Aurora and Veyrion immediately turned toward me.
To my surprise, Aurora wasn’t angry.
If anything…
She looked pleased.
As though she had been expecting this moment.
Meanwhile, Veyrion stepped forward and instantly transformed into his beast form.
Large falcon wings burst from his back.
Sharp claws extended from his hands.
His golden eyes locked onto me.
Ready to attack.
My heart nearly stopped.
But before he could move, Aurora raised her hand.
“Veyrion.”
He froze.
Aurora smiled.
“Leave her.”
I stared at her in confusion.
Aurora tilted her head slightly.
“She’s the least of our worries right now.”
Something about the way she said it made a chill run down my spine.
Then I noticed something.
Aurora leaned closer and whispered something into Veyrion’s ear.
I couldn’t hear the words.
No matter how hard I tried.
I remained where I was, watching them carefully, attempting to understand what was happening.
A few seconds later, Veyrion transformed back into his human form.
However, his falcon wings remained spread behind him.
That was when I noticed it.
The open window.
My eyes widened.
No.
He wasn’t planning to stay.
He was planning to escape.
And he was taking the scroll with him.
Without thinking, I rushed forward.
“Stop!”
Veyrion immediately turned toward the window.
I ran as fast as I could.
If he escaped with the scroll, there was no telling what would happen to the kingdom.
I stretched out my hand, trying to grab him before he could leave.
But I never reached him.
A hand suddenly wrapped around my wrist.
Tight.
Painfully tight.
I stumbled backward.
My eyes widened.
Aurora.
She was holding me in place.
No matter how much I struggled, she refused to let go.
The smile on her face only grew wider.
“Where do you think you’re going, dear sister?”
I looked at her with nothing but disgust in my eyes.
“Let go of me, Aurora.”
My voice was cold.
“Leave my hand alone.”
Aurora only smiled.
She had no intention of letting go.
I struggled against her grip.
“Wait until I tell Mother about what you’re doing.”
I glared at her.
“She’ll be furious when she finds out.”
Aurora laughed softly.
Then she finally released my wrist.
“Go then.”
She shrugged.
“Go and tell Mummy.”
Her smile widened.
“But let me tell you something, Seraphina.”
She took a step closer.
“She won’t believe you.”
I clenched my fists.
“She won’t even listen to you.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I turned around and began walking away.
“SERAPHINA!”
Aurora’s voice echoed throughout the dungeon.
I froze.
Slowly, I turned back toward her.
Aurora threw her head back and laughed.
“Hahahahaha!”
As though everything happening was nothing more than a joke.
As though the kingdom wasn’t in danger.
As though she hadn’t just stolen one of the kingdom’s greatest treasures.
“Do you really think the people of this kingdom will believe you?”
She tilted her head.
“Better yet…”
“Do you think Mummy will?”
Something inside me snapped.
I spun around.
Rage burned through my chest.
I pointed a finger directly at her.
“Don’t you dare call my mother your mummy!”
Aurora blinked.
I continued before she could interrupt.
“She’s not your mother.”
My voice shook with anger.
“You aren’t even her biological child.”
I took a step forward.
“I am.”
“The only reason you’re standing here today is because my parents showed you kindness.”
I could feel my hands trembling.
“They found you abandoned and alone.”
“They gave you a home.”
“They gave you a family.”
“They treated you like their own daughter.”
My voice cracked.
“And this is how you repay them?”
Aurora simply yawned.
As though she couldn’t care less.
I stared at her in disbelief.
“Because of you, Mother thinks I’m responsible for Father’s death.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Even though we both know what really happened that day.”
Aurora stretched lazily.
Then she looked at me.
“Are you finally done?”
I froze.
She examined her fingernails.
“Or do you have anything else to say?”
The casualness in her voice only made me angrier.
Then Aurora smiled.
A smile that immediately made me uneasy.
“You know something, Seraphina?”
She reached out and gently played with a strand of my hair.
I slapped her hand away.
She didn’t seem offended.
If anything, she looked amused.
“Even though I’m currently in this dungeon…”
Her smile widened.
“Even if you tell Mummy everything you saw today…”
She leaned closer.
“She still won’t believe you.”
A chill ran down my spine.
Aurora slowly placed both hands against the bars of her cell.
Then she looked directly into my eyes.
“Do you want to know the funniest part?”
I didn’t answer.
Aurora’s grin grew wider.
“The fact that I’m in this dungeon doesn’t mean I’ll stay here for five years.”
She laughed softly.
“It doesn’t even mean I’ll stay here for two weeks.”
My stomach dropped.
Aurora leaned forward.
“Just give me one week, Seraphina.”
Her voice became almost a whisper.
“Then you’ll finally understand what Aurora Bellrose is capable of.”
She paused.
Then corrected herself.
“Oh.”
A smirk appeared on her face.
“Sorry.”
“I meant Aurora Ravencroft.”
The moment Aurora said those words, I felt an overwhelming urge to slap her.
My left hand shot up instinctively.
Aurora noticed.
But she didn’t flinch.
She didn’t move.
She simply stood there smiling.
As though she knew I wouldn’t do it.
My hand stopped inches away from her face.
For a moment, I was tempted.
Very tempted.
Then I took a deep breath.
And slowly lowered my hand.
Aurora rolled her eyes.
As if she couldn’t care less.
I stared at her.
“You know…”
My voice was quieter now.
“Regardless of everything you’ve done…”
I shook my head.
“Mother still cares about you.”
Aurora remained silent.
I pointed toward the food that had spilled across the dungeon floor earlier.
The tray was overturned.
The meal completely ruined.
“She sent me here to bring you food.”
I looked directly into her eyes.
“Do you know why?”
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
I didn’t wait for an answer.
“Because she cares about you.”
My chest tightened.
“Even after everything you’ve done.”
I pointed at her.
“But you?”
I laughed bitterly.
“You don’t care about anyone.”
Aurora immediately began mimicking my voice.
“Oh, she cares about you.”
She placed a hand dramatically against her chest.
“Even after everything you’ve done.”
She laughed.
Then continued mocking me.
I clenched my fists.
For a second, I almost lost my temper again.
But then I stopped myself.
No.
She’s not worth it.
The thought repeated itself inside my head.
She’s not worth it.
Aurora wanted me angry.
She wanted me frustrated.
She wanted a reaction.
I wasn’t going to give her one.
Without another word, I turned around.
Aurora called after me, but I ignored her.
The sound of her laughter followed me through the dungeon corridors.
Step.
Step.
Step.
I didn’t look back.
Not once.
Instead, I headed straight for the Queen Mother’s chambers.
Because whether she believed me or not…
She needed to know the truth about the scroll.
I headed straight toward the Queen Mother’s chambers without stopping.
I didn’t care about anything else.
I didn’t care how tired I was.
I didn’t care whether she believed me or not.
The only thing that mattered was telling her the truth.
The truth about Aurora.
The truth about Veyrion.
And most importantly
The truth about the scroll.
My footsteps echoed through the palace halls as I hurried toward her room.
Eventually, I arrived at the large wooden doors leading to her chambers.
For a moment, I hesitated.
My hand hovered in front of the door.
What if she didn’t believe me?
What if Aurora was right?
I clenched my fists.
No.
I had to try.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
A few seconds later, the Queen Mother’s voice came from inside.
“Who is it?”
Suddenly, I felt nervous.
“It…
it’s me, Mother.”
I swallowed.
“Seraphina.”
There was a brief pause.
Then her voice came again.
“Come in.”
I slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The Queen Mother was seated behind her desk, reviewing several documents.
She looked up the moment she saw me.
A hint of surprise crossed her face.
“Seraphina?”
She placed the documents aside.
“What is the matter?”
I took another deep breath.
My heart was beating so fast I could hear it.
“The scroll.”
The Queen Mother’s expression immediately changed.
She sat upright.
“What about the scroll?”
I opened my mouth.
“W-Well, Mother, you see…”
Before I could finish speaking—BOOM!
A loud explosion shook the entire palace.
The floor beneath my feet trembled violently.
The windows rattled.
Books fell from the shelves.
I nearly lost my balance.
The Queen Mother immediately stood up.
“What was that?!”
Another explosion echoed from outside.
BOOM!
Then came the screams.
The terrified screams of people throughout the palace.
My blood ran cold.
Because somehow…
I had a horrible feeling that Aurora’s one week had just begun.
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