“The other two are irrelevant,” the king said, his tone sharp. “Myles Autumn, didn’t you want to choose General Elias that day?”


    I answered calmly, “Your Majesty, I told my younger sister she should choose Chancellor Corwin. The palace attendants can confirm it. She misunderstood my intentions.”


    Winter immediately retorted, her voice firm and resolute.


    “That’s a lie, Your Majesty! She tried to trick me into making the wrong choice. The one she truly wanted to pick was General Elias!”


    I lifted my head, meeting the king’s gaze.


    “Your Majesty, if you believe that a seer would lie, then nothing I say—nothing even my father said—should ever have been trusted.”


    The king’s brow furrowed.


    “Why wouldn’t you lie? You clearly said that I…”


    A teacup flew through the air, shattering inches from Winter’s face.


    Shards of porcelain scattered across the floor, and one sharp fragment nicked her cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. She didn’t flinch. Instead, she straightened her posture, dabbing the blood away with a trembling hand before falling silent, realizing she’d spoken out of turn.


    The king waved her away coldly, and she was escorted out.


    <hr>


    The king descended the steps slowly, his measured pace accompanied by an even steadier voice.


    “In the prison, I learned what you and your sister have been hiding.”


    He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.


    “If eternal life were truly possible, I wouldn’t have needed to seek out your father. I won’t ask her again. Tell me, how will I die?”


    A bloodstained handkerchief dropped to the floor in front of me.


    I looked down at it, my expression calm, my voice steady.


    “Your Majesty, you should know—I am perfectly capable of lying.”


    I lifted my gaze to meet his, unflinching.


    The king stopped, his face hardening.


    Ignoring his reaction, I stood without waiting for permission.


    “Your Majesty, I demonstrated my ability clearly in the prison. No one—not even an emperor—is exempt from fate. If you want me to predict your future, it will take more than a simple command. There must be an exchange of equal value.”This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    I took a step back, watching him carefully.


    “Of course, you could kill me. Kill my entire family, even. But you won’t get a single truth from my lips if you do.”


    The king’s eyes narrowed.


    “What is it you want? Speak plainly.”


    I tilted my head slightly.


    “I want to know how my younger sister’s wound was healed.”


    His expression flickered, surprised at my modest request. After a brief pause, he exhaled and explained,


    “Her heart is located in an unusual position—not on either side of her chest, but at the center, slightly higher, near the throat. That’s why, despite the severity of her injury, it wasn’t fatal.”


    I instinctively touched my own throat, murmuring under my breath,


    “So that’s it.”


    The realization chilled me. The woman in my vision—the one holding the golden hairpin—was undeniably me.


    The king’s gaze turned cold as he studied my reaction.


    “Now it’s your turn,” he said.


    I raised three fingers solemnly, my voice unwavering.


    “Your Majesty, I swear on my mother’s soul in heaven, what I say now is the absolute truth…”


    <hr>


    When I exited the hall, Elias was waiting near the door. Seeing me, he immediately approached.


    “Are you all right?” he asked, his tone laced with concern.


    I shook my head slightly, indicating there was nothing to worry about.


    Not far away, Corwin stood silently, his expression composed. My elder sisters and their husbands were also waiting, none of them having left yet.


    Moments later, a court attendant emerged to deliver a message: Winter would be staying in the palace overnight.


    All three husbands turned to look at Elias.


    He glanced at them one by one, then shrugged nonchalantly.


    “Why are you looking at me? I’m not the one staying behind.”


    Corwin glanced briefly at him before addressing me.


    “You may return to the estate on your own. I’ll leave first.”


    With that, he walked away. Spring and Summer followed soon after, though Summer cast one last glance in my direction before departing.


    I climbed into Elias’s carriage.


    The first thing he said was,


    “My marriage to Winter is purely in name.”


    I lowered my head slightly, my voice neutral.


    “I know. She belongs to the king.”


    He retrieved an ornate food box, carefully lifting a pastry with a silk handkerchief and offering it to me.


    “Even if she didn’t, once my father returns from the north, I’ll annul the marriage.”


    I took the pastry from his hand, speaking softly.


    “Your father is leading the northern army, while you, your mother, and grandmother remain in the capital. Now that she’s married to you, the king will certainly use her to keep you in check. You should limit your correspondence with the north.”


    Elias watched as I bit into the pastry, a satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his lips.


    “Nonsense,” he said lightly. “I’ve heard you and your sisters can predict your husbands’ fates. Is that true?”


    “It is,” I replied between bites.


    He extended his hand suddenly.


    “Then can you tell mine?”


    I paused, still chewing, and replied casually,


    “I don’t read palms. But just by looking at your face, I can tell you’re destined for wealth and prosperity.”


    He chuckled, amused.


    “My father believes in such things too. He once brought me to a seer who said I carried the destiny of a dragon. Do you think that’s true?”


    I set the pastry down, wiping my mouth with a napkin before meeting his gaze.


    “Destinies are complicated. Even the best seers aren’t always right.”


    He folded the napkin neatly, tucking it into his coat.


    “Then tell me what you see.”