CHAPTER 91: THREADS OF FATE TWIST

"Princess Evelisse, please!" the female guard hissed, pulling her back from the window with surprising gentleness. "Stay away from the glass. It could be dangerous."

Evelisse spun toward her, small fists clenched at her chest. Her voice wavered, but she forced it out anyway. "I saw something. I am not mistaken. Someone was there. Something."

The guard knelt, eyes softening as though she were speaking to a child—though Evelisse hated when they looked at her like that. "Your Highness, you’ve been through much. Shadows play tricks after such ordeals. You are safe here. I will not let anyone harm you."

But Evelisse shook her head fiercely, braid swishing against her shoulder. "No. I truly saw it! The same faceless shadow from before. It is not a trick. I feel... I feel something is wrong."

The guard’s lips pressed into a thin line. She looked as though she wanted to argue, but before she could, a sharp, piercing sound rang through the night—the wailing blare of the castle’s distress horn.

Both froze.

The alarm’s echo rolled through stone corridors like thunder, making Evelisse’s stomach knot. Guards outside her chamber shouted orders, their boots hammering against the floors as they rushed toward the disturbance.

The female guard stood quickly, one hand on her sword. "Stay here, Princess. Do not move from this room. I will secure the door."

Evelisse nodded stiffly, though fear burned inside her. She watched as the woman barred the window shutters, then strode to the door where soldiers barked reports back and forth. In the confusion, no one noticed the princess retreating to her bed.

She sank onto the mattress, clutching her knees to her chest.

Her mind replayed the ordeal she went through.

The older version of herself, splintering apart like glass. The whispered warnings that had lodged into Evelisse’s heart like thorns. Marcus—the first to bleed. The betrayal. The garden. The feast.

Her tiny hands trembled against her skirt.

’Is this when it begins? Is this what she meant? If brother Marcus is in the garden now...’

The thought nearly made her cry out. She bit her lip hard instead.

Fluffy hovered by the canopy, glowing faintly, silent. It had been there all along, watching her with those calm, ocean-blue eyes. She had ignored it for days, giving Fluffy the cold shoulder for failing her when the messenger attacked. But now... now she remembered the last words of her older self to Fluffy.

’Don’t leave her side again.’

Her throat tightened.

’Was that why she was angry with him? Did I push it away too, and so when it mattered, it was not by my side? Is this why brother Marcus...?’

Tears pricked at her eyes. She dashed them away with the back of her hand.

’No. Not again. I can change it. I can!’

Closing her eyes, she clenched her fists and reached inward—not to the window, not to the guards, but to the bond she had once shared with Fluffy.

’Fluffy... please. I know I have been ignoring you. I was angry. But I need you now. I do not want brother Marcus to bleed. I do not want Caelith to suffer again. I do not want to fail.’

The silence stretched. Her heart hammered, fearing he would not answer.

Then she felt it—a tiny, familiar brush against her cheek. A soft hum, like a lullaby heard through water.

Her eyes snapped open.

Fluffy hovered inches from her face, eyes luminous, wings faintly shimmering. It did not speak, but Evelisse heard anyway.

"You called."

Her lip quivered. She nodded quickly. "Yes. I was foolish. I thought I could manage without you. But I cannot. Please, help me protect Marcus. Help me stop this."

Fluffy studied her for a long moment. Then, at last, he gave the smallest of nods. "Then we begin again. But listen carefully this time. No more silent treatment. Your fate is not just yours—it binds others too."

Evelisse pressed her small hands to her chest, whispering, "Then guide me. I will listen."

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

In the Queen’s chamber, chaos had reached them.

A captain of the guard knelt, panting. "Your Majesty—the wards flickered. An intruder crossed the outer boundary near the royal gardens. They vanished when our forces approached."

Lucien’s voice cut sharp. "The gardens. Marcus is there."

Seraphina’s blood turned cold. "Send men to bring him inside at once. Alive. Do not leave him unattended for a breath. Even if we are on a lockdown, he needs to be careful even within the comfort of our castle."

The captain saluted and hurried out.

Lucien’s jaw tightened as he turned back to his mother. "It has begun, exactly as you feared. We can no longer keep this from Father. Or from Elaris."

But Seraphina’s hand snapped out, gripping his wrist. Her emerald eyes burned. "Not yet. Do you want war, Lucien? Do you want Caelith’s kingdom to believe we lured their heir here to slaughter him under our roof?"

Lucien gritted his teeth. "And what if Marcus falls before our silence breaks? Will you bury a son because of diplomacy?"

The queen flinched—but she did not let go. "We will act. But we act quietly. If Marcus is in danger, we will shield him ourselves. I will not let Aldric’s fury destroy everything our bloodline preserved."

Lucien stared at her, his chest heaving, then wrenched his wrist free. "Then pray your secrecy does not cost us more than war would, mother."

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Back in her chamber, Evelisse sat cross-legged, staring at Fluffy.

’What do we do?’ she whispered.

Fluffy’s glow pulsed softly. "You listen. You remember. The older you told you truths hidden between words. The betrayal. The garden. The feast. These are not riddles—they are warnings. Tonight was only the first tremor."

Evelisse’s throat ached. "But brother Marcus... she said he was first. I cannot let that happen."

Fluffy’s eyes softened. "Threads of fate twist, but even they can be cut and rewoven. The danger is real—but so is your chance to act. The question is whether you will be brave enough when the time comes."

Evelisse straightened her small shoulders, her chin trembling but firm. ’I will be. I must be.’

The castle alarm finally dulled, though shouts still echoed faintly. Evelisse curled beneath her covers, but her eyes remained wide open, staring into the dark.

She thought to herself, over and over, until sleep finally claimed her.

’I will not let Marcus bleed first.’