It was the last party. The final test.

I had a third dress. This one I accepted without much argument, my thoughts preoccupied on the possible dangers ahead. It was grander than the others, a midnight blue, almost black, the same color as Luke's eyes. He stared at me as I entered the central space in his rooms, his face tinged red as he took in my new appearance.

"The dress... looks amazing on you." He covered his eyes with his hand for a moment, sighing. "Now I really don't want to go to this party."

"It's probably a little late to run away." In more ways than one.

"I guess so." Sighing again, he held out his arm. "Ready to go?"

"One second." I stopped in front of him with a smile. "I'm missing a bracelet to go with this dress. Think I can wear yours?"

Luke paused, his eyes wide with shock. Then slowly, a smile blooming on his face, he took the dark beads off of his wrist, sliding it over my own with a gentle touch.

"It was always yours. I was just holding it for you." He stared down at the bracelet, his eyes worried. "Are you sure?"

I smiled. "I'm sure."

"Your goal? Of being away from all this?"

The brief moment of panic I had yesterday, where I considered running away crossed my mind.

"I guess I can't just leave you alone." I grabbed his arm, and pulled him out the door. "Let's go. We have some keys to get."

___________________________

The party started off well, although the atmosphere was even more strained than the previous two. Everyone began grouping on different sides of the ballroom depending on which prince they had aligned themselves with. As Luke gained another key, bringing our total to four, I felt a moment of satisfaction at the size of the crowd gathering in our corner.

It's working, we're changing the book! I felt excited, albeit still anxious to get the night over with. But despite the party dragging on, there were no moves from Fetter or Chloe. Finally, I had had enough.

"Just one more left. Luke, You approach the Fifth Lord and I'll try the Eighth." I gave him a gentle push in the right direction.

Luke stood his ground. "I don't think we should separate..."

"We'll be ten feet apart, it will be fine."

"..." With an unhappy expression, Luke allowed himself to be pushed away, and began talking to the Fifth Lord and his group.

Now if things follow the rules of dramatic plot, now that I'm alone...

"So have you made your decision?" Fetter whispered in my ear, causing goose bumps to run down my arms. Shuddering, I stepped away, putting some distance between us.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid I'll have to reject your offer." I reached a hand into the pocket of my dress, where I had hidden a blade from the prying eyes of the Royal Guard. "You may have my name. But I refuse to betray Luke. Not even for that."

"Is that so?" Fetter didn't look disappointed at my rejection. If anything, he seemed excited. "I'm so happy! I was hoping you would struggle. It will be more fun this way, anyways." With a quick turn, he walked away without another word, leaving me staring worriedly after him.

This isn't good. I thought he was just going to announce it... why is he backing away instead? Ditching my plan of drawing out the villains, I kept my hand on my knife and walked quickly back towards Luke.

"Why?" At the forlorn call behind me, I turned around, not wanting to present my undefended back.

Graham stood there, his eyes wide and slightly unfocused, his whole body seeming to shake with rage and grief.

"Why won't you love me?"

"Your Highness..."

"You told Fetter your name? You wouldn't tell me no matter how many times I asked." He must have been hiding in the crowd, and overheard my conversation with Fetter. Graham stepped closer, and I stepped away, glancing over to where Luke had been standing. To my dismay a crowd had gathered between us, separating him from my sight.

"Where are you looking? Why aren't you looking at me?"

I clutched my knife harder, ready to pull it out at a moment's notice. "Fetter learned an old name of mine from Chloe. It's not my name anymore."

"He knows more about you than me, even though you're mine." Graham shook his head back and forth.

I sighed, running my left hand through my hair, my right still holding onto my hidden knife. The movement caught Graham's eyes though, and his gaze focused on my wrist.

"Lucien's token? You're wearing it again?"

"Yes." It wasn't like I can lie at this point.

"But you were going to marry me!"

"I never said I would marry you. In fact, I've only stated the opposite." I backed away again. "Come on, Graham. You have a whole group of women who are dying to marry you. Just pick one of them. You don't need me!"

"I don't need you?" His smile was off, his voice coming out low like a growl as he stepped closer. "I've told you about how I've struggled. How everyone tries to use me. Only you were different... you were special... but WHY WON'T YOU LOOK AT ME?!!!"

He moved forward again, and this time I pulled out my knife, holding it defensively in front of me. Graham paused, staring at the weapon with confusion.

"Do you think I'm going to hurt you?"

"It doesn't really seem like you have good intentions right now."

He was shaking now, tears forming in his eyes. "Why would I hurt you? We're getting married. We love each other. I'll be king, and you'll be Queen at my side. " He reached out a hand. "Come with me. We'll be together... from now on."

"If you step closer, I will kill you." I spoke slowly and calmly, meaning every word. I wouldn't hesitate. The possession in his eyes was too terrifying to not take seriously.

But before Graham could respond, I felt a pain in my back and chest, and the bloody tip of a short sword emerged from the front of my dress.

"Wha...?" I turned around, seeing Chloe's triumphant smile.

"Go back home, sister! You never belonged here! I'm the heroine, not you!"

Is this it?

My vision was blurring, my legs growing weaker underneath me. I saw Fetter standing in the crowd, a gleeful expression on his face.

After all that I tried to avoid the plot of this world.

Graham was on his knees, screaming.

For years, I refused to have a name.

I crumpled to the floor, lying on my side. I couldn't breathe, it hurt too much. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears.

I didn't follow Luke back then, even though I've always loved him.

Blood was pooling under me, the sensation warm against my rapidly cooling skin.

But in the end, I had a name. I changed the plot. I tried to stay by Luke's side. I should have known this would happen.

Luke was racing towards me, his hand outstretched. His face was distorted, a furious look I had never seen before coloring his features. He was shouting something... a name?

Maybe it's the name he wanted to give me.

He was getting closer, but my vision was darkening, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I was just... so... tired.

I wanted to hear the name you gave me, Luke. I'm sorry.

Everything faded into darkness.

___________________________

"NOOOOOO!" Luke reached out a hand towards the woman he loved, but he could already tell it was too late. Her eyes had glazed over, her breathing had stopped. Trembling, he reached out a hand to gently touch her wrist, right next to the bracelet he had so happily placed on her earlier, but he couldn't feel a pulse.

"No." It was a quiet denial. He reached out and touched her neck, praying silently.

But there was nothing.

She was gone.

"It worked! Now's she's gone back and the plot can return to normal!" Chloe cheered, the sound grating on Luke's ears.

"...shut up."

"What did you say?" Chloe grinned, putting her still blood-stained hands on her hips. "I'm the heroine of this world. She was just getting in the wa-"

SLASH!

Without hesitation, Lucien grabbed his beloved's sword that she had dropped, and cut the still smiling girl's head off.

Thud.

The decapitated head fell to the floor beside him, but he barely glanced at the features so similar, but so different to the woman he had wanted to protect.

"You shouldn't have touched her."

"Your highness!" A guard tried to restrain him, but only had time to scream before his throat was cut and he was pushed away.

"There's the family madness!" Fetter smiled, stepping closer. "This was what I was hoping to see. My dear brother, so unrestrained."

"The family madness?" Lucien stared down at his bloody knife for a moment. "I suppose I have it. I've restrained it for so long, hoping to preserve the remnants of the soul she saw that day." He leapt onto the stage, and gave a loud whistle. Immediately his men flooded the ballroom, swords drawn.

"But what use is a soul, if she's already gone?" Grabbing his father, the king by his hair, Lucien watched him with a stony expression.

"Let me go! I am your ruler!" The older man struggled, but to no avail.

"It was your test that kept me from running away with her."

SLASH!

The king's corpse fell to the ground. He stepped past Graham, who was still kneeling, rocking back and forth with his face buried in his hands, and approached Fetter.

The younger prince backed away, the glee from his face fading, slowly replaced by the terror of what he had unleashed.

"Now brother, come to your senses! You'll lose everything!"

"I already have."

"But I'm... family!" Fetter glanced around anxiously. "Your brother! Do you really think you can kill me- "

STAB!

Fetter screamed in agony as Lucien silently stabbed him in the stomach, pulling out his sword to stab him again. Finally his screams turned to whimpers, and he slowly curled up in the pool of blood and bile that drained from his many wounds.

Finally, having killed those he needed to kill, Lucien turned towards his beloved once more. He knelt on the floor, ignoring the blood soaking his pants, and slowly gathered her in his arms, hugging her to himself.

"The truth is... you were never unimportant. You were never a nameless side character. From the moment you threw yourself in front of that whip to save a defenseless boy, I had named you in my heart. " He laughed, an agonizingly sad sound.

"I'm sorry. I know I should have just let you go. But I never truly did. I was so excited to see my bracelet on your wrist. Even when you gave it back... I was just happy you cared enough to come after me to protect me in the desert. I told myself that I was happy if you were safe and far away, but the truth is, I selfishly wished you were by my side." Tears obscured Lucien's vision. "I was so happy when you came back to me. Joined this final test at my side. So foolishly happy that you chose to wore my token again."

Lucien reached out a hand, brushing a blood soaked strand of hair away from his beloved's face.

"Should I tell you your name? It's a little late, I know... too late for everything. But I have to say it at least once right?"

"..." The terrified crowd watched on silently, held at the blade by Lucien's men, but he ignored them.

"The word was first told to me by my mother. It's from the desert, a term for one's soul mate. She told me that I could call the love of my life by this name, because it meant 'beloved.'"

Leaning in, Lucien whispered quietly.

"I love you, Amia."

Laying her down gently, Lucien stood up and shouted towards the sky.

"IF THIS IS A STORY, A FANTASY, THAN THERE HAS TO BE AN AUTHOR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU GOT IT WRONG!! SHE IS NOT A NAMELESS SIDE CHARACTER! SHE HAS A NAME! SHE CHANGED EVERYTHING! "

He raised a fist towards the ceiling. "YOU HEAR ME?! SHE'S NOT A MINOR CHARACTER YOU CAN KILL OFF LIKE THIS! SHE'S THE MAIN CHARACTER! THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS!"

There were light mutters from the crowd at his crazed shouting, but he continued to ignore it.

"If you don't save her, than it's because you don't care about this world." Smiling, he picked up his blade once more. "So I'll destroy it. I'm the villain right? This world you made. I'll kill everyone and everything, and set the world on fire. What use is this awful broken world you written if you can't even keep her here?! I'LL DESTROY IT!"

___________________________

"...I'LL DESTROY IT!"

I watched silently in a pure white space, all my focus on the floating orb which showed Luke as he threatened to destroy the world.

- It seems like you are loved very much, Amia.

A bodiless voice spoke up, seeming almost amused.

"I'm glad you find this funny."

-Poor Lucien, he tried so hard to be the hero for you, but it looks like he'll become the villain again.

I stared at his face, my heart breaking, my hand reaching out on its own as if hoping to touch him.

-You can still save the world, you know?

I paused, looking around me. "What do you mean?"

- I mean you have a choice. The voice sighed. This world is broken; I've known it since I first made it. The royal family was supposed to bring peace and order... instead they became mad and twisted, killing for sport or no reason at all. Even the more reasonable ones like Graham and Lucien became broken, unable to trust and destroying those around them.

"You're the author?"

- In a way. I made this world... but when I realized it was broken, it was too late. So I put the world's story in a book and distributed it across multiple worlds.

"Why?"

- I was looking for you.

"... Sounds like a scam."

- Well, I was looking for someone like you. Someone kind, caring, but tough enough to take on this world. Someone who could save them. Someone to become the heroine they needed.

"That's why you put the ritual in the book?"

- It was supposed to only appear near those who had the qualifications to help. I can only assume that Chloe switched your copy with hers. And although one did need to give up their life to cross over, there was nothing about "powering" the spell with the souls of innocent bystanders.

"That was just her selfishness." I shook my head. "Now what did you mean by saying that I could still save this world?"

- I mean, you have a choice. The voice paused, and two orbs showed in front of me. I looked at the first orb, it showed me in a hospital bed on a ventilator.

- You never fully died in your original world.

"Does that mean Chloe...?"

- No, she was standing right by the source of the explosion. She's gone for good. You're different. With my power I can return you to your old life. You'll have to recover, of course, but you can eventually live a normal life, forget this ever happened.

I stared at the picture of myself. feeling a faint sense of longing. Electricity, modern food. Toilets. Not worrying about someone killing me every five minutes...

"What's my second choice?"

- You can return to his side. Live in Armaria. Stay by Lucien, keep him from destroying the world.

"Aren't I dead there?"

- I can fix that... But if I do, your body in the old world will die. I'll use the energy left there to bring you back in my world.

I stared at the two orbs.

A normal life... It had been everything I had ever wanted. I had always hoped for a day when I could be allowed to return to my old home. And here it was, given to me on a silver platter.

But I couldn't shake my thoughts of the second world. Of my cabin in the woods. Blade. The group of nameless servants who were so excited to talk about being background characters. Could I really be okay never seeing them again?

And what about Luke? Could I really leave him behind? I thought of the name that he had given me.

Amia.

Beloved.

I liked it.

It was never a question, was it? I turned towards the second orb with a smile. "I want to go home. To Armaria."

- Are you sure? You can't change your mind once you decide.

I stared at Luke's face through the orb. "I'm sure."

- Great! Then prepare yourself for some deus ex machina!

With a great flash of light, the empty world around me disappeared.

___________________________

"LUKE!" Luke glanced up as Blade pushed herself through the crowd, kneeling at his side.

"Blade? How did you know...?" Blinking rapidly, he shook his head. "You're too late... she's..."

"SHE'S NOT DEAD YOU IDIOT!" Smacking the back of his head, Blade reached out and positioned herself over to look at the wound. "The dagger missed her heart it looks like. But she's been poisoned."

"But I checked her pulse..."

"There are poisons that slow the pulse to an almost undetectable level. It's been less than a minute since she stopped breathing. We can save her. " She turned around. "Slash! I need an antidote!"

The scorpion leader stepped forward. "Why should I?"

"She holds your Tarif. Plus, I'll beat you until you agree."

"Fine!" Slash shuddered, handing over a vial. "Violent woman."

Blade forced the potion into her mouth removing the knife in her back and covering the holes with a special dressing to prevent air leakage.

"It's amazing that this knife managed to miss the critical structures."

Luke smiled, looking up at the ceiling. "Our Amia must have someone looking out for her."

___________________________

"Come on, you're so slow!" Grabbing my bow, I left the cabin, walking out towards the woods.

"Why are you in such a hurry, Amia?" Luke followed me out, smiling quietly as he packed away his own weapons.

"If we don't go early, all the good game will be hiding. This is our first vacation in forever and I want to enjoy it!" Grabbing his hand, I pulled him along. "Move faster!"

"As my Queen commands!" He chuckled, speeding up his pace.

"I'm still not used to that."

"The title? We've been married for six months now."

"I grew up in the suburbs, okay? Cut me some slack!"

Luke grinned. "Would it be better or worse if I called you the Queen of the Desert?"

"Worse. Definitely worse." I sighed as I walked, wanting to hide my face in my hands. Blade and Slash had conquered the remaining Spider camp, handing their Tarif over to me. When I asked why, I had only received a thumbs up and a new title of Queen.

"Blade only wants the best for her adopted daughter. She won't just leave you the Serpent Camp when she can hand you the whole desert."

I sighed quietly. "I feel like my life has become the opposite of the nameless side character I was supposed to be."

"The Queen of the Desert? Queen of the Western City? Married to Lucien, the villain of 'Deadly Crown'? Not to mention the leader of your very own cult of the Nameless."

"Shouldn't I be disqualified from that last one, since I have a name now?"

"They're okay with it, since they've concluded you're a main character." He rolled his eyes. "Especially as Graham has joined and become their most ardent member."

"Ugh."

"Amia?" Luke's hand grasped my own, as he showed a rare, nervous expression. "Do you regret it?"

"Regret giving my old life up? Coming here instead?"

Luke nodded silently. In answer, I leaned forward, kissing him for a few long seconds.

"I could never regret it."

And I didn't. It was not the life I envisioned. Not one I would have originally chosen... at least based off of reading the books. And although I didn't live a normal life in my old world, or the life of a nameless side character in this world, I got something even better.

The life by the side of those I loved.