Understanding seems to flicker over her face “The Imperial family is blessed by the goddess, and their abilities surpass those of a normal man by large. His Highness was sent on his own request.” I nod, absorbing the information. We enter a hall with portraits lining the walls. Andrea tells me bri
I have to give it to them, their expressions don’t change in the slightest. Andrea shows me more of the palace, we pass through a series of arched doorways, enter the grand ballroom, a breathtaking space where the royal court would gather for grand festivities. Our recent conversation and sightse
The last time I was at the palace was a week before the disowning. I remember going to wait in a sitting room while my father and older brothers attended the meeting for the High Houses with the Emperor of that time. “Zen, you come with me today.” Father had put a hand on my shoulder My eyes went
I can’t recall anything but the brat that used to skip lessons with the worst excuses ever. The last room of the hallway comes in sight, but before I can go closer, the wooden door flies open. The man who walks out is breathing hard in anger. He turns around, clear blue eyes falling straight on me
Realization hits me with a flurry of hazy memories. In my childhood, I’ve met children of the other High House many times, but those memories are long gone. The child I was then died a long time ago. All that remains of that life are a few blurry memories that feel more like strange dreams than real
Is this a prince’s palace or a common tarvan?! With that question in my mind, I hurry back inside the hallway, where the guy had strolled to. I catch a glimpse of his golden hair, turning a corridor. I open my mouth to call out, but clamp it shut immediately. I have no idea who that guy is! He cou
Damn you, guardian angel! Do you want to be fired for real?! I swallow thickly. I won’t get murdered in a royal palace, right? When is Mesilla getting here? “Pure silver,” His voice snaps me from my thoughts “How did you get this little trinket?” I narrow my eyes “Who are you?” He raises his bro
“Really, I haven’t been gone for long enough that everyone has forgotten my face.” He turns around to face the guards and Mesilla The color fades from their faces, and all three of them drop to their knees. “Your Highness!” One of the guards stammers “Forgive us— No, punish us as you see fit—” Wa
I barely manage to find a waste bucket before everything I had for breakfast retches out. My throat burns. My vision is blurry. I dry heave every single thing in my stomach, warmth seeps out of the corners of my eyes. I can’t breathe. The smell of blood is everywhere. I sit there, holding the edges
The smell of rotting flesh is disgusting. Its muscle memory to pull the gloves over my hands, pick a scalpel off the medical tray. The body on the metal table in front of me has no head. ‘You have to take a sample of flesh, a sample of blood and take a look at the internal organs.’ Aunt Cynthia’s
How adorable. Apparently, I’m the only one who thinks so, since when I turn back around, everyone from the fourth prince and the first order to passing strangers and our coachman is looking on in disbelief. Is it so difficult to imagine Zen would get along with children? “Don’t leave your mouth ha
“My Lady, am I mistaken or is the fourth prince avoiding me?” I look up from knotting the satchel to my belt to face Zen. There’s a slight furrow in his brows, and he looks at Lukas, standing far, far from us and talking with the first order soldiers. The fourth prince has indeed, been avoiding Ze
I need to move. But even as I think that, I cant bring myself to move. He’s holding me too firmly, I think, entirely reasonable. I won’t be able to slip away like this. Even the most critical part of me can’t find that to be entirely an excuse. After last night, I doubt there’s anyone who would lik
I wake up to the sound of a door knock. My sleep hazed brain registers the sound, recognizes it, and promptly ignores it in favor of cuddling into the warmth of my bed once more. I don’t want to wake up just yet, since last night I fell asleep so late— Last night? My eyes open, blurry with sleep,
But he’s looking at me now, as if the answer might crush him, as if he’s bracing himself for it. I reach out to drape my arms over his shoulders gently, they hang down in front of his chest lightly. “Why? Because you did your job?” I ask quietly, hold his gaze “Or because you didn’t hesitate to do
“Lift your arm, please.” I say, and my voice comes out soft If we weren’t sitting so close to each other, I would’ve missed it. His shoulders tense up, the even breathing stilled into nothing. “You don’t have to do that, Dinah.” Zen finally says My brows furrow. Zen might be a warrior among warri
On the second floor hallway of the hotel, my eyes drift to the room where Zen is supposed to be. My room is just at its side. I wonder if I knock on his door right now, would he be annoyed? He did ask not to be disturbed. The image of his bloodied arm flashes in my mind. Just a moment. I just want