A Palace Of Secrets

❤️ A Palace Of Secrets ❤️

"Thank you, Nyxoria," King Vyr said, his voice warm with gratitude. "I know this isn’t something you want to do, but in this case, we have no choice." He added.

Nyxoria sighed but nodded. "I understand, Uncle. Now, can I finish my food? Or is there someone else you want me to beg tomorrow?" she added, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

King Vyr chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No, that’s all," he replied, turning his attention back to his plate.

The dining room fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the faint clinking of spoons and the occasional scrape of plates.

Nyxoria finished her meal quickly, wiping her lips with a piece of clothes beside her plate before rising from her seat. "Thank you, Uncle. I’m full, and I’ll be heading to my chamber now. Good night."

King Vyr nodded, offering her a kind smile. "Good night, my sweet pie. Rest well."

Without another word, Nyxoria left the dining room, her footsteps echoing softly down the palace hallways as she made her way back to her chambers. Once inside, she sank onto her bed with a groan, her thoughts racing.

Was he serious about this? she wondered, staring at the ceiling. Does he really expect me to go to the Emperor tomorrow and apologize?

The idea left a sour taste in her mouth, but there was something about the Emperor that lingered in her mind. His piercing gaze, the way his presence dominated the room, and the strange familiarity she couldn’t quite place…

Shaking her head, she forced herself to lie back down. "I’ll find out tomorrow," she muttered to herself, pulling the blankets over her. "If Uncle is serious, then I’ll deal with it. Handsome demon or not." She added softly.

With that, she closed her eyes, determined to let sleep claim her once more, even if her thoughts kept drifting to a certain dark, commanding figure.

Back at the dining room, Princess Nasa finished her meal and turned to her father, her face flushed with frustration.

"I don’t like the way you always take her side, Father," she began, her voice sharp with anger. "I told you what she did, and instead of shouting at her or punishing her, you let it slide—again. I’ve always known you don’t like me." She clenched her fists, her voice trembling as she continued. "You wish she was your biological daughter, not me." She accused.

King Vyr set his spoon down with a soft clink and looked at his daughter, his expression calm but tired. He wasn’t surprised by her outburst—this wasn’t the first time she had accused him of favoring Nyxoria.

"Nasaria," he said, using her full name, his tone firm yet gentle. "First, you need to remember something very important. Your cousin, Nyxoria, is the rightful owner of this palace. Everything here—the clothes, the jewelry, even the respect we enjoy—is because she allowed me to take the throne after her parents passed. That doesn’t mean I won’t speak up when she’s wrong, which is why I’ve told her to meet the Emperor tomorrow and apologize for her actions today, isn't that enough? As for the trouble she causes at the Arcane," he continued, his voice softening slightly, "perhaps if you ignored her provocations, she’d stop. Sometimes, rising above it is the best way to handle things."

Nasa’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she shook her head. "I know talking to you is useless, Father," she said bitterly. "If Mother were alive, she’d have supported me. She wouldn’t let Nyxoria walk all over me. I may not be as strong as her, but I’m not weak, I'm the best fighter in the Arcane and the kingdom."

King Vyr’s jaw tightened, and he stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. He stared at Nasa for a long moment before speaking. "You have me, Nasaria," he said quietly but firmly. "But she has no one else. Have you forgotten that?" King Vyr’s voice was calm but carried a sharp edge. "Always remember this, Nasaria: everything I do, I do for you. Don’t you ever forget that."

Without waiting for her reply, he turned and left the table, his unfinished meal left untouched.

The heavy sound of his retreating footsteps echoed through the dining room, each step a reminder of the unspoken tension between them. Nasa sat alone in the silence, her anger simmering as her father’s words replayed in her mind. For a moment, she stared at his empty seat, her hands trembling slightly as frustration and resentment warred within her.

She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists. If everything you do is for me, then why do I feel so alone? she thought bitterly, her eyes burning with unshed tears.