The memories did not come gently. They crashed into me like a storm.
Princess Elowen was the third royal daughter- unloved, unnecessary, and quietly despised. In a kingdom that valued power and prophecy, she possessed neither. No magic. No political value. No future.
Except for one thing.
The Crown of Valenreach.
An ancient artifact said to choose the kingdom's true ruler. For generations, it had rested dormant, cold and unresponsive. But on Elowen's eighteenth birthday, the Crown awakened-for the wrong princess.
Not the beloved firstborn. Not the ruthless second.
But her.
And for that, she was sentenced to die.
The official story would be illness. A weak constitution. A tragedy.
The real story was assassination.
As I pressed a hand to my chest, I felt it-a faint warmth, like a heartbeat that wasn't mine. The Crown's presence lingered, invisible yet undeniable.
The maid was still kneeling, trembling. "Should I... inform the Queen?"
I remembered what happened next in the original timeline.
The Queen would smile. The King would sigh. And by nightfall, poison would be served.
I looked at the maid and spoke the first words that would change everything.
"No," I said softlv. "You will tell no one."
Her eyes widened.
And somewhere deep within me, the Crown pulsed in approval.