I tensed as footsteps echoed, outside my door. The shadow had fell quiet, leaving only the sound of my ragged breathing and the pain I had felt radiating from every pore of my body had vanished like I hadn`t experienced it.
There was a moment of silence before Ariela barged into the room without a knock. I gritted my teeth. Of course, my "beloved" sister would come to see me like this.
Ariela swept into the room, concern painted onto features normally so cool. I bit back a retort and instead tried to sit up but I could barely make it halfway before my head spun again in protest. Ariela`s gaze flicked from the disarray of the sheets to my pale sweat-streaked face.
She stepped forward,her cold hand reaching out to touch my forehead.
"Seems you are still ill" she said, her voice dripping with false worry.
"I heard you also had a fight with Leo earlier today are you okay?" she added.
I felt my jaw tighten. Ariela was always good at feigning concern, which made it all the more repulsive.
"Never better," I managed to answer, my voice strained.
Arielah sat on the edge of the bed now, her hand still resting on my forehead like some twisted parody of a caring sister.
"You don`t look fine," she said, her tone oozing sympathy.
I felt a surge of irritation. Arielah's fake concern was almost worse than Leo's arrogance. Ugh!
"I am fine, Arrie," I bit out. "Just tired."
Arielah shook her head, tutting softly as her fingers lingered by My brow. "You're burning up, darling," she said, the words a mockery of sweetness. "Perhaps you should have let the prince apologize."
Ugh!.. I prevent myself from rolling my eyes.
Arielah voice dripped like saccharine as she continued, "You hurt his feelings, you know. Poor Prince Leo was *devastated* by your refusal."
If my head wasn't a throbbing mess, I would have laughed. The idea that Leo actually cared—really, truly cared about anyone but himself was laughable.
But all I could manage was, "His ego, you mean."
"Oh no... just let him apologize, I know that you are angry at him because he spends more time with me than you... he's like a brother to me.. I didn't want to cause any misunderstandings between you two.." She answered with mock pity and tears threatening to come out her eyes.
I almost laugh at her ridiculous statement and hypocrisy.
"You are my sister and I love you so much.. I just want you happy please consider forgiving Prince Leo please.. for me at least."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Ariela, acting like some selfless sister? And begging for forgiveness? It was all so... false.
But I bit my tongue and answered carefully, "I appreciate your concern, but this has nothing to do with you."
Arielah's hand moved from my forehead to brush back a strand of sweat-dampened hair. It made my skin crawl.
"Of course it does," she pressed on, her voice all sweetness and false worry. "You two are betrothed."
I let out a shaky breath. "That doesn't mean the world revolves around us," I answered stiffly. My ribs were starting to ache, but I kept my gaze fixed stubbornly on her. "Leo and I are adults. We can manage our own relationship."
"Oh yes," She agreed innocently, still twirling a strand of My silver hair around her finger. It made me want to slap her hand away.
"You certainly seem to be handling it well." she said irritated.
"Hmm.. now then" I gently said "I need to rest."
She raised an eyebrow, still running her fingers through My hair like some cruel parody of a doting sister.
"Of course, darling. You look like you need it, don't forget to come for dinner father's returning early today." She said grinning.
My knuckles were going white on the sheets, but I bit back a retort. "Thank you," I ground out instead, struggling to keep My voice even.
Arielah stood, her demeanor as cool and composed as ever. "Get some rest, dear, see you at dinner then.. " she said, sweeping toward the door. Her hand lingered on the knob for a moment—as if she was hesitating.
I held my breath. Just go already.
I remain silent waiting for her to fucking leave.
Finally, she then slipped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
I let out a slow breath, my grip on the sheets finally relaxing. The room felt quieter almost peaceful without Arielah's false smiles and simpering tone.
Ugh!.. I really hate them
I have to quickly find a way to survive or better yet find someone else to marry. Yes!.. that's a better idea, someone stronger and who we'll help me and of course won`t end my life using his sword rather use it to keep me safe.. my head fell back against the pillow. "Marriage." The thought made me feel trapped—like I was being smothered. I was barely eighteen and already engaged to someone like Leo.
"I can't live like this," I muttered to myself, more out of frustration than anything else. "I have to find a way out. I have to survive no matter what.."
The grand dining hall of Duke Valmont`s estate
Filled with golden candlelight and the clinking of fine silverware. I sit stiffly between my stepmother, Lady Seraphina, and my stepsister Arielah. and finally. The Duke. my father takes his seat at the head of the table with an air of indifference.
---
Servants glide in silently, serving steaming dishes as glasses are filled with deep red wine. The grand dinning hall hums with quiet conversation and the clink of silverware against fine porcelain. I sit rigidly at my place, tension radiating from me like a silent storm.
Duke Valmont eyes me cutting through the silence.
"Althaleya... You look pale. The physician said you were unconscious for five days after that unfortunate' incident' in the Marquis Albagard estate at the tea party hosted last time."
His tone is detached, as if discussing estate taxes rather than his daughter's near-death experience.
Before I can answer Seraphina my stepmother interrupts with a theatrical gasp.
"Oh! That must have been 'terrifying', my child! To think… one misstep and you could have—" She cuts herself off delicately, dabbing her lips with a napkin before finishing.
"Well… drowned."Her eyes glint beneath lowered lashes.
Utterly disgusting
I don't flinch. And I pick up my wineglass slowly.
"I appreciate your concern… but I assure you—I am quite recovered." I take a slow sip of wine before adding pointedly.
"Though it's "odd". Had I truly been clumsy enough to fall into such shallow waters on my own... surely someone would have noticed sooner."
Dead silence falls around the table as Arielah tenses slightly under my gaze.
The Duke clears his throat to steer conversation elsewhere.
"Speaking of concerns…" he waves for more wine "How fares your relationship with Prince Leo?"
A direct question—no room for avoidance.
Lady Seraphina snorts into her soup before feigning a cough when he glares at her. Undeterred by propriety breaking down beside him; however... he continues gruffly
"You haven't spoken much since returning home."
I lean forward eagerly like I know something scandalous.
Arielah gasps dramatically before bursting into tears—delicate hands fluttering to cover her face like she's ashamed… but the glint in her eye says otherwise.
"What is the problem Arrie?" The duke asks.
"Ohhhh sister!!!"She sobs prettily into lace gloves while the table and servants watch stunned at this sudden display of 'grief'. The servants in the dining hall start murmuring.
"Please don't be angry at him!!! It was just an innocent outing between us both! We thought you were still unwell and didn't want to see anyone at the time... so I only gave him my company.. and.. he seemed lonely also..."
Then comes the carefully placed knife-twist disguised as innocence
"He only taught me court etiquette and played some small games because he thinks you're too…" she hesitates for effect—
EVERYONE STOPS EATING.
Instead of reacting emotionally– I lean back lazily against velvet cushions sipping blood-dark wine before answering dryly.
"Oh Arrie… always quick to volunteer explanations nobody asked for.
Tell me, do you practice those lines in front mirrors or simply conjure them spontaneously whenever drama presents itself?"
Ariela chokes on her crocodile tears mid-sentence.
---
Duke Valmont`s voice sharp as a whetted dagger
"Althaleya." The name is a command. "Your silence regarding Prince Leo has become... concerning don't tell me you had a fight with the prince just because of that!?. Do you intend to mend this rift—or must I intervene?"
My eyes glacial, voice smooth as poisoned wine.
"Funny." I tilt my head slightly."You've never concerned yourself with my relationships before, Father. Why start now?" my fingers tighten imperceptibly around my goblet.
Then silence
---
"We will discuss your engagement to prince Leo." His voice carries an unspoken threat the kind that once made me flinch. But not tonight.
My fingers tighten around the fork, knuckles white beneath smooth skin.
"Hmph! " I scoff. "I don`t recall needing your permission on matters of my own heart."
A beat of stunned silence a round the table as even Arielah freezes mid-sip from her wineglass and drops it on the floor like ill- timed omen.
Arrie tears welling theatrically.
"A-Althaleya... how could you speak to Father that way? We only want what's best for you!" She reaches out to clutch my wrist—but recoils when she feels the unnatural heat of the demonic mark searing beneath her touch!
Seraphina scoffs loudly" Oh please! You are just being difficult.."Her tone dripping venom. "Arielah would never disrespect this family like you do! A mere illegitimate child.. seems like your foolish harlot of a mother didn`t teach you any manners.. hmph! Children these days."
The grand dining hall is silent, the air thick with tension as I slowly set down The fork with deliberate precision.
My tone is lethally calm, but beneath it simmers something darker.
---
I lean forward slightly, letting candlelight flicker across mt face as I speak Slow enough for only them to hear
"Don`t take my silence for weakness, Test me again… and I will ensure every last one of you regrets opening the doors of this mansion for me!."my smile doesn't reach my eyes.
"Now. Let us finish this meal in silence."
The table falls deathly quiet. Even Lady Seraphina swallows hard before pretending to adjust her napkin.
The Duke says nothing—his face unreadable. Perhaps he finally sees the viper they've been trying to leash and the darkness simmering behind it, And only one name could come to his mind at that very moment...
Freyah..