A maid ties a brand-new corset behind my back. This one isn’t a casual one I can take on and off on my own, but a fancy white embroidered one from the bridal store. I stare into my own tired eyes in the mirror. 

Harrison knocks at the door while I’m getting my hair styled, and I’m wearing a pink silk robe over my corset. 

“I don’t think I’ll be able to say my vows today with you looking this lovely,” He says, coming over, and kissing me quickly. I turn away, fixing the lipstick that he smudged, as a maid braids a strand of my hair to add to the updo. “Feeling okay? Are you still ill?”

“I’m much better lately. Just tired,” I answer, while another maid applies makeup to my cheeks. There’s a sick feeling in my stomach as I feel his hand gripping my shoulder. What’s to stop him from harming me like he harmed Angel? Cai isn’t here. 

“Well, we have a long day today, and a long night ahead. I’ll send up some tea to keep you awake,” Harrison says, and kisses my neck before disappearing. 

Note to self, don’t drink or eat anything he gives you. And somehow escape before that wedding night he’s talking about. Best case scenario, escape right now before he owns you. 

“May I go to the library?” I ask, standing up, once I’m in my dress. “It’s not far from the ballroom, and I feel like I should clear my head, and my nerves.” Casey nods, since she’s been helping me get ready, leading the maids. 

“Everything okay?” She asks me in a hushed tone. I nod. 

“Just take some more food to Angel,” I whisper to her. 

“I’ve been meaning to ask what happened to her,” Casey asks. 

“I’ll tell you soon,” I promise. “If anything bad happens, you go to Flint and stay near him, understand?” 

“Okay,” Casey mumbles. I turn and leave, making sure Harrison isn’t in the hallway before I walk through it. It’s bad luck to see the bride in her dress before she walks down the aisle, and I don’t need any worse luck today. 

The library is nice and calm, so I go and sit in the old books section, where it smells like Cai. 

“Do you need any help finding a bo- My Lady.” The librarian says, startled as he turns the corner and finds me. He bows. 

“The Scarlet Pimpernel.” I answer, shrugging. Might as well. He nods. 

“We just had it returned a couple days ago, on that shelf above you. Turned in by that old boyfriend of yours, Sir Imperos.” I get up, and reach for the red book, snatching it down. “Congratulations on the wedding.” 

“Thank you,” I mumble, and go to sit in a window seat, holding the book to my chest. Once I’m there, I open to the first page. It’s just a title page. I flip to the next one, blank. 

Wait. I look at the corner of the back of the title page. The page 2 mark has been changed with pen to read page 206.  I furrow my brows, and flip to page 206. There’s some writing in the margins, in beautiful neat handwriting with a nice pen. 

My Ivvy, 

I’m not sure what to write. I already wasn’t very articulate at confessing my feelings the first time. Since you disappeared, I couldn’t think of anything but how much I missed you. 

I still can’t think of much else than how much it hurts seeing you in another man’s arms. I just want to be yours. I love you with all that I am, so much that your absence has made everything remind me of you. 

Since I’m lost for words every time I see you smile, I’m getting some help from our friend Baroness Orczy. Page 180.

Forever yours, 

Cai

I turn to page 180 quickly, and there’s a quote underlined there. I quickly read it, my hands shaking. 

He was but a man madly, blindly, passionately in love, and as soon as her light footsteps had died away within the house, he knelt down upon the terrace steps, and in the very madness of his love he kissed one by one the places where her small foot had trodden, and the stone balustrade there, where her tiny hand had rested last.

I love you.

I stand up, holding the book tightly. My head pounds, and I have to sit down again. 

“It’s no problem,” Cai says in my mind with a boyish smirk. “But usually a damsel in distress would reward her knight in shining armor with a kiss.” 

He keeps talking.

“You took away my book,” He says, sighing. 

“Yeah. Get over it.” I reply. 

Cai’s blue eyes on mine, his worried look at my bruises and scars. “Did he do anything to you? Because I have nothing against revenge when it’s your case,” Our first kiss. First twenty kisses, exchanged in a mud puddle, but we didn’t mind at all. 

“You’re annoying,” I inform him. 

“Well aware of it.” He says, squeezing my hand. 

I fall off of my seat, gasping. I- I remember. 

“Cai.” I stand up. “I love him.” I pick up my skirt, and start to run out of the room, but something invisible blocks me, and I fall backwards onto the ground, my skirt tearing. Wyatt comes into the room, and picks me up suddenly. 

“I thought you were going with Cai to escort him home,” I mumble, quickly holding the tear in my skirt closed for modesty as Wyatt carries me from the room. 

“Plans changed, he’s going home with someone else,” Wyatt explains, and picks up the red book, tossing it over his shoulder as we walk. 

“Wait, I need that,” I mutter, trying to wriggle away. Wyatt grabs me tighter, and I struggle. “Where are we going?” I ask, as he takes me up the stairs, towards my room. 

“This dress is torn, and your husband says he would prefer you wear something more befitting of your station. The dress is on your bed,” Wyatt pushes me into my room. 

“He isn’t my husband. Not yet,” I mutter, and hear the door lock from the outside. A maid helps me up, and starts to help me out of the plain white wedding gown. 

The new dress is much tighter, with tulle flowers and diamonds embroidered everywhere. It’s strapless, but has sheer puff sleeves that start under my shoulders and end at my elbows. Harrison comes into my room soon, and smiles at me. “That’s bad luck,” I squeak. 

“Oh, I don’t need luck, good or bad,” He says, coming over, and kissing me. I edge away slightly. Please don’t kiss me, p-please. “What’s wrong, Olive?” Harrison asks. 

“I’m just nervous again,” I mumble. Harrison nods. 

“They’re starting the ceremony, love. Go downstairs.” He squeezes my waist, and leaves the room. 

I collect my book from the hallway, and stuff it into a packed bag which I put outside my door in case I need to escape. Casey is standing downstairs in her pale yellow bridesmaid dress, talking to Wyatt who is wearing a black suit and tie to match her dress, as the best man. 

“There you are, Olive,” Casey says, and comes over. “That’s a different dress,” She says, straightening the sleeves. 

“Yeah, the other one had a spill, and this one’s more befitting, well… the wife of a ruler.” Casey nods at my explanation, and hands me a bouquet. My hands shake as I take the yellow and white roses. 

“Oh, don’t be nervous. Harrison loves you. I can see it,” She tells me, then grabs her own bouquet, and goes to take Wyatt’s arm. I look around for Dad, but he’s not here. I’m alone. 

I start to cry silently as a servant brings me a diamond tiara with a veil attached, and puts it in my hair, the veil over my face. 

“Olive Ferrum is crying?” Flint asks, walking over to me. I swallow, and look away. “You’re different, Olive,” He mumbles, patting my arm. 

“I’m fine. I’m just nervous,” I lie, taking deep breaths. I’m about to marry someone who did awful things to Angel, after kidnapping me. And I’m in love with Cai. 

“We used to be best friends, you know,” Flint says, his hands in the pockets of his suit. “You could tell me what’s really bothering you.” I turn to Flint, my shoulders slumping. 

“I don’t know. I’m just not sure about this,” I say, tilting my head. 

“The wedding? Getting married?” Flint asks, and I nod. “You did end up having a lot of pressure on you to accept that proposal. People were watching.” 

“I don’t know if I’m ready. I’m eighteen, I could barely be out of high school if I was a normal kid, and I have this decision now,” I explain. Wait, how old is Harrison? That would be a good question to ask. Flint nods. 

“I still don’t feel like an adult either,” He says, sighing, and fixing his hair. I nod, looking around. 

“And I think my memories are starting to come back,” I whisper. 

“Oh,” He says quietly. “What do you remember?” I bite my lip. 

“I was in love with Cai. I still am, I know that at least,” I answer. “He’s the only thing I am certain about, and now he’s gone, because he wants me to be happy and marry Harrison, but how can I marry Harrison if I’m not sure, and-” I cut off. 

How can I marry Harrison if he’s capable of torture? I look over at Casey and Wyatt by the door. 

“I don’t know if I’ll marry him or not.” Flint looks over at the doors opening so the best man and the maid of honor can go outside. 

“Can I escort you up there?” Flint asks, offering me an arm. My eyes fill with tears. “You can leave any time you don’t feel like you’re ready.” 

“Thank you,” I tell Flint, and take his arm in mine, holding the bouquet in the other. I see Casey and Wyatt step out of the dark as music starts. It’s going to be a small wedding, just the friends that are here and family, and a priest, though nobody is religious these days. Only Casey and Wyatt are involved. 

I look up the aisle from my spot in the shadows, at Harrison. The way he’s smiling is so nice and kind-looking. You’d never know he harmed someone the way I saw before. The music changes, and everyone stands up. Flint squeezes my hand. 

“It’ll be okay,” He tells me. “That’s your cue.” I nod, and step out of the shadows into the light, Flint walking with me. Harrison smiles at me, so I quickly take my eyes off of him, gluing my gaze on the long white carpet I’m walking on. I find myself relying on Flint’s arm for support more and more every step I take. “It’ll be fine,” Flint tells me, squeezing my hand three times in succession. 

“Thank you,” I peep, and somehow I reach the end of the aisle without falling. Casey grins at me as Flint turns and hugs me tightly. I cling to his suit jacket with my fingers, my breath catching in my throat.