The sun hit Evelyn's face, spilling through the open window. She fluttered her eyes open, blinking against the morning light. As always, Jade was there, tapping her shoes impatiently and staring at her.
"Good morning, Princess. How was your night? I hope you're happily unmarried," Jade teased, smirking.
"Don't scold her, sis. Maybe she has her reasons," Jane chimed in.
"There's no reason at all. She just doesn't want to get married," Jade replied with a grin.
Evelyn rolled her eyes and raised her hand. "Leave all of you… except you two, my dearest friends." Her tone was calm, but sharp. All the other staff quickly exited the room, flustered. This was the first time Evelyn had ever spoken to them like that.
She rose from her bed and stood before the mirror, arms crossed, lips curved in a sardonic smile.
"I can't believe my best friends in the whole world could lie to me… keep secrets from me," she said, her voice disturbingly calm.
"No, Evie, we would never do that to you," Jane protested, shaking her head.
"We would never keep secrets from you," Jade added, worried.
Evelyn's gaze hardened, and she faced them directly. "Then… Jade, Jane… what happened twenty years ago, when I was born?"
Jane hesitated. "As we've all heard, your father went to war to save us… and he came back victorious," she replied shakily.
Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "There's one part you're leaving out. Or wait… let me help." She crossed her arms, voice sharp. "The Heavenly Lord imprisoned the Demon King… on a condition."
"What condition?" the twins asked in unison, faces pale with shock.
"Talk to me… tell me… what condition was it that made him haunt my dreams for all these years?" Evelyn demanded.
Jane and Jade exchanged guilty looks. "We… we can't tell you. Only your parents have the right. Only they can."
Evelyn scoffed, frustration flaring. "Fine." She turned and walked into the bathroom.
The bath was warm, calming, but her mind replayed every detail of the night before—the feel of Michael's body in the water, the tension, the heat, the intoxicating allure of his silver eyes. Every memory made her pulse race and her skin tingle.
Today, she decided, she would get all the answers.
After her bath, she went downstairs to the dining room. Her father, King Dave, looked up, scowling.
"My disappointing daughter has finally decided to show up. You've got some explaining to do, young lady," he barked.
Evelyn calmly took her seat at the table, on his left. Her mother, Queen Victoria, sat opposite her.
"Unfortunately," Evelyn said evenly, "the only person I need an explanation from is you… and you, Mum."
"You still have the nerve to speak back?" King Dave thundered.
"I do," she replied without hesitation. "I want to explain my side."
"Shhh—" Queen Victoria began, but Evelyn cut her off.
"Twenty years ago, the Heavenly Lord saved you from death… on one condition," Evelyn said, her voice steady and unwavering.
The room went silent. Every face drained of color as her words hung in the air.
"I don't… I don't understand what you're talking about," King Dave muttered, voice tight with unease.
"Darling, just eat. We'll find another suitor—" Queen Victoria started, but Evelyn snapped.
"Oh, Mum, spare me the lies. For once… no, for the hundredth time—don't lie to me!"
King Dave leaned back, expression dark. "Okay then, Angel. If you truly want to know… his price was your betrothal to the most wicked, ruthless, heartless Demon. The Heavenly Lord didn't ask my approval. He just… betrothed you to my greatest enemy."
Evelyn's eyes widened, disbelief and fury mixing in her chest.
"I don't know how you heard this information," Queen Victoria said softly, a trace of worry in her voice, "but I hope you haven't done anything… reckless."
Evelyn clenched her fists under the table, the weight of the revelation pressing down on her. Every dream, every whisper in her subconscious, every haunting silver-eyed stare suddenly made sense. And now… the game had only just begun.