The morning came too soon.
Yumi sat upright in bed, her fingers tangled in her hair, dark circles shadowing her eyes. She hadn't slept—couldn't sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the cracked mirror, the reflection's cruel smile whispering through the dark.
> "You wanted this life, didn't you?"
She shivered and pulled the blanket tighter. "I didn't ask for this kind of dream…"
Her voice sounded small, swallowed by the silence of the massive room.
A soft knock broke through her thoughts.
"My Lord? Are you awake?"
Eliott's familiar voice.
She forced herself to sound cheerful. "Y-Yeah, come in."
The door creaked open, and Eliott entered, carrying a tray of breakfast—fresh fruit, warm bread, and a pot of steaming tea. But the moment he saw her face, his smile faded.
"You didn't sleep, did you?"
Yumi blinked. "How'd you know?"
"You always look… brighter in the morning." He flushed at his own words and quickly looked away. "S-Sorry, that sounded strange!"
She chuckled weakly. "No, it's fine. I'll take it as a compliment."
As she reached for the cup, her reflection in the tea shimmered—two golden eyes staring back at her.
She jerked the cup away, spilling a bit onto the sheets.
Eliott leaned forward, panicked. "My Lord! Are you alright?"
"I—yeah, just… thought I saw something."
He frowned. "Maybe you should rest more."
"I did rest," she muttered. "Just not peacefully."
Before Eliott could answer, a shadow darkened the doorway.
Ren.
He leaned casually against the doorframe, dressed in dark, regal attire that shimmered faintly with gold embroidery. The morning light framed him too perfectly, almost unnaturally.
"My Lord," he said smoothly, "you look… tired."
Yumi tried to hide her nerves. "Thanks, I guess."
Ren stepped closer, his golden eyes never leaving hers. "Did you dream?"
The question froze her.
"I—why would you ask that?"
He smiled, the curve of his lips sharp and knowing. "Because your eyes tell me when you lie."
Yumi's heart skipped. "Excuse me?"
Ren stopped in front of her bed, close enough that she could feel the heat of his presence. "Last night, the guards said they heard something from your chamber. A crash."
"I dropped a cup," she lied quickly.
"Did you?" His gaze drifted toward the mirror. "Strange. The air still feels wrong here."
Eliott shifted uneasily. "Prince Ren, please don't frighten My Lord."
Ren ignored him. "Do you know why I came here this morning?"
Yumi shook her head.
He smiled faintly. "To warn you."
"Warn me?"
Ren leaned closer, his voice low and calm—too calm. "Alaric isn't wrong. You don't belong here. And this world… doesn't like intruders."
Her throat tightened. "What do you mean?"
"Dreams and worlds have rules. When someone breaks them—" He brushed a gloved finger against her bandaged wrist. "—something must pay the price."
Before she could speak, he straightened up, his mask of arrogance slipping back into place. "You should stay close to me from now on. I don't like cleaning up messes twice."
Yumi frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ren smiled, the kind that never reached his eyes. "It means the last outsider didn't survive the month."
Eliott's eyes widened. "Prince Ren!"
Ren turned toward the door. "Enjoy your breakfast. And if the mirror speaks again—don't answer."
He left, the air heavy in his wake.
For a moment, neither Yumi nor Eliott spoke. The only sound was the faint dripping of tea on the floor.
Then Yumi whispered, "Eliott… what did he mean by last outsider?"
The young knight's hands trembled. He looked away. "My Lord… there was another person once. A man who appeared here years ago. The prince took him under his wing."
Yumi's chest tightened. "And?"
Eliott hesitated. "They found his body near the fountain. Smiling."
Yumi's stomach dropped.
When Eliott left to fetch more towels, she turned toward the mirror again. Her reflection stared back—same face, same eyes.
But as she looked closer, she noticed something new.
The reflection's lips moved—silently.
And though she couldn't hear it, she knew exactly what it was saying.
> "You're next."
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