>>Hael

Once everyone left the Throne Room, the King and I remained.

"How did you get this information?" He asked

"Well, I encountered the creature myself." I didn't give him an answer right away.

"Yes," The King nodded, "But you would have told me the things you told us today, the last time we talked about this."

...

I guess I can bend the truth

"I met another survivor." I told him, "It's someone I cannot name, but he had written down the description of the monster in detail." I have no intention of revealing my connection with the elves.

While Amber was in subliminal state, I went through the book from Aunt Helena.

"I see, I won't pressure you into revealing the person, but I want to know something else."

"Yes? Your Highness,"

"Do you have any plans of fighting this thing?"

"Well, we're at step one. We only know what this thing looks like and what it can do. We have no idea what works against it, what can be used to fight it. We don't even know if it's killable or not."

The book has most magic didn't do much damage against it.

"The other kingdoms are ready to provide us with aid, men and money."

I smiled, "I'm sure, you already took the money."

He smiled in return,"We'll have to do this anyway, why not take it?"

"We'll need to trap and experiment on the monster we have in our forest." I glanced out the window, "You should prepare a team for this. Preferably people who can use swords and those who can use light magic."

"Alright," He nodded, "I'll have one assembled."

I looked at the king, "Your Majesty, there is one more thing we need to investigate other than how to fight these creatures."

"And that is?"

"Do you have any knowledge about the rift that's in Hollow Woods?"

"The rift in Hollow Woods?" He paused to think about it, "Hmmm,"

***

>>Amber

The meeting was adjourned. Everyone left except Hael and I chose to wait for him. I told him he could meet me in the garden and I was walking the hallways when I rounded a corner, I saw him-Lyal.

My heart sank, and I instinctively quickened my pace, hoping to slip past him unnoticed. But he spotted me immediately, his eyes narrowing with a predatory gleam.

"Ah, Saint Amber, there you are," He said smoothly, stepping into my path. "I've been looking for you."

I stopped, a cold knot of dread forming in my stomach. He was the last person I wanted to see, much less speak to.

I kept my expression neutral as I turned around to face him, hiding the turmoil inside. "Your Highness, Do you need something from me?" I asked, my voice steady but cold.

He smiled, a practiced, charming smile that only made my skin crawl. There was no one else in the hallway and he made sure to distinguish as much space between us as he could.

"I just want to talk."

"I'm quite busy," I stepped back, creating distance, "If it's nothing urgent, I'll be taking my leave." I was about to turn when he moved towards me. I had half-turned when he grabbed my wrist and yanked me straight, forcing me to face him.

"Is that any way to greet someone you used to be close to?" He asked, his tone teasing but with an undercurrent of seriousness.

His words didn't sit well with me, "Close? We're not close," I replied sharply, "What are you even saying-"

"Corvina, cut the act." He cut my words and made me freeze up.

Shit,

How the hell does he know?!

"Corvina?" I looked at him, "You seem to be mistaking me for someone." My gaze traveled to his hand that was gripping my wrist, "You should let me go, Your Highness."

Ignoring my words, he leaned in, his voice dropping to a seductive murmur. "You used to smile so much more when you saw me back at the Cory Mansion."

"Your Highness," My heart rate started to rise as the fear seeped in, "Please let me go, I'm not Corvina."

"You don't have to lie to me." His words, his closeness—it was all too much, "I know you are her," I hated his presence.

"Your Highness, I may look like this 'Corvina', but I am a mere commoner."

He snorted playfully, "You should have gone with a face disguise." He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from my face making me flinch, "The same face, the same height, the same hair, the same eyes, everything," He looked at me intensely, "Is the same, but your name. Just because everyone believes everyone in the Cory Manor died, doesn't mean everyone actually did." My chest constricted, "You survived, Corvina."

I tried to get my arm out of his grip while I kept my eyes on him but he wouldn't let me do it

"I am not her,"

"I already heard you and Serena talking." My eyes went wide in shock, "You can't lie about it to me anymore. I know the truth."

"Let me go," I tried to yank my hand away again

"Look," He tightened his grip on me, "I know I did you wrong in the past," The moment he said those words, the memories came back to me, "I shouldn't have left saying such cruel words on your birthday-" I couldn't contain myself

With my free hand, I slapped him across the face without thinking.

The sound of the slap echoed in the hallway, and for a brief second, I saw the shock in his eyes. I tried to turn and run, but his grip tightened painfully on my arm. In one swift motion, he yanked me back, slamming me against the cold, unforgiving wall. The impact knocked the breath out of me, and before I could react, he pressed his body against mine, his face inches from my own.

His breath was hot against my skin, and I could see the fury mingling with a twisted kind of desire in his eyes.

"Let me go!" I shouted, struggling against his hold. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of fear and anger fueling my attempts to break free.

He ignored my pleas, his grip ironclad as he leaned in closer. "You belong with me," he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear. "I've never stopped thinking about you."

Before I could respond, he came in to press his lips against mine

There was so much fear and anger bubbling inside of me, I didn't know what to do with it.

Suddenly, a strange warmth enveloped my body. My vision was filled with a blinding white light, and I felt a powerful force pulling me away from him. For a moment, everything went blank as I felt myself get zapped away.

When the light faded, I found myself at the end of the hallway, my body tingling with residual energy. Dazed, I looked around, realizing I had somehow teleported away from him. The first thing I saw was Lyal standing at the other end of the hallway with a shocked expression

Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived as I felt myself falling, unable to steady my weakened legs.

Strong arms caught me, steadying me before I could hit the ground.

!?

I looked up, my breath catching in my throat as I saw, Hael. His piercing eyes were filled with concern as he held me gently but firmly.

"Hael," My voice trembled more than I realized. My heart still pounded in my chest, but the fear began to ebb away, replaced by a sense of security in Hael's presence but he didn't focus on me. He had a poker face on but his eyes showed fury.

He looked at Lyal, "Did you just try to assault the saint, Your Highness?" His usual calm voice wasn't there. In fact anyone could clearly hear the anger in his tone

"You saw wrong," Lyal replied and Hael put me down on the ground and moved me to the back

"I think you and I need to talk," He began to walk ahead when I felt scared.

"Hael, wait," I tried to come in front of him but he used his magic and was gone before I could do anything. I frantically turned to look at Lyal, "Hael!" Indeed the Tower Master was there right in front of the prince.

I began to run towards them when Hael grabbed Lyal by his collar and dragged him along as they turned the corner

"Hael!" I yelled out his name, "Stop!!" I grabbed the helms of my dress and ran with all my might but when I turned the corner they had turned around, they both were gone

OH!

No, no, no, no!!!

"Hael!" I called his name, "Hael, listen to me," I began to jog around, looking for where they could have gone.

I ran into another corridor, "Hael!" Shouting his name but I couldn't see him. The corridors were a blur of opulent decor and shadowy corners, each twist and turn a reminder of the palace's labyrinthine design.

As I rounded a corner, I nearly collided with a group of noblewomen. They stopped abruptly, their eyes widening in surprise before narrowing in disdain. There were four of them, each dressed in luxurious gowns, their jewelry glinting in the soft light of the chandeliers.

Unfortunately, I recognized the women

Shit

It's my former 'friend' circle

"Well, well," Honey drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What do we have here?"

I tried to move past them, but they closed in, forming a tight circle around me. My heart sank as I realized they had no intention of letting me go.

Oh hell, I don't have time for this!

"Excuse me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need to find someone."

Ravioli smirked, her eyes scanning me from head to toe with blatant contempt. "In a hurry, are we? And who might you be looking for in such a state?" Her tone was mocking, and the other women giggled maliciously.

"I'm looking for the Tower Master," I said, trying to sound confident. "Now, if you'll excuse me—"

"Tower Master, indeed," Thorn sneered. "Do you think someone like you has any business with him?"

I felt a knot of anger and frustration tighten in my stomach. "It's urgent," I insisted, attempting to push through them.

But they wouldn't budge. Ravioli's smirk widened into a cruel smile. "You look exactly like her, you know. Corvina."

The name hit me like a slap in the face. Corvina.

"Yes," I glared at her, "You've said this before too."

My stomach churned as I realized where this was heading.

"Yes," Rize chimed in, her voice laced with venom. "A whore. A disgrace. That's what she was. She got famous for sleeping with her servants."

Servants?

I raised my brows at them. Not a servant, but servants? People are saying I slept around?

Laughter erupted around me, cold and harsh.

"Since you look exactly like her, you must be like her too." Honey said, "I heard you are responsible for Saint Illaris being in a coma." She shook her head at me, "Whore behavior indeed, are you trying to take the prince from her?"

"Prince Lyal left your look alike, as if he would ever take a skank like you."

My face flushed with humiliation and anger as I tightened my fists.

What the hell!?