>>Hael
Once everyone left the Throne Room, the King and I remained.
"How did you get this information?" He asked
"Well, I encountered the creature myself." I didn’t give him an answer right away.
"Yes," The King nodded, "But you would have told the things you told us today, the last ti we talked about this."
...
I guess I can bend the truth
"I t another survivor." I told him, "It’s soone I cannot na, but he had written down the description of the monster in detail." I have no intention of revealing my connection with the elves.
While Amber was in subliminal state, I went through the book from Aunt Helena.
"I see, I won’t pressure you into revealing the person, but I want to know sothing else."
"Yes? Your Highness,"
"Do you have any plans of fighting this thing?"
"Well, we’re at step one. We only know what this thing looks like and what it can do. We have no idea what works against it, what can be used to fight it. We don’t even know if it’s killable or not."
The book has most magic didn’t do much damage against it.
"The other kingdoms are ready to provide us with aid, n and money."
I smiled, "I’m sure, you already took the money."
He smiled in return,"We’ll have to do this anyway, why not take it?"
"We’ll need to trap and experint on the monster we have in our forest." I glanced out the window, "You should prepare a team for this. Preferably people who can use swords and those who can use light magic."
"Alright," He nodded, "I’ll have one assembled."
I looked at the king, "Your Majesty, there is one more thing we need to investigate other than how to fight these creatures."
"And that is?"
"Do you have any knowledge about the rift that’s in Hollow Woods?"
"The rift in Hollow Woods?" He paused to think about it, "Hmmm,"
***
>>Amber
The eting was adjourned. Everyone left except Hael and I chose to wait for him. I told him he could et in the garden and I was walking the hallways when I rounded a corner, I saw him-Lyal.
My heart sank, and I instinctively quickened my pace, hoping to slip past him unnoticed. But he spotted imdiately, his eyes narrowing with a predatory gleam.
"Ah, Saint Amber, there you are," He said smoothly, stepping into my path. "I’ve been looking for you."
I stopped, a cold knot of dread forming in my stomach. He was the last person I wanted to see, much less speak to.
I kept my expression neutral as I turned around to face him, hiding the turmoil inside. "Your Highness, Do you need sothing from ?" I asked, my voice steady but cold.
He smiled, a practiced, charming smile that only made my skin crawl. There was no one else in the hallway and he made sure to distinguish as much space between us as he could.
"I just want to talk."
"I’m quite busy," I stepped back, creating distance, "If it’s nothing urgent, I’ll be taking my leave." I was about to turn when he moved towards . I had half-turned when he grabbed my wrist and yanked straight, forcing to face him.
"Is that any way to greet soone you used to be close to?" He asked, his tone teasing but with an undercurrent of seriousness.
His words didn’t sit well with , "Close? We’re not close," I replied sharply, "What are you even saying-"
"Corvina, cut the act." He cut my words and made freeze up.
Shit,
How the hell does he know?!
"Corvina?" I looked at him, "You seem to be mistaking for soone." My gaze traveled to his hand that was gripping my wrist, "You should let go, Your Highness."
Ignoring my words, he leaned in, his voice dropping to a seductive murmur. "You used to smile so much more when you saw back at the Cory Mansion."
"Your Highness," My heart rate started to rise as the fear seeped in, "Please let go, I’m not Corvina."
"You don’t have to lie to ." His words, his closeness—it was all too much, "I know you are her," I hated his presence.
"Your Highness, I may look like this ’Corvina’, but I am a re commoner."
He snorted playfully, "You should have gone with a face disguise." He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from my face making flinch, "The sa face, the sa height, the sa hair, the sa eyes, everything," He looked at intensely, "Is the sa, but your na. Just because everyone believes everyone in the Cory Manor died, doesn’t an everyone actually did." My chest constricted, "You survived, Corvina."
I tried to get my arm out of his grip while I kept my eyes on him but he wouldn’t let do it
"I am not her,"
"I already heard you and Serena talking." My eyes went wide in shock, "You can’t lie about it to anymore. I know the truth."
"Let go," I tried to yank my hand away again
"Look," He tightened his grip on , "I know I did you wrong in the past," The mont he said those words, the mories ca back to , "I shouldn’t have left saying such cruel words on your birthday-" I couldn’t contain myself
With my free hand, I slapped him across the face without thinking.
The sound of the slap echoed in the hallway, and for a brief second, I saw the shock in his eyes. I tried to turn and run, but his grip tightened painfully on my arm. In one swift motion, he yanked back, slamming against the cold, unforgiving wall. The impact knocked the breath out of , and before I could react, he pressed his body against mine, his face inches from my own.
His breath was hot against my skin, and I could see the fury mingling with a twisted kind of desire in his eyes.
"Let go!" I shouted, struggling against his hold. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and anger fueling my attempts to break free.
He ignored my pleas, his grip ironclad as he leaned in closer. "You belong with ," he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear. "I’ve never stopped thinking about you."
Before I could respond, he ca in to press his lips against mine
There was so much fear and anger bubbling inside of , I didn’t know what to do with it.
Suddenly, a strange warmth enveloped my body. My vision was filled with a blinding white light, and I felt a powerful force pulling away from him. For a mont, everything went blank as I felt myself get zapped away.
When the light faded, I found myself at the end of the hallway, my body tingling with residual energy. Dazed, I looked around, realizing I had sohow teleported away from him. The first thing I saw was Lyal standing at the other end of the hallway with a shocked expression
Relief washed over , but it was short-lived as I felt myself falling, unable to steady my weakened legs.
Strong arms caught , steadying before I could hit the ground.
!?
I looked up, my breath catching in my throat as I saw, Hael. His piercing eyes were filled with concern as he held gently but firmly.
"Hael," My voice trembled more than I realized. My heart still pounded in my chest, but the fear began to ebb away, replaced by a sense of security in Hael’s presence but he didn’t focus on . He had a poker face on but his eyes showed fury.
He looked at Lyal, "Did you just try to assault the saint, Your Highness?" His usual calm voice wasn’t there. In fact anyone could clearly hear the anger in his tone
"You saw wrong," Lyal replied and Hael put down on the ground and moved to the back
"I think you and I need to talk," He began to walk ahead when I felt scared.
"Hael, wait," I tried to co in front of him but he used his magic and was gone before I could do anything. I frantically turned to look at Lyal, "Hael!" Indeed the Tower Master was there right in front of the prince.
I began to run towards them when Hael grabbed Lyal by his collar and dragged him along as they turned the corner
"Hael!" I yelled out his na, "Stop!!" I grabbed the helms of my dress and ran with all my might but when I turned the corner they had turned around, they both were gone
OH!
No, no, no, no!!!
"Hael!" I called his na, "Hael, listen to ," I began to jog around, looking for where they could have gone.
I ran into another corridor, "Hael!" Shouting his na but I couldn’t see him. The corridors were a blur of opulent decor and shadowy corners, each twist and turn a reminder of the palace’s labyrinthine design.
As I rounded a corner, I nearly collided with a group of noblewon. They stopped abruptly, their eyes widening in surprise before narrowing in disdain. There were four of them, each dressed in luxurious gowns, their jewelry glinting in the soft light of the chandeliers.
Unfortunately, I recognized the won
Shit
It’s my forr ’friend’ circle
"Well, well," Honey drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What do we have here?"
I tried to move past them, but they closed in, forming a tight circle around . My heart sank as I realized they had no intention of letting go.
Oh hell, I don’t have ti for this!
"Excuse ," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need to find soone."
Ravioli smirked, her eyes scanning from head to toe with blatant contempt. "In a hurry, are we? And who might you be looking for in such a state?" Her tone was mocking, and the other won giggled maliciously.
"I’m looking for the Tower Master," I said, trying to sound confident. "Now, if you’ll excuse —"
"Tower Master, indeed," Thorn sneered. "Do you think soone like you has any business with him?"
I felt a knot of anger and frustration tighten in my stomach. "It’s urgent," I insisted, attempting to push through them.
But they wouldn’t budge. Ravioli’s smirk widened into a cruel smile. "You look exactly like her, you know. Corvina." I ended up back in the middle of the circle.
The na hit like a slap in the face. Corvina.
"Yes," I glared at her, "You’ve said this before too."
My stomach churned as I realized where this was heading.
"Yes," Rize chid in, her voice laced with venom. "A whore. A disgrace. That’s what she was. She got famous for sleeping with her servants."
Servants?
I raised my brows at them. Not a servant, but servants? People are saying I slept around?
Laughter erupted around , cold and harsh.
"Since you look exactly like her, you must be like her too." Honey said, "I heard you are responsible for Saint Illaris being in a coma." She shook her head at , "Whore behavior indeed, are you trying to take the prince from her?"
"Prince Lyal left your look alike, as if he would ever take a skank like you."
My face flushed with humiliation and anger as I tightened my fists.
What the hell!?
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