispering something in his ear.

  "What do you mean, fell asleep?" the Prince asked sharply, causing the man to stiffen.

  Lu's legs moved before his mind caught on. He heard enough to piece the information together.

  e was a light sleeper, always quick to stir at the slightest noise, always aware of her surroundings. So, for her not to wake up from the murmurs of the guards or the soft shuffle of footsteps would be strange.

  Lu couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Was she feigning it?

  e y with her head cradled in her arms, eyes closed. She looked vulnerable, her posture slumped, yet there was something about her that kept others at a distanbsp;

  The table was littered with various foods, and a half-full gss e juice. e didn't drink alcohol as far as he knew, so it didn't strike him as odd. She couldn't risk getting drunk, and her judgmeing impaired. He did notice, however, the way her breathing was bored.

  She should have heard them by now, should have stirred at the disturbance, but she remaiill, as if the world around her had simply faded away.

  Lu outstretched his hand to check her temperature. He was a few inches away, his fiips almost grazing her skin, when the guard stopped him.

  "Sir, with all due respect, please refrain from toug Lady Rochefort if you don't wish to have her wrath fall on your head," the guard from before warned, "Only His Highness is permitted such proximity.”

  A lump of emotion rose to Lu's throat, his hand still outstretched in mid-air, "It looks like she has difficulty breathing. The corset is probably too tight."

  "Call for her maid and the doctor," the Prince ordered, and the guards dispersed to follow his orders.

  He appeared beside Lu, his gaze sharp, calg, watg her as if expeg her to act all wroo gain his attention.

  His hand moved to her back, but before he could looserings, his wrist was grabbed in a deathly grip, and his eyes met with Lu's.