Chapter : The Golden Cage

The afternoon sun streamed softly through the sheer curtains of the Raven estate.

On the bed, Ria stared at the ceiling.

An unopened letter rested in her hand. There was no return address, just a heavy violet wax seal that felt much too weighty for a simple piece of parchment.

“Ria!”

Her mother’s voice echoed sharply from the corridor below, followed by the sound of clicking heels.

“What are you doing up there? Didn’t you say you were visiting the palace today? The carriage has been waiting for ten minutes!”

Ria let out a slow breath and turned on her side. “Coming, Mother! Just a moment!”

She tucked the letter into her desk drawer and locked it quietly.

Some things were better left unread.

The grand gates of the Philistia Kingdom were made of iron and gold, rising above the capital like a beautiful, silent warning.

Leaning against a stone pillar was Princess Lucy.

Her arms were crossed tightly over her royal uniform. Her lower lip jutted out in a dramatic, practiced pout.

“You took your time, Miss Ria,” Lucy huffed as soon as Ria stepped out of the carriage. “I’ve been standing here for ages. Do you know how boring it is to watch the guards blink?”

Ria chuckled softly and adjusted the collar of her dress. “Forgive me, Your Highness. I had to make sure I didn’t leave anything important behind.”

Lucy tilted her head, her curiosity sparked. “Oh? What did you forget?”

Ria caught up with her, a teasing gleam in her eyes. “I’ll tell you later. I’m not sure if you’re trustworthy enough just yet.”

“Ria!” Lucy groaned and hooked her arm through Ria’s as they walked down the manicured palace path. “You always do this. You treat me like a child.”

“Because it works every time.”

“Hmph. Just hurry up. The afternoon tea will get cold.”

“What are you two conspiring about so loudly?”

The voice was low, smooth, and too close.

Both girls jumped.

Standing right behind them was Melvin.

The Crown Prince of Philistia looked like a painting—neatly combed blond hair, striking blue eyes, and perfect posture. He had a gentle charm that made noble ladies faint, but his sharp gaze revealed another side.

“Melvin!” Lucy snapped, clutching her chest. “Can you stop doing that? One of these days, my heart will stop.”

Melvin smiled innocently and tilted his head. “What did I do? I simply walked.”

“You sneak up on people like a ghost!”

“Were you both speaking ill of me behind my back?” Melvin stepped closer, his blue eyes shifting from his sister and locking onto Ria.

“No!” they shouted together.

“Then why do you look so guilty, Lady Rianide?” he teased in a softer tone.

Ria sighed and moved between the royal siblings before an argument could start. “Your Highnesses, please. I came here to escape the paperwork at my estate, not to moderate a sibling rivalry.”

Melvin chuckled, stepped back, and executed a perfect dramatic bow.

“As you wish, my lady. I will take my leave. But don’t keep her all to yourself, Lucy. I missed our dear friend just as much as you did.”

Ria managed a polite, practiced smile. “I will visit your study later, Prince Melvin.”

As he walked down the white stone corridor, Lucy let out a long breath. “My brother is so strange. He talks like he’s always on stage.”

Ria watched where he had disappeared.

“He is just being himself, Lucy.”

“Oh, that reminds me!” Lucy said, her eyes lighting up as they reached the sunroom. “I heard a rumor. Someone important is coming to the capital this week. Do you know who it is?”

Ria’s fingers tightened against her skirt.

The image of the unopened letter in her drawer flashed through her mind.

“Ria? What’s wrong? You went pale.”

“It’s nothing,” Ria said quickly, forcing her face to relax. “Just a sudden chill.”

“Anyway, do you know who it is?”

“Yes,” Ria nodded slowly. “It’s my cousin, Bella. My aunt and uncle are sending her to stay with us.”

Lucy tilted her head. “Your cousin? You’ve never mentioned her before.”

“She has her coming-of-age ceremony soon,” Ria explained, her voice carrying a hint of emotional distance. “She wanted to get to know the capital’s high society before the season starts.”

“Are you two close?”

Ria looked out the high glass windows, watching the wind move through the palace gardens.

“No,” she whispered. “Not really.”

Before Lucy could ask more, a palace guard approached the sunroom and bowed low.

“Lady Rianide. Princess Lucy. His Majesty the King requests your presence in the audience chamber immediately.”

Chapter: The Whispers of Royalty

The heavy double doors of the audience chamber opened with a synchronized groan from the guards.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of expensive incense and old traditions.

The King and Queen sat on their thrones, their expressions softening the moment Ria stepped into the light.

“Ria, my dear,” the Queen spoke first, her voice warm and maternal. “Look how much you’ve grown since the winter gala. Come closer.”

“I am honored to greet Your Majesties,” Ria said, sinking into a flawless, deep curtsy.

The King smiled, leaning forward against his hand. “Ria, we were just discussing the upcoming term. The royal tutors are preparing specialized lessons for Lucy and Melvin. Would you like to join their private classes here at the palace?”

The offer was significant. It would elevate her status directly.

Ria’s breath caught slightly in her throat.

She looked at Lucy, who was practically vibrating with excitement, and then she thought of the quiet, stifling nature of the inner palace.

“It is a great honor, Your Majesty,” Ria began, keeping her voice steady, respectful, and firm. “But I must humbly decline.”

The Queen’s eyebrow lifted in mild surprise. “May we know why, child?”

“I am quite comfortable with my current studies and my family's tutors,” Ria replied smoothly. “I fear that changing my routine now would only disrupt my focus.”

The Queen exchanged a long, knowing look with the King before nodding gently. “Very well. It is your choice, after all. We will not force you.”

The moment the doors closed behind them, Lucy dragged Ria down the corridor, her eyes wide.

“Ria… what do you honestly think about my brother?”

Ria froze mid-step, her heart doing a sudden, uncomfortable thud. “…What?”

“You heard me,” Lucy smirked, leaning in close. “You’ve known him since we were children. He’s handsome, he’s the future king, and he clearly has feelings for you. Do you like him?”

Ria felt a nervous sweat break out under her collar. “He is… a good person, Lucy. He is a perfectly fine prince.”

“A perfectly fine prince? That’s it? I knew you liked him!”

“If you already made up your mind, why did you even ask me?” Ria complained, her cheeks flushing pink from frustration.

“I was just confirming!” Lucy laughed loudly, skipping ahead. “Should I tell my mother to start planning? Should I play cupid for you two?”

“Absolutely not! Do not dare say a word to the Queen!”

Lucy’s smile faded into something more serious, her voice dropping. “Well, you can deny it all you want, Ria, but the capital is already talking. The rumor is everywhere.”

Ria stopped walking. “…What rumor?”

“They’re saying the King didn’t invite you to classes for your education,” Lucy said casually, leaning against a marble pillar. “They’re saying you’re already being prepared to be the next Crown Princess.”

The blood drained from Ria’s face, replaced by a deep, hot flush of embarrassment. “What?! Why did no one tell me this?”

“Your parents probably hid the newspapers to keep you from panicking,” Lucy laughed, seeing Ria’s frantic expression. “But it doesn’t matter. It’ll probably become the truth anyway!”

“Lucy!”

Ria chased her down the hallway, her dress rustling loudly as the princess’s laughter echoed off the high stone walls.

Three days later, a heavy black carriage marked with the secondary crest of the Raven family pulled up to Ria’s estate.

The door opened, and a girl with perfectly curled hair and a sharp, calculating gaze stepped down.

“Ria! Oh, look at you, you look wonderful!” Bella cried out, her voice sweet as syrup as she reached out to clasp Ria’s hands.

“Welcome to the capital, cousin,” Ria replied, her tone polite but entirely guarded. “I trust your journey was comfortable?”

They exchanged the usual, superficial pleasantries expected of high-born ladies. But the moment the servants cleared the foyer and they were left entirely alone in the grand hall—

The warmth vanished from Bella’s face.

A cold, mocking smirk pulled at the corner of her lips. “You really haven’t changed at all, my dear cousin. Still trying so hard to be the perfect little doll.”

Ria’s smile turned razor-thin. “And you are exactly as I remember you, Bella.”

Their eyes locked.

A silent, invisible line was drawn across the marble floor.

That afternoon, at the insistence of Ria’s parents, Bella accompanied her to the palace gardens.

While Ria and Lucy were speaking with the head gardener, Bella excused herself, wandering deep into the maze of white rose bushes.

That was when she saw him.

Melvin was walking down the path, the sunlight catching the gold of his hair, his blue eyes distant and beautiful.

Bella’s heart stopped.

The Crown Prince.

She had heard the stories, but seeing him in person was entirely different. He was magnificent.

But then, a dark, venomous thought crept into her mind.

"Why does someone like him have to be tied to Ria? Why does she get everything?"

An unpleasant, sharp glint hardened in Bella’s eyes. The cousin she had despised her entire life was standing in the way of the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

She smoothed down her skirt, took a deep breath, and stepped out from the roses with a flawless, practiced curtsy.

“Your Highness. It is an absolute honor to meet the light of the kingdom.”

Melvin stopped, looking at her with polite, distant curiosity. “May I ask who you are, my lady?”

“My name is Bella Raven,” she said, tilting her face up to give him her most charming, innocent smile. “I am Ria’s cousin.”

Melvin’s demeanor instantly thawed, a genuine smile breaking across his face. “Oh! Ria’s cousin. The pleasure is mine. I did not know she had family visiting.”

“Yes,” Bella purred, stepping closer. “Ria talks about your brilliance so often during her visits home. I simply had to see it for myself.”

“Does she?” Melvin looked thoroughly amused. “What exactly does she say about me?”

Bella kept the conversation going for nearly twenty minutes, weaving compliments and subtle fabrications so smoothly that Melvin remained entirely engaged.

By the time Ria and Lucy finally found them near the fountains, the two were laughing.

“Brother!” Lucy’s voice cut through the air, sharp and uninviting. “What are you doing here with her?”

Melvin looked up, surprised by his sister’s tone. “We simply ran into each other in the corridor, Lucy. Lady Bella is Ria’s guest, after all.”

Lucy’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Bella’s overly sweet smile. “Right. And what exactly were you talking about for so long?”

“Nothing of consequence,” Melvin replied smoothly, his eyes briefly finding Ria’s. “Just about Ria. She is our common ground, after all.”

Ria stood slightly behind Lucy, her stomach twisting into a tight, uncomfortable knot.

Watching Bella stand so close to Melvin—watching the calculated way her cousin adjusted her posture—stirred something deeply unsettling in her chest.

It wasn't jealousy. It was danger.

Chapter : The Depths of the Mirror Lake

Over the next week, the palace grounds resembled a chessboard.

Bella found reasons to visit every day, and somehow, she always ran into Melvin. Their conversations grew longer, and their meetings became more frequent.

Ria watched from a distance, the unease inside her growing heavier.

One hot afternoon, a servant brought a note to Ria's room.

Meet me by the palace lake. Let’s finish our discussion. Bella.

When Ria arrived, the lake was completely still, like a dark mirror under the bright sun. Bella stood at the edge of the stone steps, gazing into the water.

“Are you having fun these days, Ria?” Bella asked without turning, her voice surprisingly light.

Ria stayed a few steps back. “What do you mean by that, Bella?”

Bella turned slowly, her lips forming a sharp smile. “Do you want to know what real fun looks like?”

Ria furrowed her brows. “Bella, what are you—”

Before Ria could finish, Bella lunged forward.

Her fingers gripped Ria’s wrist like a vice, and with a sudden twist, Bella threw herself backward into the dark, deep water.

Splash!

Ria stood frozen at the edge, her hand still in the air, her mind completely blank.

The water rippled violently.

She didn’t understand. She couldn’t process what had just happened.

Then, a voice shattered the silence.

“Ria! What have you done?!”

The Accusation

Ria turned her head sharply.

Melvin was running down the hill, his face pale and his chest heaving.

The trap had closed perfectly.

Melvin wasted no time. He dove into the water and pulled a soaked, shivering Bella onto the grass. Without glancing at Ria, he lifted her cousin into his arms and hurried towards the palace guest wing.

Ria followed quietly, her whole body trembling, her hands completely numb.

Inside the guest chamber, the royal physician was called for.

After Bella was laid under heavy blankets, Melvin finally turned to Ria.

His blue eyes, usually warm, were now cold. Hard. Accusing.

“What happened out there, Ria? Explain yourself.”

Ria stammered, the words stuck in her throat. “I… I don’t know. She sent a note, and then she just… grabbed me and jumped.”

Suddenly, Bella let out a weak cough from the bed. Her eyes opened slowly.

“Where… where am I?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Melvin rushed to her side, concern spreading across his face. “You’re safe in the palace, Lady Bella. Do you remember what happened at the lake?”

Bella blinked innocently, a tear trailing down her pale cheek. “I… I don’t know. I was just trying to talk to Ria. I wanted to apologize for being distant… and then she suddenly grabbed my hand. After that, everything went black.”

Melvin’s gaze darted back to Ria.

The silence in the room weighed heavily.

He looked torn, caught between the girl he had known forever and the shivering victim in front of him. He had seen Ria at the edge. He had seen the outstretched hand.

“I will look into this matter later,” Melvin said, his voice lacking its usual warmth.

Without another word, he turned and left the room.

The Confession

As soon as the heavy door clicked shut, the weakness faded from Bella’s face.

She sat up in bed, a dark, triumphant smirk spreading across her lips.

Ria stepped closer to the bed, her knuckles white from clenching her fists. “Why? Why would you do something so reckless, Bella? You could have drowned!”

Bella laughed, a harsh, ugly sound. “Do you really not know, or are you just playing the innocent saint as usual?”

“I am not playing anything!” Ria felt tears stinging her eyes. “I just want to know why you hate me this much.”

Bella’s eyes narrowed, venom spilling out. “Because everyone loves you, Ria. The King, the Queen, the Princess… even the Crown Prince looks at you like you’re the only girl in the world. You have everything without even trying. And I hate it.”

Ria stared at her cousin in silence.

The confusion faded, leaving a deep, hollow exhaustion.

“So that’s it,” Ria said quietly, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “Fine. If ruining your own body to make me look bad makes you happy, then keep hating me, Bella.”

The Changing Winds

That evening, back at the Raven estate, Ria sat alone on her window sill.

The composure she had clutched tightly in front of Bella finally broke. She pulled her knees to her chest as the tears came.

“It’s fine if she doesn’t like me,” she whispered into the dark room, her voice cracking. “But why… why does she have to destroy everything? I didn’t do anything to her.”

A quiet knock interrupted the silence.

“Lady Rianide,” her maid called from outside. “The Duchess requests your presence in her chambers immediately.”

Ria quickly wiped her face, checking her reflection in the mirror to ensure her eyes weren’t too red before walking down the hall.

“Mother, you called for me?”

The Duchess looked up from her ledger, her expression stern. “Ria, where is your cousin? The carriage returned without her.”

“Mother,” Ria said cautiously, choosing her words carefully. “Cousin Bella had an accident near the palace lake. She fell in. Prince Melvin made sure she was rescued, and she is resting in the palace guest wing.”

The Duchess stood up immediately, her eyes wide with alarm. “An accident? Is she hurt? You know she is our responsibility, Ria! If anything happens to her status while she is in our care, it will ruin our family’s standing!”

“She is fine, Mother. She just needs a night’s rest.”

“Good,” the Duchess sighed, sinking back into her chair. “Make sure you visit her tomorrow with fresh linens.”

The Empty Board

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Wing of the palace, Princess Lucy read a letter under the light of a single candle.

My dear Lucy, her grandmother's cursive handwriting began. The countryside is beautiful this season, and I yearn for company. Since your brother is too busy with state affairs, pack your bags and visit me for a few weeks.

Lucy smiled as she folded the letter neatly. “Perfect. Ria is coming tomorrow anyway. I’ll tell her the news then!”

But down in the palace kitchens, two maids whispered while preparing the late-night tea trays.

“Did you hear? The Princess is leaving the capital tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow? So suddenly?”

“Yes, an official royal carriage is already being prepared. She will be away for several weeks.”

Behind the kitchen screen, a shadow moved.

Bella stood in a borrowed nightgown, her fingers tracing the gold rim of a teacup she had taken from the tray.

A slow, malicious smile spread across her face in the dark.

With Lucy gone, Ria would have no protection left at the palace.

“Finally,” Bella whispered into the shadows. “The stage is entirely mine.”