Whatever means to survive

Chapter 12

What the actual fuck?!

Why is he here so soon?! He was only supposed to be discovered a in few months?!

I managed a strained smile, my mind racing for an excuse. "Eric... You remember our playful banter from before, don't you?" I said, forcing a light-hearted tone. "He always calls me that as a jest from the days we spent together," I explained, glancing at Father who seemed doubtful of my explanation.

Father's brow furrowed with curiosity. "And how exactly did you two meet?" he asked, his tone slightly suspicious. "I don't recall hearing about this."

Eric took a deep breath, his eyes still locked on mine. "We met in the capital, your grace. I was running an old shop near the central market, and she stumbled in one day, quite by accident."

Father's expression softened slightly, though his curiosity remained. "An old shop, you say? And what brought you to her shop, my dear?" he inquired, turning his attention to me.

"Books, Father," I replied quickly, grateful for the plausible story. "I was searching for a rare book, and Eric's shop had just what I needed."

Father nodded slowly, seemingly placated by the explanation. "Ah, I see. Well, it's good to know there's some history between you two," he remarked, though I could sense he was still somewhat skeptical.

Eric's eyes met mine again, this time with a hint of sadness. His gaze was filled with unspoken words and a longing that made my heart uneasy. "Indeed, just history..." he--somewhat--agreed, playing along with the pretense.

I couldn't breathe a sigh of relief. In fact, I felt like my throat was being clogged, knowing that for now, a dear ex of mine and the biggest contributor to my death would be sleeping under the same roof as me.

Heck, who knows, maybe we'll be sharing the same wall.

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Who knew dinner would feel like you're standing on a thread while the floor under is death's floor?

But I would first get killed by the stares of these men!

After the conversation with Eric, somehow they couldn't ruffle within their feathers how we were acquainted! They're so damn skeptical about us!

Though they were right, however, I can't just say the prince of the Verdius Empire was my ex! Especially since I'm well-known to be crazily fawning over Prince Alex!

As the dinner progressed, the tension in the air was palpable. I could feel the weight of everyone's suspicion pressing down on me, and Eric's presence only made it worse.

"So, Eric, what are your feelings about this new identity of yours?" Father inquired, his tone polite but laced with scrutiny.

Eric shifted in his seat, his eyes briefly meeting mine before he turned to address Father. "I've been nervous, Your Grace, this all feels so unreal and no word can express how I'm feeling right now," he replied carefully, choosing his words with evident caution. "I do hope to be a wonderful emperor with a fantastic empress someday," he then proceeded to fully lock eyes with me.

Give me a fucking break, please.

Father nodded, though his piercing gaze didn't waver. "Well, The Duchy of Crotious will be by your side, Your Highness," he replied, leaving the statement open-ended as if awaiting further explanation from Eric.

I could sense Eric's discomfort as he tried to navigate the conversation without revealing too much. "And what about you, Safforina?" he asked, turning to me. "How have you been since I last saw you?"

I forced a small smile, my nerves coiling tighter within me. "I've been keeping myself occupied with various tasks and responsibilities," I replied evasively, trying to steer the conversation away from myself.

The evening wore on, and the strained atmosphere seemed to weigh heavily on everyone present. Small talk and polite exchanges filled the air, but it was evident that underlying tensions remained unaddressed.

As the evening drew to a close, I couldn't shake the feeling of impending trouble. Eric's unexpected appearance had disrupted the delicate balance of my world, and I feared the consequences of his presence amid my carefully constructed facade.

I excused myself from the dinner table, feeling suffocated by the mounting pressure and the unspoken truths that lingered in the air. As I retreated to the solitude of my chambers, I couldn't help but wonder how long I could keep up with walking on eggshells, it's like every waking moment, death is around the corner.

Can't I just go home and have my sweet Lia back? Is that too much to ask?

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Hi! I really am sorry about this late update. School ended a while ago and I was enjoying the sweet taste of summer. I promise to update this story sooner:)