"Lady Melissa?" Liliana's voice was sharp as she spotted the girl in the hallway.
"Yes, Your Majesty..." Melissa replied with a shallow curtsy. "Are you going for a walk?"
"May I ask the reason for your visit?" Liliana ignored the pleasantries, her gaze narrowing.
"Umm... well..." Melissa stammered. "His Majes—"
Suddenly, Andreas appeared around the corner. Liliana's expression shifted instantly from suspicion to a cold, aching clarity.
"I called for her," Andreas said firmly.
"I see..." Liliana murmured. "I see. You were with her. As always." She fought to keep her voice steady. "Would you like to take a walk with me, Your Highness?"
"I am already heading back," Andreas replied, his tone dismissive. "I wish you a pleasant time. Now, excuse us."
He stepped forward to leave with Melissa. Liliana watched their retreating backs, a sudden flare of anger burning through her hurt.
"Wait!" she called out. "Lady Melissa, what about you? Surely you won't turn down my invitation for a walk, right?"
"She is going home," Andreas said, his voice laced with fury.
"I asked her, Your Highness, not you," Liliana snapped, her blue eyes flashing with an intimidating glint.
Melissa looked between the two, then offered a small, calculated smile. "I will go. Thank you for the invitation, Your Highness. It is an honor."
"Wait...!" Andreas started to protest, but he was left standing alone with his guard as the two women walked away. He was visibly livid, yet powerless to stop them.
The walk was stifling. Liliana remained silent, her mind a whirlwind of resentment.
"The weather is lovely today, isn't it, Your Majesty?" Melissa ventured.
"You were with His Majesty, weren't you?" Liliana asked bluntly. "Were you walking here together?"
"Y-yes?" Melissa replied, sounding surprised.
"I see." Liliana's face was a mask of stone. She hated being here—walking in the very place where the man she loved had just been with another. She wanted to flee, but she couldn't allow them the chance to meet again today.
"Anna," Liliana said suddenly. "I want to take a boat ride."
"A boat ride?" Melissa blinked.
"Yes. Unless you have an objection?"
"Of course not. I will accompany you," Melissa said quickly.
They reached the lake near the palace. The water was crystal clear, a beautiful sight that usually brought peace. They boarded a small boat and began to sail. Liliana closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over her.
"You said you were close with His Majesty," Liliana said, her eyes still shut.
"Yes," Melissa answered.
"For how long?"
"We were... childhood friends," Melissa said softly.
Liliana opened her eyes, her piercing blue gaze locking onto Melissa's. "Do you love him?"
"What?" Melissa gasped, her face turning pale. "I..."
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept across the lake. Liliana's long golden hair whipped around her face. She leaned toward the water, her fingertips grazing the surface.
"Your Majesty! Be careful! It's dangerous!" Melissa cried out. "You might fall in!"
"Don't mind me. Answer my question," Liliana insisted. As she moved, a rose-shaped hairpin slipped from her hair and splashed into the lake.
"Yes... I do love him," Melissa confessed, her voice trembling. "I have loved him since we were children. But he is with Your Highness now, so we are just fri—Be careful! Your hairpin!"
"It's fine, just leave it," Liliana said.
"It's right there, I can reach it!" Melissa insisted, leaning precariously over the edge of the boat.
"I said it's fine—!"
A loud splash cut Liliana off. Melissa had lost her balance and tumbled into the freezing water.
"H-help!" Melissa thrashed, her eyes wide with terror. "I can't swim! Please!"
Liliana watched from the boat as the water pulled Melissa deeper. A dark thought flickered in the back of her mind: "If she drowns... no one will stand between Andreas and me. He will eventually forget her."
But the thought was gone as quickly as it had come. "Could I ever be happy knowing I let her die? Could my conscience ever be at peace?"
"Help...!"
SPLASH.
On the shore, the servants cried out in horror. "The Queen fell into the lake!"
"No!" Anna screamed.
Ria didn't waste a second, sprinting toward the water.
Under the surface, Liliana fought the cold. She saw Melissa sinking and swam toward her, grabbing her firmly and pulling her toward the surface. By the time they broke the water, Ria was already approaching in another boat.
"Your Majesty! Over here!" Ria shouted.
The boat reached the shore, and a soaking wet, shivering Melissa was pulled out.
"MELISSA!" Andreas's voice boomed across the garden. He ignored everyone else, rushing straight to Melissa's side.
Liliana stood a few feet away, water dripping from her hair and clothes. She didn't say a word. She hadn't expected him to come to her, but seeing him hold Melissa so tightly still felt like a physical blow.
"Your Majesty! Are you alright?" Anna cried, wrapping a heavy cape around Liliana's shoulders.
"I'm fine," Liliana whispered, her teeth chattering.
Back in her room, Liliana was in the middle of changing out of her sodden clothes when the door was thrown open.
"Your Majesty! You cannot enter, she is changing!" a maid protested.
"I don't care!" Andreas roared.
Liliana froze, clutching a robe to her chest. "Your Majesty?"
Andreas stood in the doorway, his chest heaving with rage. "Did you push her on purpose?"