chapter 10: The Lady Grace

The estate felt even more suffocating now that the crown prince was here. Security had been tightened. I could no longer sneak out or wander freely like before. William was no longer my knight, and two new maids followed my every move. Sky, somehow, had evaded capture.

But I wasn't alone anymore. Someone else from my world was here—someone who seemed to know exactly what was happening. Why didn't she want the crown prince to marry Grace? Could I trust her? I remembered the last thing I saw before waking up as Iris: her eyes watching me drown.

Then there was the issue of Lady Grace Sammius. How was I supposed to live under the same roof as the woman Iris allegedly tried to murder?

Each day, she sent me flowers with scripture tucked inside. A strange, unsettling ritual.

> "The meek shall inherit the great lands that Lord Galali promised."

I read the note aloud, plucking a spider lily from the basket. I forced a smile. What was this—penance or provocation?

"Lady Grace has invited you to lunch," Rosa, one of my new maids, announced gently.

I had declined every invitation so far. Grace made my skin crawl. Her eyes always carried a hint of something sharp behind the softness, a flicker of hate beneath the saintly smile. And William—he was hers now. She had even made him her knight.

"I'm not hungry," I murmured, setting down the scripture. The religion in this world fascinated me, though I remained untouched by it.

"My lady, a letter came for you," Lilliana added carefully, "but... Lady Grace took it."

My blood simmered.

"She what?"

Lilliana hesitated. I stood.

"I'll join her for lunch," I said, pulling my robe tighter.

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The garden was lined with guards and servants—an entourage fit for a queen-to-be. I made my way to the gazebo where Grace was already seated, chatting sweetly with William. I rolled my eyes before dipping into a curtsy and sitting.

"I didn't give you permission to sit," Grace said, her mask slipping.

"My apologies. I twisted my ankle and pain is not something I relish," I said coolly.

She smiled, composed again. William didn't look at me. That hurt more than I expected. Foolishly, a part of me still believed he cared.

"I hear you've taken to reading the scriptures," Grace began.

"Do you have people watching me, Lady Grace?" I asked as I picked up a slice of meat. It was dry, saltless—barely edible. I grimaced and spat it into a napkin.

"Everyone is watched. We must stay vigilant," she said, biting into her meal as if it were a delicacy. "The meat isn't to your liking?"

"We seem to have different palates."

"In Galali's eyes, we are all equal. What the servants eat, we eat," she replied with serene piety.

"You'd eat garbage to prove a point?" I asked, my voice laced with mockery.

Her jaw stiffened mid-chew. Just for a moment. Then she smiled again.

"We are a family here," she said softly.

"Is that why you took my letter?" I asked, leaning in.

"I only meant to have Sir William examine it for safety," she said.

I turned my gaze to him—he stood at the entrance of the gazebo, silent and unreadable.

"So the scriptures condone invasion of privacy too?"

"That's blasphemy, Lady Iris," she snapped, louder than she intended. The nearby servants turned toward us.

"You know I'm not a religious person. I was raised by atheists," I replied. "But it does make me wonder how I came to poison you."

She shot to her feet, cheeks flushing crimson. I followed, rising slowly.

"Did the pope's daughter lie?" I asked, my voice dropping with venom. I saw the tears well in her eyes. Real or performative—I couldn't tell.

William stepped forward and handed her a handkerchief. How gallant.

"Thank you for the lovely meal," I said with a shallow bow. "Please have the letter delivered to my room."

"Galali has already forgiven you," she whispered, wiping away invisible tears. "But it seems you still carry the guilt."

"I hope he forgives the both of you too," I said, my voice cutting as I turned away.