Shattered Crown

Unwelcome Farewells

Lira rushed to her room, her heart pounding. The laughter and chatter from the dining hall faded into a dull hum behind her as she closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath. The encounter with Lionel had unsettled her, and she desperately needed a moment to collect herself.

With shaky hands, she ran her fingers through her hair, trying to calm the turmoil inside her. Why was Lionel so interested in her? Did he know about her past? About her hidden powers? The questions swirled in her mind like a tempest.

But just as she began to relax, a soft knock on her door startled her. Lira's heart raced again. She didn't want to see anyone—especially not Lionel. She held her breath, hoping he would go away.

The knock came again, this time a little louder. "Lira, it's me. Can you open up?"

Lira recognized the voice immediately. It was Lionel. Why was he here? She hesitated but then reluctantly opened the door, bracing herself for whatever he had to say.

Lionel stood there, leaning casually against the door frame, a faint smile playing on his lips. He looked effortlessly charming in his noble attire, and for a moment, Lira felt her resolve weaken. But she quickly pushed those thoughts aside.

"Hello, Lira," he said, his tone light, though there was an undercurrent of seriousness in his gaze. "I just wanted to say goodbye before I leave. My mother and I are heading back to our estate shortly."

Lira felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "Goodbye," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't want to encourage him, didn't want to feel anything but relief at his departure.

But Lionel stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers, an intensity in his gaze that made her heart race for all the wrong reasons. "Are you really just going to let me leave without a proper farewell? I thought we were friends."

"Friends?" Lira scoffed, crossing her arms defensively. "You barely know me, Lionel."

"Perhaps that's something we could change," he replied smoothly, taking another step forward. "I'd like to get to know you better. I see something in you, Lira—something intriguing."

Lira narrowed her eyes. "Intriguing? Or a threat?"

Lionel's smile faltered for a moment, but then he laughed, the sound rich and warm. "I assure you, I'm no threat. In fact, I might be the best ally you could have in this world of politics and power."

"Why would you care about someone like me?" Lira shot back, her voice laced with bitterness. "I'm not important in your world."

Lionel leaned against the door frame, his expression turning serious. "That's where you're wrong. You don't know your own worth yet. You're not just a servant's daughter. There's more to you than meets the eye. I've seen it."

Lira shook her head, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on her. "I don't have powers. I'm nothing special."

"Do you really believe that?" he asked, stepping even closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Everyone has a part to play, Lira. You just have to discover yours. And I want to help you with that."

Before Lira could respond, a voice interrupted them. Anya appeared in the hallway, her expression one of annoyance. "Lira, Mother wants you in the sitting room. And you," she said, pointing a finger at Lionel, "shouldn't be bothering her. She has chores to finish."

Lionel straightened, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "I was just saying goodbye, Anya."

Anya huffed, clearly unimpressed. "Goodbye? You mean to say that you're leaving without even acknowledging your own family? What kind of son does that?"

Lira could see Lionel's jaw tighten as he held back his irritation. "I've said my goodbyes to my mother. This was a personal matter, Anya."

"Personal?" Anya shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Right. Personal as in you want to toy with my sister's emotions?"

"Enough, Anya," Lira said sharply, surprising even herself. "I can speak for myself."

Lionel smirked, a glimmer of respect in his eyes. "See? She can hold her own." He turned back to Lira, his gaze intense once more. "Think about what I said. I'll be waiting to hear from you."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode down the hall, leaving Lira standing in her doorway, her mind racing.

Anya scoffed, crossing her arms. "Don't get your hopes up, Lira. He's just playing games. You're not in his league."

Lira closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her breathing. "What does it matter to you, Anya? It's not like I care about him."

"Good," Anya said with a huff. "Because he'll never see you as anything but a servant."

As Anya walked away, Lira felt a mix of anger and confusion. She didn't want to care about Lionel or his interest in her. But there was a part of her that couldn't help but feel drawn to his words, to the idea that she might be more than what everyone believed her to be.

With her mind in turmoil, Lira turned away from the door, knowing she had to fulfill her mother's demands. She couldn't afford to get distracted, not now, not when the expectations were so high. But deep down, she felt the stirrings of something new—something that might change her life forever.

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