Episode 4

Once the stiff and heavy lady left, Eliana let out a long, trembling sigh. To say that she wasn't afraid of the Archduchess would be a blatant lie. She feared her, more than she would like to admit.

Avery noticed it. And she promised herself to help her. This time, both would survive the end of that tragic story.

But for that, she needed to know exactly at what point in the plot of Love Among Thorns she was.

She remembered that the first to die was the Empress. Then the Emperor. After... she and her mother. And, finally, the biggest obstacle for the protagonists: the crown prince. Not to mention the secondary characters who perished for daring to discover and denounce the atrocities of Ossian and Agatha.

"Mother, since I don't remember many things... could you tell me about the kingdom?"

"Of course, dear. Anything to help you regain your memory... Let's see, where do I start?"

"The rulers?"

"Ah, yes. The current Emperor is Nikolaus. His wife was the Empress Calista..."

"Was?" Avery asked, alarmed. "Is she dead?"

"Yes, daughter. She passed away two years ago."

It can't be! That meant the story was already quite advanced. If she didn't act soon, her death and her mother's would be inevitable.

"Damn it!" she exclaimed. "She died in her bed while sleeping, right?"

"That's right."

Avery felt like tearing her hair out. Was it so hard to send her to live a quiet, normal life, without having to perform feats to stay alive?

"Are you remembering something, daughter?" Eliana asked, with a spark of hope in her eyes.

"A little, Mother," she lied. She could never tell her that she knew everything because she had read it in a fantasy book.

"That's wonderful. In that case, I'll tell you more... The Crown Prince is called Xylon. He was a young warrior, brave, kind, a born leader who always put the interests of the people first."

"Was?"

"Yes. Since his mother died, he changed. He's not the same anymore."

"Oh, what a relief!" she exclaimed without thinking.

"What do you mean?" Eliana looked at her, surprised.

"I thought he was dead... I'm glad to know he's still alive. And... the Emperor? Did he remarry?"

"Oh, no. According to the maids' gossip—because, believe me, I find out everything that's said in the hallways—, he's been focused on strengthening alliances with other kingdoms and helping his son out of the abyss he fell into. Poor boy! They say his half-brother, son of the concubine Rina, is seeking support in the court to dethrone him and take the throne."

"Thank you for telling me all this, Mother. I really hope to recover my memories."

"You will, dear. I'm sure of it."

The hours passed and, almost without realizing it, dinnertime arrived. Eliana excused herself saying that she wished to return to her room to rest. Avery offered to accompany her, but she firmly refused. Shortly after, Fania, her maid, approached to tell her that she should go to the dining room, where her family was waiting for her.

"Fania, first I want to go look for my mother."

The young woman sighed, realizing that she didn't remember that detail either.

"Miss... your mother is not allowed to have dinner with the family."

"What? Why?"

Fania looked around, making sure that no one could hear her, and then approached her.

"Your mother is only allowed to stay in the west wing of the mansion. That she was in your room today was an exception, due to her delicate state of health."

Avery, of course, knew that detail from the little the book mentioned. But she couldn't say it. The best thing, given the circumstances, was to continue feigning amnesia. That way, she would always be one step ahead.

"Can you tell me why?"

"I shouldn't... but I will because I care for you, and because I hope that this memory loss will open your eyes."

Fania believed that perhaps, finally, her lady would stop being the doormat of that evil family.

"Your mother is mistreated. She feeds on the leftovers from dinner. She has barely two dresses, and the Archduchess, or the guards, beat her for any pretext."

Avery's eyes widened in horror. The book only talked about seclusion and verbal abuse, never about such cruel humiliations. They fed her like an animal? They beat her?

"Bastards! I swear they'll pay for it," she muttered angrily.

"Please, no one must know that I told you this."

"Don't worry, Fania. I'm not the same as before. Now... take me to them. I want to see them."

Fania nodded and guided her. As they walked through the luxurious corridors, Avery couldn't stop clenching her fists. That mansion looked like a palace, built with the most exquisite materials, adorned with the finest accessories...

And her mother lived like a beggar?

They stopped in front of huge carved mahogany doors.

"We've arrived, Miss. Please, go in."

"Thank you, Fania. Please, go have dinner too."

With a smile, she crossed the threshold. Everyone was already seated. At the head, a man with golden hair, straight eyebrows, aquiline nose, and cold eyes: the Archduke.

Avery suppressed a laugh. For being the protagonist's father, he was rather ugly. Thank God, I don't look anything like him, she thought.

No one seemed to notice her presence. Only the sound of spoons hitting the plates filled the room. She carefully sat down in a free chair in front of Agatha and the Archduchess. She tried not to make noise, but she had no luck.

"Sister! How nice to see you! I was so worried about you," Agatha said in a shrill voice.

Avery looked up listlessly.

She forced a smile. Agatha, inside, was seething with hatred. Not only was Avery still alive, but she looked more radiant than ever. And she didn't even seem interested in her or her parents. Her rage was such that she spilled the soup out of the plate.

"Agatha? What's wrong?" the Archduchess asked.

"It's... it's the excitement of seeing my dear sister well."

"Daughter, always so compassionate. You are a pride to this family."

The woman covered her mouth, realizing what she had just said. She looked alarmed at Avery. But she ignored her and continued eating, lost in her thoughts.

Why did her stepsister want to kill her?

The book never explained it. But now she understood: the emperor wanted to strengthen his throne by marrying his children to influential families. And one of them was that of Archduke Richmond.

As the eldest daughter, Avery was chosen to become engaged to the second prince. But the Archduchess would never allow a commoner to surpass her beloved daughter. So, they planned to push her off the roof.

They never imagined that, a week later, she would wake up... alive.

"Avery," said the Archduke's deep voice suddenly.

"Yes?" she asked, barely raising her eyebrows.

The man frowned, uncomfortable.

"It's time for you to get married."

"What!?" she almost choked.

"You will become engaged to the second prince, Ossian."

"Wait... what? Why me? Wasn't Agatha the chosen one?"

"Agatha? No. The Emperor chose you. You are the eldest."

Avery tried to remember if the book mentioned that. Had she skipped it? Did she forget it while falling asleep reading? Whatever the case, now she understood why they tried to kill her. And she wondered... would Ossian be involved? Or didn't he know Agatha yet?

Too many questions. Too many gaps.

She would have to trace the chronology of the novel before forgetting something crucial.

"I refuse," she finally declared firmly. "I will never marry so young. And much less with a prince who is destined to ruin this kingdom."

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