Chapter 54: Villainess Princess × Slave (17)

Out in the quiet, shaded courtyard behind the Princess’s estate, the shadow guard materialized silently out of thin air, dropping onto one knee right behind Cassian.

Cassian stood with his hands resting behind his back, his eyes cold as he stared into the distance. "Report," he commanded raspy and low. "What did you see?"

The shadow guard bowed his head deeply, his voice laced with hesitation. "Your Highness... I observed Princess Lyra inside her bedchamber. The moment the maids left and the doors were locked, her entire demeanor completely collapsed."

Cassian’s dark eyebrows narrowed into lines. "Collapsed?"

"Yes, Master," the shadow guard reported, his tone grave. "She didn’t throw a temper or tantrum. She collapsed onto the floor, curling into a ball and shaking hysterically. She was sobbing in pure terror, whimpering about not wanting her legs broken or being locked in the dark. She was hyperventilating so severely her entire body was trembling."

The shadow guard paused before adding his own realization, "Master... it appears her arrogant, spoiled behavior is merely a forced facade. She is genuinely terrified of the Emperor and Crown Prince Julian."

Cassian stood motionless, the wind rustling his hair. A dark, complex storm brewed in his chest. A facade...? The wicked tyrant’s daughter is living in absolute terror of her own bloodline?

"Investigate her childhood," Cassian ordered coldly, his voice dropping into a whisper. "Find out everything that happened to her in this palace before I was brought here as a slave. Leave no stone unturned."

"Yes, Your Highness!" the shadow guard replied obediently, vanishing into the shadows once more.

Inside the quiet, dimly lit bedchamber, the room had grown chilly as evening fell.

Lyra lay curled up on the hard floor beside her grand bed, completely exhausted from her severe panic attack. Her tear-stained face was pale, her dark lashes matted, and her breathing had finally slowed down into a quiet sleep. She had cried herself to sleep right on the cold carpet.

The doors creaked open softly.

Cassian stepped into the room, his long strides carrying him toward the center of the bedchamber. He had come to check the perimeter, expecting to see her resting in her plush bed.

Instead, his eyes landed on her small, helpless figure lying shivering on the rug.

A dark glint flickered in his eyes. "Stupid girl..." Cassian muttered under his breath.

He walked over and leaned down, sliding one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her shoulders. Effortlessly, he lifted her small, light body off the cold floor. Her skin was freezing to the touch.

Cassian carried her over to the grand bed, laying her down gently on the soft mattress. He pulled the duvet over her shoulders, tucking her in securely.

As he looked down at her pale face, he noticed cold sweat glistening on her forehead and tear tracks staining her soft cheeks. Instinctively, Cassian reached out his hand, using his thumb to gently wipe away the damp sweat from her smooth skin.

Suddenly, without warning, Lyra’s small, cold hand reached up in her sleep

Her delicate fingers wrapped tightly around Cassian’s wrist, gripping him with surprising strength

Cassian’s eyes darkened into a gloomy, dangerous gaze. His entire body froze. Before he could yank his hand back, Lyra let out a soft, whimpering moan and pulled his arm toward her chest.

Because Cassian was leaning over the bed, her sudden pull threw him slightly off balance! He had to quickly plant his other hand on the mattress right beside her head to catch himself.

His breath hitched instantly.

His face was mere millimeters away from hers-so close that their noses lightly brushed together in the quiet room. He could feel the soft, warm, rose-scented air of her shallow breath fanning across his lips. Her long lashes trembled slightly, and her rosy lips were parted in a helpless pout.

Cassian’s heart gave a chaotic thump. An irritation flushed through his veins, yet... for some strange, unexplainable reason, he didn’t hate the closeness. He didn’t feel the urge to push her away with disgust.

Ding!

A soft, invisible blue notification flickered silently above them in the dark.

[ CASSIAN DRAVEN’S HATRED METRIC UPDATED! ]

Hatred toward Host: 82% ➔ 81%

Cassian closed his eyes, forcing his chaotic pulse to steady. He carefully unwrapped her small fingers from his wrist, freeing his hand from her tight grip.

Just as he pushed himself upright to step back into the shadows, a faint, heartbreaking whisper escaped Lyra’s lips.

"Don’t leave me... Mother..." Lyra whimpered softly in her deep sleep, a fresh, single tear slipping down her pale cheek. "Please... it’s so cold..."

Cassian’s feet instantly glued themselves to the floorboards. He paused, his tall frame locking completely still.

Mother...?

The word echoed deeply in the room, striking a raw nerve inside Cassian’s soul. Memories he had buried deep beneath blood and hatred suddenly flooded his mind- memories of his own childhood, when his kingdom was burned to the ground, when his mother was taken from him, and how he had spent endless, freezing nights in dark dungeons crying out for his mother in his sleep, wishing someone would hold him and tell him everything would be okay.

He turned his head slowly, looking back at the small girl buried under the covers.

Cassian snapped himself out of the thought, his dark eyes darkening once more. He hardened his heart, turning on his shoe and walking straight toward the double doors.

He pulled the doors open, looking at the two anxious maids standing outside in the corridor.

"Her Highness is asleep on her bed," Cassian stated, his raspy voice flat and emotionless. "She has a cold sweat. Take care of her properly."

"Y-Yes!!" the maids bowed hastily, rushing into the bedchamber with warm towels and hot tea.

Two hours later, night fell completely over the imperial capital.

A grand carriage drawn by four magnificent white horses pulled up to the courtyard of Princess Lyra’s estate. Stepping down from the carriage with smooth, arrogant grace was Crown Prince Julian.

He wore his usual golden dragon robes, his long silver-tinged hair flowing over his shoulders. He had returned to her estate, just as he had promised in the garden, intending to join his "delicate, flawless sister" for a lavish evening dinner and admire her beauty.

However, as he stepped into the main reception hall, the head maid immediately dropped to her knees, trembling in absolute terror.

"Y-Your Imperial Highness!" the head maid stuttered, her forehead pressed against the cold marble floor. "Please forgive us! Her Highness Princess Lyra... fell deeply asleep early this evening and could not be woken for dinner!"

Julian stopped in his tracks. His charming, bright smile instantly froze on his handsome face.

"She is asleep?" Julian asked, his silky voice dropping into a dangerously quiet, low tone. "She didn’t even wake up to receive her Imperial Brother?"

"P-Please spare us, Your Highness!" the maid whimpered, shaking like a leaf. "Her Highness was extremely exhausted from her fever and fell into a deep slumber! The physicians said she must not be disturbed!"

A thick pressure exploded in the reception hall.

Julian’s amber eyes narrowed into slits. A cold rage flared within his chest. He hated when his precious, perfect things didn’t obey his expectations. He had come specifically to see her, to touch her hair, and to remind her of her place... yet she was sleeping through his visit?!

First she acts strange in the garden, pulling back her cruel acts against that dirty slave... and now she ignores my arrival completely? Julian thought, his hand tightening around the golden hilt of his sword until his knuckles turned white.

"How bold of my little sister..." Julian murmured softly, a dark, twisted smirk slowly curling on his lips, though his amber eyes remained icy cold. "She is becoming more and more unpredictable every single day."

He turned around, his golden robes swishing aggressively as he strode back toward his carriage.

"Tell her," Julian commanded over his shoulder, his voice echoing chillingly through the hall. "I shall see her at the Imperial Autumn Hunt tomorrow morning. She better not disappoint me again."

"W-We obey Your Highness!" the servants shrieked in relief as the Crown Prince departed into the dark night.

The next morning broke with a heavy fog rolling over the grand imperial hunting grounds on the outskirts of the capital.

Massive banners bearing the empire’s crest fluttered in the chilly autumn wind. Dozens of high-ranking nobles, royal guards, and imperial knights were gathered around the grand wooden pavilion, their horses snorting cold air as they prepared for the annual Imperial Autumn Hunt.

Lyra woke up feeling surprisingly well-rested, though her mind was still deeply anxious. She was dressed in a striking, fitted burgundy riding outfit with black boots, her dark hair tied up in a high, ponytail.

Standing beside her horse in the quiet corner of the pavilion, Lyra took a sip of warm tea, trying to prepare herself for the day.

Ding!

A bright red notification screen popped up in front of her eyes!

[ MANDATORY MAIN EVENT MISSION: THE AUTUMN HUNT! ]

[ OBJECTIVE 1: Enter the deep, forbidden shadow forest during the hunt. ]

[ OBJECTIVE 2: Publicly frame Cassian Draven for sabotaging your horse, causing a severe punishment in front of the nobles! ]

[ WARNING: Crown Prince Julian has secretly arranged an "accident" for you in the forbidden forest today to test your loyalty! ]

Lyra nearly choked on her warm tea!

WHAT?! AN ACCIDENT ARRANGED BY MY CRAZY BROTHER?! Lyra screamed frantically in her mind.