The moon had already risen above Bexton when Princess Lilian made a decision she knew she might regret.
She stood alone in her chamber, staring through the window at the distant lights of Edward’s new royal residence.
For several minutes, she did not move.
The palace was quiet.
Most of the servants had retired.
Evelyn was probably asleep, dreaming about the wedding that everyone now expected to take place.
But Lilian could not sleep.
Her thoughts had become unbearable.
Since Edward’s return, she had tried to avoid him.
She had tried to convince herself that her feelings would disappear if she ignored them.
They had not.
Instead, they had grown stronger.
And that night, something inside her finally broke.
She wanted answers.
She wanted to know whether there was even the smallest possibility that Edward could love her.
She knew it was dangerous.
She knew Evelyn would be devastated if she discovered what Lilian was about to do.
Yet Lilian could not stop herself.
She summoned a trusted maid.
“Prepare a carriage.”
The maid looked surprised.
“At this hour, Princess?”
“Yes.”
“Where are we going?”
Lilian hesitated.
Then she answered quietly.
“To Prince Edward’s residence.”
The carriage moved silently through the moonlit streets.
Lilian sat alone inside.
Her heart beat rapidly.
Several times, she considered ordering the driver to turn back.
But each time, the same thought returned.
I need to see him.
She needed to hear him say that he loved Evelyn.
Perhaps hearing it directly would finally destroy the hope she had secretly carried.
Or perhaps there was another possibility.
A possibility she was afraid to admit.
What if Edward had feelings for her too?
What if his loyalty to Evelyn was only the result of his seven-year promise?
What if the royal law gave Lilian a chance?
She closed her eyes.
“No.”
She whispered.
She did not want to build her future on such thoughts.
But she continued toward his residence.
Edward was still awake when the carriage arrived.
He had been reading documents in his study when a servant entered.
“Your Highness, there is a visitor.”
“Who?”
The servant hesitated.
“Princess Lilian.”
Edward immediately looked up.
“Lilian?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Edward frowned.
It was unusual for Lilian to visit him at night.
“Bring her in.”
The servant bowed.
Moments later, the doors opened.
Lilian entered.
She wore a simple but elegant gown, without the heavy ornaments usually associated with a princess.
Edward stood.
“Princess Lilian.”
“Edward.”
He bowed respectfully.
“Is everything all right?”
Lilian looked at him.
“No.”
Edward’s expression changed.
“Has something happened to Evelyn?”
“No.”
“Then what is wrong?”
Lilian looked around the room.
“Can we speak privately?”
Edward hesitated.
He had never been alone with Lilian under circumstances like this.
Still, he gestured toward the sitting area.
“Of course.”
They sat opposite each other.
For several moments, Lilian said nothing.
Edward waited.
Finally, she spoke.
“You are going to marry Evelyn.”
It was not a question.
Edward smiled.
“Yes.”
Lilian looked down.
“You sound certain.”
“I am certain.”
“Even though the royal law could change everything?”
Edward’s expression became serious.
“I have already faced seven years of hardship because I love Evelyn.
I am not going to abandon her now.”
Lilian looked at him.
“What if I asked you to?”
Edward became still.
“Lilian…”
“I am serious.”
“So am I.”
She stood and walked toward the window.
“Do you know how long I have watched you?”
Edward remained silent.
“Do you know how many times I have heard your name spoken in this palace?”
She turned toward him.
“At first, I admired you.”
Edward listened carefully.
Her voice trembled.
“And somewhere along the way, Edward, I fell in love with you.”
Silence filled the room.
Edward slowly stood.
Lilian’s eyes were filled with tears.
“I have tried to fight it.”
She continued.
“I have tried to tell myself that you belong with Evelyn.”
Edward’s face was filled with sadness.
“But every time I see you with her, I feel as though something inside me is being torn apart.”
“Lilian…”
“Don’t interrupt me.”
She stepped closer.
“Please let me say everything.”
Edward nodded.
She took a breath.
“I know what you promised Evelyn.
I know what you sacrificed for her.
I know she loves you.”
She swallowed.
“But I love you too.”
Edward lowered his eyes.
Lilian moved closer.
“What if you chose me?”
Edward looked at her.
“What?”
“What if you chose me instead?”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
Lilian’s face fell.
“You haven’t even thought about it.”
“I don’t need to.”
She stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because my heart already made its decision seven years ago.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You don’t understand what I am offering you.”
“I understand perfectly.”
“I could give you everything.”
Edward shook his head.
“I don’t want everything.”
“What do you want?”
“You know.”
She looked away.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes.”
Lilian walked toward him again.
This time, she stood very close.
“Look at me.”
Edward did.
She raised her hand and gently touched his arm.
“You could have a different life.”
Edward stepped back.
“Lilian.”
She continued.
“Think about it.
You don’t have to struggle anymore.
You don’t have to wait for anything.”
“I am not waiting.”
“You could be my husband.”
Edward’s expression hardened.
“And betray Evelyn?”
Lilian’s voice broke.
“You could love me.”
“I cannot give you what you want.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
She moved closer again.
“Edward, please.”
Her voice became softer.
“You spent seven years proving yourself to the king.
You have earned the right to choose your happiness.”
“I have chosen it.”
She stared at him.
“You are choosing Evelyn.”
“Yes.”
“Even after everything I have told you?”
“Yes.”
Lilian’s tears finally fell.
She reached for his hand.
He gently withdrew it.
The gesture was not cruel.
It was firm.
“Lilian, I respect you.
You are Evelyn’s sister, and I will always treat you with respect.
But I cannot become your husband.”
She shook her head.
“Why?”
“Because I love Evelyn.”
“You could learn to love me.”
“No.”
The word was quiet but absolute.
“I will not pretend to love you.”
Lilian turned away.
She wiped her tears.
“I thought perhaps you would understand.”
“I understand.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I understand that you are hurting.”
She laughed bitterly.
“And you feel nothing?”
Edward paused.
“I feel sadness.”
“For me?”
“Love?”
“No.”
The answer broke her.
Lilian sat down.
For a long moment, she stared at the floor.
Then she whispered,
“She is lucky.”
Edward looked at her.
“Evelyn is lucky because she has your heart.”
Edward’s voice softened.
“And I am lucky because she gave me hers.”
Lilian closed her eyes.
“I wish I could hate her.”
“You don’t.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t.”
“Then don’t let jealousy destroy the bond between you.”
Lilian looked up.
“You make it sound easy.”
“I know it isn’t.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
Edward remained silent for a moment.
“Choose someone who can love you without you having to take them from someone else.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I don’t want someone else.”
“I know.”
“I want you.”
“I cannot be yours.”
She lowered her head.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
The room was quiet except for the sound of the night wind outside.
Then Lilian stood.
She looked at Edward one last time.
“I came here hoping you would choose me.”
Edward nodded.
“I know.”
“I thought perhaps if I told you how I felt, you would see me differently.”
“I do see you differently.”
She looked surprised.
“How?”
“As someone who is hurting.”
Lilian’s eyes filled again.
“You are kinder than you should be.”
Edward smiled sadly.
“And you are stronger than you think.”
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she stopped.
“Edward.”
“Yes?”
“If the law forces you to marry me…”
Edward’s expression changed.
“But my heart still belong to Evelyn.”
Lilian closed her eyes.
Those words were painful.
But they were also honest.
“You’ll have to serve the king for another seven years to have Evelyn if you refuse to marry me”
“I’ll be ready to do that a hundred times over to have Evelyn.”
Those words were too heavy for Lilian.
She never knew Edward ‘s love for Evelyn was so deep.
“I don’t think I have a chance here.” Lilian murmured to herself.
She opened the door.
“Good night, Edward.”
“Good night, Lilian.”
She stepped outside.
The door closed behind her.
As Lilian entered the carriage, she looked back at Edward’s residence.
She had gone there believing that perhaps she could change his heart.
Instead, she had discovered something even more painful.
Edward’s love for Evelyn was stronger than she had imagined.
Seven years had not weakened it.
They had strengthened it.
She sat silently as the carriage began moving.
For the first time, Lilian understood that she could not simply seduce Edward into loving her.
His heart was not something that could be conquered through temptation.
It belonged to Evelyn.
And yet, as the palace appeared in the distance, Lilian remembered the royal law.
The law still existed.
Evelyn could not marry before her.
And Edward’s return had placed the entire royal family before a decision that could change all their lives.
Lilian wiped her tears.
She had failed to win Edward’s heart.
But the ancient law had not yet spoken its final word.
Meanwhile, Edward remained in his study.
He stared at the closed door.
He felt no anger toward Lilian.
Only sadness.
He understood that she was struggling with feelings she had never intended to develop.
But there was one thing he knew with complete certainty.
He would not betray Evelyn.
He walked to the window.
The palace stood in the distance.
Somewhere inside those walls was the woman he had loved for seven years.
He remembered every letter.
Every promise.
Every dangerous assignment.
Every night he had imagined returning to her.
He had not survived seven years of sacrifice only to abandon her at the end.
He whispered her name.
“Evelyn.”
His heart was at peace.
But he also knew that Lilian’s visit had changed something.
A secret had now been spoken aloud.
And if Evelyn ever discovered what had happened that night, the consequences could be devastating.
Edward looked toward the palace.
He had returned home believing that the hardest part of his journey was over.
He was beginning to understand that it might only have been the beginning.