Chapter 4

"Seraphina, what are you doing?" Isolde's eyes welled up with tears as she turned to Cassian for help.

Cassian's face darkened.

He snapped, "Seraphina, what are you doing? Isolde was only trying to help."

"Trying to help?" I finally looked up at Cassian, meeting his eyes.

I sneered, "Your Highness, have you forgotten? I just 'died' three days ago.

"The physician said I'm still weak and can't handle any excitement or shock.

"Especially when I see people who have no business being here."

My gaze cut through the air like a knife, landing on Isolde.

I continued, "An unmarried maiden can just come and go from the Crown Prince's residence as she pleases, even staying in my room.

"People who don't know any better might think there's a new mistress in the palace.

"If word gets out, it'll ruin your reputation, Your Highness."

My words were delivered with poise, but each one struck deep.

Cassian's face shifted between ashen, unable to hide his shock and anger.

He didn't expect that I, always so meek, could suddenly become so sharp with my words.

Isolde was completely at a loss for words, her eyes brimming with tears.

Cassian's anger finally boiled over. "Enough!"

He pulled Isolde protectively behind him.

He shouted, "Seraphina, don't overstep your bounds!

"Isolde was just here to take care of me for a few days. Why are you being so aggressive?"

I let out a cold, mocking laugh. It was a genuine, icy laugh straight from my soul.

I said, "Your Highness, did you forget who's really in charge here?

"I'm your wife, the rightful mistress of this palace.

"In my place, I decide who stays and who goes. If I don't want someone here, they're gone. End of story."

I took a step forward and stared at him.

I added, "Now, I don't want to see her.

"Your Highness, let her leave."

Our eyes met, and the air instantly froze between us.

This was the first time I'd ever stood up to him like this.

Cassian's eyes were filled with shock and anger.

He stared at me, trying to search my face for any trace of the meek woman I used to be.

But he failed. I was dead inside now.

How could a dead person be afraid of him?

Just as the standoff between us reached its breaking point, a servant's voice suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Your Highness, Lucian has sent a congratulatory gift to celebrate Seraphina's recovery," the servant announced.

The servant presented a delicate wooden box. I opened it.

Inside, a golden phoenix hairpin rested quietly, bearing the same phoenix motif as the one on my dagger.

There was a slip of paper at the bottom of the box.

Just several words were written on it.

It read, "The game begins."

The golden hairpin from Lucian was like a poisoned thorn, piercing straight into Cassian's eyes.

The phoenix pattern was a mark reserved for the royal bloodline only.

Cassian could plainly see that the hairpin's design matched exactly with the dagger in my hand, the one that belonged to Lucian.

For another man to send such a private gift to me, which was nothing short of a blatant provocation.

Cassian's face turned so dark that it looked like a storm was about to break.

He snatched the wooden box from my hands and slammed it shut with a sharp bang.

He spat, "Lucian is getting more and more bold!"

He stared at me coldly.

"Since when were you and Lucian on such familiar terms?" Cassian demanded.

His voice was filled with suspicion, demanding answers.

I sneered inside.

Now, Cassian was curious about when Lucian and I were on such familiar terms.

Back when the kidnappers had a knife to my throat, and he decided I wasn't worth saving, did he ever think someone else might actually come to rescue me?

I replied, "Your Highness, you must be joking."

I looked him right in the eye calmly.

I continued, "I've never really spoken to Lucian before.

"Maybe he just heard I was seriously ill and sent a gift to me."

My words were airtight, but that only made Cassian even more suspicious.

He knew that Lucian and I had always stayed out of each other's business.

How could Lucian, a total madman, suddenly be nice to me for no reason?

Cassian suddenly thought of something. His eyes narrowed, suddenly alert.

He began to rethink the kidnapping.

Now he was sizing me up, who'd miraculously survived, with a whole new suspicion.

Isolde, behind him, could sense the tension in the air.

She timidly tugged at Cassian's sleeve and whispered, "Cassian, did I do something wrong by coming here?"

Her words pulled Cassian's focus instantly back to her.

The icy look in his eyes softened with worry immediately when he looked at Isolde.

He said softly, "This isn't about you."

He gently patted Isolde's hand to reassure her.

Then he turned to me, his voice cold and authoritative as he said, "Seraphina, Isolde is delicate. She can't be upset."