Dorothy walked into the hall after her encounter with Ernest. She thought the king would notice her after a while, but he was engrossed in drinking and chatting with other nobles.
Her heart grew cold. Moreover, with the ladies leaving, she couldn’t stay for long, and she didn’t dare approach the king. In the end, she left disappointed.
As she walked out of the hall, she saw her nanny looking anxious.
"My lady, where did you go?" the nanny asked. She had just gone to bring the carriage around to return to the courtyard and hadn’t expected to find the spot where Dorothy should have been waiting empty.
She had searched anxiously, not knowing what to do and was just about to head to the ladies’ hall to find her when Dorothy walked out.
"I just went into the hall. Why are you so anxious?" Dorothy snapped. She wasn’t in a good mood and felt the nanny had no right to question her.
The nanny lowered her head. She cursed Dorothy in her heart. "Shall we return to the courtyard? The carriage is here," she asked.
Dorothy nodded. What else could she do? Just as they walked over to the carriage, they saw a young man standing not too far off. The two were just about to walk past him when they heard his voice.
"You look like someone who has been forgotten," his voice was smooth and youthful but laced with something ancient.
Dorothy turned sharply. She hadn’t paid much attention to the young man earlier, but hearing his words, she looked over. His eyes were striking—pale gray, almost white, with the uncanny sharpness of someone who saw far more than he let on. He looked at her as though he could see through her. He wore no court badge, no servant’s livery—only a long cloak and a curious talisman of dark stone hanging around his neck.
"My lady, let’s go," the nanny urged, not taking the young man seriously.
"Who are you?" Dorothy ignored her and addressed the young man.
"A friend," he said simply. "One who sees what others are too blind to notice. You, Lady Dorothy, are far more than what you seem." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveIＦire.net
Her lips parted in confusion. "You know me?"
Even the nanny beside Dorothy became curious. After all, the news about Dorothy’s situation had been well hidden. Not many people even knew her name. Moreover, this young man didn’t seem like someone from the palace.
"I know many things," he said with a cryptic smile. "I know how hard you tried to please a king. I know you love the king—not because he is king. I know the king loves you too, but circumstances are keeping you apart. I know how you swallowed your pride when others mocked you. And I know what you desire most, even if you dare not speak it."
Dorothy’s throat tightened. She turned to the nanny beside her. She couldn’t trust anyone. This young man seemed to know the things hidden in her heart.
"Go wait for me in the carriage," she instructed.
"My lady..." The nanny was worried for her safety, but she was also curious about the conversation.
"Go," Dorothy said coldly. The nanny stopped talking and walked to the carriage.
"And what is it I desire?" Dorothy asked, watching the nanny get into the carriage.
"To wear the crown." He stepped closer, his voice lowering. "To be the one who sits beside the king."
Dorothy let out a short, bitter laugh. "You must be mad. I’m just a commoner. How can I become the queen? I dare not have such thoughts. It’s enough if I can just be openly recognized by the king. I only fear he would..."
"Forget you?" he finished for her.
Dorothy looked at him but said nothing.
"For now, everything you have said is true," he paused and looked deep into her eyes. "But nothing in this world is fixed, Lady Dorothy. Fates change. Queens fall. Thrones crumble. And when they do, someone must rise."
She stared at him, unsettled by his calm certainty. Her heart beating fast wondering if she had been favoured by heaven. "You speak like a prophet."
"I am a Seer," he admitted, eyes glinting in the moonlight. "One of the last true ones. The king’s father trusted my master—this is known in the palace. He even opened the Old Gods’ temple for him. My master is dead, but I remain loyal to the royal family. I am here because of that, and I’ve seen what is to come."
"And what have you seen?" Dorothy whispered. She had heard of the old Seer who used to be in the Old Gods’ temple. Although she didn’t know much, the young man’s words had already convinced her. Moreover she was not of noble birth and did not disdain the worshipers of the old gods.
"You—on the throne," he said.
Dorothy was shocked by those words.
"But only if you obey," he added after a short pause.
"Obey?" Dorothy echoed, a little confused.
"Are you willing?" the young Seer asked. His gaze was calm. Dorothy, on the other hand, was stunned by his words and unsure how to respond.
The young Seer took her hand and placed a small obsidian ring into her palm. Cold. Heavy. Unmarked. Dorothy remained stunned and did not react.
"Keep the ring. I will give you a month to consider my offer. If you decide, come find me on Old Lane Street with the ring. Then I will tell you what to do," the young Seer said. He did not expect her to believe him immediately.
Dorothy stared at the ring. "Why help me?"
He smiled faintly. "Because the crown must not remain where it is. And because sometimes, the forgotten are the best tools to shape destiny."
With that, he turned and walked into the shadows, his form disappearing into the darkness as swiftly as he had appeared.
Dorothy stood still for a long time, the obsidian ring clutched tightly in her hand, her heart pounding.
She didn’t know his name.
But for the first time, she dared to dream big. Who wouldn’t want the crown?
After a while, she took a deep breath and walked to the carriage. The nanny looked at her curiously and helped her inside.