Evelina’s gut twisted.
Matthew wasn’t just stalling—he was genuinely afraid. She could see it in the way his fingers curled against the chair’s arms, the way his smirk didn’t quite reach his eyes anymore.
Which ant whoever he was protecting was dangerous.
And that made her stomach turn even more.
"Let’s make a deal," Matthew finally said with a smirk that didn’t quite reach the eyes.
Damian didn’t move, didn’t blink. His silver eyes stayed locked onto Matthew with a cold, piercing sharpness. "You’re in no position to bargain."
Matthew’s smirk returned, but it was thinner this ti. "And yet, here we are." He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "You want answers? I want sothing in return."
Evelina tensed. "Which is?"
Matthew exhaled, rolling his shoulders as much as his restraints would allow. Then, with a flicker of amusent, he said, "Protection."
Jasper let out a low whistle, rocking back on his heels. "Well, this just got interesting."
"Protection?" Damian repeated calmly, though his question sounded more like a warning.
Matthew nodded. "Guarantee my safety, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know."
Relia’s voice purred in Evelina’s head. "Ohhhh. He’s that scared? Now I really want to know who’s pulling the strings."
"Yeah, well, we can’t exactly cut the strings if we don’t know who’s holding them," Evelina muttered back.
Damian took a slow step closer. "Protection from who?"
Matthew tilted his head, a look of amusent in his eyes. "Now, now, Your Highness. If I told you that, I wouldn’t need protecting, would I?"
Evelina’s fingers twitched. Her patience was wearing thin. "Let guess. If we don’t agree to your terms, you’ll just take your secrets to the grave?"
Matthew’s smirk deepened. "You’re a clever woman, Lady Evelina."
"Flattery won’t make trust you."
Matthew chuckled. "Trust is irrelevant. What matters is whether I leave this dungeon alive."
Damian exhaled sharply through his nose. "You don’t dictate how this goes, Matthew. You poisoned the well; you admitted to it. You’re already a dead man walking."
Matthew didn’t flinch. "And yet, I’m still valuable, aren’t I?"
A long silence stretched between them.
Relia humd. "You know... I don’t like him, but I do respect a man who knows how to play his cards right."
"We don’t have ti for his gas."
"True. So let’s make him talk faster. Maybe a round of silver?"
Evelina ignored her.
Jasper, still watching Matthew as if he were trying to piece together a puzzle, finally sighed. "Permit , your Highness."
Damian nodded and Jasper continued.
"Alright, let’s say we humour you. Let’s say we promise you protection. Are you actually going to tell us the truth, or are you just stalling?"
Matthew’s lips curled. "Try ."
Damian’s patience snapped. "Enough."
The single word sent a chill through the air.
Matthew’s smirk faltered.
Damian moved in closer, speaking in a calm, steady voice that held the authority of a king as he waited. "You don’t get to negotiate with . You want protection? Give a reason to grant it."
Matthew hesitated. For the first ti, a flicker of genuine uncertainty crossed his features.
Evelina took a slow breath. "Tell us who you’re afraid of, Matthew."
Matthew exhaled, looking between the three of them.
Then, finally—
"The ones who ordered the prince’s death."
The room went still.
Jasper’s easygoing smirk vanished. Evelina felt her heartbeat quicken. And Damian—Damian didn’t so much as flinch, but sothing cold flashed through his silver eyes.
"The ones who—" Evelina started, but Matthew cut her off.
"You wanted an answer. There it is."
Relia let out a low whistle. "Well, damn."
Evelina’s thoughts spun. "You’re telling us that the ones responsible for trying to kill the prince are also the ones who want you dead?"
Matthew exhaled. "I’m telling you that if I talk, I die. And so does everyone I care about."
Damian’s jaw tightened. "You already confessed to poisoning the well. If these people are so dangerous, why take the fall for them?"
Matthew’s expression darkened. "Because I wasn’t given a choice."
The weight of his words settled heavily between them.
Jasper let out a slow breath. "Well, that’s ominous as hell."
Evelina took a step forward. "Who are they, Matthew?"
Matthew didn’t answer.
Damian’s eyes burned into him. "Tell now, or I walk out of here and let you rot."
What followed Damian’s threat was silence.
Evelina could hear the faint sound of water dripping from sowhere deep inside the stone hallways, but all her attention was on Matthew.
He had swallowed hard at Damian’s threat, and for a mont, she thought he might actually crack—might finally reveal who was pulling the strings.
Then—
The heavy iron door groaned open.
A rush of cold air swept in, carrying with it the scent of polished steel and power.
Lord Luther entered the room, his dark cloak flowing gently as he moved. He was not alone.
Trailing beside him, with an easy yet commanding gait, was Zade.
Evelina stiffened slightly.
She hadn’t seen Damian’s older stepbrother at the council eting, making her wonder where he’s been all morning.
"Apologies for the intrusion, Your Highness," Luther said with a respectful bow of his head. His sharp, calculating eyes flickered toward Matthew before settling on Damian. "But we need to question the prisoner as well."
Damian’s jaw tensed. "About what?"
Zade stepped forward, a smooth, pleasant smile curving his lips. "Oh, just a few things regarding his other activities before he was caught. Surely, you don’t mind sharing?"
Lord Luther cleared his throat, ignoring Zade’s antics. "We’re here to conduct an official inquiry with Lord Matthew."
His sharp eyes flickered between Damian and Evelina. "I assu you’ve already started your own... informal questioning."
Damian didn’t move, didn’t blink. "We’re not done."
Luther nodded. "I know that, Your Highness. Don’t worry, we don’t plan on staying long. Just to fulfill all righteousness."
Matthew let out a dry chuckle. "Ah. More guests. I feel honoured."
Jasper muttered under his breath. "You won’t in a minute."
Evelina barely acknowledged Matthew’s comnt because she had caught the way Zade’s eyes landed on her. A slow, deliberate gaze.
And then—
He smiled.
Not just any smile. That charming, practiced one—the kind nobles used when they wanted sothing.
"Lady Evelina."
Evelina imdiately straightened, keeping her expression neutral. "Prince Zade."
Zade took another step forward, ignoring everyone else in the room as he focused entirely on her.
"I wanted to offer my congratulations," he said smoothly. "I heard about your exoneration regarding the well poisoning." He paused, tilting his head slightly. "Truly impressive, managing to clear your na so quickly."
Evelina felt Damian stiffen beside her.
"Thank you," she said carefully, watching Zade’s expression.
Zade’s golden-brown eyes glead with sothing unreadable. "It’s a little bit unfortunate, though," he continued. "That you’re still being accused of sothing else."
Evelina’s fingers twitched slightly, but she kept her composure.
Relia snorted in her mind. "Wow, he’s smooth. Too smooth. I don’t trust it."
"Neither do I."
Zade’s gaze lingered on her face a beat too long before he added, "If you ever need... assistance, I’d be happy to lend my support."
Damian moved.
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