Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

She must be lying! “Enough lies.” Arthur sneered. “I won’t fall for your tricks.”

Elspeth thought Arthur was acting weird. She saved him and he knew it was her, and yet he refused to admit it. “Fine, have it your way.” Elspeth stretched her arms and snickered. “You’re not the same chubby kid you were. You’re nothing but a dark, evil snake now.”

Incensed, Arthur barked, “There’s no way you’re that girl.” A part of him was screaming at him that Elspeth was indeed that girl, but he couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe the woman he had helped for so many years wasn’t the same one who saved him all those years ago. Something in his heart broke.

“Wait. You think Emma was the one who saved you?”

Arthur’s face fell. “Enough.” Arthur shook his head and ran off into the distance so Elspeth couldn’t ask him any more questions.

Elspeth saw him off, and she sighed. I shouldn’t have saved him. If I had known he would turn out to be someone so evil, I would have cheered those bullies on. She looked in the direction he ran off to, and then she returned to her courtyard.

…

The next few days, Elspeth spent the mornings at her mother’s place, talking about her condition. When it was night, she would go through the escape plan with Harper. When she had free time, she would call Gilbert and chat with him. Those were some leisurely times.

it was time for makeup, which took a long time. After that, the servants changed her into all-red attire. They would have gone for a more modern wedding, but Michael wanted to go with their tradition, so they settled

carriage and would be taken to the new courtyard the Dawsons bought in Blaydal. Everyone thought it was a merry occasion;

kept her voice low

had gone off. Now, he was outside the Joneson Residence, rolling his wrist around. “Released. Once

clanged against each other. “Tell Harper to keep the fighting to a minimum. You saw the Joneson Family guards. They’re as powerful as we are.” If Harper’s

was serious, so he stopped his usual wisecracking. “We’ll

cut off contact and lifted her veil

the wedding of the century. It was the marriage between the Jonesons and the Coles after all. The streets were packed with

would be successful. Michael must have his guards around, and Harper would find it difficult to save her. Yet, she must try. She refused to marry Edmund just like that. The carriage was moving stably, though slowly, as it was held up by humans. That should buy Harper a

an hour had gone by since then. Elspeth’s mind was in chaos, but then the carriage came to an abrupt halt all of a sudden. Elspeth fell forward and bumped her head into the carriage. She clutched her head and gasped in pain. Just when

over!” Harper

on outside. Harper was in full-black attire, and he had a mask covering his face. Standing beside him was another man in

This is the Jonesons’ wedding.” The man