"I thought I did well playing the violin, but the entire hall fell silent when she began tipping the piano. Heh, such is the power of the protagonist."

A pink camellia.

"Every single soul is simply helpless against her beauty and charm. Isabelle, are you listening?"

I subconsciously lifted my gaze to her, only to find Lady Camellia frowning upon my inattentiveness.

"You seem distrait." She raised a brow. "Do you still feel unwell? Retreat to your room if so."

She's acting like usual. It doesn't seem like the villainess is hiding anything from me. But then again, she's an inveterate liar. I've seen it myself.

That damn fortuneteller, planting a seed of doubt on me like this... Handing me a pink camellia out of nowhere, of course I'd freak out over my lady! She literally has the flower as her family name!

"Your bleary eyes are tiring me out as well," Lady Camellia waved her hand dismissively. "Get out of my sight. Talk to me once you've fully recovered."

I could only bow politely and comply. Right now, I don't have the heart to talk with her yet. I can't even look her in the eye. I feel wary around her.

I hurriedly left her chambers, my mind housing so many queries. The fortuneteller said that flowers would be the death of me, but she didn't say that they would betray me. Assuming that the flowers pertain to her... Will I die if I stick with my lady?

"And then there's the thing with Ingrid," I heaved out a deep sigh. "I swear I can't even take a break."

I wanted to calm my nerves, so I decided to come to that place which gives me solace: the garden.

A part of me was hoping to see the eastern princess, but she was nowhere to be found.

Come to think of it, she was also present during my encounter with the devil! Princess Himari was even hurt! How could I forget about that detail?!

I should check if she has any injuries from that night. If there's none, then perhaps it was truly just a dream or an illusion?

I was just about to leave the garden when I heard some leaves rustling from a distance. Curiously, I approached the spot and swiped through the flowers, only to find the little princess once again.

"Oh!" She was lying on the grass, her body covered with petals. "You're here again today, servant!"

If it were just a normal day, I would have felt soothed by her childish and innocent image.

However, with how the princess was covered in pink petals, a shot of worry pierced on my heart.

I can't believe flowers are giving me paranoia.

"We meet again, Princess Himari." I tried my best to sound blissful. "May I ask what you are up to?"

She spread her arms across the grass, like an angel flapping her wings. "I'm trying to cheer up, since I made a huge blunder during the selection. Hehe!"

Despite the bright smile on her face, I could see her pupils shaking in disappointment. In an instant, all my wariness melted into worry.

She was just a child, all alone in this place.

I occupied the space beside her. "Did you?"

"The strings of my violin snapped because I was too antsy during my performance." The princess grinned sheepishly. "It was so embarrassing."

I ran an eye over her. There wasn't even a single scratch on her body. Was that night truly just a nightmare messing with my sense of reality?

"How bad that must've been." I looked away from the princess. "Still, you did well, Your Highness."

"Yeah! The selection is ending soon, so I can leave this place at last." She closed her eyes, feeling the afternoon breeze. "I can finally run away."

I eyed her. "Not returning to your homeland?"

"Nope," She giggled. "I told you, they'd kill me if I don't become the crown princess. I have to flee."

Silence ensued between us. The only thing that could be heard was the rustling leaves. The sweet scent of flowers also wafted through the air.

Longing for some relaxation, I laid down on the ground just like the princess. She turned her head to my side, lips parted and wide-eyed, then smiled.

"What?" I asked her nonchalantly.

"Nothing," Her eyes lit. "I'm just happy."

I kept my gaze on the horizons. How peaceful.

Princess Himari, on the other hand, was staring at me openly that it made me feel conscious. She then tilted her body to face me sideways. As if that wasn't enough, the princess scooted closer to me.

"I always come here because I know you would be here when I do." The eastern princess confessed.

My mouth lifted into a smirk. "That so?"

"Yeah," Princess Himari replied shyly.

When I looked at her in the corner of my eye, her eyes were so focused on me as we lied there side by side. Is it just me... or the atmosphere seems pretty strange?

"You know," She called in a small voice, leaning closer to my face. "Your blue eyes are so pretty."

"Really?" I said without much thought. "Thanks."

"Yeah," Princess Himari whispered. This time, her face was only inches away from mine, to the point that I could feel her breath. "Hey, why do I feel..."

You see, I'm not a kid anymore.

This kind of atmosphere, the dreamy look on her eyes, and the lack of distance between us... I knew exactly what the princess was trying to do to me.

So before she could do it, I placed my hand between us then shoved her face away.

"Sorry, I'm not into girls." I told her bluntly.

"H-How can you be so sure?!" Her cheeks flushed. "You won't know unless you try, so try it with me!"

"What? No." My face soured. "You're too young to be talking about things like that, Your Highness."

"I really like you!" The princess shut her eyes then threw some tantrums. "I always look forward in meeting you! You're my only friend in this place!"

The eastern princess broke down into sobs. At that moment, it felt like she wasn't really upset being rejected by me. It looked like all her pent-up fears and frustrations finally manifested as her tears.

"I hate every single one of you!" Princess Himari shouted emotionally. "Just you watch! I am about to disappear somewhere no can reach me... And all of you shall regret treating me like this!"

"Okay. You do that, Princess." I encouraged her.

She sniffed. "You will miss me terribly!"

"Yes, yes." I gently patted her head.

As if my gesture irked her, the eastern princess got up and marched away without even saying goodbye. She must be going through puberty.

"Ah," I noticed her flower hair clip on the grass. She must've dropped it. "Guess I should return..."

As soon as the hair clip touched my skin, a passage from the novel flashed on my mind without any warning, portending one gruesome chapter.

My mouth froze. "Huh?"

I stared at the hair clip on my hand, momentarily speechless. Those were the exact words earlier...?

That sudden recollection, instead of answering any of my existing questions, just fanned the flames of my apprehension further.

Seeing the death of Lady Camellia, the villainess I chose to serve, had me anxious. However, the real question is... Why did Princess Himari say the exact same lines? It can't be a mere coincidence.

The fortuneteller was absolutely right.

A storm was brewing, indeed.

---

When I came back to Lady Camellia's chambers, I was taken aback to find Alistair chatting with her.

"Fufu, there goes the love of your life, Your Grace." The villainess smiled knowingly. "I wish you luck."

"You have my thanks, my lady." The grand duke bowed to her before walking up to me. "Would you be so kind to spare me your time, Isabelle?"

I glanced over Lady Camellia, who then gestured me to go. For some reason, I didn't want to do so.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Still, when my master has given me permission and the grand duke looks expectant, I couldn't refuse anymore. So I sauntered with Alistair.

"Do you feel unwell?" He gently placed his hand on my neck. "You look pale and sleep-deprived."

I forced myself to smile. "I'm fine."

Alistair stared intently at me, as if contemplating whether to ask further or not. In the end, he opted to change the subject. "I'm returning to the north."

"Huh?" My eyes widened. "Why?"

He clicked his tongue. "War is about to break out in the borders. His Majesty ordered me to return and push them back. As much as I wish to prolong my stay here, the battlefield is calling for me."

Now that I've taken a closer look, Alistair was in his military attire, ironclad and bearing the badge of the Lohefalter knights on the side of his chest.

I pursed my lips. "When will you depart?"

"Tonight, I'm afraid." Grand Duke Averill wrapped his arms around me. "Do not worry too much."

"This is so sudden." I commented, sulking.

My plate is already full with Lady Camellia and Princess Himari. Now I have another thing that would keep me awake at night. How distressing.

When I lifted my gaze to him, Alistair was smiling so radiantly. His golden eyes glowed as they stared fondly at me, shaded by the hue of the setting sun.

"Isabelle," He breathed my name. "When I left the north and went to the capital, I brought the cold with me. I was surrounded by walls of ice that I had no plans of demolishing. However, you..."

The grand duke gently cupped my face.

"With your beauty and boldness, you instantly melted the cold within me." Alistair remarked sentimentally. "Which leads me to this question."

My lips parted when he took out a ring.

"Will you marry me, Isabelle?"

That question was supposed to make me happy.

After all, marriage was every maiden's dream, much so if it was with the person you love.

However, at this time when I was battling with many enemies -- death, most especially, his proposal wasn't something I welcomed.

I wish Alistair hadn't asked me that now.

"Is this some kind of joke, Your Grace?"

Since I was too anxious and terrified for my life.

"What?" The grand duke seemed confused by my reaction. "No, not at all. I am serious, Isabelle."

"What do you mean marry?" I pulled away from him and stepped back. "The emperor wouldn't allow you to marry a commoner like myself."

"He'd allow it. His Majesty promised to grant one of my wishes if I successfully defend the north." Alistair explained, his face taut with panic. "Once I return victoriously, I shall ask for his permission."

"Well, Your Grace... I hate to break it to you, but marriage doesn't end with simply saying I do."

Pain registered on his eyes. "Why are you being like this? I do not understand at all, Isabelle."

He tried to hold me in his arms once again, but I swatted his hand away and took more steps back.

"Of course you wouldn't understand." I stated coldly. "You're a noble. No matter what you do, people won't criticize you. Even if you marry a lowly commoner, no one will blame you. They would simply think that you were bewitched."

The more I spoke, the more he seemed hurt.

"On the contrary, if I marry a nobleman like you, I will forever be labeled as someone unsuitable for you. Even if you attach your name beside mine, they would still remember me as a lowly maid who somehow managed to seduce a grand duke."

His jaw clenched. "Why does that matter?"

"Because it does!" I snapped at him.

"Well, not in my book." Alistair took a deep breath, as if trying to control himself. "I truly do not give a damn what they think. They are not the subject of my affection. You are the one I love! That is why I am asking you, Isabelle, if you wish to marry me!"

"I can't!" I sobbed. "I can't, Your Grace!"

"What do you mean you can't? If you do not want to marry me, then say no right to my face! I do not deserve such an ambiguous answer!" The grand duke demanded, his eyes watering with tears.

"I just can't!" I screamed to his face.

"Why?" His face softened. "Just why, Isabelle?"

Because I am a ticking bomb, Alistair.

With every breath I make, I would always have to fear how much more I can take. I am a mere extra in this novel. I am not meant to live long enough.

Rather than the tirade of insults I might receive if I marry you, I'm more afraid of the instance I die according to the novel and leave you behind, broken and scarred forever, unable to heal at all.

I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth.

There we stood, both emotional and heartbroken from our own words. But Alistair, perhaps due to growing up in the battlefield, managed to pull himself together despite our hurtful exchange. He was used to pain, in whatever form they may be.

"You speak as if you'd live a life without dignity if you were to marry me." Grand Duke Averill sadly remarked. "Yet here I was, thinking it would be my greatest pride to have you become my wife."

With that, he turned his back from me and started walking away. It's the first time he ever did. As he got smaller and smaller from my sight, my heart sank... even more so when I realised he threw away the ring without ever looking back.

---

This was painful to read, even for me lol.

Thank you for reading this. Stay safe!

Yours Truly,
Aomine-san