Chapter 5

The guards dragged me into the holding cell.

No warm bed tonight. Just the dim, cramped space.

Special silver chains bound my wrists and ankles.

With every second that passed, my skin burned. It was the cruellest punishment for vampires.

But I didn't cry out.

Compared to the hollowness inside me, this physical pain felt almost like a mercy.

After an unknown amount of time, the small door creaked open.

It wasn't Kieran who entered, but an elderly vampire in a white coat—Dr. Vane, Kieran's private physician.

"His Highness sent me to tend to your wounds," Vane sighed, opening his medical kit. "You were too impulsive this time, Miss Aurora. Miss Seraphina is the future mistress of this household."

I didn't respond.

Seeing my silence, Vane applied ointment to my injuries, speaking as if making casual conversation. "His Highness just bought out the entire top floor of the medical tower for her. Do you know how fragile that holy blood is? Even a minor injury requires the best blood therapy. His Highness has been at her bedside, never leaving."

I closed my eyes.

While I was injured and locked away in this dark, cold place, he was with her.

"And," Vane lowered his voice, "the assassin has been identified. They were sent by the Ashford family. His Highness is furious, but he feels… you brought this trouble upon yourself, that you startled Miss Seraphina."

I let out a small, dry laugh, finding the situation deeply ironic.

"Then let him punish me properly."

Two days later, Kieran finally appeared.

He wore a black turtleneck sweater, his face pale, with dark circles under his eyes.

He clearly hadn't slept well these past two days—no doubt, he'd been caring for his precious one.

He opened the door and looked down at me.

"Are you insane?" was his first question. "That was a silver knife. If it had gone a little lower, you would have crippled her hand."

"She wore my necklace on an animal," I said calmly, meeting his gaze. "If I had to do it again, I would have gone for her throat."

"It was just a joke!" Kieran roared, his voice echoing in the narrow corridor. "Seraphina said she just wanted to see the necklace's quality. She never actually put it on the cat! She was just jealous of your jewelry, trying to make you angry. How could you attack her over something so trivial?"

"Trivial?"

I looked at the man I had loved for five years.

Suddenly, he seemed like a stranger.

"That assassin's knife was less than an inch from my throat that day. And she only pretended to trip," I said, pointing to the fading bloodstain on my neck. "But you chose to save her."

Kieran's eyes flickered with guilt.

But he quickly regained his composure and spoke with indignation.

"She has no way to protect herself! You are a powerful pureblood, you could have dodged, couldn't you? Besides, you weren't seriously injured!"

"So, I'm guilty for being strong, and she's right for being weak?"

"I don't want to argue about this," Kieran said, rubbing his temples, his tone softening. "Miss Seraphina's holy blood is very unstable. This injury has severely depleted her energy. You will reflect here for a few days. When she is stable, I will let you out."

He turned to leave.

"Kieran."

I stopped him.

"Did you ever truly love me?"

He paused, his back to me. There was a moment of hesitation, but then he finally spoke.

"I…"

"No need to say it. I understand."

I gently cut him off.

Kieran's posture stiffened.

He turned around, looking at me with suspicion. "Understand what?"

Leaning against the cold wall, I managed a faint smile. "You are right. For her, anything is worth doing."

This wasn't something I would have said before.

The old me would have been hysterical, demanding promises.

But now, I simply offered my understanding.

Kieran looked at my eyes, as calm as a stagnant pool, and for the first time, genuine unease showed on his face.

He opened his mouth, as if to explain something.

But at that moment, his assistant rushed in.

"My Lord, Miss Seraphina is awake!"

He merely frowned, then turned to me.

"You understand."

"I have something to attend to. I'll see you later."

He then swiftly followed his assistant out of the holding cell.

I watched his back disappear, a hint of irony in my smile.

It's always like this. Whenever Seraphina is involved, I'm always the one left behind.

But that's alright.

He doesn't know that when a woman stops arguing, it means she's ready to walk away.