Don't hate me

Nathan, despite Winter's refusal, went to the King's chamber to have a conversation with him. He had known Raphael since a very young age and had been a close friend to him. 

Raphael was seated on the sofa chair with his eyes closed. "Why are you here at this hour, Nathan?" he asked, keeping his eyes still closed. 

"Did you try to use force on Winter?" Nathan straightforwardly asked him. 

Raphael pried his eyes open and tilted his head up to look at Nathan, who was at the door.

"Answer me," Nathan pressed him. "Ezkiel wiped out our clan, not his innocent daughter. You know this well. Our families were innocent, yet they were tortured to death. Don't be like Ezkiel," he confronted Raphael. 

"Winter has to bear the pain that our families our clan underwent," Raphael stated. 

"Be a man, Raphael. You literally asked for sexual favors from her. Is this the way you'll take your revenge?" Nathan reprimanded him. 

"I'm guilty about that," Raphael admitted while keeping his eyes fixated on Nathan.

"I gathered the information from the humans. Winter was abused by her father, and her people. The bruises on her arms clearly show that. She needs support at this time, not the otherwise," Nathan explained while advising Raphael to throw his vengeance away and think with his heart. 

"Why are you so concerned about Winter? She should get punished for what her father did!" Cecilia's voice landed in their ears. "Kill her, Raphael, or else I'll do," she stated, crossing her arms across her chest.  

"Stop it, Cecilia," Nathan said. 

"How could you forget what her father did to us? She deserves to be dead. If you two cannot do it, then I'll end her life," Cecilia proclaimed. Her hatred toward Winter was visible in her tone, and in her expressions. 

"She doesn't deserve to die because she had no hands in wiping out our clan," Nathan pronounced. 

"Stop you two! Leave my chamber. I want to rest," Raphael said, furrowing his brows together. 

Nathan bowed and walked away while Cecilia remained there. "Why is Winter still alive? I can't stand her sight in front of me," she stated. 

"Didn't I command you not to touch her? She's my maid, so she won't be in front of your eyes," Raphael stated while reminding her of his previous orders. 

"So, you will keep her alive, whose father was responsible for our miseries," Cecilia said in a fury.  

"I'll punish her in my own way," Raphael proclaimed. "Now, leave and tell the servant outside to come inside," he told her, again resting his head on the sofa chair's headrest and closing his eyes. 

Cecilia didn't argue further and walked out of the chamber. "Go inside," she ordered the servant and went ahead to find where Winter was. 

Raphael ordered the servant to bring Winter to him. "If she refuses to come, tell her you'll get punished brutally," he proclaimed. 

The servant got intimidated to hear him and rushed outside to find Winter. 

~~~~~

Despite her fragile body, Winter managed to rise and slowly made her way out of the royal garden. Her head hung low as she traversed the palace grounds. As she walked, she overheard the hushed murmurs of the palace servants, who couldn't resist gossiping about her. Winter paid them no mind.

However, her path took an unexpected turn when an unfamiliar, feminine voice called out to her. Startled, Winter looked up to see the source of the voice.

"Lower your eyes, you filthy bitch!" Cecilia spat out the words with contempt, her hand raised to strike Winter with the strength of a werewolf. The force of the slap sent Winter tumbling to the ground, her hand instinctively reaching for her stinging cheek.

Winter met Cecilia's glare with defiance. "I won't lower my eyes," she asserted firmly.

Cecilia's anger flared even more, and she moved closer, intending to grab Winter by the hair. However, before she could carry out her threat, a familiar figure interposed himself between them. It was Nathan.

In the next moment, Nathan scooped Winter into his arms, preventing any further confrontation. 

He silenced Cecilia with a stern command. "Shut your mouth, Cecilia," he ordered, walking away with Winter in his arms, leaving Cecilia seething with anger.

Winter gazed at him with a bewildered expression. "You can put me down," she said. 

"Oh, I will," Nathan assured her. 

Winter didn't protest and they soon were in the King's chamber. Winter was shocked to see that, her resistance to go in front of Raphael was evident. 

"I don't wish to see him," Winter said in a low voice to Nathan. 

"A servant will get killed if you don't show yourself to the King," Nathan said and finally settled her feet on the ground outside Raphael's chamber. The servant thanked Nathan, who helped her find Winter. 

She pushed the door in and informed Raphael about Winter's presence. 

Both Nathan and Winter walked in. This time, the curtains no longer covered the large windows. The light in the room clearly made everything visible. 

Raphael saw Winter's cheek and dashed to her when she instinctively took a few steps back, but he didn't let her move further back. His calloused fingers held her chin gently and he tilted her face to the right. 

Seeing the finger marks on her cheek, he asked "Who did this?" 

"Cecilia," Nathan answered.

Raphael's other hand clenched. "Does she have a death wish?" he muttered and thanked Nathan for bringing Winter back. He bowed and walked out of the chamber. 

"Follow me," Raphael said to Winter and turned to go further inside the bedchamber. 

"I won't follow you anywhere," Winter stated. 

Raphael ran his fingers through his hair. Swiftly, he appeared in front of her and carried her in his arms. Winter thrashed herself in his arms, asking him to put her down. 

Raphael didn't let her down unless they were in the bedchamber. He settled her on the mattress and pushed her on the mattress. "Forgive me for my earlier behavior. I didn't mean to say that," he said. 

Winter's eyes welled up in tears. "I don't trust you," she murmured. 

"Then, don't," Raphael said. "Don't you think if I had to do something to you I would've done it by now?" He questioned her. 

Winter chose not to reply and averted her gaze. "Take some rest," Raphael whispered and pulled up the velvety duvet for her. He covered her from it and stood up to go outside. 

"Don't hate me even if I'm enemy's daughter," Winter requested him. 

However, Raphael didn't answer her and left the bedchamber and closed its door from the outside.