~Cassandra~ As I stood there, gazing at the man seated in the throne room, who bore an uncanny resemblance to my husband, memories of my encounter with the stranger came rushing back in an instant.The intensity with which he locked eyes with me spoke volumes, though I couldn't fully comprehend its meaning. And when he called out my name, everything seemed to fall into place.It was the same way the stranger had addressed me back in the hut."He is that stranger," I thought, hastily making my way out of the throne room and rushing to my own quarters.Entering the room, I slammed the door shut behind me, leaning against it for support as my heart raced and a multitude of thoughts flooded my mind.Looking at him, I sensed a peculiar yet undeniable connection. I didn't need anyone to confirm that he was the stranger I had spent that night with in the woods, but it left me with even more questions."Why is he here? Who is he to Lucian? Why are they so alike? Why did he do what he did to

~Cassandra~ After Lucian departed from my chamber, I took a seat at the edge of my bed, lost in my thoughts for a few minutes. Eventually, I rose and made my way to the closet, intending to select the perfect attire for the upcoming party when a knock interrupted me.A feminine voice from outside my door spoke, "My Queen, King Lucian has requested us to bring you an outfit and assist with your preparations for the party.""Please come in," I replied, and the door swung open, revealing three maids carrying various items in their hands. One held the outfits, another had lotions and scents on a towel, while the third carried a makeup box."I would like Zoe to attend as well. Please prepare an outfit for her," I requested, and they bowed in acknowledgment."We already have one prepared, Your Majesty. King Lucian arranged it for her," they informed me, and a smile formed on my lips. I was impressed by his thoughtfulness."That's wonderful. Let's get started then. I would love to have a mi

~Cassandra~ I awoke to the faint sounds of Lucian preparing to leave. When he noticed I was awake, a wide smile brightened his face."Hey beautiful, good morning," he greeted, moving closer to the bed and leaning in to plant a gentle kiss on my lips and cheek."Good morning, handsome," I replied, a wide smile adorning my face as I sat up."I'm sorry if I woke you up. I tried to be as quiet as possible," he said apologetically, and I shook my head."You didn't wake me up. It was time for me to wake up," I assured him, smiling softly. "Are you going somewhere?" I asked, curiosity filling my voice. He nodded in response."Yes, I am. There's a council meeting arranged by the empire. It requires the presence of all the kings. It came up unexpectedly," he explained, causing me to furrow my brow."Is everything alright? Such meetings sound rather serious," I voiced my concerns.He chuckled and shook his head. "Well, I'm not entirely sure. We'll find out when we get there. But don't worry, n

~Damian~ "I regret yelling at her; it was a mistake," I muttered, frustrated, as I tugged at my hair.As I paced in the garden, I realized that my rude behavior would hinder any chance of her loving me. Losing my temper was something I detested.I needed to approach this delicately, finding a way to win her over without ruining everything. I refused to let Lucian take her away from me. While he could have fame, riches, and the throne, Cassie belonged to me.Leaving the garden, I made my way to the palace building, plastering a fake smile on my face as I acknowledged the bowing and greeting individuals.Among the women who stared at me seductively, I ignored them, hoping that it would be Cassie casting those looks my way."I must apologize to her for my outburst and the pain I caused. I shouldn't have acted that way," I thought, ascending the stairs toward the top floor.Reaching her chamber door, I paused, took a deep breath, and nervously knocked."I don't want to see anyone right n

~Cassandra~ Lucian shared the good news with everyone, and shortly after, we finished our dinner. Throughout the meal, I couldn't help but steal glances at Damian, who was thoroughly enjoying his time with Becky.I kept reminding myself that this was what I wanted. Now I would have the peaceful marriage with Lucian that I had always desired. However, I couldn't understand why he wasn't even looking at me.I had a strong urge to ask him about his hand, but he didn't give me the opportunity. Becky had already done that, and he seemed satisfied with her concern.As we walked back to my chamber, Zoe called my name, “Cassie”. I turned to face her and unintentionally blurted out, "He calls me that too." It took me a moment to realize what I had revealed.Feeling uneasy, Zoe furrowed her brows and asked, "Who calls you that?" My slip of the tongue became evident, and I gulped nervously before responding, "Damian. He also calls me Cassie whenever we're alone." Zoe shook her head and averted