Chapter 5

Blackwood Manor was massive, but it felt almost deserted. As I walked through the grounds, I barely saw any servants and a few guards on patrol.

There were hardly any flowers or trees, and the whole place radiated a cold, hostile atmosphere, almost menacing in its silence. It didn't feel like a home at all; it was more like a giant, meticulously designed military fortress.

Donald led the way in silence, and I followed quietly behind. I could feel countless eyes watching me from the shadows.

Alexander's secret guards were like hounds lurking in the darkness, ready to pounce and rip me apart at any moment. I forced myself to stay composed, refusing to look away.

Finally, we stopped in front of a study. The door stood open. Donald paused, motioned me inside, and then stepped aside. I took a deep breath and walked in.

The study was spacious, with no trace of luxury, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves packed with books, most of them about military tactics and strategy.

The air was filled with the faint scent of ink, and underneath it all, a subtle, lingering hint of blood.

A tall figure stood at the window with his back to me. He wore a dark robe, his hair simply tied up with a pin. He stood straight as a pine, broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, and from behind, his presence was intimidating.

This was Alexander, who wielded power over the entire court, making every official tremble at his name. He was also the one who, in my previous life, personally sent Edward to the executioner.

I stopped in my tracks, faced his back, and offered a deep, graceful bow. "Isabelle Hartwell, daughter of the Hartwell family, pays her respects to Your Grace."

He didn't turn around or say a word. The silence in the room was almost suffocating. I could hear my own heart pounding like a drum. Not knowing what he intended, I remained in my bow, waiting.

Seconds dragged by, and sweat began to bead on my forehead. As I felt I couldn't hold the bow any longer, he finally moved. He turned around slowly, and I finally saw his face.

His face was strikingly handsome, yet utterly terrifying. His features were sharp and angular, as if carved by a blade. It was the kind of face that could make any woman in Amiston lose her mind.

But at the corner of his left eye, a vicious scar ran from his brow all the way down to his cheekbone. That scar shattered the perfection of his looks, lending him an air of fierce brutality.

His eyes, though, were the most terrifying part. They were bottomless. When he looked at me, it felt like a snake had coiled around my heart, freezing my blood solid.

This was Alexander. Even the rumors didn't do him ice. He was far more terrifying in person.

"Isabelle?" Alexander finally spoke, his voice deep and icy, like steel tempered in frost. "Lift your head."

I obeyed, slowly raising my head and looking straight into his eyes. I couldn't let the slightest fear show. If I faltered now, I'd be defeated.

He was sizing me up, his gaze razor-sharp, as if he could pierce right through my skin and see into the depths of my soul.

"That's bold of you," Alexander said. He strode toward me; each step felt like a hammer pounding on my chest. "You brought the gifts meant for someone else, marched right up to Blackwood Manor, and boldly declared you'd marry me.

"Do you realize that alone is enough for me to charge you with disrespecting the royal bloodline? I could have you, and your entire Hartwell family, lose your heads."

He stopped inches from me, looming over me, his shadow swallowing me whole. The metallic tang of blood on him seemed to thicken in the air, making it almost suffocating.

I forced myself to smile, swallowing my fear. "I admit my guilt, but I also know Your Grace won't do it."

Alexander raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Oh? And why is that?"

"A smart man would see the value in keeping me alive," I said, lifting my chin and letting my gaze linger on his scar. "So you never make a bad bargain. What I can bring to you is far more rewarding than my life."

A flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes. "What could you, a girl locked away in the inner chambers, possibly offer me? Money? I've got more than enough. Power?"

His lips curled into a colder smile. "Who in this world, besides the one sitting on the throne, could possibly outrank me?"

He was telling the truth. None of those ordinary things could ever impress him.

I was prepared for this. "You're right, Your Grace. Money and power mean nothing to you. But what you lack is someone who can be your blade, cutting down your enemies and clearing your path."

Alexander's gaze shifted, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he looked at me. "You think you're up to the task?"

"Yes," I said, meeting his piercing gaze, each word clear and unwavering. "I know who your greatest rival is. I know their weak spots and leverage. And I know exactly who you most want eliminated right now."

I paused, locking eyes with him, and let the name slip from my lips. "Edward."

The moment I said it, I saw the amusement and disdain drain from Alexander's eyes. In their place was murderous intent so intense it felt like a blade in the air, and a hint of shock he himself didn't seem to notice.

The air in the study instantly turned icy cold.

Alexander reached out and seized my chin, his grip so fierce it felt like he could crush my bones. "Who are you?" His voice was like a demon, chilling me to the bone.

I realized then. I'd won my second high-stakes bet.