*AUTHOR’S NOTE*
Dear readers.
I know this chapter is longer than usual, and I’m sorry about that!
I’m currently having an issue with the chapter length that I can’t fix for now.
Please bear with me this time, and I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Thank you for your continued support!
******
He looked like he wanted to tell me everything.
Instead, he simply shook his head.
“I’ll explain later.”
Before I could ask another question, he turned and walked away.
I stood there watching his back disappear down the corridor.
Something wasn’t right.
I could feel it.
Then, unexpectedly, he stopped.
He turned around and hurried back toward me, before I could even react, he leaned down and pressed a quick kiss against my forehead.
“I’ll be back.”
The words were barely above a whisper and he was gone again.
The wind from his sudden movement lifted a few strands of my hair.
Even Snow Puff blinked in surprise.
“Puff?”
I stood there frozen, my fingers slowly touching the place he had kissed.
“What was that for?” I muttered.
The place became quiet again.
I looked down at Snow Puff and she looked up at me with her big blue eyes.
I forced a smile and carried her back into the room.
I placed Snow Puff gently on the bed.
She bounced twice before rolling onto her back, waving her tiny paws in the air.
I smiled and she answered with another tiny squeak.
I scratched behind her ears before sitting on the edge of the bed.
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
Cross’s words kept replaying inside my head.
“Do not come outside.”
I sighed.
“What is happening out there?”
Snow Puff climbed onto my lap and rubbed her tiny head against my hand.
I stroked her soft fur while staring at the closed door.
Five minutes passed and another.
I stood up and began pacing around the room.
What was going on at the palace?
Every single time I asked him something important, he always gave me the same answer.
“It’s nothing to worry about.”
“I’ll explain later.”
“You don’t need to know.”
I folded my arms as curiosity slowly began eating me alive.
If I waited here, Cross would come back and tell me everything was fine, just like always.
I wasn’t falling for that again.
I looked toward the door, then at Snow Puff.
She tilted her head and I walked towards her.
“I’ll just take one look.”
The moment I reached for the door, Snow Puff jumped off the bed.
She hurried in front of me and planted herself between me and the door.
“Puff!”
I blinked.
She shook her tiny head so hard that her fluffy ears bounced.
“Puff… puff!”
I wanted to step to the other side, but she grabbed the edge of my dress with her tiny teeth and gave it a gentle tug.
I looked down at her.
“Are… are you trying to stop me?”
She looked up at me and tugged my dress again.
“Puff.”
“I just want to have a quick look, I will be back.”
I slowly opened the door, making sure it didn’t make a sound and I slipped outside.
Snow Puff stood at the doorway, watching me leave and made a soft tiny sound, almost like she was sad.
I smiled over my shoulder.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right back.”
I gently closed the door behind me and immediately started running through the palace corridors.
The further I went, the louder the voices became, then I reached the main hall.
I quickly slowed down.
Standing before the main palace entrance was Cross.
Behind him stood dozens of heavily armed guards dressed in black armor, each gripping a sword or spear.
Across from them stood another group of demons.
Unlike the guards, these demons wore expensive robes embroidered with gold and silver threads.
Thick necklaces rested around their necks, rings covered nearly every finger, and long embroidered cloaks dragged across the floor.
They looked more like wealthy nobles than warriors and something told me these were the council members Cross had mentioned.
I immediately hid behind one of the enormous stone pillars, from there I could hear every single word.
I held my breath behind the pillar, making sure not to make a sound.
The guards stood like statues, gripping their weapons tightly.
Cross stood at the front with his hands behind his back.
His face was calm, but the air around him felt heavy.
One wrong word and I felt like someone was going to die.
A demon dressed in a long black robe took a step forward.
He looked straight at Cross.
“You think you can just come back after years of abandoning your people?”
Another demon stepped forward.
“You are a failure and a shame to the entire demon race. Because of you, we lost every single thing and have to live and suffer this way.”
Cross let out a dry laugh.
“Suffer?” He mocked.
“I don’t see that in you.”
His eyes slowly traveled over the demon’s expensive clothes.
“You look richer than ever and isn’t that gold around your neck?”
A few guards behind him struggled to hide their smiles, even I almost smiled.
The demon’s face darkened.
“You have no shame, Cross. You still have time to make jokes? Are you blind? Can’t you see the accusations against you right now?”
Cross’s expression immediately became cold again.
“I can’t let you into my palace.” His voice echoed through the courtyard.
“Leave at once.”
Another council member, a female demon pointed toward him.
“You can’t keep us away from Larvana forever. You already locked the gates and banished us. What else do you want?”
Cross looked directly into his eyes.
“I want you all dead, but that would be too cruel.”
His voice remained calm.
He took one slow step forward.
“And while I’m still being nice…” His red eyes began glowing.
“Get out of my palace.” He growled.
A cold chill ran down my spine.
Even from where I stood, I could feel the pressure pouring from his body.
The council members stepped back.
One of them clenched his fists.
“Power doesn’t last forever, Cross. Every king believes his throne cannot be taken until the day it is and remember history has never been kind to tyrants. One day, you will be responsible for your own downfall.”
Cross didn’t even blink.
Another elderly demon stepped forward.
“And where is that useless bride of yours, even she couldn’t tolerate your stupidity. She had to die.” A mocking smile spread across his face.
Everything happened in less than a second.
Cross disappeared and a loud gust of wind exploded through the courtyard.
Before anyone could react, his hand wrapped around the old demon’s throat.
The demon was lifted completely off the ground.
His feet kicked wildly in the air.
The other council members froze.
The guards didn’t move.
Cross slowly tightened his grip.
“What did you say about my bride?”
The demon clawed desperately at Cross’s arm as he struggled to breathe.
His face turned pale.
“Cross…” The demon gasped and a loud crack echoed across the courtyard.
My entire body flinched.
The demon’s neck twisted strangely before his lifeless body hit the stone floor with a loud thud.
My breath became heavy and my fingers tightened around the edge of the pillar so hard they hurt.
I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t.
My stomach twisted instantly.
This wasn’t the Cross who smiled at me, teased me or kissed my forehead.
I swallowed hard as fear slowly crawled through my body.
Cross looked down at the corpse without a single trace of emotion, then he raised his eyes toward the remaining council members.
“Take your meat and leave my palace.” His voice was cold enough to freeze the air.
No one moved.
Finally, one of demons spoke nervously before taking out a sealed scroll.
“The Council Master has approved your dethronement request.”
He stretched the scroll toward Cross.
Cross accepted it.
He calmly opened it and his eyes scanned the contents before he burnt it into ashes.
The scraps drifted through the air like dried leaves.
“No one can dethrone me, not even the Council Master.”
A dangerous smile slowly spread across his face.
“He is nothing more than an ant beneath my feet.
“Now leave before I release my wolves.”
His voice became a growl.
The remaining council members stumbled backward.
“I am not afraid of any of you. If you want me gone then come for my head.”
None of them moved.
Instead, one of the demons smiled.
“This isn’t over, Cross and just wait until Imogen discovers the kind of monster you truly are.”
My heart skipped.
Monster?
Cross didn’t answer but for a moment, I saw it.
Pain flashed across his face and it disappeared almost instantly.
” You can silence us, but can you silence history?
Your days are numbered.”
Cross remained standing there, completely still.
His eyes continued glowing.
The air around him felt heavy and immediately, a sharp pain exploded inside my chest.
I gasped.
My hand immediately grabbed my chest as the pain spread through my entire body.
It felt as though someone was squeezing my heart.
I struggled to breathe.
Cross suddenly turned.
Our eyes met across the courtyard.
The moment he saw me, every trace of anger vanished from his face.
His eyes widened.
“Shit.”
My heart sank.
He had seen me.
I stepped back against the pillar and before I could move, one of the council members slowly turned toward me.
A smile spread across his face.
“Well, it seems your precious bride has been listening all along.”
My blood ran cold.
Every head turned toward me.
I had been discovered and immediately, the courtyard fell silent.
Cross’s expression changed instantly.
I wasted no time.
I ran straight back to the room, my heart pounding with every step.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Cross would say.
I had disobeyed him, sneaked out, and listened to every word of their conversation and right now I honestly had no idea how he would react.
I reached the room and quickly stepped inside.
My breathing was still heavy when a shadow suddenly passed across the window.
I froze.
The door creaked open.
Cross walked in, his coat sweeping lightly across the floor behind him.
Our eyes met.
“Cross.” I blurted out.
He didn’t answer immediately.
His brows were tightly furrowed as if he was trying to keep his emotions under control.
Without saying another word, he closed the door behind him, and locked it.
The click echoed through the room.
“Cross, I honestly didn’t mean not to listen to you.” I wanted to explain myself to him.
He walked toward me until only a small distance remained between us.
“I told you to stay in the room. Why did you disobey?”
I lowered my head.
He was right and there was no excuse for what I had done.
“Imogen, why don’t you listen to me? Why did you come outside? I told you how dangerous Larvana is and how careful you should be.”
Every word landed heavily in my chest.
I swallowed hard and stared at the floor without saying anything.
I honestly didn’t want to meet his gaze at that moment.
Snow Puff looked between the two of us before quietly climbing onto the edge of the bed.
“Look at me when I’m speaking to you.” He said softly.
I slowly lifted my head.
His eyes weren’t just angry. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
They were frightened.
It made my chest tighten.
I knew what I had done was wrong, but I couldn’t ignore the questions that had been eating at me up since I arrived here.
“Who are those people, and what do they want?” I asked.
His expression didn’t change.
“I asked a question first, and I’d love to get a reply.”
Silence filled the room again.
Honestly, I didn’t know how to answer him.
Curiosity wasn’t a good excuse.
I had made a choice to disobey.
“Are you going to stay quiet?” he asked.
I remained silent.
I folded my arms tightly across my chest, trying to steady my breathing.
Without warning, Cross reached forward and grabbed my wrist.
His grip wasn’t rough, but it wasn’t gentle either.
It startled me.
“What are you doing?” I muttered.
“I have to erase your memory.”
My eyes widened.
“What? Erase my memory? Why would you erase my memory? For what?”
“You weren’t supposed to see them. They sensed you immediately. You have a human essence, and it’s dangerous if they ever find out. Don’t you get it?”
His voice rose slightly.
For the first time, I could hear desperation beneath his anger.
“Get what? You never explain things to me. You keep hiding everything from me and putting me in the dark. You call me Princess Imogen, but I’m not her. I am Selene. I don’t understand any of this, and instead of you explaining everything to me, you kept quiet!”
The words burst out before I could stop them.
I had been holding them in for days.
My voice echoed through the room.
Even Snow Puff flinched.
She quickly jumped down from the bed and hurried between us.
“Puff! Puff!”
She looked up at Cross before turning toward me, making tiny worried squeaks as if she wanted both of us to stop.
Neither of us noticed.
“Everything I’m doing is to protect you, Imogen. Can’t you see that?” he said.
“It isn’t about protection. It’s more than that. I can’t stay here, Cross. I don’t belong here. And what’s the point of being with someone who keeps the truth from me?”
My voice cracked.
The frustration I had been burying finally spilled out.
I took a shaky breath before speaking again.
“Do you know how it feels? I wake up every day in a place I don’t understand. Everyone calls me someone else’s name. Everyone expects me to know things I don’t know.”
I looked straight into his eyes.
“I’m scared too, Cross.”
For a brief moment, neither of us spoke.
His expression softened and the anger slowly disappeared, replaced by something much quieter.
Something that looked almost like heartbreak.
“You’ve really changed.” He said almost looking sad.
“You’ve never raised your voice or yell at me.”
Those words hurt more than I expected.
He wasn’t looking at me anymore.
He was looking at someone else.
Princess Imogen.
Without another word, he turned around.
He walked toward the door, opened it, and stepped outside.
The door slammed shut behind him with a loud bang.
The sound echoed through the room long after he was gone.
I wanted to run after him, but my feet refused to move.
I stood there staring at the closed door.
The silence suddenly felt unbearable.
I sighed and slowly slid down the wall until I was sitting on the cold floor.
The room suddenly felt much bigger.
The loud bang of the door still echoed inside my head.
Snow Puff looked toward the door, then back at me before quickly running over.
She climbed into my lap without hesitation and rubbed her soft little face against my arm as though she could tell something was wrong.
I wrapped both arms around her and hugged her close.
Her fluffy body was warm against my chest, and after a few seconds she stopped moving, quietly resting her head beneath my chin.
“That was a bit intense.” I murmured.
“Puff…”
She answered with a tiny squeak, lifting one little paw and placing it against my hand.
A small smile appeared on my face despite everything.
“I don’t mean to raise my voice at him.” I sighed, gently stroking her soft fur.
“I was just frustrated and I let it out on him. He didn’t deserve that.”
Snow Puff blinked up at me with her bright blue eyes before lightly rubbing her head against my palm again.
“But at least I deserve a proper explanation.” I continued.
“He calls me his bride, yet he keeps everything from me. Shouldn’t we be one? Shouldn’t we share things with each other instead of hiding them?”
“Puff…” She tilted her head as if she was trying to understand every word.
Snow Puff suddenly reached up and gently licked the tip of my finger.
“You always know how to make me feel better, don’t you?”
She puffed out her tiny cheeks proudly.
I shook my head with a smile.
“I still feel bad.”
The image of Cross’s face before he walked away refused to leave my mind.
Beneath the anger, there had been hurt.
I hadn’t only shouted at him, I had hurt him.
He had been trying to protect me.
I lowered my head, maybe I had gone too far.
With another sigh, I stood up and carried Snow Puff back to the bed.
She bounced twice on the mattress before curling into a fluffy little ball.
I lay beside her and rested my head against the pillow.
The room fell silent again, then came a knock
My eyes widened.
I immediately sat upright.
Cross?
He came back.
Without thinking, I jumped off the bed and hurried toward the door so quickly that I almost tripped over my own feet.
I pulled the door open and the smile on my face disappeared.
It wasn’t Cross.
It wasn’t one of the maids either.
Standing outside my room was a demon I had never seen before.
I swallowed hard and instinctively took a step back.
Then our eyes met.
A slow smile spread across his face.
It wasn’t a friendly smile, it was the kind of smile that made my stomach tighten.
“Who the fuck is this?”