5. var t = Trouble

Ines sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the blurred outlines of the mark on her chest.

The meeting with Ian had left her with a strange sensation, a mix of relief and unease.

They had reached an agreement, a temporary truce between two people who wanted nothing to do with that marriage.

And yet, the sense of instability never left her.

She still felt as though she were teetering on the edge of a cliff, staring into the unknown without knowing when—or if—she would fall.

Beneath her fingers, the mark pulsed faintly, warm, as if it had its own heartbeat.

Since waking up in that world, its shape had grown clearer, more defined.

Every time she touched it, a faint hum spread through her mind, a distant whisper she couldn't decipher.

It wasn't just a magic she didn't understand.

It was a magic no one could ever understand.

And that terrified her.

What am I supposed to do with this power?

Her mind wandered as she stared out at the imperial gardens through the window.

The setting sun cast long shadows over the perfectly trimmed hedges, but not even the beauty of the scene could distract her from the questions swirling in her mind.

Her thoughts returned to Ian.

He was exasperating, with that cocky attitude and a confidence that seemed unshakable.

And yet, beneath that sly smile, Ines had seen something else.

His gaze was sharp, watchful, always moving—as if he were calculating every possible outcome even while joking.

He wasn't at all the prince she had imagined.

And maybe that was exactly why he unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.

A knock at the door made her flinch.

"Come in."

The door opened and her mother entered, her face kind but marked by fatigue.

"You've been quiet since the meeting,"

she observed gently.

"What do you think of him?"

Ines hesitated.

Her words came slowly, carefully.

"He's… different. Not what I expected. He's clever, but it's hard to tell what's real and what's just a mask."

She paused, then added:

"He doesn't seem dangerous, though."

Her mother gave her a faint smile.

"That's something. Ian Estalto is known for his wit and charm, but also for the fact that no one ever really knows what he's thinking. Be careful, Ines. The court will be watching you closely, and the emperor…"

She hesitated a moment before continuing.

"He's not the kind to leave loose ends."

Ines nodded slowly.

Those words only confirmed what she had already suspected.

She lowered her gaze to the mark, which seemed to respond to her emotions, pulsing harder.

"Mother…"

she began, uncertain.

"Do you think I'll ever understand this magic? It doesn't feel like something that belongs to this world… or to me."

Her mother's expression softened.

She approached and gently caressed her face.

"Magic is part of you, my love, even if it feels foreign now. Your father and I will do everything we can to help you, but you also need to trust yourself. You've always been brilliant—more than anyone I know. You'll find a way."

Ines wanted to believe her.

But the weight of uncertainty pressed against her chest.

"Do you think the emperor's mage will really help me?"

she asked quietly.

Her mother hesitated, her expression unreadable.

"I hope so."

Then her face grew a little more serious.

"But don't reveal more than you have to. Not until we understand exactly what's happening. A magic like yours will draw attention—dangerous attention."

Her words lingered in the air long after she had left.

Left alone, Ines let herself fall back, her gaze fixed on the decorated ceiling.

Ian's face came to mind again.

That ironic smile, those ever-watchful eyes.

They had made a pact, but it was a fragile one, ready to break under the weight of the court—or the secrets he himself was hiding.

She didn't trust him.

Not completely.

But she couldn't deny that, in the midst of that hostile world, he might be her only ally.

Fine, she thought, clenching her fists.

If this is the world I'm trapped in, then I'll understand it on my own terms.

I've rewritten realities for years—I'll rewrite this one too.

The mark on her chest pulsed again, the hum in her mind growing louder.

It wasn't fear she felt anymore.

It was determination.

Whatever the nature of this magic, whatever fate this world had in store for her, she would find her own way.

And if the court, the emperor, or even Ian tried to use her…

Well, she had no problem rewriting a few rules.

For now, she would play their game.

She would listen, learn, gather secrets.

She would wait for the right moment.

Because one thing was certain:

Ines Belladonna was done being someone else's pawn.

---

Ines was in her room, lost in thought.

She had spent the last hour flipping through an old grimoire, hoping to find something that could explain her magic, but to no avail.

All she had found were vague and unconvincing theories.

"Rewriting reality as if it were code…"

She murmured to herself, staring at the mark on her chest.

She had seen it shift slightly over the last few hours.

Was it just her imagination, or was it… growing? Evolving?

It was turning into something more.

And that terrified her.

Anyone would have wanted a power like that.

But her?

She didn't want the burden.

Someone knocked at the door, interrupting her thoughts.

"Come in."

The door opened slowly, revealing Elìen with a worried expression.

"Sister, Father wants to see you in his study. He says it's urgent."

Ines closed the book and stood with a sigh.

"Alright, I'm going."

Elìen watched her for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded and left the room.

With a heavy heart, Ines made her way to her father's study.

---

"Father?"

Ines entered the study, finding her father standing by the desk, an open letter in his hands.

The look on his face didn't bode well.

"Sit down, Ines."

She obeyed, trying to keep a calm demeanor.

"What's going on?"

Her father put the letter down and looked at her with a serious gaze.

"I received a message from the emperor."

Ines held her breath.

"Is it about the marriage?"

"Yes, but not only that. It seems they want to speed things up."

"Speed up?"

Ines's heart skipped a beat.

"Why?"

Her father shook his head.

"I don't know, but the letter is clear: the ceremony will be held in three days."

Three days.

Not weeks, not months.

Three. Damn. Days.

Ines felt the blood freeze in her veins.

"Father, this makes no sense. Why the rush?"

"I don't know, but I fear the emperor wants to observe you closely."

Ines ran a hand through her hair, trying to ignore the feeling of a trap closing in around her.

"And Ian?"

Her father pressed his lips together.

"I don't know what his role in all this is, but… be careful, Ines. Don't trust anyone in that court. Not even the prince."

Not even the prince.

Her father's words echoed in her mind.

And yet, something told her that Ian Estalto might be the only one who could help her survive.