In the garden,
Karina greeted him with a poised, deliberate smile — a smile that hid more than it revealed.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness, the Second Prince. I'm Princess Karina Vershi. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The prince's gray eyes flicked over her, sharp and unreadable. His reply was polite, yet dry as frost.
"Good afternoon, Lady Vershi."
His tone carried a faint chill — the kind that belonged to palace mornings before sunrise. Still, she caught the flicker of curiosity behind his calm facade.
Karina tilted her head slightly. "Your Highness, I'd like to speak with you… if you don't mind."
He raised a brow, intrigued by her directness. Few dared to request his time so openly — especially someone her age. After a breath, he nodded.
She led him to a quiet corner of the garden, where jasmine vines curled around marble pillars. They sat on a cold stone bench bathed in the soft amber of the setting sun.
Karina inhaled deeply, steadying her voice. If he refuses, I lose my only chance.
Tapping her fingers lightly on the bench, she forced a sweet smile.
"Your Highness, I'd like us to be friends. I'm alone here… I don't have anyone."
Silence stretched thin between them. Then, Damian sighed softly, running a hand through his golden hair.
"…Liar," he murmured under his breath, too quietly for anyone but her to hear. Then, with a faint smirk, "Do you really think I don't know you already have friends?"
"Friendships aren't things you can ask for," he added coldly.
Karina glanced at him sideways, her expression turning playful. "In my dictionary, they are."
That earned a low chuckle from him. "Then I suppose I don't follow your dictionary, Princess."
Her smile faded. She rose abruptly. "If you're going to be like that, I'll just tell Father that—"
He stood before she could finish, holding out his hand, his expression now softened.
"All right. No need for that. I accept. I wasn't planning to refuse anyway."
Surprise lit her face. She placed her small hand in his.
"Then, please, call me Karina. No titles."
He nodded, testing the name as if it were something rare. "Karina, then. And you may call me Damian."
For a moment, the air between them felt lighter. Their laughter — hers bright, his restrained — mingled beneath the falling dusk.
Then Karina reached into her pocket and offered a small silver chain.
"This is a promise. A token of friendship."
Damian turned it over in his palm, eyes softening. "A promise, then," he said quietly.
Moments later, a maid appeared at the garden's edge.
"Your Highness, Princess, it's time to return to the palace."
Karina rose, waving as she left. "See you soon, my new friend."
Her heart beat fast with triumph. It worked. The first step of my plan is complete.
---
Later that night, in her room, she shut the door and opened her secret notebook.
Her golden pen danced across the page:
> "Today, I broke through Prince Damian's wall. He'll trust me. I'll use that trust to reach my goal… and to help him, too."
She paused, reading her own words, then closed the book gently. The game had just begun.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Who is it?"
No answer. Then the door creaked open. Her father stood there, face grave.
"Karina. We need to talk."
Her breath caught. "Yes… Father?"
"I'm leaving for the Council tomorrow. Important decisions await. Be cautious. Your grandmother arrives from Japan at dawn. Greet her properly."
"Yes, Father. When will you return?"
"After four hours. Your grandmother will be here before sunrise."
She nodded, comforted. Grandmother's presence meant safety — especially from Aunt Elena.
---
Morning came.
Karina dressed in a green gown embroidered with gold — her grandmother's old gift. Something in her chest told her the day wouldn't pass quietly.
When the carriages arrived, she smiled, poised yet cunning.
"Grandmother!" she cried, running forward.
Her grandmother's laughter rang like bells. "My dear child, how you've grown!"
Behind them, Aunt Elena's smile faltered at the edges.
"The palace shines brighter with you here, my lady," she said smoothly.
Karina's lips barely moved as she whispered to herself: Brighter? It's suffocating because of you.
She knew Elena's plan well — the poisoned kindness, the false warmth.
This time, she would strike first.
From her room, Karina fetched a small vial of harmless powder — it only caused coughing fits. A perfect diversion.
She slipped it into the grandmother's meal while no one watched, ensuring the plate looked untouched.
---
At dinner, the grandmother smiled. "We'll wait for Theobald before starting."
But Elena insisted sweetly, "Please, my lady, the soup will grow cold. I made it myself."
The first spoonful. Then a sharp cough, and another — the sound slicing through the hall.
"What— what is this?!" the grandmother gasped, clutching her chest.
Elena froze, face pale. "Impossible! I— I prepared it with my own hands!"
The doors burst open. The Duke entered, fury in his eyes. "What's happening here?"
Karina ran to her grandmother, tears spilling down her cheeks — half feigned, half real.
"Grandmother! She's been poisoned! I saw Aunt Elena add something to the dish!"
Elena's protest died under the Duke's glare. "Enough. Leave this hall immediately."
"But I'm innocent!" she cried, trembling.
Karina stood silent, victory glinting in her eyes. Checkmate, Aunt Elena.
---
Later that night, she lay on her bed, a quiet laugh escaping her lips.
"Your game is over. Mine begins now."
She stared at the dark ceiling, whispering into the quiet:
"The real war starts tonight."
---
The next morning unfolded strangely calm, as though the palace itself held its breath.
Osana, the grandmother, began her day as always — tea, books, and quiet reflection in the garden.
Hours passed uneventfully until the day of their outing — the one Karina had secretly prepared for.
"Karina," her grandmother called softly. "Come, my dear."
Karina dashed through the corridor, hair fluttering, eyes bright.
"Let's go feed the people today, Grandmother! We should make something special!"
Her grandmother chuckled. "And what do you have in mind?"
"Pancakes! We'll make pancakes!"
"Since when can you make pancakes?"
Karina grinned. "You taught me, remember? Though the first ones looked… strange."
Laughter filled the kitchen as they reminisced. Those moments felt pure — almost innocent. Almost.
Because the pancakes cooling on the counter weren't entirely innocent. They were part of another careful move.
Aunt Sienna — ever the manipulator — had her own plan, her own batch. Karina had seen to it that those were laced with a mild sleeping serum, meant to ruin Sienna's reputation before she could act again.
"This time," Karina thought, adjusting her ribbon, "no one will fool me."
"Are you ready, children?" Osana's voice rang out warmly.
"Yes, Grandmother!" Karina answered, voice bright.
---
The duchy streets shimmered under sunlight, lined with flowers and laughter. Vendors called, children played, and nobles bowed as Osana passed.
Everywhere smelled of bread and clean rain.
Karina followed, basket in hand, smiling as she handed out food. But then — she froze.
Her gaze locked on a familiar face in the crowd.
One she hadn't seen in so long.
One she could never forget.
Her heartbeat stilled. The world around her blurred.
And then… she smiled — slow, deliberate, dangerous.