My anxiety was officially going through the roof. I just wanted some laser beam from space to come down and disintegrate me cause I can’t with all of this!

Between some witch causing my death to Faye Zhao talking to me. Like, she’s standing in front of me. Flesh, blood, everything. She wasn’t played by an actress anymore. She was a real person. All of them are real now.

To make all of this even more confusing. One of the story’s most powerful antagonists, Emperor Mathusela, is now standing right in front of me and he just called me…Elvira?

Outside of keeping her eye color and being the same weight, height, and skin tone. Elvira and I looked nothing alike. At least to me. Maybe at a glance but he was standing right in front of me and he should be able to tell.

But he didn’t…for some reason.

“Now, Elvira, I’ll be the first to admit that what Solomon said to you was inappropriate and rude. I’ve always taught him that an Emperor and Empress must always appear united even if there are troubles.”

What the hell was he going on about?

“That being said, it would be in your best interest to at least change. If people see that you’re willing to take a step back, it may encourage Solomon to do the same and will do good for the image of both our families.”

Have you ever just felt someone else’s rage? Yeah, I felt it practically radiating off of Faye. She wasn’t even trying to hide the scowl on her face or the hatred in her eyes. What Mathusela said clearly set her off and it may have something to do with whatever transpired in this version of the story’s events.

Almost like time slowed down for a moment. Faye’s lips began to move and I knew she was going to say something terrible. I know nothing about who she really is but something just told me.

'Stop her.'

And I did. I made sure to speak up so that my voice can cut her off with ease. “Faye and I were actually having a discussion about it and I decided that you won’t see me in this dress for the rest of the night. Though, Faye doesn’t agree with me.”

I know it sounds messed up that I practically threw her under the bus but I have to make the conversation somewhat believable and short. As long as I tell this guy what he wants to hear, he’ll leave quicker.

There was a moment of silence where he stared me down. The lengthy silence shaking my ground a bit. It felt like he was slowly realizing that I wasn’t Elvira. Like whatever veil was dangled in front of his eyes was being dissolved.

Then the relief hit when he flashed a jolly smile. One that just...did not fit on his face.

“Well, that’s a relief. Later on tonight, I’ll do my due diligence to talk to Solomon. He can’t be allowed to make fools of our families. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find something just as beautiful as that dress but more...acceptable.”

With that, he left the room. Faye and I were left in the stuffy silence. I looked over to her and saw her scowl on full display. Great, more anxiety. The worst thing a fan could ever hear is a character from their favorite show berating them. That was until she smirked at me and I can’t even lie, it made me feel a type a way...in a positive way.

“Nice choice of words, kid.” She complimented.

My face stuttered a smile. “Thanks.”

Faye nodded towards the door. “Let’s get out of here.”

I kept right on her trail as we left the room and she guided me to a dead end of the hallway. Before I could even ask her where we were going, she grabbed hold of a candle holder attached to the wall and pulled down. A section of the god awful yellow colored walls slid open, revealing a darkened corridor only lightened up by candles set in intervals, bright enough to showcase the spiraling staircase that descended but not lit enough to ensure no accidents...commonly happened.

“Woah…” I let out on instinct.

Despite knowing that large places like this always had secret entryways and all that. It was just a different feeling just seeing one up close. Like going on some childish adventure.

“My cousin Apollo showed me it one time, said he and Cotton used to use a few of these corridors to play hide-and-seek. It should lead straight to the kitchen and none of the servants probably get paid enough to tell the owner about us being in there. From there we can use the service exit and find something. Just stick by me.”

I nodded even though she wasn’t looking in my direction.

We then came down the stairs, making sure to lift up the hems of our dresses. I was only stopped by Faye, who pressed her ear against the door to listen for anyone. Even though she was a sure that many of the help wouldn’t say anything, it didn’t mean that the host didn’t have a chance of popping up in the kitchen or maybe even another noble sneaking away from all the noise for a moment.

“Do you hear anything.” I asked.

I grew frustrated when she didn’t answer and decided to take matters into my own hands. Kneeling down just under her so that I could press my ear against the door.

……….

It was silent. There was no sounds of dishes clattering nor were there sounds of feet walking across the tiles. That could only mean it was empty, right?

“We should go.” I urged.

“Someone could just be standing there, indulging in gaspers.” She replied.

“The hell is a gasper?” No, seriously, what the hell is a gasper?

“You don’t have cigarettes where you’re from?”

“Oh, we do….we just don’t call them that. Wouldn’t it make sense to smoke outside? I feel like it’d ruin the aroma of the food.”

“It’s probably some busboy’s first job and they’re stressed. But if that’s all who that is, then we should be fine-”

Suddenly, the door slid open on its own, causing the both of us to fall over with Faye landing on top of me.

“Well~what do we have here?”

I felt Faye’s weight shift off of me as she let out an annoyed huff. This was not good. I picked myself up, dusting off the dress and...almost stood face to face with a face that was instantly familiar.

Solomon.

Crown Prince Solomon Conwyn.

One of the leads. The brooding prince who finds himself fed up with the fake lives of the nobility around him and finds solace in the down to earth nature of Camila Blythe.

But if what Faye says is true...then this guy is an absolute dick.

Something that is clearly being proven true as his arm is lovingly draped around the waist of some other woman that is not me...or Elvira….at their engagement party. Is he really cheating?

….In public?

That’s...humiliating.

I know it’s gonna sound like I’m making something out of nothing but even in arranged marriages to make a showing of flirting with someone else in front of others is sending a message louder than any speech could.

Not only do I not love this person, but I don’t respect them.

And in a setting like this where a woman’s reputation is everything yet so fragile, the message is...so loud.

What a dickhead.

“This is a new low for you, Faye. Trying to run off with the future empress during her engagement party?”

“Oh, it’s not like you would notice, Solomon. You seem pretty occupied.” Damn, Faye shot that back quick.

The girl with Solomon seemed to get nervous. She seemed to know better than to laugh, even if Solomon had more power than Faye. Faye could ruin her reputation, she’s done it a lot in the show. For instance, there was another debutante that wanted to make friends with Camila despite Elvira warning her against it. Faye wasted no time in poking at the exact weak points that would ruin the girl.

Of course, despite her trying to hook up with a married man, it was hard to not feel sorry for her. Wait...what if she didn’t say no to Solomon because she was scared of him? Oh my god, is he really that bad?

“Her?” His head gestured towards the woman. “She’s just a new friend I made. Annie, was it?” She shook her but he ignored her. “I was getting tired of waiting for my fiance to change.”

His focus turned towards me and his eyes narrowed at the sight of me still being in the dress. This was only the second time and it was already working my nerves. The dress isn’t even that bad. He’d have a damn heart attack if he saw just how revealing dresses got in the future...or he’d be turned on which I would not want to see from a guy that looks like he’d call me a slur.

“Elvie….you’re still in the dress.”

Elvie? Why not say Evie like a normal person? But also, he sees me as Elvira too?

“I guess I shouldn’t have expected compromise from you but the least you could’ve done was abide by my request during our engagement party. Think of how it’ll make me look as a leader if not even my future wife will listen to me.”

“Because I’m gonna be Empress not your concubine.” I blurted out. I didn’t mean for my tone to sound so robotic but it did. Not to mention that because I blurted it out, I didn’t even try to put on one of those accents. To be frank, it would’ve been...so bad but also….why did I instinctively use I’m instead of she?

“Excuse me?” He seemed offended.

“I said what I said.”

He rolled his eyes. Did the way I talk not set off any red flags? It seemed to irritate Faye. Maybe the way I talk is covered too and much like my appearance, only Faye can hear the real thing?

“Why is it that you always have to make something an argument with me? My father told me you were changing. Was that a lie?”

“It wasn’t a lie.” I shrugged. “I told him, you won’t see me in the dress for the rest of the night.” Ah shit, I probably shouldn't have said that part.

He snorted. “So you plan to hide for the rest of the party? I never took you for such a brat.”

This time Faye jumped. “Why it’s the most normal reaction anyone could have when it comes to marrying you.” She then leaned in towards the girl, who shrunk a bit backwards in fear. “Darling, take it from someone who’s related to the man, you could do so much better. What’s your name?”

She took a moment. Glancing between me and Solomon. Girl….I am not as much as a threat as you think I am right now. Elvira might’ve been but me? Not with these new sea legs……….wait what did I just say?

“Abigail. Abigail Roland.”

“Well, Abigail. Let me tell you how this,” Faye made a circular gesture towards Abigail and Solomon. “is going to go. You get caught, Solomon gets a slap on the wrist because he is the Prince. The Crown Prince at that. The only papers that’ll say anything negative against him are the ones the noble families like yours, mine, and Elvira don’t think about. You’re name will be dragged through the mud. Your family’s name will be ruined and that’s on a good day. Suppose the Emperor wants to punish someone but can’t really do anything too drastic to Solomon who he’ll know convinced you this was a good idea. You and your family are fair game. Suddenly, you’re being arrested on counts of treason against the Imperial Family. Trial among your peers but unfortunately for you, your only peers are other members of the nobility who will not risk their hide for some girl in some branch family. Maybe some of the other branch families will stand by you, solidarity and all of that but...let’s not mince words….noble branch families have had no relevant pull in court for centuries and it’s not going to change now.”

Solomon huffed his chest. “Don’t listen to her, Abby, I wouldn’t let that happen to you.”

She flashed him a smile but it was clearly a forced one. She just needs reassurance. She just needs an out. Maybe...he needs to be more mad at us than her so she can leave.

“Abigail, he didn’t even know what your name is and he’s promising to protect you from the Emperor?”

She was shifting. She really needs an excuse. One that Solomon couldn’t argue with because it was a place he had no experience with. Solomon’s talents in the show were his strategy and playing verbal ping pong during political meetings.

He had nothing when it came to social intrigue. When Camila was being harassed by some other noble ladies, the only thing Solomon could do was threaten them and because of his power, it obviously worked.

Though, this Solomon might know his way around a hand fan or two…..there it is again.

Regardless, I just needed Abigail to find an exit and take it because she was clearly uncomfortable and it didn’t seem like neither Solomon or Faye even cared.

I need to be collected, calm, and discrete.

Leave no room for error.

“Abigail...leave...now.”

She bolted. Not even leaving with a elegant bow or anything. She was gone in a flash. If I didn’t sympathize with how nerve wrecked she must’ve been, I would’ve found it funny.

Solomon watched her leave and let out a grumpy huff. Turning back towards Faye and I with a scowl.

“You two really know how to ruin someone’s fun.” He huffed.

Faye smirked. “Only yours, cousin. Now if you’ll excuse us.”

She took hold of my hand and tried leading me out of the service entrance.

“Where the hell do you two think you’re going?”

We both turned back to him, each of us rolling our eyes in the process. “Leaving.” Faye answered. “You don’t need her here for the rest of night. They met her, they met you, you embarrassed her. What more do you want?”

“Our speech.” He answered sternly. “For as nosey as you are, Faye, you should know that engagement speeches are customary. From here on out we have to stand as a representation of the union between our two families. And tonight we have to make it look good for the cameras.”

I let out a deep sigh, shaking my head. “Well, I don’t think that’s going to work anymore.”

He was caught off guard. “Pardon?”

I quickly leaned into Faye. “What does Elvira usually call him?” I whispered.

“Just Solomon.” She replied.

I took my hand from hers, clapping my hands together. Signaling that I was prepping for something major. “You see, Solomon, something’s come up and I’m afraid this...is gonna have to get 86’d.”

If Faye and I were going to get to the bottom of whatever was going on, we would need as much time to ourselves as possible. And we can’t get that if I have to deal with an engagement. Much less an engagement to a dickhead. Plus, I’m pretty Elvira wouldn’t mind.

This was the perfect time so as to not leave any room for doubt. So I marched on, taking Solomon’s hand and forcibly leading him out of the pantry room.

“Evie?” Faye worriedly called out.

“Don’t worry, I got this.” I called back.

“Elvie, what are you doing?!” Solomon tried to stand firm but I just held onto him.

I thought it was funny that he couldn’t wrestle out of my grip like that.

It didn’t take long for us to make our way into the main ballroom. All eyes immediately descended on us as I climbed the grand staircase, leaving Solomon at the bottom. Faye came to stand beside him alongside everyone else. I now had an audience.

“Excuse me everyone! Excuse me! I have an announcement!”

Everyone looked on with curious eyes.

“I have decided...to cancel my engagement!”