ELARA POV
I was drowning in my own mind.
Every terrible moment, every whispered insecurity, every time I'd felt worthless—they all played at once, layered over each other in a suffocating chorus.
You're not really a princess. You're just a placeholder. A body wearing someone else's crown.
The memory of Queen Isolde's cold eyes as she told me the truth about the swap.
You'll never be good enough. You're common. Worthless.
Every dismissive look from court nobles who knew I didn't belong.
You're dangerous. Look what you've done. Look what you're doing right now.
And beneath it all, the dark presence—that ancient, terrible thing woven into the cage—kept showing me visions that felt more real than reality:
Kael, dying in my arms. His blood hot on my hands. His eyes dimming as the life left them.
"I'm sorry," dream-me whispered. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"
