The devils eyes...

An hour had passed, and Arissa seized the opportunity to mingle with the nobles, eager to establish her place in this new world. She found herself engaging with various women, their eyes wide with curiosity as they spoke with her. Among them, two ladies from the Ariez clan caught her attention.

"I might be going crazy, but you look just like former Queen Miriam," one of them remarked, her tone filled with awe.

Arissa felt a mix of confusion and flattery at the compliment, smiling as she thanked her.

"Shush! Did you forget? The King doesn't take kindly to any mention of her!" the friend interjected, glancing around nervously.

"What do you mean?" Arissa asked, intrigued.

"Rumor has it that 14 or 15 years ago, Queen Miriam lost her mind and made their daughter go missing. That's when the King... well, he killed her. He's been searching for their daughter ever since. All her toys had 'A' carved into them, so it's believed her name started with an A," the two noblewomen explained, their voices hushed.

Arissa felt a chill run down her spine. She could hardly fathom a mother doing something so horrific, and her heart ached for the King, still grieving after all these years.

"What's your name?" the noblewomen asked.

"Arissa, Arissa Greenwich," she replied.

The two ladies exchanged glances, their whispers a flurry of speculation.

"Imagine if she really is the King's daughter! She has the looks of the former queen, and she seems so naïve and clever," one said, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Shush! We don't want to stir up trouble," her friend cautioned, but they all laughed, dismissing it as a mere coincidence.

As their conversation turned lighthearted again, they agreed to meet once more.

"I have to get home; my mother is waiting for me," Arissa said reluctantly.

"Awe, so soon? Let's exchange letters in the meantime!" they urged, bidding her a fond farewell.

As Arissa left the banquet, she spotted Michael and asked him to send her regards to Karson before heading into the hallway. She hoped to return home before Evie and their father did. The thought of facing them filled her with dread. Approaching a butler, she requested a carriage.

After a few minutes, she climbed in, relief flooding her as the carriage began to roll. Just then, she caught sight of Karson sprinting toward her, but it was too late; the carriage pulled away, taking her further from him.

As the carriage rumbled through the darkened city, anxiety gnawed at her. What awaited her at home?

When she finally reached her house, she hesitated on the steps, the quiet of the sleeping city amplifying her fears. She entered cautiously, the familiar darkness greeting her. But then, her heart dropped—the dim light of a single candle illuminated Evie, seated at the dining table, something glinting in her hands.

"Look who just arrived," Evie said, her voice smooth and taunting.

"What do you want?" Arissa replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Nothing much, just that I wish you didn't exist. It may not be possible outside, but here... well, let's see how that plays out," Evie said, a sinister smile creeping across her face.

"What. Are. You. Doing?" Arissa's voice trembled with panic.

"Just wait and see," Evie replied, her smile widening as she rose from her chair.

With a sudden, shocking motion, Evie took a small knife from the table and dragged it across her own face. Arissa gasped in horror, frozen in disbelief as her sister's blood trickled down.

Evie then thrust the knife into Arissa's hands, and her screams pierced the air, echoing through the house. "SHE TRIED TO HURT ME!" she wailed, collapsing into their father's arms as he rushed down the stairs, sleep still heavy in his eyes.

Arissa dropped the knife, heart racing, tears spilling down her cheeks. She fell to the ground, trembling, as Evie sobbed loudly in their father's embrace. Matthew's gaze turned to Arissa, his expression shifting to one of fury.

"Don't worry, dear. No need to finish; let me handle this," he said, his voice low and menacing.

Arissa's heart sank as she looked between her parents. Her mother's eyes were wide with fear, while her father's expression was cold, filled with a dangerous intensity.

In that moment, she understood—tonight would change everything.