LOGINWINTERThe weight of Valtor’s words sank into me, settling deep in my bones, chasing away the fears that had clung to me these past few days. This wasn’t just a pregnancy, it was a miracle, a gift Selene had granted me when I had almost stopped believing it could ever happen. How could a dream I thought was forever out of reach suddenly become real overnight?Yet even as joy blossomed in my chest, a shadow lingered. Happiness always seemed to carry a hint of fear, especially when some would rather see you suffer than celebrate alongside you. And in this case, it seemed there were far more of them than there were friends.The attacks on our peace had begun almost immediately after the news had spread. Whispers, jealousy, subtle sabotage—all aimed at undermining the fragile bubble of happiness surrounding us. And now, standing quietly in the doorway, was one of those threats disguised as a servant. Beneath her veil, I recognized her instantly. Crystal.“My King and Queen,” she said, p
3rd Person POVIn the days that followed, Crystal made herself scarce in the palace kitchens. She avoided the storerooms, the preparation tables, and most importantly any ingredient that might find its way to Winter’s lips. It was a careful withdrawal, meant to keep the other maids from growing more suspicious. Since the day Sasha had discovered she cut the Night Willow, Crystal realized her position had become perilously thin. Every glance felt sharper. And if she made one wrong step, the fragile balance she clung to would shatter.When the corridors were empty and the servants scattered to their duties, Crystal retreated into her chamber. There, she pored over the books hidden beneath her mattress and tucked behind loose panels in the wall—old texts filled with pressed plants, cramped annotations, and warnings written in ink long faded. Night Willow appeared again and again.Luck, it seemed, had not entirely abandoned her. The plant was not exclusive to palace grounds. According
CRYSTALThis is absurd.Freya asks the impossible with a straight face, as if she doesn’t realize how close it would bring me to death. Poisoning Winter? Before the thought even solidified, Valtor would sense the shift in my intent and rip my head from my shoulders. I exhale sharply and force my hands to keep moving, crushing dried leaves against the stone mortar. The scent is sharp and bitter, clinging to my skin. My mind drifts despite myself, replaying Freya’s voice, when suddenly,“Velda!”Eira’s voice slices through my thoughts.I jerk, nearly knocking over the bowl. When I look up, she’s already there, arms crossed, one brow arched in irritation.“Have you finished making the drink?” she demands.“almost,” She leans over my shoulder, eyes scanning the cluttered table. “Quickly, then. The Queen is waiting. You’ve been slow lately. Distracted. Is something troubling you?”I shake my head once. “No. Just tired.”She clicks her tongue, unconvinced. “See that you fix it. Finish
FREYAI did not need to return to the mansion to hear the news.The moment I stepped through the iron gates of my mansion, I knew.Rosentine and Cressida were waiting in the entrance hall, their rigid postures betraying them before a single word was spoken. The chandeliers above cast a pale glow over their faces, tightening the sharp lines of their expressions.“You’ve heard it, haven’t you?” Rosentine asked, her voice clipped, brittle with restrained hysteria.I had.And yet, I had refused to accept it.I removed my gloves slowly, as though the act itself might anchor my composure. “Winter is pregnant,” I said flatly.Rosentine’s restraint shattered.“Pregnant," she echoed, her voice rising. “And how could that be?! You swore she was barren!” Her hands clenched into fists. “No—no, this ruins everything! If she’s carrying an heir, Valtor will never cast her aside!”“Lower your voice,” Cressida snapped. “You’ll have the servants listening.”“Calm yourself, Rosentine,” I ordered.She tu
3rd Person's POV.A full week had passed, yet Crystal remained ensnared within the castle like a mouse caught in a velvet-lined trap.From the outside, her days appeared calm as she did the sickening duty as a maid. But beneath that surface, tension coiled tightly inside her. She wanted answers. Needed them. Winter’s absence gnawed at her thoughts until it became impossible to rest. Something had happened—she was certain of it—and the silence surrounding the Queen only deepened Crystal’s unease.Still, she had learned caution.Valtor had not left her alone since that night.Since the incident—since the sudden sickness had risen violently in Winter's throat, forcing her to clutch at the edge of a table as nausea overwhelmed her—he had watched her relentlessly. If she moved through the halls, he was nearby. If she paused, his gaze lingered. Not once did he truly leave her side. So Crystal endured. She lowered her eyes and made herself small. She avoided places where questions might
CRYSTAL“Take it off.” Winter said.A single final and absolute command.My hand froze midair.My heart slammed against my ribs, pounding so violently I could hear it roaring in my ears. There was no pretending I hadn’t heard her, no way to dodge the order without sealing my own fate.Winter watched me in silence, her gaze steady and knowing. She already knew I would obey.What other choice did I have? Refusing would only confirm her suspicions. It would expose me for exactly what I was.Slowly, my hand lifted. Inch by inch, my fingers trembled as they hovered just shy of the fabric concealing my face. When suddenly,Winter’s hand flew to her mouth. Her brows twisted sharply as a gagged sound escaped her throat. In the next second, she lurched to her feet so abruptly her chair scraped against the floor.“My Queen!” Eira cried, springing up beside her.My eyes locked with Winter’s.And then she turned and bolted from the room.“My Queen! Are you alright?” Eira rushed after her.The
WINTERI can't stop thinking about what Loran told me yesterday. He said what Valtor did to Alaric was only the beginning, that he would go much further if he had to, that he’d do whatever it took to protect me even from his own people. I didn’t want to find out just how far he would go. I didn’t w
VALTORSeeing my silence, Loran frowned slightly before asking,“You’re alright?”“Yeah. Just thinking about your suggestion. It shouldn’t be too hard, I know Winter’s mother already likes me.”His brow arched, disbelief flickering in his eyes.“Let’s go," I said quickly before he could press for m
WINTER“Crystal?”I stared in disbelief at the woman sprawled on the floor before my feet. There was no mistaking it. It was Crystal.If she were here, then that could only mean...“Where the hell are you, Crystal? Don’t you dare run away!” The shout cut through the air like a blade and a heartbeat
CRYSTALPain. That was all I feel now. Raw pain tangled with shame that clawed its way up my chest, refusing to let me breathe. I stared at the broken woman reflected in the mirror; her hollow eyes, her trembling lips. Defeat stared back at me. Once again, I had lost to Winter.Winter. The damned







