MasukCassian's POV Several members of the royal household began congratulating one another. The servants standing near the doorway exchanged excited smiles, and whispers of delight spread through the corridor. “The Crown Princess is carrying the royal heir!” “May the Moon Goddess bless the child!” “What wonderful news for the kingdom!” The King approached the physician, his face breaking into a smile I rarely saw. “How far along is she?” “It's still very early, Your Majesty. We will need to monitor her condition closely, particularly because she collapsed. For now, she needs rest, proper nourishment, and as little stress as possible.” “Of course,” the King replied. “Whatever she needs, she shall have.” My mother was already looking toward the guards. “This news must be spread across the kingdom!” she declared. “Let the people know that the Crown Princess is carrying the next heir to the throne. There should be celebrations in every territory!” “Mother,” I said. But she barely s
Cassian's POV “Arianna!” I caught her just before her head could hit the floor, pulling her limp body against my chest. For one horrifying moment, I couldn't breathe. Her eyes were closed, her face had lost its color, and her fingers hung loosely against my arm. Only a few minutes ago, she had been sitting beside me, enduring the humiliation my mother had put her through. Now, she lay unconscious in my arms. “Arianna?” I patted her cheek gently. “Arianna, open your eyes.” She didn't respond. Panic clawed at my chest. “Somebody get the physician!” I roared. The council chamber erupted into chaos. Chairs scraped against the floor as people hurried toward us. Someone called for the royal physician, while another ordered the guards to clear the way. I barely heard any of them. All I could see was my wife. “Evander!” I shouted. “Your Highness!” “Get the infirmary ready. Now!” He didn't waste a second. He rushed out of the chamber, shouting orders to the guards as he went.
Arianna's POVThe Queen stepped forward again, her expression softening as she addressed the King. “Your Majesty, I understand that my actions may have appeared cruel, but I never intended to harm Arianna. I only did what I believed was necessary to protect her. I would never deliberately put my daughter-in-law's life at risk," her voice trembled. “I hope she can understand that my intentions were never malicious.” I nearly laughed. I wished I could pull off her facade at that moment. But I had nothing to use against her. No witness willing to contradict her. No evidence to prove that the men who had held me captive were acting on Lord Ravencroft's orders. No way to establish that the letter, the prisoners, and my father's sudden appearance were all part of an elaborate deception. And even if I spoke, who would believe me? My own father had just confirmed the Queen's story. Silence settled over the chamber. Then the oldest council member cleared his throat. “Since the matter h
Arianna's POV The King finally reached for the letter. He unfolded it carefully, his eyes moving across the lines written on the paper. The longer he read, the deeper the frown on his face became. Nobody dared to speak. Even the Queen remained silent, watching him with an expression of anxious anticipation that seemed almost too convincing. After what felt like an eternity, the King lowered the letter. “This letter appears to be genuine,” he announced. A wave of whispers swept through the chamber. My heart sank. Genuine? Did that mean the threat against my life was real? Or was this another part of the Queen's carefully constructed lie? Before I could make sense of anything, the Queen stepped forward. “Your Majesty, there is someone else who can confirm everything I have said.” The King looked at her. “Who?” “Beta Craig. Crown Princess Arianna's father.” My head snapped toward her. “Beta Craig?” The Queen nodded. “He was aware of the threat from the beginning. In fac
Arianna’s POV Murmurs came from every direction in the room. “What?” “Her Majesty ordered the Crown Princess’s abduction?” At that point, my brain went blank. I couldn’t wrap my head around what was going on. It was Lord Ravencroft and Alicia who had held a knife to my neck. So, how had the Queen’s name become entangled in all of this? My gaze shifted toward the Queen. I expected her to yell, scream, and accuse the prisoner of spouting nonsense. But she didn’t. Neither did she look surprised. “How dare you!” the Elder thundered, rising from his seat. His furious gaze bore into the prisoner. “How dare you slander the Queen in the presence of the King and the entire council? Do you have any idea how grave an accusation you have just made? You are standing before the highest authorities in this kingdom, accusing the Queen of orchestrating the Crown Princess’s abduction. Do you understand the consequences of such a statement?” The prisoner bowed his head. “I understand, Your Grac
Arianna’s POV “Speak,” Cassian ordered, his voice cutting through the silence. “Tell this council everything you know about the Crown Princess’s abduction.” The man swallowed nervously. His eyes darted around the chamber, taking in the rows of council members staring down at him. His gaze eventually settled on Lord Ravencroft, who sat rigidly in his seat. For a moment, neither of them moved. His lips parted, but before he could speak... “Shut up!” The Queen suddenly shot to her feet, her sharp voice startling everyone in the chamber. The man flinched, immediately lowering his head. My gaze drifted in the direction of the Queen. Why was she so desperate to stop him from speaking? “Mother,” Cassian said, his voice turning dangerously cold. “I suggest you sit down.” “Do not tell me what to do!” she snapped, turning to face him. “Have you completely lost your mind? You drag a filthy stranger into the royal council and expect us to believe whatever nonsense he says?” Cassian's







