All Chapters of He Protected His Childhood Friend, Not His Princess Fiancée: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The call disconnected before I could remind Cassian Blackwell that I was Seraphina Valemont, his fiancée and the woman meant to stand beside him in this political marriage.I lowered my phone and stared at the screen for several seconds.That was impressive.My own fiancé did not even have my number saved.Beside me, Juliette Ashford laughed, and the Blackwell crest pinned to her chest shifted slightly as she crossed her arms.“This is honestly entertaining,” she said. “I have no idea how you got Cassian’s private number, but you cannot seriously believe one phone call will make him defend you.”People always made the phrase “childhood friend” sound innocent, but relationships like that were rarely simple among royal families and old money dynasties.If the Duke of Northmere could not give me a proper explanation today, then perhaps this engagement did not need to continue at all.Juliette’s eyes moved over me slowly, lingering on my coat, my shoes, and finally the collar of my shirt.

Before I returned to the capital, Adrian had told me how desperately the Blackwell family wanted this engagement. The old duke had negotiated with the palace three times and surrendered control of three Northmere estates before my father agreed.If Duke Blackwell learned that his own son had ruined the arrangement, the aftermath would be interesting to watch.That thought improved my mood enough that I continued toward the exit.Juliette grabbed my arm from behind hard enough for her nails to dig into my skin.I turned around and looked at her. “What now?”Her face was twisted with anger, but Cassian standing behind her had clearly given her confidence again.“You embarrassed me in front of everyone,” she snapped. “Do you really think you can just walk away?”I waited for her to continue.“Give the necklace back,” she demanded, “and apologize in front of everyone.”“If you refuse, you are not leaving Northmere today.”Before I could answer, she raised her hand toward my face, her sharp

I was not a forgiving person. Everything Juliette had done that night, I remembered clearly.Adrian glanced at me once, and that was enough permission.“Go ahead,” he said. “Let them understand what happens when someone humiliates a Valemont.”The silver ice bucket still sat beside the counter. The moment I picked it up, Juliette started shaking.“What are you doing?” she stammered. “If you touch me, Cassian won’t—”I stopped in front of her, lifted the bucket over her head, and slowly tilted it.Ice water crashed over her hair and shoulders.She screamed immediately as melting ice slid through her curls, down her dress, and into her collar while the guards held her firmly in place.When the bucket was empty, I let it fall onto the floor.Juliette looked ruined. Her carefully styled curls clung to her face, mascara streaked down her cheeks, and her expensive dress was soaked through completely while water pooled beneath her knees.“You asked earlier what it felt like to have water pour

A week later, I returned to Northmere.I had spent five days at the sanatorium and another two at the palace before Adrian allowed me to appear in public again. He had not returned to the capital. Instead, he had taken temporary control of the Blackwell council hall and stationed royal guards throughout the estate, turning it into the center of power for the region.By then, everyone in Aurelia had heard that the Duke of Northmere had been taken away by the Crown Prince himself, and that even the old duke had not dared to say a single hard word over the phone. Everyone was waiting to see what Adrian would do next.That afternoon, I sat by the window with a book in my hand. Sunlight fell across the page, but the memory of ice water pouring over my head still surfaced now and then, sharp and unpleasant.A royal guard entered and stopped before us.“Your Highness,” he said to Adrian before turning to me. “The heads of the Lancaster and Montclair families request an audience.”Adrian sat a

The council hall was silent when Cassian and Juliette were brought in.Adrian sat at the head of the long table. Walter Blackwell stood near the wall, expressionless, though his fingers hung pale and tense at his sides.Two royal guards pushed open the doors and dragged Cassian and Juliette inside.For a moment, I almost did not recognize them.Cassian’s cheekbone was bruised, dried blood marked the corner of his mouth, and his once-perfect suit was badly wrinkled. Juliette looked even worse. Water stains covered her dress, her lipstick had smeared to her chin, and she looked nothing like the woman who had stood in the jewelry store with a Blackwell crest on her chest.The guards dropped them in the center of the hall and stepped back.Walter finally moved. He looked at Cassian once, and pain flashed across his face before disappearing completely.Then he strode over, grabbed Cassian by the back of the neck, and forced him down.“Apologize,” Walter said.Cassian did not move. Walter sl