"Why, Ella?"
The sense of betrayal hit harder than it should have. It wasn't me she tried to kill. But logic did nothing to soften it.
"I-I couldn't take it anymore," she sobbed. "You'd lash out, the other servants blamed me for your outbursts, and I was alone. I only took this job so my family could use the money—for my siblings—"
She collapsed to her knees, crawling toward me. "P-please, Your Highness. Punish me if you must, but don't hurt them. My family didn't know."
"You begged me to spare you once before," I said quietly. "Told me you didn't want to die."
"I don't want to," she choked out. "But I deserve it. And if they find out I didn't finish the job—my family might—"
"Why did you save me, then?" I asked. "You threw yourself in front of a blade. I don't know that I'd be alive without that."
"If I d-didn't die," she whispered, "they would've executed my family for treason. I was always supposed to die with you."
"But you wanted to live."
She broke. The tears came harder, shoulders shaking.
"I did! I—I just couldn't do it anymore. I tried to poison you, and you... you were kind. You cared. You saved me. Why now? Why couldn't you have been like that before?!"
Darian had broken her. Tormented her. Beaten her. Isolated her. He pushed her so far that killing him felt like mercy.
And her dying after me? That wouldn't have saved her family. It would still have looked like treason. Not even Alric's influence could've hidden that. She wasn't thinking clearly by the end, she'd been pushed past the point of reason.
And I wasn't going to throw her away for this.
Maybe it was foolish. But she didn't confess to manipulate me. Or even to save herself. She just couldn't carry it anymore. And somehow, that made it feel… trustworthy.
And if I wasn't going to throw her away, then we needed to connect. Right now.
"I'm sorry, Ella."
I knelt in front of her, bowed my head.
She gasped, then let out a ragged sob. "W-why?! Why are you apologizing?! I tried to kill you!"
"Because I drove you to it. What kind of life must you have had, to believe that was your only choice?"
She stared at me, confused and angry. "You should know! After everything you did to me!"
"I don't," I said. "I don't remember any of it."
That made her go still.
I pressed on, steady and low. "Your tea—the one meant to kill me—it didn't leave me untouched. I barely remember anything from before. I know nothing of what you endured. But I am sorry." I couldn't reveal the entire truth, but I could do this much.
"You... you don't remember?" she cried. "That's—ridiculous!"
"You've noticed something was different. You must have. I'm sure everyone has."
"You were... less terrible," she whispered. "I thought maybe you were just biding your time. That you'd survive, and wait until no one could stop you."
"No," I said. "I've been trying to understand who I am. And one thing I've come to understand is that I've wronged you—deeply, in ways you never deserved. I don't know all of it, but I know enough to say I'm sorry."
"Th-that's..." she blinked, eyes darting. The fight drained from her all at once, leaving something brittle behind. "That's..."
She didn't know what to do with it. Didn't know how to believe it.
"It's okay if it takes time," I said gently. "But right now, I need you to tell me more."
Terror slammed back into her expression like a wave. "No! I do not dare! Please, just execute—"
"No. That won't work. Take a breath, Ella. Think. That wouldn't protect you—and it wouldn't protect your family. Why would I kill you after I publicly brought Mirelle to your bedside? After I fought to save your life?"
"Th-then maybe they won't bother with my family!" she burst out, grasping for anything. "If I'm dead, they won't have reason anymore!"
"No," I said, shaking my head. "That's not how this works. They'd kill them anyway. For the message. To show others what happens when you fail."
Her lip trembled. "B-but..."
I leaned in, quieter. "I wasn't going to say this. But I don't think they ever planned to let them live."
"No!" Her voice cracked. "They said… they promised… as long as we were dead, nothing would happen! They swore—" Her hands clawed at her scalp. "They swore...!"
It wasn't denial. It was panic, like I'd said aloud the thought she'd been trying to shove down and bury for days.
"But you know better," I said. "I can see it in your eyes."
"Then what?" she rasped. "I tried to escape your clutches and failed—and now I've dragged everyone I love into danger? Then what's left? That's more reason to be dead!"
She folded forward suddenly, her body curling like she could disappear into the floor. I moved fast, catching her before she could hurt herself, holding her still as she shook in my arms.
"Stop it!" I shouted. "I'm not going to let you die. I refuse."
She bucked once, twice—trying to get free.
"It's not over yet," I said.
She looked up, anger flickering through her tears—rage and hope clashing in her gaze.
"We can still save your family."
"But why?" she whispered. "Why would you do that? Just for information? You could torture it out of me. Or turn me in. Why—why this?"
"Because I'm not the Darian you remember," I said. "And after what I saw? I couldn't treat you like that. You confessed to trying to kill me, not out of fear but because I showed you kindness. Because that broke you worse than hate ever did. That's not something I could ignore. Not anymore."
Her body stopped fighting me. Slowly, I let her go and sat beside her.
"For now," I said, "let's work together. To save your family."
I extended my hand.
She stared at it.
Then, with trembling fingers, she took it.
"Okay, Your Highness."
After getting Ella sat back down at the table, I stepped outside to question the guards. They should've come in at such a disturbance, though I was glad they didn't.
When I asked, they explained they hadn't heard anything. Apparently, there's a passive spell woven into all palace chambers—your voice can't be heard unless you will it to be.
That seemed... foolish. But the guards said they could still sense the number of occupants inside, so maybe not.
I left it alone and returned inside. Ella sat at the table, tea in hand, small and silent.
I eased into the seat beside her, feeling the weight of it all settle in.
I'd hoped to toss my own assassination attempt to the bottom of the priority list. But the universe, as usual, had other plans. Maybe the two incidents weren't connected. But come on—back-to-back murder attempts? If they weren't related, I'd eat my shoes.
First step: Ella's family.
Helping them would be a logistical nightmare. I had no real influence, not on my own. Pulling this off meant cashing in even more favors. And for what? A maid who'd tried to kill me?
I shook the thought off like it burned.
What a monstrous thing to think.
"Tell me about your family." They are people. People in danger because of this mess I've inherited.
She startled at the attention, then lowered her eyes.
"Ah... I-I have my mother and two younger siblings. My father passed in an accident two years ago."
"I'm sorry," I said. "How old are the siblings?"
"They're nine. Twins."
"Do you stay in touch?"
"I-I write to them every week."
Good. That meant there was regular contact.
"Where do they live?"
She tensed. I adjusted my tone, gentler this time.
"I'm not threatening them. I need to know how close they are. How fast word would travel if something went wrong."
"Ah. Y-yes. The pay here was good enough that we found a place in the capital. I don't get to visit much, but they're only a few hours off."
That was close enough. If anything had happened to them, she would have heard by now. And they wouldn't want to risk her turning on them.
"They should be safe as long as you're alive," I explained. "But I need to know more. Who hired you?"
She clutched the teacup tighter, then exhaled.
"It was... the head maid. She approached me directly. She said that if I poisoned your tea and confirmed your death, she'd ensure my siblings got into the academy. That my mother would be taken care of. That they'd all be safe."
I kept my tone even. "And who was backing her? That's not the kind of promise she could make on her own."
"She showed me a letter," Ella whispered. "The recommendation. It bore the seal of Marquess Caerthaine."
"And what do you know of the Marquess?"
Ella blinked, confused. I didn't clarify. Let her see that I wasn't pretending.
"He controls the southern march of Auremath," she said slowly. "And he's the father of Princess Thalia's fiancé."
Lovely. Because Thalia wasn't complicated enough. I'd filed her under "politically ambitious but manageable." She was using me—fine. But this? Why? Wasn't I an integral piece to her next move?
"Are you sure the seal was genuine?"
"Very. Mana signatures are embedded in all noble seals. Even lesser nobles are trained to memorize them. Forging one is… incredibly difficult."
Not impossible. But if Ella was right, this wasn't a bluff. I filed the implication away. Maybe this wasn't Thalia's move. Maybe someone was moving against her.
My head throbbed.
"I understand. Your family should still be safe for now—but you've become the risk. Where are you staying?"
"The servants' quarters…"
"Not anymore. I'll have you moved next door. You'll stay in a guest room, under guard. Officially, it's because your heroism moved me to tears." I stood. "Let's go make that true."
Truthfully, I just needed a break. Maybe Bram could take over for a bit while I ran off to get punched in the ribs by Orien. At this point, cardio sounded like therapy.
Ella followed. We stepped into the hall—and froze.
Orien, Maera, and a full escort of guards stood waiting. Eleven in total. A ripple of panic surged through me.
Shit, did I—
They all dropped to one knee. Hands forward, palms out, heads bowed.
"We deeply apologize for our failings!" the group shouted in unison.
Orien continued, his voice carrying.
"It was my foolishness that led to your peril, Your Highness. I submit to whatever punishment you see fit."
I stared, caught somewhere between confusion and discomfort.
It hadn't even occurred to me to blame them. Everything I'd heard said the palace was untouchable. Darian had dismissed every guard assigned to him, and no one had cared because no one expected an attack.
But maybe I should have. Maybe I can turn this into an advantage.
"Your failings are severe, Lord Orien. A royal nearly died in the heart of the palace."
A low murmur ran through the knights. Orien stayed still, but Maera's hands twitched at her sides.
"I can think of no adequate punishment. So instead, I'll take what I can."
I stepped closer. I would have to prepare myself for whatever consequences would come from what I said next.
"Your life, Lord Orien, will be mine."
Maera flinched. "Your Highness, please—"
Orien raised a hand. She fell silent.
"I told you to accept whatever came," he said softly. "Besides, you've already been doing my job."
He drew his sword—not fast, not threatening. Reverent. He held it out, flat between both hands.
I took it.
Then Maera shouted again. "His Majesty will not overlook this. Consider what you're—"
Every knight looked ready to leap at me. I took a breath and let the Birthright ripple out.
"I am Prince Darian Serathorne, son of King Orren Serathorne, and fourth in line to the throne of Velmyra. My word is absolute."
I didn't know the proper knighting ritual. So I stole one from my world.
I touched the sword to each of Orien's shoulders. "Lord Orien Thalvane, from this day forth, you will serve me as my knight."
Gasps broke the silence. The weight of the Birthright held them still.
Orien bowed his head. "I, Orien Thalvane, accept the honorable role as Prince Darian Serathorne's knight."