left alone
Once I get home, I almost have to do somersaults to avoid the questions.
Kiki’s eyes light up with curiosity when she sees me, Joaalk raises an eyebrow, and even Talia, usually so composed, gives me a knowing look, waiting for me to reveal some infos and asking why I'm home so soon. But somehow, by giving short and dry answers, I manage to slip past them and lock myself in my room.
I take off my hair clips and the dress I was wearing, annoyed even at the thought of having dressed up just for that. The fabric feels heavy, like it’s still carrying the weight of the night. I toss it onto the bed and glance out the window. The night is still young, the sky a deep, velvety black dotted with stars. I don't want to stay here right now.
I pull on a simple tunic and trousers, something comfortable and unremarkable, and slip out of the house.
Gia is in the hallway, her feline eyes widening in surprise as she sees me heading for the door.
“Miss Lilia?” she calls after me.
“Where are you going dressed up like that? You’re supposed to be out all night with the prince. What about the first rehearsals for the ball?”
I wave her off, my tone dismissive.
“Change of plans. Don’t wait up. Bye.”
She opens her mouth to protest, but I’m already out the door, the cool night air hitting my face like a welcome relief.
I make my way to Duarte house, my footsteps quick and purposeful. When I arrive, Jude opens the door, her expression shifting from surprise to amusement.
“What are you doing here, doll?” she asks, leaning against the doorframe.
“Shouldn’t you be on a promenade with a certain prince?”
“Let’s not talk about it”
I say, sighing as I brush past her into the house.
“No, no, let’s talk about it”
Taryn says, emerging from the kitchen with a basket of fruit in her hands. She’s clearly just returned from the market, her cheeks flushed and her hair slightly disheveled
“Now you have to tell us everything that happened.”
We go to their bedroom and I collapse onto the small couch situated at the corner of the room, running a hand through my hair. Jude and Taryn exchange a glance before sitting down on one of the beds across from me, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.
“Now talk” Taryn says
“Fine” I say, exhaling heavily
I tell them everything—the walk through the gardens, the labyrinth, the hill, the pendant. Jude listens intently, her arms crossed over her chest, while Taryn leans forward, her eyes wide with fascination. They interject occasionally, Jude with her usual dry commentary and Taryn with her endless questions, but for the most part, they let me talk.
When I get to the end, Taryn gasps.
“So you didn’t take the necklace?”
she asks, her voice tinged with disbelief.
“No” I say, crossing my arms.
“I left it with one of his servants.”
“You’re really stupid…”
Taryn mutters, sighing and getting up from the bed. She paces the room, her frustration palpable.
“Taryn!”
Jude calls after her, but Taryn ignores her, turning to face me with her hands on her hips.
“Why didn’t you take it?”
Jude asks, her tone more measured but still making it clear she shares her sister’s thoughts.
“Didn’t you listen to what I said a moment ago?”I snap
“It was a gift meant for someone else.”
“You don't know that. And even if it was, so what?”
Taryn says, her voice rising.
“He still decided to give it to you.”
“Only because he no longer had his first alternative available” I retort, my tone sharp.
Taryn rolls her eyes dramatically
"So what? Does it really matter if you weren’t his first choice for a beautiful, elfcrafted, elegant and luxurious, royal necklace?"
I cross my arms, frustration bubbling in my chest. She is really upset that I didn't accept it, almost as if I had rejected her token.
"Yes, it matters, Taryn! It’s not just about the necklace, I don't really care about that. It’s about the fact that this whole courtship is built on something ridiculous. A joke, a mistake, a way to irritate his family—who even knows? But it’s not real. Why would I take it?"
Jude leans forward, studying me with sharp eyes.
"You sound pretty upset for someone who doesn’t care."
I scoff. "Oh, please."
"She has a point"
Taryn chimes in
"If you really didn’t care, you’d have taken that beautiful expensive necklace and moved on. But you’re here, sulking about it, instead of at the palace rehearsing with him."
I let out a sharp breath, pushing myself up from my seat.
"I am not sulking."
Jude and Taryn exchange a look that makes me want to throw something at them.
Taryn grins.
"Okay, fine. You’re brooding."
I glare at her.
"I came here for support, not to be attacked"
Jude shrugs, leaning back against the headboard of the bed.
"Support would be telling you to stop being an idiot and take the damn necklace."
I groan.
"I can’t believe this. You two are supposed to be on my side!"
"We are"
Taryn says, popping a grape into her mouth from the basket she ended up bringing upstairs
"Which is why we’re telling you that you're being stubborn for no reason. He gave you a necklace as a token, Lilia. Who cares if he bought it with someone else in mind? And also, who do you think the token was intended for?"
I shake my head, pacing the small space in front of the couch.
"Nicasia. And you don’t get it. It’s not about the gift itself, it's-”
Jude interrupts me “Did he tell you that?”
I turn to her “Tell me what?”
“That it was for her” her expression tense
I shake my head
“No. But try listening to me. It’s also about what it means, it's-"
"And what if it does mean something?" Taryn asks
I freeze.
She tilts her head.
"You said it yourself: he could’ve ended this courtship at any time. But he hasn’t. And now he’s giving you his token as the tradition says"
Jude hums in agreement.
"Sounds to me like he’s making an effort at least"
I turn to them, exasperated.
"And why would he do that?"
Jude smirks.
"That’s what we need to figure out."
I exhale, sitting back on the couch
“I don't understand”
Jude leans forward, her expression thoughtful.
“Maybe he is actually planning something like we suspect. But maybe… maybe there’s more to it than that.”
I stare at her, incredulous.
“Since when do you defend Cardan?”
“I’m not defending him” Jude says quickly.
“I’m just saying… you don’t know what his intentions are. And neither do we.”
“Exactly” I say, standing up and pacing the room.
“And that’s why you told me to be careful in the first place, didn't you? That is the problem. I don’t know what he wants, and I don’t trust him. So why should I play along?”
Jude's expression becomes serious.
“Because whether you like it or not, there is a courtship going on between you two. And by refusing his token and not showing up with him at the palace for the ball rehearsal you’ve openly shown contempt for Elfhame’s traditions. Being targeted by the royal family must be no small feat.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I turn to face her, my chest tight.
“I hadn’t actually thought it through” I admit, my voice quieter now.
“But I still believe I was right in my actions.”
“Right or not” Taryn interjects, her tone softer than Jude’s
“you’ve made a statement. And now you might have to deal with the consequences. Cardan could take this as an attack to his person.”
Could he? I mean, he could. He seems like a really petty one. But he didn't look mad when I left, he actually looked quite neutral, I could't see any emotion in his face.
I sink onto the couch, running a hand through my hair.
“What consequences? It’s not like I insulted the High King. I just… gave back Cardan's token. But I still gave him mine.”
Jude raises an eyebrow.
“You think the High King cares about the difference? You rejected a token from a prince. In Elfhame, that’s not just a snub, it’s a challenge.”
I groan, leaning my head back against the couch.
“Great. Just great. So now what are you suggesting? Am I supposed to apologize? Beg for forgiveness?”
“No” Jude says, her voice firm.
“But you might want to think about how you’re going to handle this moving forward. Because whether you like it or not, I'm sure Cardan isn’t going to let this go”
I don’t respond. Instead, I stare at the ceiling, my mind racing.
Jude’s right.I hadn’t thought about the bigger picture. I was so focused on not letting me look like a fool trapped in his game that I didn’t consider the fallout. And now, I’m stuck in a mess of my own making.
Taryn, sensing my distress, changes the subject.
“Speaking of messes and necklaces” she says, her tone light,
“did I tell you about Valerian?”
I glance at her, grateful for the distraction.
“What about him?”
“At the party yesterday” She says, her cheeks flushing slightly,
“he was the one who found my necklace and gave it back to me personally.”
Jude pitch raises.
“It was Valerian? The same Valerian who can’t go five minutes without insulting someone? Why didn't you tell me?”
Taryn nods, her expression a mix of confusion and amusement.
“I know, right? I was surprised too. I was looking everywhere for it and then I didn't even realize he was standing in front of me, he showed up with it in his hands.”
“How did he know it was yours?”
I ask, my curiosity piqued.
Taryn shrugs.
“I have no idea. I didn’t think he even knew I existed honestly, let alone what my necklace looked like.” she smiles
“Maybe he’s not as much of a jerk”
“Or maybe he was the one who took it in the first place and he’s just trying to mess with you” I say, my tone dry.
Taryn frowns, her expression thoughtful.
“Maybe. But he seemed… different. Nicer, almost.”
Jude and I exchange a glance.
“Nicer?” Jude repeats, her tone skeptical. “Valerian???”
“I know it sounds crazy” Taryn says, her cheeks flushing again.
“But he was actually polite. He even smiled.”
I lean forward, my interest fully captured now.
“What did he say exactly?”
Taryn hesitates, then says
“He just handed me the necklace and said, ‘Taryn, right? I believe this is yours.’ I thanked him, and he said 'see you'. And then he walked away.”
Jude snorts. “ 'See you'? No thanks”
“But why would he do that?” I ask, wondering
“Especially after the conversation that took place before that. That's actually strange.”
Taryn shrugs again, but there’s a flicker of something in her eyes.
“I don’t know. But it was… nice.”
Jude glares at her, as if she's sensing her thoughts
“Don’t get your hopes up, Taryn. Valerian’s still Valerian.”
“I know, I'm not a fool” Taryn says, her voice soft.
“But maybe, deep down, there's a sweet part in him”
“If by 'deep down' you mean that you have to go so so so down, all the way to the Earth's core to find it, then maybe it could even be possible.”
I lean back against the couch resting my head on the armrest and stretching my legs to the other one.
Jude laughs nodding.
Taryn absentmindedly twirls a strand of her hair around her finger, staring down at the wooden table. It's like she didn't hear me. Too bad, I think my take was quite funny.
"It was strange, you know?" she says.
"I just went back in because I realized I had lost my necklace, and then Valerian appears out of nowhere, handing it back to me like he knew exactly who it belonged to."
Jude crosses her arms, her expression darkening.
"He wouldn’t do anything out of kindness. None of them do."
Taryn sighs.
"But he didn’t ask for anything in return. He just—"
She pauses, her fingers brushing over the necklace she’s now wearing.
"It felt like he was waiting for my reaction or something."
I scoff. "Well, didn't you say you thanked him? What else could he have wanted to hear? "
Taryn gasps and snaps on the spot bringing a hand to cover her mouth.
"Now that I think about it, I was too surprised to say much. I think I just nodded to him... Gosh I just nodded"
Jude shakes her head.
"You should’ve asked him how he knew it was yours."
“I just nodded!” Taryn repeats in an exasperated tone
"I was too caught up in the moment! Oh my, I'm so embarassed"
I frown, thinking back to the party. I remember Valerian watching us from a distance, his usual smirk in place, but I had dismissed it as his usual arrogant presence.
"Do you think he took it on purpose? Just to see if you'd notice?" I suggest once again
Taryn chews on her lip, clearly having considered the same thing.
"Maybe. But if that were the case, why would he give it back so quickly?"
Jude leans forward.
"Because he wanted you to know that he had it."
Taryn swallows. "That’s… unsettling."
"Valerian is unsettling" Jude says flatly.
I exhale, rubbing my temples.
"First Cardan, now Valerian. What is up with them?"
Jude lets out a dry laugh.
"That’s all they know how to do, I guess. They're all the same."
Taryn stays quiet, still toying with the necklace around her neck. For a while, none of us speak, lost in our own thoughts.
It’s almost morning when I reach the doorstep. Time at the Duarte house always passes faster than it seems. Oriana had asked me to stay the night since I was already there, but I politely refused. Sending a servant to tell my parents that I would be staying the night without asking first, especially with all the mess I’ve apparently caused, didn’t seem like the right thing to do.
Once inside, I hear the same voice that accompanied me when I left.
“It’s almost morning, Miss Lilia”
Gia says from above the stairs, her tone a mix of concern and mild disapproval.
“I know”
I say, passing by her after climbing the stairs tiredly and heading toward the door of my room.
“Please don’t tell mom and dad.”
I add, opening the door and stepping inside.
The room is dimly lit, a few candles still flickering on the dresser, but the pale light of dawn is beginning to creep through the curtains. I kick off my shoes, leaving them in a messy pile on the floor, and quickly change into a white nightgown.
Turning, I notice something.
On my bed, neatly arranged, are two small boxes and a folded piece of paper.
I stare at them for a moment. Then I turn and call out the maid, who’s still lingering near the stairs.
“Gia, did anyone come when I wasn’t home?”
She turns, her expression thoughtful.
“Yes, a servant from Prince Balekin’s residence. He asked me to make sure to have some things delivered to your chambers.”
I’m taken aback. I would have expected any name except that. Prince Balekin?
“Did he tell you anything about what was inside?” I ask, my voice tight.
“No” Gia replies, shaking her head.
“He just gave them to me and then left.”
“Okay, thanks”
I say, my mind racing as I close the door and turn back to the bed.
I approach the boxes cautiously, as if they might bite. I recognize one of them.
The folded piece of paper sits on top, its edges crisp and neat. I pick it up first, my fingers trembling slightly as I unfold it.
“Since you would not take the gift from my hand, I leave it here instead, on the chance that, in the privacy of your chambers, you might find yourself feeling more generous.
If not, I imagine you’ll find an enough dramatic way to return it again. Just know that, by doing so, you risk disappointing me terribly. And I do so hate being disappointed.
Perhaps you will be more willing to accept something more to your taste. I’ve noticed you like to wear these.
Call it an observation, not a gesture.
C.”
I hold back a laugh, though it’s tinged with exasperation. He’s just as petty as I imagined—and yet, there’s something about the note that makes my chest tighten.
My fingers hesitate on the edge of the parchment, my eyes tracing the elegant curves of his handwriting. His script is fluid, effortless, almost lazy in its refinement, as if he barely needed to think before letting ink spill into something wickedly graceful. I shouldn't find something as simple as his handwriting attractive, and yet...
The way he writes, the way he phrases things… it’s infuriatingly charming. The handwriting is elegant, the letters looping and precise.
I set the note aside and open the first box. Inside, the necklace with the snake glimmers just as it did when I first saw it. The emerald eye catches the light, its gaze almost accusing.
Next, I open the second box.
Inside is a hair pin, made of the same dark metal as the necklace, with delicate pink and white gems set into an intricate pattern, its design matching the necklace perfectly.
It’s stunning, elegant, and exactly the kind of thing I would wear.
I pick up the pin carefully, turning it in my hands. The black metal is shaped like delicate intertwining vines, and in the center, a small silver snake coils, mirroring the design of the necklace.
The craftsmanship is impeccable, too much effort for something meant as a mere observation.
I glance at the letter again, rereading his words.
"Just know that, by doing so, you risk disappointing me terribly."
It’s exactly the kind of thing he would say, teasing and threatening all at once.
I glance over the necklace. If it had been just this, I wouldn’t have hesitated to send it back again, no matter how much I liked it. But the hairpin...
I don’t want to admit it, but that feels different.
Was it really just an observation?
Of all things. I try to picture Cardan selecting this, imagining him looking at it and deciding that this, was what he would give me.
It unnerves me.
Something so small, so personal, something that I would actually use? It means he noticed.
He has been paying attention.
To me.
The realization sends an uneasy shiver through me, and I don’t like what it implies. I don’t like the idea of Cardan watching me, remembering things about me, caring enough to send something like this. Because it feels... Intentional.
I sigh and place the clip on my bedside table. I won’t wear it.
But I won’t send it back, either.
I’ll deal with them later. Right now, I’m too tired to think, too tired to feel anything but the weight of the night pressing down on me.
I blow out the candles and collapse onto the bed, the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains.