For several seconds, Evelyn forgot how to breathe.
The music from the ballroom continued behind them.
Laughter.
Glasses clinking.
The distant sound of an orchestra.
Everything was normal.
That was what made it terrifying.
She looked at Adrian.
The Crown Prince was smiling.
Not the charming smile he had shown the nobles inside.
This one was different.
It was restrained.
Almost amused.
“You don’t have to answer immediately,” he said.
Evelyn’s fingers tightened around the railing.
“What did you just ask me?”
Adrian tilted his head.
“How many times have you lived this life?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I don’t.”
He studied her.
Then his smile disappeared.
“That’s disappointing.”
Evelyn stepped back.
“Who are you?”
The question escaped before she could stop it.
Adrian looked toward the city.
“That’s an interesting question.”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“Do I?”
“You said I don’t belong here.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because people who belong here don’t look at the world the way you do.”
Evelyn’s heart raced.
She thought about the letter.
You remember, don’t you?
Someone else knew.
Now the Crown Prince was saying almost the same thing.
Coincidence was becoming impossible.
“Did you send the letter?”
Adrian’s expression changed.
“What letter?”
Evelyn immediately knew she had made a mistake.
“Nothing.”
“You just asked whether I sent a letter.”
“I misunderstood.”
“No.”
His voice became quieter.
“You remembered something.”
Evelyn looked away.
Adrian didn’t press.
Instead, he said:
“How much do you remember?”
She remained silent.
“The village?”
Her heart stopped.
“The attack?”
Silence.
“Your father’s murder?”
Evelyn looked at him.
Adrian’s eyes were cold.
“Or perhaps you remember the war.”
He stepped closer.
“The northern army.”
“The burning cities.”
“Lucien’s execution.”
Evelyn’s face went pale.
Adrian stopped.
“And your death.”
She couldn’t speak.
The Crown Prince watched her carefully.
Then he said:
“Good.”
Evelyn stared at him.
“Good?”
“Now I know I wasn’t imagining it.”
“What?”
“That you remember.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“You’re insane.”
“Possibly.”
He smiled.
“But that doesn’t make me wrong.”
She wanted to leave.
She turned toward the door.
Adrian’s voice stopped her.
“Don’t trust Lucien.”
Evelyn looked back.
“Why?”
“Because he is still capable of becoming the man you remember.”
“And you aren’t?”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“I never said that.”
That answer unsettled her.
He wasn’t defending himself.
He wasn’t claiming to be the hero.
For the first time, Evelyn wondered whether the story had lied about everyone.
Adrian stepped back.
“Go back to your husband.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because he is watching us.”
Evelyn turned.
Through the ballroom windows, she could see Lucien.
He stood among the nobles.
His gaze was fixed on the balcony.
Their eyes met.
Evelyn suddenly felt guilty.
She didn’t know why.
Lucien excused himself from the conversation he had been having and walked toward them.
Adrian watched him approach.
“Remember something.”
“What?”
“Whatever happens next…”
His voice lowered.
“Do not let them convince you that there is only one ending.”
Lucien reached the balcony.
“What did you discuss?”
Evelyn looked at Adrian.
“Nothing important.”
Lucien’s eyes moved between them.
Adrian smiled.
“We were discussing the weather.”
Lucien’s expression suggested he did not believe him.
“The weather?”
“Yes.”
“On a clear night?”
Adrian shrugged.
“It can still be discussed.”
Lucien looked at Evelyn.
“Are you ready to leave?”
She nodded.
The carriage ride back was silent.
Evelyn sat opposite him.
She couldn’t stop thinking about Adrian’s words.
Do not let them convince you that there is only one ending.
Lucien eventually broke the silence.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s a lie.”
She looked at him.
“Why do you care?”
“Because you looked frightened when you came back.”
Evelyn swallowed.
“He asked me about the village.”
Lucien’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he mention your father’s murder?”
She looked at him sharply.
“How did you know?”
“I’ve been investigating the prince for years.”
“And?”
“He’s hiding something.”
“So are you.”
Lucien didn’t deny it.
The carriage continued through the city.
Evelyn looked out the window.
“Do you hate him?”
“No.”
“Do you fear him?”
Lucien thought.
“Yes.”
That answer surprised her.
“Why?”
“Because he is intelligent.”
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“That’s a strange thing to fear.”
“Intelligent people are dangerous when they believe they are right.”
She looked at him.
“Are you afraid of being wrong?”
Lucien’s gaze met hers.
“More than anything.”
The carriage stopped.
Evelyn stepped outside.
Before entering the residence, she looked at Lucien.
“Your Grace.”
“Yes?”
“If I told you something impossible…”
He waited.
“Would you believe me?”
“No.”
She nodded.
“Fair.”
Then he added:
“But I would listen.”
Evelyn looked at him.
That was enough.
For now.
She returned to her room.
The letter was gone.
She had burned it.
Yet there was something else on the table.
A book.
Her heart stopped.
She hadn’t left it there.
She approached slowly.
It was a copy of The Crown of Ashes.
Except it wasn’t the same copy she had found in the Valemont library.
This one had handwritten notes in the margins.
Evelyn opened the first page.
A sentence had been written there.
The first time, you trusted the Crown Prince.
She turned the page.
The second time, you trusted the Duke.
Another page.
Both times, you died.
Evelyn’s hands began to tremble.
She turned the final marked page.
One sentence.
This time, choose yourself.
The door behind her opened.
Evelyn spun around.
Lucien stood there.
His gaze fell on the book.
Then on her face.
“Where did you get that?”
“I don’t know.”
He walked toward her.
For the first time, genuine fear appeared in his eyes.
“Put it down.”
“Why?”
“Because I have seen that book before.”
Evelyn froze.
“Where?”
Lucien’s voice became almost a whisper.
“In my father’s room.”
And suddenly the mystery became much larger than she had imagined.