The sun had not yet fully crested the horizon, painting the sky in muted shades of grey and gold. In the quiet of the West Villa, G6 sat at her tea table, enjoying the serene view from her balcony while sipping a cup of tea. It was the final day of grooming Tina to take over her afternoon duties, and a sense of impending transition hung in the air.
A soft knock came at her door. "Good morning, Lady Reise. It is Janin."
"Enter," G6 replied.
The door opened to reveal Janin, who offered a curt bow. Behind her stood Brenda, holding a fancy box and a paper bag, her expression bright with energy. "Lady Brenda wishes to see you," Janin said, stepping aside.
"Good morning, Lady Reise!" Brenda chirped, her voice full of life.
"Morning," G6 said, offering a small, measured smile.
"Will you be taking breakfast together, Lady Reise?" Janin inquired.
G6 glanced at Brenda. "I believe we are. This is Lady Brenda's first morning here, after all."
Brenda's face lit up at the inclusion. "Then I shall go and prepare it," Janin said, withdrawing with another bow.
"Have a seat," G6 offered, gesturing to the empty chair beside her.
Brenda sat and carefully laid her offerings on the table. "This is a gift for you, Lady Reise," she said, sliding the paper bag toward G6. "I already presented Her Majesty with hers upon my arrival yesterday."
G6 peeked inside the bag and withdrew an elegant black satin nightdress. She held it up, admiring the craftsmanship. "This is… beautiful," she said, the compliment deliberate and smooth.
"I noticed you have a particular fondness for black, Lady Reise," Brenda said proudly.
"Thank you," G6 replied, setting the gown aside.
"And these are the items you asked for," Brenda added, sliding the box toward her.
G6 opened it to find the requested materials inside.
"That colored eyeglass is quite rare," Brenda noted, referring to the pair of sunglasses. "Most find the tint disorienting, so few artisans produce them."
"How did you acquire them, then?" G6 asked, trying them on and examining her reflection in a nearby mirror.
Hmm. Perfect. The tint is deep enough to conceal my eyes completely.
"Zen enjoys inventing unusual things. He gave these to me before, but I never felt comfortable wearing them. I thought you might appreciate them."
G6's attention shifted to a small jewelry box. "Ah, those are the Dimensional Vault earrings," Brenda explained.
G6 opened it. "Only one pair?"
"Yes, Lady Reise," Brenda confirmed. "Sir Keith and His Highness prefer multiple earrings over rings, hence their abundance."
Tch. And here I thought I could pierce another hole. This will have to do.
"Thank you for all of this, Bre," G6 said, bestowing a sweet, calculated smile.
Brenda's cheeks flushed. "I-It was nothing, Lady Reise."
Another knock came at the door. Tina and Lilia entered, pausing momentarily upon seeing Brenda. "Good morning, Lady Reise! Lady Brenda," Lilia greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning to you both," Tina added with a bow.
"Likewise," G6 replied.
"Good morning!" Brenda echoed.
"Lady Reise, Janin informed us you will be having breakfast in the dining hall this morning," Tina said.
"Yes. It would be discourteous to allow our guest to dine alone," G6 stated.
Tina smiled faintly, a hint of relief in her expression at her lady's willingness to engage beyond her rooms.
"Will you always eat in the dining hall now, Lady Reise?" Lilia asked, her voice tinged with a sadness at the thought of their shared, informal meals coming to an end.
"We will," G6 corrected.
"My lady, it may be considered inappropriate in front of others," Tina gently cautioned.
"The mistress of this villa is me, is she not? This main villa is mine to govern as I see fit," G6 stated, her tone leaving no room for argument. She turned to Brenda. "You have no objection to their company, do you, Bre?"
"None at all! I am delighted to share meals with you all!" Brenda said, her enthusiasm genuine and overwhelming.
"Then it is settled," G6 declared.
Just then, Edmund entered. "Good morning, Lady Reise. Lady Brenda," he said with a formal nod.
Brenda simply smiled in return.
Edmund's gaze shifted to G6, a silent request for a private word.
"Tina, Lilia, please escort Lady Brenda to the dining hall. Edmund and I will follow shortly," G6 instructed.
"Understood, Lady Reise," Tina said.
"We'll see you there!" Brenda said happily, following them out.
Once the room was empty save for the two conspirators, Edmund spoke. "I have sent the advanced specifications for the tailored garments you requested."
"Can they be completed by tomorrow morning?" G6 asked, rising and placing the jewelry box containing the dimensional vault earrings in a drawer.
"They will be finished by this evening. The Utility Magic Department prioritizes the requests of their mistress above all else," Edmund replied, a note of pride in his voice.
"Deliver these to them after breakfast," G6 said, indicating the box on the tea table.
"Understood." Edmund paused. "Can you manage without the mana restraint now?"
"I can. The effects are negligible now. The ring can handle the residual strain."
"Very well. Then, shall we proceed to the dining hall, Lady Reise?"
G6 gave a single, curt nod.
The pieces were falling neatly into place. The gifts acquired, the alibi secured, the final preparations for her covert departure were underway. As she left her chambers to join the others, the mistress of the villa moved with a new sense of purpose.
_____
[Dining Hall]
As G6 descended the stairs, the morning servants stopped their work and offered deep, synchronized bows.
This is so annoying. This is exactly why I prefer to be gone before any of them wake up.
"Good morning, Lady Reise," they chanted in unison, their voices creating a wave of formality that felt like a chill through the grand foyer.
"They are likely on edge," Edmund murmured from a step behind her. "After three weeks of your residency, this is the first time you have chosen to use the formal dining hall."
G6 ignored the explanation but found the continuous, deep bows grating. She stopped mid-stride. "I will be taking all my meals here from now on," she announced, her voice cutting through the room without her even turning to look at them. "Cease bowing as if I am a deity. A single greeting is sufficient to show respect."
With that, she continued her walk, leaving a trail of slightly bewildered servants in her wake. "Understood, Lady Reise," they replied, their voices less rigid this time.
Edmund opened the ornate door to the dining hall, revealing Brenda sitting idly beside the head chair. Tina and Lilia stood attentively nearby. A wide, genuine smile spread across Brenda's face the moment G6 entered.
G6 took her seat at the head of the table without a word. Lilia and Tina sat on the side opposite Brenda, while Edmund took the seat next to Lilia. The seating arrangement placed Brenda and Tina on either side of G6, with Lilia and Edmund completing the row.
Brenda watched, fascinated, as the three servants settled in with a comfort that spoke of routine, as if they weren't intruders at a noble's table at all.
"Lady Reise," Brenda began, drawing her attention. The three servants grew still, as if worried Brenda might accidentally trigger their mistress's unpredictable temper. "I did not expect you to be quite so… kind."
G6 simply looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"I have always admired you from afar. At every ball, I looked forward to catching a glimpse of you," Brenda admitted. "I never thought you were truly bad, but I did not expect you to be good, either. The rumors… they spoke of you yelling at servants in your residence, of cruelty, of mocking lower-house noblewomen for daring to linger near Prince Dio. But it always felt… performative. Forced."
Forced? G6's interest was piqued.
"You and Dio were both trapped in a political arrangement. He always resented his future being decided for him. But you… you were different. You tried. You did your best to become his perfect future spouse. Yet, Dio only ever saw your efforts as an annoyance, focusing solely on the missteps."
"You seem to know a great deal about my… past," G6 stated, probing for more information.
"Earl used to speak of you. He said you were changing, warping into something different because of Dio's arrogance," Brenda explained. "He blamed Dio for turning you into what they called the 'Wicked Rose.'"
That's it. The book mentioned Reise being called a rose by Dio. G6 filed the information away.
"When we were children, at a party at the Nocturne head house, Dio once told you that you were like a rose…" Brenda's expression turned somber. "That you were beautiful, but also a predator. That anyone who came near you would get hurt. He believed you pushed for the engagement, that you didn't object because you wanted him."
"Was I truly infatuated with him?" G6 asked, taking a sip of water.
"As far as I can recall, you found Prince Dio… endearing," Tina interjected carefully. "But when you learned of the engagement arrangement… you said you did not want it. You stated you wished to be like your brothers, to explore the fields of magic and combat."
So… the original Reise didn't want this marriage either? Wait. Was her entire 'bitch' persona a deliberate act to push Dio away? G6's mind raced, cross-referencing this new data with the novel's plot. But the book said she loved him. The narrative is inconsistent.
"But you were told it was for the good of the kingdom and your family," Tina added softly. "So you did your best to become the perfect spouse for Prince Dio."
"And he never bothered to appreciate it, instead viewing it as an annoyance, which in turn made me… spiteful?" G6 summarized.
"Precisely," Tina confirmed, then immediately seemed to realize her bluntness, earning stares from everyone at the table.
"So you're saying I became evil?" G6 pressed, a dangerous glint in her eye.
"I think I shall go and assist Janin with the breakfast; it is taking rather long," Tina said, beginning to rise.
"But Lady Reise asked you if you think she's evil," Lilia piped up innocently, completely missing Tina's attempt to flee. Tina shot her a withering glare.
"I do not believe Lady Reise is evil," Brenda declared, her smile returning. "Since my arrival yesterday, I have not heard a single person in the main villa speak ill of her."
G6's attention shifted back to Brenda. "They said that after your initial… outburst upon arriving three weeks ago, you ceased your reprimands. The main villa has been peaceful since. They all seem to respect you for being a… 'chill' mistress, I believe is the term they used."
"They 'like' me? You just said I yelled at them for three days straight," G6 pointed out. Though that was the original Reise, not me.
"They concluded you were likely stressed from the long journey," Edmund added smoothly.
"Tch. You even disappeared because you thought Lady Reise hated you," Lilia said, unable to resist adding to the story.
"Silence, you little gossip!" Edmund barked, his ears turning red.
"The consensus is that they still find your presence… intimidating," Tina stated, reclaiming her seat with a sigh of defeat. "But that is the extent of it. There is no active fear or dislike."
"The Worthons have always been good to their people, after all," Brenda said proudly.
"Indeed, though the main branch may produce the occasional… prickly individual," Tina added, a master of the subtle, respectful jab.
"Say it plainly," G6 said, a faint smirk touching her lips at Tina's nerve.
"It looks like this room is cozier than I remembered."
A new voice came from the doorway. It was Janin standing there, and behind her was a large, imposing man.
"Who's the big guy?" G6 asked, her filter entirely absent.
"This 'big guy' is the one who wakes at an ungodly hour to prepare your liquid vegetables and breakfast," the man said, his voice rich with sarcasm. It was Alistair, the head chef.
Ah. So, this is the man who's been feeding me.
"If you hate your job that much, you're free to find a new profession at any time," G6 replied flatly.
"Just as Edmund said, your sharp tongue is as quick as your wit," Alistair retorted, arriving at her side and setting down a bowl of broth and fresh bread with practiced efficiency.
G6 shot a look at Edmund, who suddenly found the wall sconces incredibly fascinating.
"The pastries today are lemon cake and strawberry. The favorites of the lady in black," Alistair announced.
"It seems your manners evaporated from facing the furnace twenty-four hours a day," G6 observed.
"Please forgive my husband," Janin interjected, serving Brenda. "He may act arrogant, but he cares a great deal for your well-being." Tina began serving Edmund and Lilia.
"I can feel the overwhelming sincerity," G6 deadpanned.
"Perhaps this broth, Lady Reise, will help thaw your frozen heart," Alistair grumbled.
If you can remember, Alistair is a hot-headed chef who takes immense pride in his craft. He used to despise the old Reise for constantly rejecting his food. As a veteran royal chef, his tongue is as sharp as his knives.
"Do not listen to him, Lady Reise," Janin said, pouring G6 a cup of tea. "When word reached the kitchen that you had fainted, he was sick with worry. He blamed himself for not preparing a healthy smoothie for you sooner. That is why every dish he prepares for you is now packed with nutrients."
"Must you share that…" Alistair muttered, uncharacteristically flustered. "It's embarrassing."
Edmund and Lilia laughed. "The hot-headed Alistair is embarrassed!" Lilia teased.
"Do not address me so informally, you uncultured brat!" Alistair shot back, though there was no real heat in it.
Brenda simply smiled, soaking in the heartwarming, chaotic atmosphere. G6 showed no outward reaction, but deep inside, she found the scene… peaceful. A stark contrast to her past life, where she ate alone in a stark basement after training. Here, the table was alive. She was not alone. And though she would never admit it, a part of her, buried deep beneath the layers of a Reaper's conditioning, quietly appreciated it.
____
After breakfast, the group made their way toward the back of the villa, heading for the path that led to the Royal Collegium.
"Mr. Alistair is a magnificent cook!" Brenda declared, thoroughly satisfied.
"Yes, Lady Brenda! Alistair is the very best!" Lilia agreed cheerfully.
"Right, you little charmer? No wonder Lady Reise has a soft spot for you," Brenda said, playfully nudging Lilia.
"You think so, Lady Brenda?" Lilia asked, walking alongside her as if they were old friends.
"Of course! I noticed it the very first day we all met!"
Lilia blushed, beaming with happiness. G6 remained silent, walking a few paces behind them, with Tina and Edmund bringing up the rear.
As they reached the path to ivy-covered wall that marked the path to the Collegium, they found three figures waiting patiently. G6's brows furrowed in immediate annoyance.
Brenda and Lilia stopped short a few paces away.
"Good morning, Your Highness! And Sir Keith, Sir Earl," Lilia greeted in her small, polite voice.
Tina and Edmund offered deep, respectful bows from behind G6.
"Tch. Why are you lot here?" Brenda asked, her tone dripping with annoyance, as if they were intruding on a private moment.
Their eyes, however, were fixed not on Brenda, but on G6, who had come to a halt and crossed her arms over her chest. The three men seemed uncharacteristically timid, avoiding direct eye contact—a clear lingering effect of the previous day's scandal.
"Why are you three acting so strange?" Brenda pressed, prying.
"Shut up," Keith muttered, his usual boisterous energy completely absent.
"Ah. Perhaps the memory of my bare back is still fresh in their minds," G6 teased, a sharp, knowing smirk playing on her lips.
The three men didn't retort. Instead, they looked away, various shades of pink and red coloring their cheeks.
"We were informed by Janin that you had nearly finished breakfast, so we decided to wait," Earl explained, his gaze fixed on a particularly interesting patch of ivy. "We thought you might be heading to the training grounds."
"My morning training routine resumes tomorrow. I have a final session with Tina today," G6 stated.
"I see. So you will be at the Main Palace tomorrow afternoon," Dio said, finally finding the courage to look at her.
Tch. I hate guys like him. Why is he talking to me again if he finds my very existence so irritating? He's that kind of person they're talking back to in my world. 'I hate you, don't leave me.' Tch
"That is none of your business," G6 shot back, a flat dismissal of his prying.
"Oh…" a delicate, familiar voice interjected from behind them. "It is so rare to see you all gathered together like this." Eliza had arrived, her comment a subtle jab at G6's usual absence.
"Good morning, Your Highness," she simpered, curtsying deeply to Dio. "And to you all, esteemed Pillars."
G6's eyes swept over Eliza from head to toe in a cold, analytical assessment.
"I heard you have finally moved into the main building, Lady Brenda," Eliza added, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.
"Yes!" Brenda answered cheerfully.
"How do you find it? It is the quietest quarters in the entire villa, is it not? All the servants clock out quite early, as Lady Reise does not keep them for tasks beyond their routine," Eliza said, her words sweetly laced with an implication of idleness and loneliness.
That's right. When early night falls, the main villa is a tomb. Unlike the annexes, where the lights and footsteps burn late. What a drag.
"The main building is far cozier than you might imagine," Brenda countered, her pride evident. "You are right, it is quiet at night, but it is not a sad quiet. Especially now that I may share all my meals with Lady Reise."
"What? You're going to always eat with Reise now?" Keith's jealousy was palpable.
"Yes, so shut your mouth," Brenda fired back.
"I see. I am glad you are settling in well, Lady Brenda," Eliza said, her smile becoming strained.
What is this bitch's deal? Why is she acting like she's the lady of the manor? This is exactly why I hated people like her back in school—acts like the boss.
Thoroughly annoyed, G6 simply walked forward, brushing past the entire group without a single word.
Edmund and Tina exchanged a weary glance. "It seems we have disturbed Lady Reise's peaceful morning," Edmund said with a sigh, offering the group a curt bow before hurrying after their mistress.
Eliza's eyes darted to Dio, seeking his attention, but he was already striding after G6, leaving her standing alone and ignored.
"This is all your fault!" Brenda accused Keith and Earl before flouncing off after the others.
Dio quickly caught up to G6's brisk pace. "Walk slowly. You have just eaten," he advised, his tone laced with a concern that felt foreign.
"Stop pretending you care," G6 retorted without breaking stride.
"It is rather early to be picking a fight."
"Can you not simply stay away from me, as you used to? Or, if your curiosity about my training is so overwhelming, just observe from a distance until you are satisfied," G6 said, still refusing to look at him.
"What has gotten into you?"
"I should be asking you that," G6 countered, stopping abruptly at the shimmering barrier wall of the Collegium. She turned to face him, her gaze a cold, deadpan challenge. "You said I was like a rose. That anyone who gets close to me gets hurt." She held his eyes, ensuring the words struck home. "It will happen. If you keep coming near me." With that final warning, she tapped her access card against the barrier and stepped through, vanishing from sight.
Dio was left standing in silence, her words echoing in his mind. She remembered. She remembered what I said to her seven years ago… Reise… you don't understand. I have my reasons why I've been acting like that before…
The others caught up to find him rooted to the spot, staring at the empty space where she had been.
"Ah, looks like Reise beat you in a battle of words again," Keith teased, tapping his own card and passing through the barrier.
"Serves you right," Brenda added with a huff, following suit.
"You really should not provoke her like that," Earl said, jumping to a conclusion just to smirk and tease Dio before he, too, disappeared.
G6's servants offered him another silent, pitying bow before entering. Eliza's maid followed quickly after.
Finally, only Eliza and Dio remained.
"Prince Dio, are you quite alright?" she asked, her voice soft with feigned concern. She reached out, placing a hand on his arm.
Dio snapped out of his reverie and immediately pulled his arm away as if burned. "Refrain from touching me," he stated, his voice cold and regal. "I am a Prince." He finally looked at her, his expression devoid of warmth. "And I am engaged." The words were a final, absolute dismissal. He turned and walked through the barrier, leaving Eliza standing alone, her carefully constructed composure finally cracking into one of pure, humiliated fury.
_____
The day passed quietly after the morning's tense interactions. Keith and Earl had little time to lounge about, occupied with grooming Eliza, Brenda, and Zen for their respective roles. Furthermore, the knight recruitment was now only three days away, demanding their attention.
However, the silence emanating from Dio's office was not due to the impending event. It was born from a churning vortex of memory and regret, a revisiting of the past he had long tried to bury.
He was right to have been cold to her before. His reasons, he had always told himself, were just.
[Flashback]
Ten Years Ago.
Reise Worthon, 8 years old.
Prince Dio Einston, 10 years old.
Hours after the formal announcement of their engagement had shaken the court, a young Reise was left in a guest room of the Einston palace with her father.
"Father, why?" Little Reise's voice was small, confused.
"What do you mean, sweetheart?" Mr. Worthon replied, his tone gentle but weary.
"Why am I being promised to the Prince when my older brothers aren't forced to be engaged to anyone?" she asked, her grey eyes, so like the woman she would become, brimming with unshed tears.
"Sweetheart… listen," her father began, kneeling to her level. "Prince Dio is destined to assume his uncle's position as the Grand Duke of Internal Affairs. It is not a simple title; he will oversee the stability of the entire kingdom from within. As the Prime Minister of External Affairs, this union is… imperative for our family's standing. The crown needs a powerful house to support him, and that house is ours."
But Prince Dio, having left a book behind, had returned to the door just in time to hear Reise's voice rise in a frustrated, tearful sob.
"I DON'T WANT TO MARRY HIM! I WANT TO BE LIKE BIG BROTHERS! I WANT TO EXPLORE MAGIC, MASTER COMBAT! I WANT TO BE A GUARDIAN OF THE SKY, NOT JUST A… A ROYAL WIFE!"
The words struck the young Dio like a physical blow. She was just like me. Trapped. A pawn in this political game. He didn't retrieve his book. He turned and walked away, the sound of her crying etching itself into his memory.
Inside the room, Mr. Worthon hugged his distraught daughter. "Please, Reise… Being a Guardian of the Sky is not just about battle. It is also about ensuring the kingdom's heart remains strong. That is our role, as the first pillar. We must fulfill our duty,
And so, Reise had taken those words to heart. She made it her sole purpose to become the perfect future spouse for Prince Dio, believing it was her patriotic and familial duty.
Dio, on the other hand, had made it his purpose to set her free. He began to treat her with cold indifference, ignoring her efforts, subtly mocking her attempts to please him—all in a misguided attempt to make her so miserable she would reject the engagement herself.
He never anticipated that her sense of duty would be so absolute. Her determination to fulfill her "purpose" slowly, tragically, twisted into a genuine, desperate love and dedication toward the prince who offered her only scorn. His plan to liberate her had backfired catastrophically. His pity for the girl stuck in the same gilded cage as him curdled into frustration and displeasure as he watched her personality warp under the pressure, becoming the sharp-tongued, often cruel "Wicked Rose" the court whispered about.
All of it—her unhappiness, her transformation, the person she became—was because of him. He had been trying to break the chains, only to forge them tighter himself, all while remaining utterly oblivious to the fact that the girl he was trying to save was dying inside because of his actions.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
The night had grown deep, and Dio was a prisoner of his own tumultuous thoughts. Seeking solace, or perhaps oblivion, he strode down the silent stairs of the sleeping Annex-Unus, making his way to the liquor storage tucked away behind the building.
As he walked through the dark, deserted halls, his mind replayed the past, each step cementing his realization.
I thought I was being kind. I thought I was giving her an escape route by being the villain she could easily despise and refuse. I never imagined her resolve would be so… absolute. She interpreted my rejection as a challenge to overcome, a flaw in herself to fix. Her father's words about 'purpose' built a wall around her that my cruelty only reinforced. I was not freeing her; I was hammering the nails into her coffin myself. And all this time, I believed my actions were noble. What a profound, arrogant fool I have been.
He sighed heavily, the weight of his regret a physical pressure in his chest. When he reached the storage room, he found the door ajar, light spilling out into the darkness.
"Who could that be?" he muttered to himself. "Don't tell me it's Keith…" he said, one brow raised in suspicion.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The tall corridors of shelves, lined with expensive and delicate liquors, appeared empty at first glance. He moved slowly down one aisle, his footsteps silent on the stone floor.
As he rounded a corner, he stopped short.
There, leaning against a heavy oak table, was a woman in a simple black satin nightdress. One hand served as a pillow for her head, the other hung limply at her side, fingers loosely curled around the neck of a bottle of potent whiskey that was moments from slipping from her grasp.
"Reise?" he breathed, his voice barely a whisper.
He moved swiftly, catching the falling bottle before it could shatter on the floor and setting it safely on the table.
Only then did he see the evidence: two empty bottles of the same brutal whiskey, and the one she'd been holding, now half-empty.
"Did she drink all of this?" he asked the silent room, his voice a mix of disbelief and awe. "Three glasses of this would render a novice unconscious. To finish two and a half bottles… her tolerance is monstrous." A strange sense of amusement warred with his concern.
Why is she here, of all places?
G6 was sleeping soundly, her hair cascading over her face like a curtain. Dio reached out, his movements hesitant, and gently brushed the strands away.
The face revealed was delicate, strikingly beautiful even in sleep, devoid of any cosmetics or pretense. It was just her. Pure, unguarded, and heartbreakingly serene.
Dio's breath caught in his throat, his heart giving a painful, skipping beat at the sight.
"I am sorry," he whispered, the words meant for the years of pain he had caused, both seen and unseen. "For all of it."
His gaze dropped to her lips, slightly parted and flushed from the alcohol. What happened next was not a decision made by his mind, but an impulse born of a decade of tangled emotions and newfound regret.
He leaned down and kissed her.
It was brief, a mere brush of his lips against hers, lasting no more than three seconds before the reality of his actions crashed down on him. He jerked back as if burned, putting a few precious inches between them.
At that exact moment, G6's eyes snapped open. There was no drowsy confusion, only instant, sharp awareness, as if a switch had been flipped.
"It's fucking burning," she slurred, her voice a low, gravelly rasp thick with alcohol.
"Ha?" was the only sound Dio could manage, his mind reeling.
What's burning? The whiskey?
He was utterly unaware that the searing sensation was not from any external source, but from within her. The hidden chain-rose tattoo behind her ear was burning with an intensity it never had before—a violent, physical reaction to a touch that was not an attack, but something far more dangerous and entirely unfamiliar.
In the quiet sanctum of the liquor storage, a single, impulsive act had irrevocably changed the game. A kiss born from years of regret had been placed, not on the brow of a sleeping princess, but on the lips of a lethal reaper. And deep beneath the surface of her skin, a hidden sigil—a mark of a soul meant to cleanse, not to love—burned like a brand, signaling an awakening that neither the prince nor the assassin could yet comprehend. The first move had been made, not on a battlefield, but in the dark, and the consequences would be far more explosive than any spell.
— To be continued… —