Could anyone tell I had no idea what was going on? Have I made a fool of myself? Man, I wanna go home already. But I can’t do that. So instead, I pick up the first glass that isn’t filled with wine, and pretend to be the cool, mysterious person who doesn’t need to engage with others. Fortunately,
In the end, I can’t help the sheepish bit of laughter that leaves my mouth. Oh what the heck. I’ve embarrassed myself already, there’s no point in trying to look cool now. “Thank you. Josephine is simply too kind.” “So I’m reminded every day.” Lord Haraldsen turns to look at his soulmate with the
Mother of— I look over my shoulder to find Arzen, dressed to the nines. I might’ve been impressed by his attire of white with touches of gold if I didn’t know he dresses like that almost every day. The only thing different about his today is the little golden hoop dangling from his left ear. I didn
Behind the two of them, the three princes stand tall. Or well, two of them. Gorge really looks like he’s trying, but his shoulders are getting more hunched by the second. Theobald is looking down on everyone from his place at the stage. Lukas looks the most at home at the attention leveled at them.
He just entered, but since the Emperor and the Royal family are here, he’s supposed to greet them first— Warm fingers wrap around mine and he goes down on one knee. His gaze is smoldering in its intensity as he looks up at me, the touch of his lips a feathery brush on my skin. “My Lady,” Zen’s voi
I forgot Zen could be like that too, someone who could look at you and walk past you as if you don’t even exist. His eyes flicker to me, and Zen raises a brow. I push those thoughts to the back of my mind. It’s no use thinking things like that right now. “Zen,” I lean towards him, whispering “Shou
Even so, it’s been a decade, and the House of Sigmond can never return to what it was before it was brought down. It’s been a decade too long. Zen looks entirely too alone on the stage, in front of the emperor. “Do you, son of Ricardius Sigmond, whose forefathers served the crown until the last of
“It gives me a great sense of security, to have the House of Sigmond standing with the church and the crown, especially in such uncertain times.” The Emperor has settled back in the throne, and an attendant has taken the key from me for safe-keeping. That should be fine, I hope, given it was right
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