Lily stood once again in front of her mirror. It had become her sanctuary lately—a place of reflection in a world spinning far too fast. Her heart ached as the sounds of the ongoing feast outside grew fainter. Final formalities were being exchanged. Soon the guests would leave, only to return the next morning for her coronation… and her wedding.
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?A shaky breath escaped her lips as she lowered herself onto the vanity chair, staring at the girl reflected back. Her once carefully styled hair now hung messily around her shoulders. Her makeup, smeared from crying, made her nearly unrecognizable—even to herself.
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?She still couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that her own parents would marry her off to a man she barely knew. She wiped away her tears, but there was no regret. Not for speaking out. After her small outburst during the feast, her father had laughed it off, fabricating some lie about her being “nervous” and “just really excited.” She’d tried to protest again, but the look in his eyes had silenced her. She’d excused herself with as much grace as she could muster—and now, here she was.
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?Alone. Staring at a stranger in the mirror.
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?She missed Micheal. She missed Axel. She missed Angelica. Their names repeated over and over in her mind as her hands trembled. How had it gotten so bad? Who spread the rumors about Axel? Had he really deserved what happened to him?
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?The thoughts tangled and twisted until she could barely breathe. The only silver lining to tomorrow’s nightmare was the chance to see them again—Micheal, maybe even Angelica. Would they still see her as a friend, after everything? Or had she become just another faded memory?
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?“Ah... there you are.”
?Mark’s smooth voice snapped her out of her thoughts like a cold splash of water.
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?She hadn’t heard the door open. She turned sharply, her eyes wide, caught between fear and formality.
?“Your Highness... is there something you need?” she asked, standing and smoothing her dress, trying to fix her hair out of instinct.
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?He took a step closer, a confident smirk on his face.
?“Nothing in particular. Just wanted to spend a moment with my future wife... alone.”
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?Something about his tone made her skin crawl. She didn’t move at first, but when he stepped closer, she instinctively backed away.
?“I appreciate the eagerness,” she said carefully, “but I mentioned I needed some time—”
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?“Your father dismissed that,” he interrupted smoothly. “The wedding will proceed as planned.”
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?He stepped even closer. This time, she couldn’t hold her ground. A chill of unease ran through her as she stepped back, her heart starting to race.
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?“That doesn’t give you the right to enter my chambers uninvited,” she said, trying to inject steel into her voice.
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?But it only made his smirk deepen. He reached out and took her chin between his fingers, holding her still.
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?Her breath caught. Her heart thundered in her chest. She stared up at him, frozen in place as he leaned closer—
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?“Miss Lily?”
?Maria’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.
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?Mark’s hand dropped. His face tightened with irritation as Lily stepped away and rushed to her maid, relief flooding her chest.
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?Lily could barely believe the courage it must’ve taken Maria—sweet, timid Maria—to interrupt. But she saw the fear in the girl’s eyes, too. And the determination. A quiet, stubborn fire.
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?Mark’s voice was cold now, stripped of its earlier charm.
?“And since when are servants allowed to enter a room uninvited?”
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?“She’s not a mere servant,” Lily said before she could think. Her voice was low and sharp. “She’s my friend. And you’ll respect her as such.”
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?Mark looked genuinely taken aback. Maria, emboldened by Lily’s words, stood taller, her gaze steady.
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?“Your room is in the western wing,” she said calmly. “Shall I show you the way? Or are you capable of finding it yourself?”
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?Mark’s face twisted in barely contained rage. He clenched his fists but said nothing, brushing past them as he stormed out.
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?“I’ll find it,” he muttered.
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?The door closed.
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?Lily exhaled shakily, then turned to Maria.
?“Maria... thank you.”
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?The girl smiled softly. “You don’t need to thank me, Madame. I’m just doing my job.”
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?Lily nodded, her throat tight. She was still shaken—but somewhere in that storm of fear and uncertainty, there was hope. Hope that not everyone had abandoned her. Hope that there were still people in her life like Maria
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?And for now... that was enough to keep her standing.
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