The next morning, Cassie woke up only to find herself back in her room, lying on the big bed alone.
“Kael?” she muttered, looking around to see if he was still there, but there was no trace of him anywhere.
Her heart sank.
So he brought her back and left her to sleep alone?
she thought as she got down from the bed.
Sitting in front of the large mirror, she looked at the golden bat tattoo on her neck and smiled sadly.
Will she and Kael continue this way?
she wondered, letting out a deep breath, trying to push away the unsettling feeling.
As she stood up from the bed, a gentle knock sounded at the door.
“Yes, come in,” she said.
Zarea entered with a tray of food, the rich aroma filling the room.
“Good morning, Your Majesty,” Zarea greeted with a slight bow.
Cassie nodded and smiled.
“Good morning,” she replied, then added, “I need to brush my teeth first.”
She headed to the bathroom, taking her time as she brushed.
When she came out, Zarea had already placed the meal on the table and arranged it neatly.
“Breakfast is served,” Zarea said with another small bow.
Cassie smiled, sat gracefully on the chair, and began eating while Zarea watched her carefully.
“Your Majesty… you don’t look happy,” Zarea observed.
Cassie paused, setting down her fork with a sad smile.
“Well, it’s about His Majesty. I think he’s still not pleased with me. He didn’t even touch me yesterday,” she admitted softly.
“Oh, I see… Well, it’s okay. Just give him time,” Zarea reassured her with a gentle smile.
Cassie nodded and continued eating.
When she was done, Zarea hesitated before speaking.
“Um… His Majesty asked that you dress well. He’s expecting a visitor this morning,” Zarea informed her.
Cassie’s eyes dimmed slightly.
“Visitors?” she asked.
Zarea nodded in response.
“So…
you should bathe now so I can dress you before time runs out.”
“Okay, I’ll do just that,” Cassie said, then went to bathe.
When she was done, she was dressed in a beautiful light blue gown with a black floral pattern.
Her ears were adorned with black rose earrings, and she wore a matching black rose necklace.
Black bangles decorated her wrists, and her hair was styled into a neat bun, with a single strand left to fall over her face.
Black and blue hairpins adorned her bun, and she wore elegant black floral flats that complemented her dress perfectly. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
As she stepped out of the room, the surrounding servants paused, staring at her in awe.
Zarea led her to a room where she sat quietly, waiting for Kael.
She was still waiting when she suddenly felt a powerful presence in the room.
His scent hit her, making her blush.
She closed her eyes and felt a soft gust of wind pass her.
When she opened them, Kael was standing directly in front of her, his lips curled into a deep smile.
His dimples made him look even more stunning.
His hair was perfectly combed and styled, and he wore a royal blue suit with a black rose pinned to his chest.
“Cassie…” he whispered, offering her his hand.
She took it, and he helped her off the chair.
They were so close now, and Cassie’s heart pounded in her chest.
Kael leaned in, his breath warm against her face, making her blink.
As he leaned even closer, about to kiss her, she closed her eyes, ready for it.
But instead, he brought his mouth close to her ear.
“You look gorgeous,” he whispered, sending shivers down her spine.
She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze, her own eyes slightly watery, searching for an answer why did he only whisper to her?
Before she could question him, he cupped her face, his lips drawing near again.
But just then, a knock interrupted them.
“They’re here,” came Kaidon’s voice from outside.
“I’ll be there,” Kael responded, pulling away from Cassie.
“Let’s go,” he said, taking her hand gently.
They walked out of the room gracefully, looking every bit the perfect couple charming and regal.
When they stepped outside, a luxurious carriage adorned with a royal crest awaited them.
A soldier stepped forward, opening the carriage door.
A woman stepped out, followed by a man.
They approached Kael and Cassie, bowing respectfully.
“Nice meeting you again, King Kael,” the woman greeted with a warm smile.
Her eyes landed on Cassie, and her smile deepened, as if she recognized her.
Cassie shifted uncomfortably.
“Nice meeting you too,” the woman continued.
“I’m Princess Isolde from Hexoria Kingdom, and this is my brother, Crown Prince Orion.”
Cassie nodded, forcing a polite smile.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Cassie,” she said plainly.
Princess Isolde almost laughed but stopped herself when she noticed Kael’s cold gaze.
“Welcome to Duskmoor, Prince and Princess,” Kael said in his deep, steady voice, his usual friendly smile returning.
“You’re such a beauty…” he added.
Cassie hesitated, about to shake his hand, but when she felt Kael’s intense gaze, she withdrew it, making Prince Orion smile awkwardly.
“Let’s go inside,” Kael said, leading the group in.
They entered the dining hall, where breakfast was served to the visiting royals.
Kael and Cassie, however, only had fruit.
Princess Isolde sat beside Cassie, occasionally glancing at her.
When her gaze landed on the golden bat tattoo on Cassie’s neck, her eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s wrong?” Cassie asked, noticing her stare.
“N-Nothing. I’m just admiring your beauty,” Princess Isolde whispered.
Cassie’s lips twitched slightly.
“Are you into women?” Cassie asked bluntly, making Princess Isolde’s eyes widen in shock.
“Of course not!”
“Well… staring at me like that makes me uncomfortable. I hope the princess can understand,” Cassie said coldly before popping a grape into her mouth.
Kael was watching her, smiling.
When their eyes met, Cassie quickly looked away.
The room fell into an eerie silence until the chef brought out another dish.
This time, the meal was placed in front of Cassie.
She knew she couldn’t refuse it even if she didn’t want to eat because doing so would make Kael lose face.
“Cassie, it’s the meal I prepared for you when we first met,” Kael said.
Prince Orion and Princess Isolde turned to look at Cassie.
She smiled awkwardly but didn’t touch the food.
“Is he trying to be romantic?” Cassie scoffed internally, mimicking his words in her head.
She gently opened the dish, and as soon as the aroma hit her nose, nausea surged through her.
Unable to control it, she rushed outside.
A nearby guard pointed her to the guest restroom, where she retched violently.
She felt deeply disgusted by the meal.
She knew it was because of that bloody encounter in the forest the sight of the bear had ruined this particular dish for her.
When she was done, she washed her face and leaned against the restroom wall, breathing heavily.
She closed her eyes, and the memory of that horrifying night played vividly in her mind, bringing tears to her eyes.
She remembered everything how her father had given her away, everything that happened on the journey, and how she had ended up here.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice the door open until footsteps approached.
She looked up, and there stood Kael, walking toward her.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his deep voice laced with concern.