The moment Prince Kael's words fell, Scarlet's expression froze. The smug smile that had been hanging on her lips turned stiff and awkward, almost ridiculous.
"What… what do you mean by that?" she asked, forcing a laugh, as if she had misheard him.
In her heart, she could not accept it. Lyssandra was a rare beauty, and any man should have leapt at such a chance. How could Prince Kael reject her in such a way?
Lyssandra was just as stunned. The shy blush on her cheeks turned into a mix of humiliation and anger. Being rejected so bluntly in front of so many people felt like a slap to her face.
For a woman who prided herself on her looks, this was unbearable.
"I don't need anyone except my Zora," Prince Kael repeated coldly.
His voice was calm, his tone firm, and there was not the slightest room for doubt. His eyes held no warmth at all when they passed over Lyssandra. In his world, only Zora existed. Every other woman was nothing more than a passing shadow.
