Chapter 5

Serena was about to explain that it was not what he thought, that someone else had pushed her...

"Stop talking." Cedric interrupted her. "You just woke up, and you're still weak. You should get some rest. I'll have someone bring you some light dishes and tonics."

Cedric stayed in Serena's chambers for the next few days. He treated her so well that the Palace servants started wondering if the Crown Prince had finally realized how sincere Serena had always been toward him.

Serena tried countless times to persuade him to leave, attend to his duties, and get some rest. Every time she did, he became unhappy.

"Do you really want me to leave your side that much?"

She could not tell him the truth. The truth was that she did not want to see him.

Serena lowered her eyes and said softly, "I'm just worried you'll exhaust yourself, Your Highness."

That seemed to lift Cedric's mood. His expression softened.

"Taking care of you isn't exhausting. I've taken some time off these past few days. I can stay here and look after you."

Even so, Cedric eventually left when one of Gwendolyn's maids arrived with a trembling message. Gwendolyn was suffering from a severe migraine. She was in so much pain that she could not stop crying and wanted Cedric by her side.

Serena was sitting in bed when she saw Cedric frown. As he rose to his feet, he accidentally knocked over a bottle of tonic. The bottle shattered on the floor, splashing brown liquid across his clothes.

"Be careful, Your Highness," she said softly.

Cedric glanced down at the stain on his clothes before looking back at Serena. He seemed as though he wanted to say something. In the end, he only said hurriedly, "Rest well. I'll come back later to see you."

Serena listened to his hurried footsteps fading into the distance. Once the doors closed behind him, the room fell silent.

A slow breath escaped her lips. Her entire body relaxed.

Only after he left did she feel as though she could finally breathe.

Greta brought over a basin of hot water and carefully collected the broken shards from the floor.

"I can't believe the Crown Princess chose this moment of all times to get a migraine," Greta muttered under her breath. "What convenient timing for it to happen while the Crown Prince is here."

"Watch your words," Serena said weakly.

Greta pressed her lips together and dared not say another word.

Serena remained indoors over the following days. Cedric occasionally stopped by, but he never stayed longer than 30 minutes. Gwendolyn always found a reason to summon him away. Sometimes she felt unwell. Other times she claimed to have had a nightmare.

Serena never asked him to stay.

In fact, she looked forward to his departure.

One beautiful night, moonlight poured across the Palace grounds.

Serena was fast asleep when someone suddenly shook her awake in a panic.

"Your Grace, something terrible has happened!"

Serena sat up immediately. For some reason, her heart sank.

"Calm down. What happened?"

"It's the Crown Princess. Her fever has been high for days with no sign of getting better. Earlier this evening, she suddenly coughed up blood. The physician has examined her several times. He prescribed all kinds of medicine and treatments, but nothing has worked."

Greta lowered her voice even further.

"The Crown Princess's personal maid said someone must have placed a curse on her. They invited a mystic to examine her condition. He said..." Greta hesitated. "He said there's something evil in the Palace, and they've ordered every residence searched."

Serena's heart dropped.

"What happened after that?"

Tears rolled down Greta's cheeks.

"T-They found a voodoo doll in our garden. It was covered in needles, and it had the Crown Princess's birthday written on it..."

Serena closed her eyes.

A chill spread through her entire body.

This trick again.

"His Highness wants to see you right now."

Serena took a deep breath and climbed out of bed.

Gwendolyn's chambers blazed with light. People crowded both inside and outside the residence. A mystic dressed in flowing robes stood nearby, chanting strange incantations.

When Serena arrived, she saw Cedric standing alone in the corridor before she entered.

His black robe fluttered lightly in the night breeze.

It looked as though he had been waiting there for some time.

Serena hesitated before stopping beside him.

"Your Highness."

Cedric turned toward her.

The corridor lights illuminated his face, revealing the furrow between his brows and the exhaustion in his eyes.

Serena looked up at him.

She was about to explain that she had not done it when Cedric spoke first.

"I know."

Serena froze in surprise.

Cedric's voice was quiet and helpless.

"I'm not stupid, and neither are you. It's obvious what's happening."

He paused briefly before glancing toward the chambers. When he looked back at Serena, he continued.

"Gwendolyn has a governess named Lydia who's always stirring up trouble. She must have been the one who encouraged Gwendolyn to put on this entire performance."

Serena wanted to speak, but no words came out.

Cedric continued, "Gwendolyn probably felt insecure because I kept visiting you these past few days. That's why she came up with a plan like this and tried to make me punish you."

Only then did he reveal his true purpose.

"However, it's true that Gwendolyn hasn't been well these past few days. She's been running a fever the entire time. You know what she's like. If I don't do what she wants, she'll cry and make a scene every day. It'll be even harder for her to recover if she stays this emotional."

He looked directly at Serena.

"I need you to play along with her. Once you go inside, admit to the crime and say you made the voodoo doll. I'll punish you the way she wants, and this whole matter will pass."