The carriage rocked and rattled along the uneven road, its wheels grinding against the dirt as it carried us closer to the Summer Palace. I sat across from her-Princess Ophelia, Lia, as she liked to be called. She had her face pressed to the window, her wide eyes drinking in the landscape like it was a storybook come to life. She was so small, so fragile. It would be so easy to kill her now. The thought makes me smile.

I could do it before we even reached the palace. A blade hidden beneath my skirts, a quick slash while the carriage bumped along, and she'd bleed out before anyone could stop me. The thought flickered through my mind like a shadow, quick and unbidden, but I pushed it away. Not yet. The timing wasn't right. I have to bide my time.

"Lia," I said softly, my voice steady despite the weight of my thoughts, "Are you excited to see the Summer Palace?"

She turned from the window, her face lighting up with a smile that was far too innocent for someone born into a family like hers. "Oh, yes! I've read about it in books-the gardens and the lake and Longevity Hill! It sounds like magic."

Magic. That's what she thought this world was-a place of wonder and beauty. She didn't know about the rot beneath the surface, the corruption that seeped through her family's veins like poison. She didn't know that her death was supposed to be the cure.

I smiled back at her, careful to keep my expression warm and unassuming. "I'm sure it will be lovely, Your Highness."

She giggled at that. "Calliope, you don't have to call me 'Your Highness' all the time. You can just call me Lia."

Lia. The name made her sound even younger than she already was-just a girl with dreams too big for her delicate frame. It would be so easy to end those dreams now. I suspect I could snap her clean in half if I put my mind to it.

The carriage slowed as we approached the gates of the palace, and Ophelia leaned forward eagerly, her hands pressed against the windowpane.

"Now, now, Lia. I don't mean to be a prude but you know how Mrs. Higgins is strict about anything of the sort."

"She does seem to despise fun, but, such is the life of a spinster." Ophelia replied earnestly with a small sigh. "Oh, how I do wish she would be a bit less of a spoilsport."

The summer palace stretched out before us in all its opulence: glittering lakes, sprawling gardens, and ornate buildings that seemed to rise out of fairy tales.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

It was beautiful-a testament to her family's wealth and power, built on the backs of countless lives crushed under their rule. And here she was, marveling at it all like it was nothing more than a pretty picture. She didn't understand what it represented. She didn't understand why I had to kill her.

The carriage stopped, and a footman opened the door with a bow. Lia stepped out first, practically bouncing with excitement. I followed close behind, my hand resting lightly on the hilt of my hidden dagger. One quick motion-that's all it would take-but no. Not here. Not yet.

We wandered through the gardens together, Lia darting ahead to admire every flower and fountain like they were treasures meant just for her. Her laughter rang out in bursts as she spun around in circles or crouched down to inspect tiny insects crawling along leaves.

"Calliope!" she called out suddenly, pointing toward a hill in the distance. "Is that Longevity Hill?"

I nodded, keeping my tone neutral despite how easily I could imagine dragging her up there alone-isolated from prying eyes-and finishing what I came here to do. "Yes," I said calmly. "It's said to be about sixty meters high with buildings positioned in sequence leading up to its peak."

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she turned back to me. "Can we go there? Please?"

I hesitated for half a second too long before answering-long enough for thoughts of how simple it would be to push her over an edge or leave her lifeless among the trees to creep into my mind again.

"Perhaps later," I said finally, forcing a smile onto my face. "We should explore these lower gardens first."

She pouted but nodded obediently before skipping ahead again.

The long corridor stretched out before us like an endless ribbon of painted woodwork-intricate scenes of myths and legends adorning every beam and crosspiece above our heads.

Lia ran her fingers along one of the large painted pillars as though she could feel the stories trapped within them. "It's magnificent," she murmured.

Magnificent indeed-a monument to everything wrong with this kingdom and its rulers who hoarded beauty within while their people starved in squalor outside these walls.

"It's said this palace was inspired by legends of three divine mountains rising from the East Sea," I told her when she asked about its history.

She listened intently as we walked together down the corridor-her footsteps light and carefree while mine felt heavy with purpose... and doubt.

The lake shimmered under the afternoon sun as we reached its shores-its surface dotted with small islands that seemed almost too perfect to be real.

"Oh!" Lia exclaimed breathlessly beside me. "Calliope! Can we take a boat ride?"

I glanced at the water briefly before shaking my head. Too many people around-too many witnesses-and besides... something about how happy she looked made me hesitate again.

Useless.

"Perhaps tomorrow," I told her gently instead of giving into those darker thoughts clawing at me from within again.

Later that evening after dinner had been served and Lia had been tucked into bed inside our assigned quarters within palace walls-I stood silently by one window staring out into moonlit gardens below wondering why hesitation kept creeping back stronger each passing day spent alongside this girl who trusted me implicitly without question despite knowing nothing about the true reason behind why someone like me had been placed so close within reach all month long now...

Could I really go through with ending life belonging to someone so innocent-looking despite everything else tied back toward bloodlines connected ruling family deserving downfall justice demanded? Could greater good outweigh guilt growing heavier every time Lia smiled laughed spoke freely without fear toward someone meant harm disguised loyalty friendship instead?

Tomorrow would bring new opportunities-but tonight's doubts lingered longer than ever before twisting tighter around my heart refusing to let go entirely...

Weak.