I Didn’t Mean to Kill the Heroine

Chapter 4

The air grew colder, sharper, as if the very atmosphere had turned to ice. Helio’s voice, low and cutting, sliced through the silence. “If you don’t wish to speak, then don’t. I’ve been too lenient. Perhaps I should have taken the initiative to uncover the truth about you myself.” His lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “Next time, I’ll ensure we meet in a more… suitable location. Perhaps the investigation room adjacent to the palace dungeon.”

My breath hitched. The palace dungeon’s investigation room was no ordinary place. It was where traitors and criminals were interrogated before facing trial. His words were a thinly veiled threat, a promise that he would drag me there if I continued to resist. My heart sank like a stone in water.

*He’s implying he’ll put me on trial.* The thought sent a chill through me. In the original story, the only reason Amelita would face such a fate was her attempted murder of Peridot. But if he knew about that, he wouldn’t be standing here, casually threatening me. No, this was something else.

*What other crimes has Amelita committed?* My mind raced. She was a jealous, vindictive woman, capable of almost anything. And Helio, as the crown prince, had the power to uncover every dark secret she’d buried. It was only a matter of time before he unearthed them all—Peridot’s near-death, her schemes, her corruption.

I felt the blood drain from my face. His voice, cold and unyielding, felt like a death sentence.

“I’ll hear about the business you came to discuss today in that room,” he continued, his tone dripping with disdain. “I appreciate the effort you’ve made to seek me out, but it would be unfair if only you were the one taking the initiative.” With that, he turned away, his back rigid and unyielding.

Panic surged through me. I couldn’t let him leave like this. Not when he held my fate in his hands.

“Wait!” I blurted out, my hand shooting out to grab his arm. He paused, his gaze dropping to where my fingers gripped his sleeve. Slowly, he turned back to face me, his golden eyes narrowing.

“Do you finally feel like talking?” he asked, his voice laced with condescension.

I swallowed hard, resentment bubbling beneath the surface. *Why am I paying for Amelita’s sins?* But I had no choice. I reached into the folds of my dress and pulled out the list of temples I’d been visiting. My hands trembled as I held it out to him.

“I’m searching for something,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Something personal. That’s why I’ve been visiting these abandoned temples. I never intended to meet you here. I swear it.”

Helio took the list, his brows furrowing as he scanned the names. “Abandoned temples? Why would a princess waste her time in such places?”

“It’s… a personal matter,” I replied, my voice faltering. “I only showed you this to prove that I didn’t come here seeking you. This is only my second visit. Meeting you was pure coincidence.”

He stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he grabbed my shoulder, his grip firm and unyielding. “Then answer me this,” he said, his voice a low growl. “Where did you hear that story?”

I froze. *What story?* My mind scrambled for an answer, but I had nothing. The parallel conversation was maddening. If only I knew what he was referring to, I could craft a response. But I was completely in the dark.

Helio’s eyes bore into mine, his patience wearing thin. “Princess Seria is a foreigner,” he said, his voice sharp. “Petrin is a closed-off nation, with little interaction with the outside world. So how did you, a princess who’s never left the empire, discover that she’s the empress’s spy?”

My heart skipped a beat. *So that’s it.* The empress—Asilea Laodis Labelusia—was Helio’s greatest enemy. In the original story, she was suspected of murdering Helio’s mother, the former empress, and had been scheming to place her own son, Hector, on the throne. She was ruthless, cunning, and always one step ahead.

But how did Amelita know about Seria’s involvement? It didn’t make sense. Unless…

*Amelita wasn’t threatening Helio. She was warning him.* The realization hit me like a thunderbolt. If Amelita had told him about Seria’s betrayal, she’d been helping him, not plotting against him.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. “I only acted out of concern for your safety,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “I had no ulterior motives.”

Helio’s eyes narrowed. “How can I believe you when you refuse to reveal your source?”

I met his gaze, refusing to back down. “If you’ve already verified the information, then you know I told you the truth. But think about it logically—why would I frame Princess Seria, your fiancée, if I were working for the empress? It doesn’t make sense.”

He didn’t respond immediately, his expression unreadable. I pressed on, my voice gaining strength. “If I were truly the empress’s pawn, I would have fabricated a more convincing story. I’m not foolish enough to approach you with half-truths. And consider this—I am the only princess of Baha’ith. My family’s influence is not insignificant. Why would I align myself with the empress, who holds no love for me?”

Helio’s gaze didn’t waver, but I could see the gears turning in his mind. He was considering my words, weighing their validity. Finally, he let out a low, humorless laugh. “You still haven’t answered my question,” he said, his tone softer but no less dangerous. “Why did you tell me about Seria?”

I hesitated, my mind racing. “Because…” I began, choosing my words carefully, “I couldn’t stand by and watch you walk into a trap. Regardless of my… past actions, I care about this empire. And you are its future.”

For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, to my surprise, the tension in his shoulders eased, and the corner of his mouth twitched into something resembling a smirk. “You’ve always been clever with your words, Princess,” he said, his tone almost admiring. “But don’t think this is over.”

I exhaled slowly, relief flooding through me. For now, at least, I’d bought myself some time. But as Helio turned to leave, his final words lingered in the air like a storm cloud on the horizon.

“I’ll be watching you.”