I wake to the faint glow of morning spilling through the curtains. It's been a month now.
The room is quiet.
No voice, no footsteps, no soft knock at the door.
I blink, groaning slightly, realizing the time. Breakfast.
The sunlight catches the edge of the table in the corner. It's empty. My stomach twists.
The maid hasn't come to wake me. How odd.
I push myself up, muscles stiff, and drag my feet to the wardrobe. Changing clothes feels automatic, like my body remembers what to do even if my mind doesn't.
Once dressed, I pause, listening. The mansion is still. No chatter whatsoever.
Curious, I step into the hall.
You can hear my shoes echoing throughout the hall.
I wander without thinking, turning corners, passing doors that I don't recognize, eyes scanning paintings of people who stare at me with a disapproving look.
The corridors stretch on, empty, peaceful in a way that almost feels unnatural.
And then I notice it.
A grand piano, black and gleaming, sitting alone in a room at the end of a hall. Sunlight spills across it, making the surface shine.
I approach slowly, drawn by something I can't name. My fingers hover over the keys.
Instinct takes over.
I press one note.
It rings out, sharp and pure.
Another.
And another.
And another!
Before I know it, my fingers are moving on their own, playing a piece I don't consciously remember learning.
The music swells, chaotic and alive, filling the empty room with sound.
And as the notes echo, memories stir:
A smaller room, and dim lights.
A man's back as he plays, perfect, distant.
A woman's voice, slurred, angry.
"You think that matters? ...That stupid piano—! Come take care of your fucking kid you deadbeat!" Yells my mom, drunk in my past life.
The final note hits, echoing across the room.
Silence follows, but it's different this time. It's comforting in a way I didn't know I could feel.
I rest my hands on the keys, breathing uneven, a small, tentative smile on my lips.
For the first time since waking, the tightness in my chest eases, and the mansion doesn't feel quite so lonely.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Slow. Waiting for me to turn.
My entire body stiffens. I didn't hear anyone enter...?
Standing by the doorway, bathed in the soft morning light, is the crown prince.
Alonzo.
A faint smile curves his lips—but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Well," he says lightly, voice smooth, controlled. "That was... unexpected."
My throat goes dry.
"...Your Highness," I manage, forcing myself to stand. My legs feel unsteady.
His gaze flicks from me to the piano, then back again—like he's picking something apart piece by piece.
"I don't recall you playing at the last ball," he continues, tilting his head slightly. "In fact..."
I gulp.
"...I recall something quite different."
The words barely settle in the air before—
The doors swing open.
Footsteps. Quick. Urgent. Like it's the end of the world.
"My Prince—!"
My mother's voice cuts through the room, breathless as she rushes forward, my father close behind her. Both of them look panicked.
They don't even look at me. Not once. They go straight to him.
My mother dips into a hurried curtsy, my father bowing stiffly beside her.
"Your Highness, we didn't expect—if we had known you were visiting—" she stumbles over her words, hands clasped tightly together. "Please forgive any... disturbance." She glares at me.
Disturbance.
My father finally glances at me—sharp, warning, already disappointed.
And then, without hesitation he says–
"We sincerely apologize for whatever our son may have done."
Alonzo doesn't answer immediately.
He watches.
Observes.
His gaze shifts between them then lands back on me.
"How fascinating," he murmurs.
My mother stiffens. "Your Highness?"
He tilts his head slightly, that same almost-smile returning.
"I don't recall accusing him of anything."
The room goes still.
My father's expression falters—just for a second.
My mother's grip tightens on her gown.
And for the first time since they entered—They look at me.
Like they're trying to figure out what I did wrong this time.
Something hot twists in my chest. It feels like I have thorns against my throat.
"We only meant—" my mother starts quickly, but her voice sounds smaller now, uncertain.
"That you assumed guilt before hearing a word?" Alonzo finishes for her, voice still light. Polite and sharp.
"No—of course not, we would never—"
"Mm."
He hums softly, clearly unconvinced.
Then, as if bored of the exchange, he shifts his attention back to me entirely.
"Your son," he says, almost lazily, "was playing."
A pause.
"Well." His eyes flick to the piano. "Actually, playing quite well."
My parents freeze.
That...
Was not what they expected.
My father's brows knit together slightly. My mother blinks, clearly thrown off.
"I see," my father says slowly, though it's obvious he doesn't know what to make of it.
Alonzo smiles faintly.
"I'm sure you do."
The air turns tight.
Awkward...
I feel like I'm the only one standing in the middle of it, completely exposed. Like I've just become something inconvenient.
The silence lingers before the crown prince finally speaks again.
"There is," Alonzo begins, glancing briefly at my parents, "a small matter I came to address."
My father straightens immediately.
"Of course, Your Highness."
My mother's hands clasp tighter.
It's subtle but I see it.
It's fear.
Alonzo's gaze drifts back to me for half a second before returning to them.
"At the last ball," he continues, "an incident occurred involving your son and a nobleman."
My father's expression hardens instantly.
"We have heard rumors," he says carefully.
"Rumors," Alonzo repeats, almost amused.
"The noble in question," he adds, voice still calm, "belongs to one of the kingdom's more... How do I say this... influential factions."
The room goes cold.
I don't need to look at my parents to know what that means.
"And," Alonzo continues, almost as an afterthought, "the matter has reached His Majesty."
That breaks them.
My mother inhales sharply.
My father's posture stiffens, like something just locked into place.
"The king," he mutters.
Alonzo hums.
"There is concern," he says, "regarding your son's conduct."
"I did nothing," I say before I can stop myself.
Three sets of eyes snap to me.
My father's glare is immediate. "Silence."
Alonzo, just smiles.
"Perhaps," he says smoothly. "But perception, unfortunately, holds more weight than truth in matters such as these."
"To avoid... escalation," he continues, "His Majesty has advised a simple solution."
Simple
That word should not sound like a threat.
"A change of environment."
My mother's lips part slightly.
"...You mean—"
"That your son be removed from the capital for a time," Alonzo clarifies. "Until the matter settles."
My father doesn't even hesitate.
Not even for a second.
"Of course," he says.
Just like that.
Decision made.
My chest tightens.
"Father—"
"You will leave," he cuts in, not even looking at me.
Cold. Final.
"There is no discussion."
My mother nods quickly, almost desperately.
"It's for the best," she adds. "For the family."
"I didn't do anything," I say again, quieter this time—but it feels heavier.
Real.
Desperate.
It doesn't matter.
It never does with Wonder.
"You've done enough," my father replies.
Alonzo watches it all.
Like this is exactly what he expected.
Like this is exactly what he wanted.
Then, after a moment, he turns slightly.
"Well," he says lightly, "I trust the matter will be handled swiftly."
My father bows his head.
"It will be."
Of course it will.
Because getting rid of me is the easiest solution they've ever had. They've always wanted the excuse to throw Wonder out.
***********************
My parents stand stiffly, faces carefully composed, while the crown prince observes from the corner.
My father clears his throat. "Before– before you leave," he begins, voice tight but forced polite, "anything. You may ask for anything, and it will be yours. Anything at all."
I bow my head slightly, keeping my tone calm, polite, measured. Trying not to let my anger show itself. "Thank you. In that case, I would like full ownership of all the family's diamond mines."
My parents freeze.
"The diamond mines?" my father repeats, voice sharp with disbelief. "You mean all of them? The ones we've been trying to sell for years?"
I nod. "Yes. Every single one. I will assume full ownership and responsibility. The mines, all of their holdings, all profits or losses—it will be entirely mine."
My mother blinks, mouth slightly open. "But they're worthless. Nobody wants them. We've been trying to sell them for ages!"
"They have no value to the world, yet they exist. I would like them entirely, to handle as I see fit."
My father opens his mouth, closes it again. He looks at Alonzo, then back at me, his expression a mixture of incredulity and awkward formality.
My mother shakes her head, exasperated. "You–You want all of them?"
"Yes," I say softly.
Alonzo tilts his head, a faint, imperceptible smile tugging at his lips. My parents remain frozen, completely thrown by the absurdity of the request.
I give a small nod, then turn toward the doors.
I adjust the cuffs of my jacket one last time and step toward the grand doors. The sunlight floods the hallway, painting the marble in warm golds and soft shadows.
Alonzo stands a few paces behind, his gaze calm, quietly assessing. The crown prince says nothing.
The hall is silent except for the faint echo of my footsteps. My parents remain frozen near the center of the room, still recovering from my request.
I glance back once, offering the smallest, most formal bow I can muster. My mother's wide eyes follow me like a hawk tracking prey. My father's jaw tightens, and I think I can see him calculating the embarrassment this will cause in front of the crown prince.
I reach the doors. The handles gleam under the morning light. My hand rests on one, and I pause for a heartbeat, savoring this final moment.
Then I push.
The doors swing open smoothly, revealing the driveway and the stables beyond. My little carriage waits. My boots click against the steps as I go up, the morning air cool against my face.
I wave goodbye to the maid that's been taking care of me. She looks sad. But it's fine she'll get over me really quickly. I hope.
Alonzo remains on the steps as the carriage begins to roll away, his figure framed by the grand mansion behind him.
And behind those walls, my parents remain, blinking after the absurdity of what I've asked for. Full ownership of the diamond mines. They had no use for them, no care for them and now they're mine!
I allow myself a small smile. These idiots don't know the true value after all.
The rhythmic clip-clop of the carriage wheels lulls me into a quiet, almost hypnotic state. My eyes grow heavy. The morning air drifts past, carrying scents of dew and distant fields.
Somewhere between reality and sleep, I drift off, letting the world fade.
A soft ping cuts through the haze. My eyes snap open. A faint, glowing notification hovers before me, floating in the corner of my vision like a ghostly overlay:
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
Achievement Unlocked: "Plot Divergence. Ignored the Storyline and Increased Affection of Another Character." +50 RP
The hell...?