chapter 3

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.”

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