I gaped at Elias. I hadn't expected to encounter him until our time at Lysander Academy began, but I supposed that it wasn't unusual for him to visit his fiancée. He had to keep up appearances after all, no matter how much he despised Violet.

Truth be told, he was rather handsome. No wonder Violet had fallen in love with him at first sight.

It was too bad that whenever he opened his mouth, only garbage poured out.

"You should come as soon as I call for you," he spat as I took a seat across from him. "My time is valuable, and I'd prefer not to waste it waiting on you."

This! Scumbag!

Marie retreated to a corner, muttering something unflattering under her breath. She leaned against the wall, glaring daggers at Elias. She disliked the nobility, but she seemed to hold a special contempt for the crown prince.

I tried to keep my anger at bay, flashing Elias a small grin.

"Don't do that. It's appalling. It makes me sick to my stomach."

My eye twitched. I couldn't even smile in front of him?

I allowed my expression to slacken until it was devoid of all emotion.

"How dare you look upon me like that!" he protested. "Have you no respect for those of higher standing? The impudence!"

It wasn't just smiling. I apparently couldn't even have a face in front of him.

I could feel my blood pressure rising each time he spoke. I wanted nothing more than to tell him to take his crown and shove it, but I had to temper my anger. I had managed to make significant changes in Violet's life without alarming anyone. But I knew if "Violet" suddenly insulted her beloved Elias, it would definitely raise a few eyebrows.

I took a deep breath to steady myself, "Was there a reason you wanted to see me, Your Highness?"

Elias harrumphed, "I don't recall giving you permission to speak."

Shut up, you freaking narcissist! I screamed in my head. If this man was to be king in the future, this country would be ruined. He was all mouth, and no brains.

"My apologies," I snapped back. "I didn't realize I needed to seek your approval before talking in my own home."

Elias, either oblivious to my sarcasm or choosing to ignore it, continued, "I simply thought I would check and see if you had fallen ill."

I cocked my head. It almost sounded as though he were concerned. Was it possible that this emotionally-inept, misogynistic, narcissistic jerk wasn't actually as bad as he seemed?

As though reading my thoughts, Elias said, "Of course, if you were sick, I wouldn't care. You could be on your deathbed, and I wouldn't bat an eye."

Nope. This emotionally-inept, misogynistic, narcissistic jerk was just as awful as I originally thought.

"The feeling is mutual," I murmured to myself. Then, I asked, "What made you think I might have taken ill?"

Elias pursed his lips, "Usually, you send me multiple letters each day. Around fifteen to twenty. Naturally, I do not read them. I do, however, use them as fodder for the fireplace in my quarters. You had not written to me as of late, so I was simply curious if you had finally died..."

Elias continued speaking, but I tuned him out. He was such a callous man. There was no way I would ever let Adelaide fall into his grasp! Speaking of Adelaide, I wondered what she might be doing. Was she practicing her kicks? Oh, and as soon as this awful meeting was over, I would have to post the letter I'd written.

I was suddenly aware that Elias was gawking at me impatiently. He must have asked me a question.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Did you say something?"

Elias sighed, "I was wondering if your intention was to dissolve our engagement."

Those words snapped me back to the present. I could feel a memory bubbling up in the back of my mind. It was something important, something I needed to remember...

Ah! I had been so focused on saving Adelaide that I had forgotten to save myself. 

In most endings, Violet perished in an "accident" that was heavily implied to have been set up by the royal family. Yet she met her worst fate in Elias' "good" end. He breaks off his engagement to her, forces her family to relinquish their noble status, and exiles them from the country. In a foreign land with no fortune, they are faced with terrible hardships. Duke DeVries was murdered by bandits, Duchess DeVries contracted a terminal illness, and Kal was wounded in an accident. Violet had no choice but to support her remaining family on her own, and was forced to take on an unsavory occupation. She was underpaid by her employer, and was regularly abused by her clients.

I had to tread lightly. One wrong move, and the entire DeVries family could be destroyed.

I chose my next words carefully, "I have been reconsidering my life choices as of late. I realize that I have been bratty and arrogant. I've been trying to rectify my past mistakes, and grow as a person. I think that, until I have bettered myself, I should refrain from interacting with you."

Elias blinked at me in surprise. I hoped that I hadn't triggered some kind of disaster event. I also hoped that he would never appear in front of me again, but I suppose we can't always get what we want.

 Elias snorted, "I don't know what kind of game you're playing at, but it won't work. Obviously, this is some new ploy to get my attention, like the time you poisoned yourself at the banquet two years ago."

Poison? I thought, surprised. As far as I could recall, that had not been included in the game.

Poor Violet. I couldn't believe she would do that, just so this piece of walking trash would notice her. Not only did she have poor taste in clothes, but in men as well!

After that, Elias excused himself. I remained in the drawing room a moment longer, reflecting on my conversation with him. Then, Marie and I started back toward my chambers. We walked in silence. Marie occasionally glanced at me, and I knew something was weighing on her.

Finally, when we reached my room, she spoke.

"You...have been different as of late, my lady."

I gave a nervous titter, sweat beading on my forehead, "What do you mean? I am only trying to become a person befitting of the DeVries name."

Marie shook her head, "And that's the problem. It's strange. You've never cared about things like that before. It's almost as though you've become a different person."