Chapter 3

King Richard came in alone.

He'd changed out of his formal robes into regular clothes. He sat down in the chair by my bed and just stared at me in silence for a long moment.

His gaze made my skin crawl.

[What are you staring at? Haven't seen a beauty before? Even if I look like a mummy with all these bandages...]

King Richard's lips twitched ever so slightly.

"Isabella," he finally spoke, his voice calm. "What was all that you said... or rather, what was going on in your mind back at court today?"

I played dumb. "Father, I didn't say anything. My head hurts so much. I can't remember a thing."

[Even if I did, there's no way I'd admit it. What, should I just tell him I'm a soul from another world with some future-seeing cheat code? He'd probably have me burned as a witch or something.]

King Richard's eyes darkened.

"Is that so?" he drawled, his tone slow and deliberate. "But it seems like all the officials in court and I heard some... very intriguing things."

[Great, he really knows everything. If he's going to kill me, at least make it quick.]

"You said Norland got hit by heavy snow this winter, lost half their livestock, and are on the verge of civil war?" He pressed.

I kept playing dumb.

"And you also claimed Victor, the Vice-Master of Ceremonies, took bribes from Norland, and his mistress is actually one of their spies?" he continued.

My eyelid twitched.

"And Charles, the Minister of War—he's been skimming off the northern army's pay and using it for shady loans?" he asked.

I broke out in a cold sweat.

"And you even know that the Chieftain of Norland will drop dead in three months, and if you marry him, you'll end up abused to death?" he went on.

I suddenly opened my eyes, meeting his probing gaze.

"Father..." My voice was dry. "What if... I mean, just suppose I could see the future in my dreams. Would you believe me?"

Mystical angle it was. Claiming a prophetic dream was way easier for him to swallow than admitting I was some transmigrator who had read the whole plot.

King Richard didn't say a word, just stared at me, his gaze so intense that it felt like he could see right through to my soul.

"Three months," he suddenly said. "Norland really will break out in civil war?"

I forced myself to nod. "That's... what I saw in my dream. The Chieftain drops dead, and his sons are locked in fierce battle for the throne. They'll be too busy cutting each other down to come after us."

"Victor's mistress—she really is a spy?" He pressed.

"I dreamed... someone saw her sending messages north with a carrier pigeon late at night," I replied.

"And Charles. Skimming the army's pay. Do you have proof?"

"Commander Eden Mason—the one holding the northern front—in three months, he'll starve to death defending those walls. The supplies won't hold out. Before he dies, he'll leave a letter. Written in his own blood. It exposes everything."

King Richard's breath hitched for a moment.

He stood up and paced around the room a few times.

"What else do your dreams show you?" he asked, pausing and turning to face me.

I hesitated for a moment.

[Oh, I can see plenty. Like how Lady Evelyn, your favorite mistress, is having an affair behind your back, and your precious crown prince is already plotting your early demise.]

Obviously, I wasn't about to say any of that out loud.

"My head hurts... I can't remember much," I said weakly, lying back down. "Just bits about myself. And the border situation..."

King Richard's eyes flickered, but he didn't press any further.

"Focus on getting better," he said as he turned to leave. "The marriage alliance is off the table. From now on, you'll come to my study each morning and serve as my scribe."

Wait. What?

[Is he trying to keep tabs on me, or just wants a front-row seat to my inner drama?]

As King Richard reached the door, his steps faltered for a moment.