Daniel watched his daughter over the rim of his porcelain cup.
For a long moment, the study remained utterly silent. Then he reached for the fresh tea Jacinta had poured, taking a slow, measured sip.
A quiet, triumphant smile spread across his face. "Our plan is finally coming together."
Our plan.
Jacinta scoffed inwardly, her expression a mask of dutiful tranquility. There was no our in this. There was Daniel’s ruthless ambition, and there was her survival. But if playing the obedient daughter gave her a golden ticket into the Imperial Palace, she would play the role to perfection.
The imperial capital was a cauldron of supreme power — packed with ancient artifacts, forbidden libraries, and rare magical resources. Once inside, she would gather enough strength to tear Rosearia down from her high horse and rip away everything she held dear.
Her manicured fingernails dug sharply into her palm.
This time, Ria... I won’t be the one left in the dirt.
Daniel set his cup down, his sharp eyes lingering on her. "Go dress properly."
Jacinta blinked. "Properly?"
"You are meeting a royal prince of the realm," Daniel said coldly, scanning her current gown with distaste. "Do not present yourself like a common servant who just stepped out of the kitchen."
Jacinta swallowed the urge to snap at him. "Yes, Father."
"Wear your finest garnet dress — the silk one with the jeweled waistline," Daniel commanded. "And the matching ruby necklace. Make sure the Prince forgets every other woman in the capital the second his eyes land on you."
"I understand."
"I will call for you when it is time."
Jacinta offered a dainty nod and turned toward the door.
"Jacinta."
She paused, her hand hovering over the silver door handle. "Yes, Father?"
Daniel’s eyes narrowed into dark, calculating slits. "Remember why you are doing this. Do not let foolish female emotions ruin this opportunity."
A faint, cold smile touched Jacinta’s lips. "I haven’t forgotten."
"Good."
She stepped out into the grand hallway, the heavy doors closing behind her.
Emotions? She almost laughed out loud. How could she possibly fall for Callistius? She knew the dark truth. The Prince’s fiery obsession wasn’t natural — his heart had been tampered with. Callistius was a pawn dancing on her father’s strings. This chapter was taken from novelping dot com without permission.
And Jacinta had no intention of becoming a puppet ever again.
A short while later, thunderous hooves echoed across the estate’s private courtyard.
Daniel’s gaze shifted toward the arched windows. "Ah. The royal stray has arrived."
When Callistius entered the grand reception hall, he looked completely unbothered by the fact that he had just committed treason by ditching the Crown Prince Selection. He sauntered across the marble floor, dropping casually into the armchair opposite Daniel, crossing his long legs, his golden embroidery catching the sunlight.
"So, you’re Daniel."
Daniel studied the young prince with cold, calculating eyes. "And you are Prince Callistius."
"You already knew that."
"I wanted to hear you say it."
Callistius let out a rich, confident laugh. "Fair enough."
Silence stretched between them as Daniel poured another cup of tea.
"You abandoned the Imperial Palace today."
"I did."
"You walked away from the Crown Prince Selection."
"I did."
"You rode your phantom steed across three territories to reach my gates."
"Guilty as charged."
Daniel placed his cup down with a sharp clack. "All for my daughter."
Callistius’s brown eyes gleamed with wild, unapologetic heat. "Yes."
"Do you realize what you’ve done, Your Highness?" Daniel asked softly. "You could lose your standing in the succession line." New chapters come out on g.com first.
Callistius leaned back, resting his arm over the carved wood. "Then I’ll simply crush whoever takes it and win it back."
"You speak with immense arrogance."
"I speak with certainty," Callistius countered, his playful tone dropping into something far darker and more lethal. "I was raised in the blood-soaked court of the Imperial Palace. I know how the selection game is played." He leaned forward, mana subtly flaring around his boots. "Four candidates can challenge me. They can plot behind my back, send assassins, or bribe the High Council. But none of that changes the fact that I am a divine heir to the Throne. If they want a war for the crown, I’ll give them one. But I refuse to spend my entire life pretending imperial politics is the only thing that matters."
Daniel raised a grey eyebrow. "And Jacinta matters more than the throne?"
"At this very moment? Absolutely."
Daniel’s gaze sharpened. "You barely know her."
"Then I’ll spend every breathing moment fixing that."
Daniel leaned back into his velvet seat, folding his hands together. "You are an Imperial Prince, but my daughter carries dangerous enemies. Some would slaughter her just to cripple your standing."
Callistius’s smirk vanished into pure, icy violence. "Then they will bleed."
"And if she brings chaos into the royal court?"
"I’ll tear down whoever dares to question her," Callistius stated without a second of hesitation.
For the first time, a flash of genuine, malicious approval lit up Daniel’s eyes.
Perfect. This was precisely what he needed — a powerful, headstrong prince infatuated enough to tear down the palace gates for Jacinta, giving her total immunity to rebuild her standing.
"There is one thing you must understand, Prince Callistius," Daniel warned, his voice dropping an octave. "Do not treat Jacinta as a passing amusement. Once she enters the capital, every noble house will hunt for her weaknesses."
Callistius stood up, his tall, imposing figure casting a long shadow across the rug. "Anyone who wants to touch Jacinta will have to walk over my corpse first."
Daniel smiled faintly. "Perhaps letting you enter my gates wasn’t a mistake after all."
Before Callistius could reply, a loud knock rattled the double doors.
A servant hurried inside, bowing frantically. "Master Daniel! Sir Harrison, the Empress Personal Aide, has arrived at the gates with the imperial guard!"
Callistius groaned, rolling his eyes toward the ceiling. "Harrison... My mother really sent her top hound to drag me back."
Daniel chuckled, rising from his chair. "Duty calls, Your Highness. But I assume you intend to take my daughter with you?"
Callistius’s eyes lit up instantly. "Can I?"
"It will give you time to court her properly," Daniel said smoothly, a knowing glint in his eyes. He turned to the servant. "Tell Lady Jacinta it is time."