TRIGGER WARNING: Stabbing (discord server readers know what I'm talking about) and implied sexual harassment (which was also present last chapter oops). If unable to read, scroll down to the bottom for the chapter summary!

"Julia!"

She didn't turn around.

"Julia, turn around!"

"What do you want?" she snapped, swiveling around to glare at Prince Alexander.

"Where are you going?" he asked slowly, reaching out a hand. She could notice his shoulder shake slightly.

"I'm leaving," she deadpanned, turning away from him, her steps echoing across the hall.

"Uh… what?"

"I'm leaving," she said again, spit spewing from her lips like hot red venom. Alexander took a step back. "I'm going. I'm never going to see you ever again."

He frowned. "What?"

"Goodbye."

She continued walking, and she felt like turning around and strangling that detestable Prince as she heard his footsteps follow hers.

"What do you mean? You're leaving the Selection?"

"Mhm." She tried not to explode.

"But… you're my fiance. We're supposed to marry after the Selection!"

"Well, I'm not going to marry you!" Julia yelled, spinning back around, her dress flinging violently. His eyes widened. "Can't you see that?! I never wanted to marry you! I never even said yes! The only reason I even debated it was for Annalisa!"

Alexander opened his mouth, stunned.

"And now I have no use to you, so you better humble up and marry that traitor Eva or that trash bag Giavanna!" She could feel every drop of blood, every vein, every organ in her explode in a spectacular eruption. She could feel how red her face was, how many tears were sliding from her face, how much hatred she had bottled up for so many years and now she was free to say whatever she wanted…

Alexander froze for a few moments, then his eyes narrowed. He pointed a finger at her. "Very well. I'll marry you right now."

She scoffed. "Oh, really?"

"I-"

"I have no use to you," Julia said, her voice box trembling with each word. "I don't even have any use for myself."

"Julia-"

"And what's up with your shoulder, Your Highness?" she sneered. "Got a little scratch?"

This made Alexander clench his teeth. "You-"

"I'm leaving. And even you can't stop me," she said in a higher volume. Alexander's eyebrows raised, then furrowed, then raised again. "I'm withdrawing from the Selection. I'm leaving the Palace. Goodbye."

"No." Alexander shook his head profusely. "No. I, the Prince of Ethica, take Julia Ares as my wife!"

She smiled and stopped, her eyes finding Alexander's. She approached him. "I, Julia Ares, take Alexander Aetux to be my beloved husband."

She was quite good at lying, actually.

Alexander's chestnut eyes shone with relief. He took her hand. "Good. Good girl. I proclaim us husband and wife."

He leaned in. She couldn't help but be disgusted by his ever-so-handsome lips…

They connected, and she reveled in them for a moment, feeling the sweet, sweet iciness of a loveless kiss. She could feel the frost climb from her lips onto his, the pure loathing infused in every drop. It was cold, so cold, that even Julia shivered before pulling away, smirking.

She was very good at acting, actually. Enough to fool Alexander, at least.

"You married Julia Ares," she said in a hushed voice, speaking into his ear.

"Hm?" He was too busy placing his hand on her waist to notice the knife emerge from Julia's dress.

"Julia Ares is dead."

She thrust the knife into Alexander's shoulder and he screamed, stumbling back. Alexei—no, Lord Ares ascendant—burst from his hiding spot and grabbed Julia, pushing her away from him. Her smile widened as Alexei examined the wound, restraining Alexander as he struggled against him.

"GET OFF OF ME!" Alexander yelled, his eyes blazing with anger. Alexei glanced back at Julia. "SHE-"

"It's alright, Alex," Alexei said carefully. "If she really wanted to hurt you, she'd have struck your heart. And she would have stabbed deeper. See how there isn't a lot of blood coming out? No organs were harmed, and not a lot of blood vessels were punctured. You're going to be okay."

"I DON'T CARE!" Alexander squirmed, but Alexei held him tightly. "YOU'RE BIASED BECAUSE SHE'S YOUR SISTER! YOU SHOULD BE KILLING HER!"

Alexei's face fell. "Alex…"

"IT'S AN ORDER!"

She could see Alexei freeze in shock.

"GET OFF ME! AND KILL HER! NOW!"

"Stop yelling, will you?" Julia snapped. Alexander glared at her.

"YOU DARE-"

"Julia," Alexei said, his voice calm yet slightly shaky. "Please. Go before you cause any more problems."

Alexander stopped fighting and clenched his teeth. "Alexei! Follow orders when you hear them!"

"You're in distress, Your Highness," Alexei said smoothly. "You might not be able to make rational decisions right now. How about we get you to your room and I'll call a doctor, then we can-"

"She'd have escaped by then! You're just making excuses!"

He sighed, looking at Julia. He seemed to mull things over before looking at the floor in defeat. "... As… you wish, Your Highness."

He stood and approached her. Alexander stood up gleefully, his eyes wild with excitement.

Julia held the knife that was covered in the Prince's blood, eyeing Alexei as he unsheathed his sword, pointing it directly at her.

"You can surrender now, Julia," he said.

She scoffed and made the first move.

Julia jumped to the side, thrusting the knife into Alexei's face, which he deflected easily, pushing the sword into her with ease. She stepped back, avoiding the attack, catching her breath.

"It's like before," she said, her sick laughter echoing in the halls. "Sparring, remember? I'm the useless little bunny, and you're the big mean wolf."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Too bad," she said simply, dodging another thrust.

"You're my sister."

"No, I'm not."

Alexei seemed very confused at this statement, for he faltered for a moment, just enough that Julia bolted, running down the hall.

It seemed that she was very good at running. She stopped after a while only to see that Alexei was nowhere in sight. And she wasn't even panting!

But now there was a target on her back. She had to go, now. Or else she could end up like Fallon… her head rolling across the floor…

No. She wouldn't end up like Fallon.

She would never.

"Julia? Where are you going?"

Julia stopped in her tracks at Annalisa's voice. She turned around. "Oh… I… was just checking on something…"

The Princess was wearing a lovely yellow dress that reached down just below her knees, floral patterns decorating the entirety of the bright silk.

"With a suspiciously large bag of what I assume are goods?" Annalisa raised an eyebrow.

She looked over her shoulder at the bag. "It's not that big."

Annalisa ignored her. "You're running away."

Julia froze, surprised that Annalisa, the innocent, naive princess that could believe anything that was said to her, had figured it out so quickly.

"What? No!" Julia protested. "I would never."

"What's in that bag, then?"

"Money. Tons of it." That technically wasn't a lie. "I'm going on a charity trip. Giving out stuff to the commoners."

She said the word 'commoners' like she wasn't one, now that she had no family.

"Oh," Annalisa said, still looking very unconvinced. "Really?"

"How are you so smart today? Did you eat magic IQ-increasing beans?" Julia said, swinging her leg over the horse's back.

Annalisa was silent for a long moment, so Julia assumed that she had won. She tied the bag to the saddle, ensuring that it was secure before taking the reins.

"Wait," Annalisa said, just as Julia readied herself to take off. "Before you go… at least let me say goodbye to Sapphire."

Julia looked down at the horse she was riding on. She hadn't realized it was Annalisa's.

"O-oh," Julia said. "Sorry, I didn't realize- I'll take another horse, then-"

"No, it's okay!" Annalisa laughed, her voice brightening the otherwise dark mood. "She'll be better off with you, anyway."

Julia's hands tightened on the reins even more, if possible. "Your Highness-"

"Just take care of her, okay?" If Julia didn't know better, she'd have thought she saw tears shine through Annalisa's eyes.

"Of course. Not even a scratch."

Annalisa stroked between Sapphire's eyes and sighed.

Julia bit her lip. "You know that everything I've ever done was for you, right?"

Annalisa stopped, looking up at her.

"I know," she said quietly. Julia braced for the 'take care of yourself too' talk, but it never came. Instead, Annalisa smiled. "I hope you have a great trip."

"Thank you."

"Come back bigger and better, alright?"

"What, you want me to gain weight?" Julia looked down at her torso.

"No!" Annalisa flushed pink. "You know what I meant!"

Julia laughed and stroked Sapphire's mane. "Alright. Goodbye, Annalisa."

Annalisa sniffed, taking out a light pink handkerchief and wiping it on her eyes. "I'll miss you."

"You're acting like you won't see me again."

"Well, you're running away-"

Julia sighed. "I'm not."

The Princess rolled her eyes. "You so are."

Julia gave up trying to convince her. "Attend Lord Ares' funeral for me, okay?"

"Lord… Ares? Your dad?" Annalisa looked confused, but she stared into her eyes and immediately understood. "Oh."

"I'm sorry."

"No, I…" Annalisa looked visibly shaken. "It's just… who's going to be my Ares now?"

"I recommended my second cousin, Madeline," Julia said. "She was never given any principal because of a disability. But I've talked to her. She's smart. I think you'll like her."

A small smile emerged on Annalisa's face. "Okay."

Julia pressed her feet against Sapphire's sides, and she jolted to movement. Julia walked past Annalisa and to the door at the stables.

"See you soon."

"I wish I could have helped," Annalisa muttered, though her voice was slightly muffled now that Julia was further away.

Julia chuckled. "You don't have to help everyone, you know."

And with that, Julia pulled on the reins, and Sapphire galloped away and into the distance.

SUMMARY:

Julia prepares to run away, but Alexander catches her. Julia tells him that she is leaving the Selection. Alexander tries to marry her right then and there, but Julia stabs him. Enraged, Alexander orders Alexei to kill her and Julia flees. Later, Annalisa meets Julia at the stables and they exchange conversation before Julia leaves.

A/N So ends Act 2… now we come to the last stretch of the story. I'm so excited! I'm really hyped to finally finish my first SYOC that wasn't written by a cringy 11-year-old on a mobile phone! I know it has a lot of problems, but hey, I'm having fun writing it, and I hope you're having fun reading this too! See you next week!