My heart sank. “This is a really bad idea,” I told her. “Please reconsider. What about your true love? You’re going to give up on that?”

But no matter what I said, it was obvious that Odessa had already made up her mind. I couldn’t remember her ever behaving like this in the game, being so resolute and sure of herself. It would have been nice to see under different circumstances, but right now all I could see was a looming disaster.

I hadn’t given her my answer as to whether I would accompany her or not. If I stayed, the duke would undoubtedly place the blame for Odessa’s flight on me, and since I would no longer be able to spy on her for him, I would have absolutely no value to him—as if I needed more reasons to be sent to the chopping block.

As I watched her try to stuff yet another gown into the trunk, I remembered: the ball was only a few days away. If Odessa attended like she was supposed to, then there was a chance that she wouldn’t have to run away. And then…I could survive.

But all that hinged on me making sure that Odessa met her suitors.

“Lady Odessa.”

She paused. “Yes?”

“Stay for the ball,” I suggested. “Give true love a chance. If all goes well, you won’t need to run off in the middle of the night. You’ll be carried off in the arms of the man you love, ready to live happily ever after.”

“And if I don’t meet my true love?” she asked. “What then?”

“Then I will help you pack and we can leave that night and escape together,” I told her. I didn’t really believe Odessa wouldn’t pick a suitor, but regardless it was a better plan than what we had now.

Odessa seemed to consider my words. “Do you really think I will meet my true love?”

Sensing I’d won the argument, I smiled. “You won’t if you don’t try. Didn’t you tell me you need to open your heart in order to love?”

Odessa grinned and threw her arms around me. “You’re right, of course. Okay, I’ll wait until after the ball.”

***

The next few days were mostly spent in preparation for the ball, which consisted of making sure Odessa had the perfect gown, hair, makeup, jewels, and everything else she would need to find her true love. That part was easy, because Odessa could have worn anything and attracted at least one of her suitors.

The difficult part was evading the duke while I ran around the estate trying to get things ready. I always seemed to be running into him, and every time I grew a little more aware of the glances he was stealing at me, even when he was in the middle of speaking with a guard or on his way out for a walk in the garden. I could feel his gaze like a sensation on my skin.

And when I was sure he wasn’t looking at me, I couldn’t help but steal a few glances of my own. I still couldn’t understand how I found someone as villainous and awful as Duke Inferno attractive. His sharp jaw, piercing blue eyes, and very nice…figure, were hard to look away from sometimes, and I hated that I felt that way, that my eye was continually drawn to him when my life was literally in his hands.

Still, I wasn’t going to leave anything to chance. So, I had decided that the best option for Odessa was Prince Tristan. He was charming, attractive, wealthy, and powerful enough to protect her from her awful brother. And he could easily afford to take on a new maid—that maid being me. All I had to do was ensure that the cutscene happened, where the prince and Odessa had a magical, wonderful dance at the ball where they would fall instantly in love and…well, happily ever after would be inevitable. I couldn’t see any reason that it wouldn’t be since the prince was quick and eager to fall in love.

The more I thought about it, the more certain I was of my plan: Tristan was my best bet to survive. And even in the event—unlikely as it was—that Tristan and Odessa didn’t click, there were still two other viable suitors to step in: Avery and Grim.

No matter what happened, there was always a backup plan. This could work. It would work. Because I refuse to die.

***

The estate was practically buzzing with excitement when the day of the ball finally arrived. Only I was nervous. Because as a maid, I knew I wouldn’t be allowed to attend the ball—which meant I couldn’t be there to make sure Odessa and Tristan danced together and had their moment.

“What are you talking about?” Odessa said when I mentioned it to her. “You’ll accompany me, of course. After all, we must stick close together in case I’m not to find my true love and we must make our escape.”

I couldn’t hold back a grimace at the thought. “I suppose so.”

“Here,” she said, pulling a few gowns from the wardrobe. They were all beautiful, though much less luxurious than the one Odessa would be wearing. “Why don’t you go with the green so we can match?”

I picked up the emerald dress, admiring the subtle shine of the fabric. “I like it.”

We helped each other dress, and I began to feel lighter than I had in days, though there was still an undercurrent of anxiety, of course, because there was no knowing what might happen over the course of the ball. Duke Inferno would be there, of course, and I would have to make sure he didn’t see Odessa romancing her prince. That was one of the most difficult parts of the game, keeping him away while she found her true love. But at least I knew what needed to be done.

Or I usually did. Only now, the game was altered.

It’ll be the same, I told myself as Odessa and I entered the ballroom arm in arm. Everything will be fine.

When we entered, most of the eyes in the room shifted to us, though Odessa garnered the majority of the attention—particularly from the men. Not that it mattered since only three sets of eyes counted.

I tried to pick out the suitors in the crowd as the music started and men and women took to the dance floor. I couldn’t resist watching them for a few moments as they twirled beneath the chandelier, the women’s gowns shining like stars. Like a fairy tale come to life.

“Who is going to ask me to dance?” Odessa murmured beside me, looking around.

“Don’t worry,” I told her. “Someone very attractive will approach you soon.” Because that was how it happened in the game.

Odessa gave me a curious look. “How can you be so sure?”

Realizing I’d sounded a bit too confident, I quickly spat out an excuse. “Because you are far too beautiful to be ignored.” Which was true. Odessa was probably the most beautiful woman in the room, and she was definitely garnering a lot of admiring looks—just not from the men she needed to.

I looked around, trying to find the three suitors in the crowd, only for my gaze to catch on the duke standing across the room. He was in conversation with a striking-looking woman, but almost as soon as I looked at him, his gaze shifted to me.

“Oh no,” I whispered. He was walking toward us.

“Excuse me a moment,” I told Odessa. “I’m going to get us something to drink.”

I hurried past her through the crowd and hid behind the first pillar I saw, my heart pounding loudly in my ears. I had a suspicion about what he wanted: my answer about spying on Odessa. But I wasn’t ready to give it. And tonight, I had to focus on making sure the plan went through.

I peeked around the pillar and saw that the duke had stopped and was looking around the room, his gaze intent as he scanned the crowd, obviously searching for me. After a moment, he scowled and turned around to walk back across the room.

I took a deep breath. That was way too close. I couldn’t let him corner me right now, or everything would be ruined.

I started back toward Odessa, surprised to see her talking to someone—but it wasn’t one of the suitors. Probably just a minor character.

At the thought, I stopped and looked around, searching the crowd for familiar faces. The suitors…where were they?

A servant with a tray full of champagne glasses balanced on one hand passed me and I caught his attention. “Excuse me, where is the prince?” I just needed to find him and steer him in Odessa’s direction.

The servant looked surprised. “The prince isn’t here.”

“What?!”