"Snow's still coming down. We're not getting anywhere on those roads for a while. I'm not risking my wagon on it."

"You're breaking my heart here. Think of all the time and profit we're losing. We could have been making a fortune if everything had gone to plan."

"We might as well find some way to pass the time."

"Stories, again?"

"Well, how about one to really break your heart? It's about a girl quite similar to you actually."

Cheran Vendrix always had a plan. She knew what she needed to do, and she did it. No questions asked.

Until... No. Cheran had a plan. That was all there was to it.

"Cheran!"

A hand slid into hers, tugging her into a side hallway. Her basket fell; sheets tumbled onto the floor. She sighed, at least they she hadn't washed them yet.

"You're coming tonight, right?" Ettore, as if anyone else would pull such a stunt. Cheran felt him smile against her neck.

Her voice caught in her throat. She nodded. He shifted, and cool metal sunk into her hand. His hold on her loosened as he stepped past her, beaming. Cheran held the key tightly, afraid to drop it.

"Great!" He pecked her cheek before dashing off.

Cheran smiled fondly as she began picking up the sheets. The sound of harsh heavy footsteps passed over her, almost hitting her. Ettore's brother, as if anyone else would do such a thing.

She stared at her hands, worn from manual labor. They were sore from all the work she had done and still had to do, yet they almost glowed with warmth. Her heart twisted. She would almost rather be cold.

Cheran could deal with complications. Ettore was a complication, not a problem. Problems were eliminated. The second he became a problem... Well, it wasn't going to happen. She would just alter her plan.

That's what she kept telling herself as she quietly stepped into Ettore's room.

She would tell him everything. He would finally know the truth. Cheran would no longer keep secrets about herself, her family, or her true purpose from him. Cheran refused to believe things would go wrong; she didn't work that way.

Ettore's relieved smile gave her a strange sort of comfort. Had anyone else been able to do that with just a look?

Ettore took her hand immediately, drawing her further into his room. He opened the door to the balcony with one hand, leading her outside. He breathed, "I feared you wouldn't come."

"I don't have the heart to say no. Besides, I have something important to say." Cheran turned her head up, ignoring the chill of the night air. His bright smile caused her voice to fade.

Her resolve faltered. Looking at him hurt. He nearly blinded her.

"Still, it's not the easiest thing for you to make it with my brother around. I feel like we haven't been able to have a good conversation in ages." Ettore took her by the arm like he would a woman of rank and status. Cheran had seen him do so with others before. Cheran stuttered, as he brought her to the edge of the balcony. While she acted shocked and flustered, she enjoyed it, telling herself she deserved it. She should have been a woman of rank and status. Everyone should have been treating her like this.

Cheran was brought out of her thoughts as she shivered. A breeze picked up her hair, and Ettore wrapped an arm around her. She looked over the city. It was blurred as the light from the stars and the moon only illuminated so much. If it had been day, she would see the slum where she grew up. She blinked, trying to make out the shape of the buildings.

She should tell him.

Wait, where was he? Cheran turned around to have a glass of wine placed in her hand. She held it loosely. The deep red liquid swirled around. He paused. "What's wrong? You said you had something to say. Is it troubling you?"

Cheran took a deep breath. She had to be careful. It was time to tell him, but how did she do it? Her mouth moved faster than her mind. "Something is always troubling me."

Ettore took her hand in his, setting his glass on the railing. "Then share it with me, all of it. You're always listening to me, I'm afraid I don't do as good of a job listening to you, but I want to."

Cheran stared at their hands, unable to force her eyes upwards. She had to do this. It was part of the plan, and Cheran always followed her plan, even when she was terrified. "It's your family. I should have told you earlier, but my family name is Vendrix."

The air changed, and Ettore's grip loosened. Her hands shook. She shouldn't have said anything. She shouldn't have changed her plan. He was going to be furious. She would fail.

A hand ran up her arm, and someone pulled her close. She stumbled, and the glass fell from her hand. Red wine splashed across her feet, staining her skirt and soaking both her shoes. His head came to rest on her shoulder. His arms tightened around her. He said, "I'm so glad you told me. Even though I can't possibly imagine it, it must have taken an amazing amount of strength to put our families' history behind you and come to work as a servant. To happily serve the family responsible for the ruin of yours... I'm not sure I could do the same. You're truly the best person I've ever known."

Her heart twisted. She wasn't. She really wasn't. This wasn't supposed to go like this! She had to correct him, but no words left her lips.

"Not only do you bear no ill will towards my family, but you've gone further, even being able to love me. Your kind, forgiving heart... I knew you were amazing, but never how much until now. How fortunate am I to find and love someone like you?"

Every thought in her head stilled. Her mind was blank. This wasn't how her plan went. She hadn't prepared for this. How would she have ever thought Ettore would see the best in her?

Cheran buried her head in his shoulder, gripping the back of his shirt.

She couldn't tell him the truth, not after he said that. He couldn't know he loved her because of a lie. She would lose him, and that wasn't an option.

Cheran would just come up with another plan. She would fix this.

* * *

Her new plan was perfect. The night had arrived. With all the attention on the ballroom, no one would ever know. She would be in and out in a matter of minutes. Then, she would meet Ettore. She would convince him they had to elope, and she would finally have a happy ending.

First step of her new plan, she needed to get past the guards of the treasury.

Cheran peered around the corner, tugging her hood down. What she was about to do, what she had to do... Cheran promised herself she wouldn't enjoy this. Maybe if she kept saying it... she wouldn't feel anything.

That was before the first guard laid at her feet. Her shoes and feet were soaked, and red stained the edge of her clothes. The second guard made muffled sounds into her hand as she finished him off. He finally slumped against her, and no breath left him.

She had to do it. If her plan was to work, they couldn't live. She didn't enjoy this. She didn't. What Cheran did enjoy was the poetic justice. Her grandfather's guards had been similarly dealt with before his death, before Ettore's family stole everything from him, from her.

What she did was downright inconsequential. What was two men, a trinket, and a lover compared to the complete destruction of a noble house and all in it?

Ettore wouldn't know; she loved him too much to tell him the truth.

The guards were eliminated. Now, for the second step of her plan. It didn't take her long to step into the treasury.

Cheran gasped and threw her hood off. The treasury had glittering treasure and wealth filling it wall to wall, but it had absolutely no organization. She opened a few boxes, pouring through them and wondering how many other families had lost their own sacred items to this room.

Cheran lost track of time, but she moved as swiftly as she could. Her fingers traced over cold, harsh metals and jewels. Cheran shuddered, pulling her cloak around her as tight as possible. All the heat and life seemed to be draining out of her. All this wealth, what was it for? Was what she was doing worth it?

She shook her head, jolting out of her thoughts. Of course this was worth it! They ruined her family, her life. They had stolen everything she could have had. She knew this.

"Cheran, never forget what they did to us. Fie on them! If I had the power, I'd put a curse on their family name. One day their actions will come back to haunt them. One day we'll have justice. I won't rest until I get to see you proudly bear our family crest and our family name."

Her father's words always hardened her resolve. His memory reassured her. She had to keep going. She was right. He would never get to see her wear their family crest, but she would wear it all the same.

Cheran forced herself to remember his words. She couldn't forget, no matter how tired she was. Cheran fought the urge to groan. She wanted this to be over. How long had she been searching? Was Ettore already at his balcony, waiting for her?

She absentmindedly flipped open a box. She almost missed it, setting the box down before she realized what was in it. Once it registered in her mind, her fingers could not move fast enough. The thin, weak sliver chain nearly snapped as Cheran pulled the necklace on. She wrapped her hand around the pendant and brought it up to her eyes.

Finally, her family's crest. Lined with gold and silver, cradling ancient diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, they merged together, forming a grand design. Gems worth more than her life, more than all of Ettore's family. Oh, how she had dreamed of this, yearned for it ever since she was born. She crawled her way out of the slums; she forgot all those she stepped on to do so. She lied to everyone, to Ettore. She was stealing it; she had just killed for it.

This necklace was her entire life.

Why, then? Why didn't she feel anything? Why was she so cold?

She finally had it! Why didn't it feel like she thought it would? Was something wrong with her?

Her heritage, her life's work, was in her hands, but all she wanted was to see Ettore. He was all she could think about. If she could see him smile, feel his touch, maybe she would be warm again.

Whatever was wrong with her could wait. Time was of the essence. If she wasn't fast enough—

The door flew open. Cheran's mind stuttered, and she moved on instinct. She shoved the necklace into her collar and pulled her hood over her face. She drew her blade. She would just have to eliminate these new problems as well. She wouldn't enjoy this despite the way her lips twitched.

Once she recognized the man at the door, she froze. He had never looked at her like that before. Cheran believed he didn't know how not to smile. Was that really him?

The taller man next to him, his brother, said something, but Cheran couldn't hear. Everything was muffled like she was underwater. Two guards came at her. She backed away before she lost her grip on her blade.

This wasn't part of the plan.

Before she realized it, someone pinned her to the ground. A hand pulled her hood back. She started fighting and gasping, "Please, don't!"

Ettore gasped, and Cheran shut her eyes. She couldn't bear to see what was on his face. She didn't want to listen to the hurt in his voice. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

"Cheran? Explain this, tell me this isn't true."

"Ettore, do you know her? Did you know anything about this?"

A hand grasped at her neck. Metal dug and tore away from her. No! Her head snapped up.

"Sir, it's a necklace, with some family crest."

"Ettore?"

Cheran forced herself to look. His eyes were closed. His arms were shaking. What was he thinking? He wasn't about to... No, he couldn't. He loved her!

His eyes opened, and Cheran had never been colder in her life. His eyes burned, and Cheran was reminded of the look in her father's eye when he talked about the past. "She's a Vendrix. That's their family crest. Her plan must have been to steal it. She deceived us all to do so. She lied about everything."

Her plans had never failed her before, and she wasn't going to give up not even when they left her to rot in a cell. No one had visited her yet. Cheran wasn't sure how many days had passed. She had been given some food and water. She just had to be patient. Ettore would come, she would explain it all to him. He would listen to her. He had to; he loved her. This wasn't over.

Paper brushed against her fingers when she picked up the bowl her food was left in. A key shone in the bowl, and paper was folded underneath it. She wasn't the only one capable of making a plan. Cheran slumped back, covering her eyes. She hated and loved the salt water escaping under her hands. She hadn't lost him.

The only thought going through her head was seeing Ettore. She didn't care about the necklace; she just wanted him to smile at her. Cheran was never going to give him a reason to be disappointed in her again not as long as she lived.

She came to a stop; she was there. Cheran spun around. Where was Ettore? The woods surrounded her completely, but she was the only person around.

He would come.

Cheran would wait. She was patient.

The moon traced its path through the sky, and Cheran watched it through the branches of the trees. He would come. It was part of his plan. If Cheran had faith in anything, it was a plan.

The moon started to slink toward the horizon and doubt crept into Cheran's chest. What was taking him so long? He was just getting supplies, surely. Of course, it would be ridiculous if they ran away only to starve because they didn't approach this properly. Ettore was no fool.

By the time the moon had gone and light peeked through the branches, Cheran heard someone approaching.

"I had hoped you would have been gone by now."

Cheran leapt to her feet, wanting to enjoy the sound of his voice, but it grated against her ears. She frowned, "What are you talking about?"

Ettore sighed, keeping his gaze on his horse. His fingers twisted in the reins. "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not going with you."

Cheran stepped towards him, hating the harsh edge in his voice. She whispered, "Don't lie to me."

"Lie?" Ettore's head snapped up, and Cheran backed away from the fire in his eyes. His hands were shaking. This couldn't be Ettore, not her Ettore. "Lie! You are the last person who needs to be talking about lies right now! Stop talking, stop looking at me like that, stop lying to me!"

Cheran winced. This wasn't right. "You're angry, I understand, but please, listen to me."

Ettore snorted, "You can't lie your way out of this. What you're going to do is take this horse, leave, and never come back."

Cheran stepped towards him. "Maybe, I didn't tell you the whole truth, but I'm not lying right now. I never wanted to lie to you. I was afraid of what you would do if you knew the truth. You told me you loved me. I love you that's true. I've never lied about that, please believe me."

"Fie! How? How can I possibly believe that? I told you, you're not talking your way out of this. I saw it with my own eyes. You don't need to explain anything to me; I know the real truth now. You lied to me. You let me believe you cared when every single thing you did was just to get that necklace. Every action, every word, every breath, every moment was about that necklace. There was no room for me. I was a means to an end." Ettore shook his head, staring at her with disgust in his eyes. Cheran couldn't believe him. This wasn't real.

"Don't do this," Cheran whispered. This was a nightmare; it had to be. "You love me."

"No, not the real you. I loved the lie you built. Even if I wanted to, there's no room in you for love, not as long as you're obsessed with the past." Ettore sighed, regaining composure.

Each word caused a harsh pain to sear through her. This was not part of the plan.

"I'm not! Not anymore! Ettore, believe me, I don't care about the necklace. You're what I care about. I realized in the treasury, that necklace, when I had it, all I could think about was you." Cheran swiped at the itch in her eyes. She needed a plan. How could she make him believe her? Cheran dropped to her knees, reaching for his hand. She would beg if she had to. She'd throw away every scrap of dignity and pride she had if he would just go with her. "Don't do this to me. It wasn't all a lie. What can I do, what can I say to make you believe me? To make you love me again?"

"Nothing." Ettore jerked his hand away holding it as though she burned him. "Your only option is to take the mercy I am granting you, because I did not have to do this. I almost left you. I could have let my brother go through with executing you. Maybe I should have. I am giving you a horse, and some supplies, only on the condition that you never come back to our land. If you do, I will not save you a second time. I won't even look at you when the noose goes around your neck."

Cheran covered her eyes. Ettore didn't look at her like that. He didn't say these things. How could this be the same man? "Why are you doing this then? Clearly, I've done nothing to earn this mercy. If the sight of me is so awful to you, then why don't you just let your brother kill me?"

"I don't have to answer you, but I cared about you once. I cared about the person who you pretended to be so much that if she asked me to run away I would have without a second thought. This for her, not for you. But, for you, whoever you are, I hope you're happy."

Cheran's throat had closed. She couldn't get any words out, and what could she say?

"I hope it was worth it."

Something hit her knees. She tried to stand up and cry out as his footsteps faded, but she couldn't. Cheran's hands fumbled with the object at her feet. When she opened her eyes, agony tore at her chest and a scream clawed its way out of her throat. Water began to roll across bright metal.

It wasn't worth it.

Cheran Vendrix had never gone a day in her life without a plan until that night. She was left in the dirt with a necklace to remind her that her plans had failed her. Every day she would wear it; she would stare at it. Cheran would never forget him. She would live with a constant pang in her chest, where the necklace lay. She would forever remember how despite her best laid plans, she didn't account for love, and that was where it all went awry.