However, Kareena didn't know exactly how to take advantage of this situation, and when she stood in front of him, the only thing that came to her mind was to tell him that he needed her to secure the throne. That was a lie.

The stars had been very clear that he would become the next emperor regardless of anything that happened. Lysander could have cut her throat in half last night and still would reign in the future.

Since he had left her tent with an unsettling look, Kareena had devoted all her thoughts to devising a strategy that would benefit her.

When he finally reappeared at the circus alone before dusk, she had a scheme of lies all prepared. He seemed as suspicious as the day before, but a little calmer and perhaps more eager. Kareena hoped he would remain that way until he left.

"If you are truly a clairvoyant, why aren't you part of a clan and working in this circus?" was one of his questions.

Kareena took a deep breath before replying, "That's the thing. I grew up in an orphanage, and I don't know who my family is. I work here because I need to pay my bills, and I don't like manual labor or jobs that require a lot of effort."

He forced a smile and said, "You're quite honest."

Kareena nodded and said, lying, "I don't usually lie."

"Perhaps you're an illegitimate child of the former kingdom's clairvoyant," he shrugged, getting to the main point.

"That's what I want to find out," she partially lied again. "I'm the only person who can lead you to the throne, but in return, you need to help me discover who my family is and why they abandoned me."

He tried to appear intrigued, but his disinterest in the matter was still evident. "Why don't you ask the stars about that?"

"It doesn't work that way," she replied. "The stars only tell me the future, not the past, and they never reveal anything related to me."

"I didn't know there were so many rules. Is this your only condition for cooperating with me?" he asked as if he wanted to leave soon and thought that discovering her origins would be very easy, which perhaps it was for him.

"Yes," she lied because if she revealed to him that her true intention was to get close to him and become the future empress, he would never agree.

As she thought during the night and throughout the morning about ways to take advantage of the situation, becoming the future empress was one of the most absurd alternatives at first, but also the one she desired the most. Kareena had thought a lot about it, and the more she thought, the more she believed that it was the perfect future.

From a nobody with no surname to an empress. She could almost see herself with a crown on her head. Lysander would reign, and someday, he would need an empress by his side, just like other concubines. Why couldn't she be by his side in glory? She might not be nobility, but which lady could be more useful to the kingdom than her with her gift? And maybe she really was the lost daughter of the last clairvoyant, which would make her a noble and further increase her prestige.

The only problem was that Lysander had mistreated her the day before, planned to usurp his brother's position, appeared to be violent and had various character flaws. But that was something she would worry about in the future.

"Deal," he said emotionlessly.

Kareena tried to hide her surprise. How had he agreed so quickly? "Yesterday, you seemed so skeptical. Why do you believe me now?"

His dark hair fell over his eyes, and Kareena suppressed her urge to push his hair aside to see if there was any expression on his face, but he remained expressionless. "I don't believe in paper cards, but I believe in destiny, and I want to find out why it brought you into my path," he looked her up and down.

"I don't trust and I don't know why destiny chose someone as inferior as you, but I will keep my eyes on you as long as I deem necessary."

Kareena chose to ignore the insults. "Of course, you'll keep your eye on me. I want to live in the palace."

"What?" he asked, surprised.

"I need to be close to the court to read the threads of destiny for each noble, to know who will help you in claiming the throne," she said, looking at him questioningly. "Or are you going to find a way to bring each of them to this circus?"

He sighed impatiently. "You're right. You can work as a servant for some noble."

"No!" she almost shouted. "I don't like hard work, remember?"

"What do your stars suggest, then?" he seemed to have lost the little patience he had.

"I can't bother the stars with such a trivial matter. Figure out a way to get me into the court with direct access to the nobles. If you truly want to be the emperor, this will be the least of the problems you'll have to solve from now on."

He reluctantly agreed, "I'll come to get you later this week. Be prepared."

And he left. Kareena wasn't foolish, but only a complete imbecile would believe that cheap explanation of his belief in her due to destiny.

Given his abrupt change in attitude, it was clear that he had also thought of a strategy before meeting her again, and Kareena wouldn't have peace until she knew what his plan was.

The stars never said anything related to Kareena, but if they did, she could almost hear the stars whisper, "Tie a rope around his neck before he ties one around yours."