Deviating from the original plot

Chapter twenty-eight

Evelyn had been deeply engrossed in her novel when a sudden thump on her balcony startled her. She froze, heart skipping, then carefully marked her page and reached for the nearest object—a brass candle holder.

Gripping it like a club, she crept toward the doors, took a deep breath, and flung them open—

Only to come face-to-face with the Crown Prince himself.

Her candle holder clattered to the floor. "What are you doing here?!"

Cassius lifted both hands. "Lady Evelyn... Were you about to hit me with that?"

"You haven't answered my question," she snapped. "Why are you sneaking onto my balcony in the middle of the night?"

"I know how it looks," he began, stepping back slightly, "but I just needed to see you. You broke our promise."

"What promise?" she asked, arms folding tightly across her chest.

"To write to each other," he said, looking almost hurt.

Evelyn's frown deepened. "I don't recall ever promising to write back. You said you wanted to write to me. I never agreed to write back."

"But I—"

"Besides, look where that's gotten me; people think I'm having some scandalous affair with you while you're still engaged. Your fiancée humiliated me at brunch and called me a harlot. All because you kept sending letters."

"I'm sorry for what Celeste did," Cassius said quietly. "But I've been trying to check in on you, but I heard you were away on a trip."

"How do you even know that? Have you been sneaking into my estate before now?" Evelyn asked, thoroughly exasperated.

"I did it discreetly. No one saw me," he insisted.

"Well, you can discreetly leave," she said firmly, stepping back toward her doors.

"Lady Evelyn, I can't stop thinking about you," Cassius said, grabbing her hand. "You're always on my mind. I know there are rumours, and the situation isn't ideal, but I don't want them to keep us from having a relationship."

"I said leave me alone!" Evelyn snapped, jerking her hand out of his grip.

"The more you push me away, the more I find myself drawn to you," he said, his voice laced with desperation. "These past few weeks have been nothing short of torment. You've ignored me completely... and yet, I can't get you out of my head. You've taken hold of every thought, every moment, my lady."

Evelyn stared at him in disbelief. "Get a hold of yourself, Your Highness. I am not interested in being in a relationship with a man who is engaged."

"I'll end it," he said quickly. "If that's what's stopping you, I'll call off the engagement."

Her expression hardened. "Even if you did, my answer would still be no."

She stepped back into her room.

"Good night, Your Highness," she said coldly, and shut them with finality, leaving him standing alone on the balcony beneath the moonlight.

Pulling the curtains shut, she leaned against the wall and let out a slow breath. "This is madness," she whispered to herself. "Utter madness."

"How did it even come to this..." Evelyn muttered under her breath, exasperated. "I've only met him—what? Twice?"

With a sigh, she shook her head and returned to her bed, tension still tight in her shoulders.

✦ ✦

The next day, Evelyn made her way to Victoria's estate, hoping for some clarity—and maybe even comfort.