LOGINEden’s footsteps echoed along the hallway, while the maid beside him was still sobbing. Her shoulders heaved up and down, shaken by the lingering terror that had nearly taken her breath away.
In Eden’s hand was a vial containing sleeping medicine, which he had originally intended to give to Vivianne—who had suffered from insomnia ever since she was widowed.
The thundering hooves of the Valthorne and Odiley forces ground to an abrupt halt at a major crossroads, exactly half a day's ride after leaving the Capital gates.Standing directly in their path, a small detachment bearing the golden eagle crest blocked the road like a wall of shields."Grand Duke Valthorne." The leader of the detachment—an Imperial Marshal draped in a deep crimson cloak—offered a formal nod, not making the slightest move to dismount.His gaze carried a condescending look, typical of a watchdog acting grand simply because he carried the ruler's decree. "His Imperial Majesty commands you to return to the palace immediately.""I don't have time for this.""Forgive me, Grand Duke, but this isn
The first snow of the season began to blanket Lancaster just as Derrick’s carriage was getting ready to push toward Raipherze.Roselyn watched the scene unfold through a tiny parting in the curtains. Delicate white flakes drifted lazily from the sky, dusting the cobblestone road they were traveling on."The snow always hits this place earlier than the Capital," Derrick murmured, gently adjusting the hood of Roselyn’s cloak to keep the chill away. "My mother used to say the first snow is a good omen. A clean slate."Roselyn didn't say a word. The lingering numbness from the afternoon's drug still had her tongue tied. She could only stare blankly at every passing landmark she caught a glimpse of, desperately tracing a mental map for an escape route in her mind."How... much longer until we arrive at Raipherze?" Her voice came out clearer than she expected, catching her off guard.Derrick snapped his head around, pulling her a little closer into his embrace. "You're finally talking to m
Roselyn opened her eyes, and for a fleeting moment, she thought she was still trapped in a dream. The ceiling above was a pale cream, and a flickering candlelight danced softly at the edge of her vision.However, when she tried to curl her pinky finger, her body entirely refused to obey the command.‘What's happening to me?’ she muttered in her mind, unable to make a sound.The daughter of House Vogard could still feel the chill of the room. Though her movements were severely restricted, her eyes could still dart around.A small, greenish vial lay on the nightstand, half its contents spilled onto a cloth that was still damp beside the bed."Are you awake, Rose?"The voice echoed from a corner of the room, followed by the steady sound of approaching footsteps.Derrick sat down at the edge of the bed, staring at her with a look of relief tangled with deep anxiety."Don't be afraid. The effects are just temporary. You can hear me, right?" He gently stroked Roselyn's brown hair. “I make y
Roselyn sprinted toward the small side gate in the back garden. She could feel a piercing, stinging cold as her bare feet pressed against the grass, which was heavily drenched in night dew.The brunette woman truly believed that she had finally found her window to escape. She had been waiting for this exact opportunity from the very beginning.By outsmarting the middle-aged maid earlier, she had successfully swiped the key and unlocked the shackles that held her bound.Yet, with fewer than ten paces remaining before her fingers could grasp the wooden gate, a muscular arm abruptly yanked her shoulder from behind.Roselyn's body was violently pulled backward. Faced a familiar, unwanted person."And here I was wondering why you
The borders of the Hera Empire were slick with the remnants of last night's torrential rain.Kaelus Valthorne did not reduce his speed for even a fraction of a second as he thundered through the stone arches marking the imperial territory.The steeds carrying the twenty Odiley royal guards and his nine Valthorne knights galloped fiercely in his wake, mud spraying aggressively from hooves that had been pushed without mercy since the earliest hours of dawn."Grand Duke, the path leading directly to the D’Arest Duchy lies to the north," one of his knights hollered as they approached a fork in the road."We are bypassing the standard route.""Then—""We will cut dire
Roselyn sprinted toward the small side gate in the back garden. She could feel a piercing, stinging cold as her bare feet pressed against the grass, which was heavily drenched in night dew.The brunette woman truly believed that she had finally found her window to escape. She had been waiting for this exact opportunity from the very beginning.By outsmarting the middle-aged maid earlier, she had successfully swiped the key and unlocked the shackles that held her bound.Yet, with fewer than ten paces remaining before her fingers could grasp the wooden gate, a muscular arm abruptly yanked her shoulder from behind.Roselyn's body was violently pulled backward. Faced a familiar, unwanted person."And here I was wondering why you had suddenly grown so compliant. It turns out you were planning to flee."Derrick’s blue eyes locked onto her gaze. With a single sharp wrench, the man spun Roselyn around and pinned her against a massive willow tree near the gate."Release me!""NEVER!""Derrick—







