"Leave me alone for some time," I muttered, adjusting the clasp of my necklace in the mirror.
The maids bowed immediately and slipped out, the door shutting with that soft click that finally meant silence.
I exhaled long and slow, shoulders sagging. I had to attend this meeting, but my legs felt like they'd been individually murdered by Kirill and left to rot.
I lowered myself onto the stool with a dull thud, the kind that echoed my spirit giving up. My thighs trembled. My back complained. Even my hair felt tired.
For a moment, I just sat there, staring at my reflection.... a noble lady dressed for an important meeting but looking like she'd survived a mild war.
"…Fantastic," I whispered to myself. "Truly thriving."
I took another deep breath and forced myself to stand. I had to go to that meeting. If I kept acting lazy, I'd end up dead...maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but eventually Kairan would corner me, and I wouldn't even have the strength to run.
I walked toward the door… and then froze.
The curtains, which had been perfectly still a moment ago, billowed sharply, like someone had brushed past them.
Then they just… stopped mid-movement as if something unseen had grabbed hold of the air itself.
A chill dragged down my spine.
What… the hell?
The room felt wrong suddenly. An eerie vibe spread.
And then—
THUD.
I flinched so violently my necklace hit my collarbone. Something had landed behind me. It was a person because it was ttoo heavy to be a dropped object.
My fingers clamped around the door handle so hard my knuckles went white.
Who's behind… is that… Kairan?
No. Whenever Kairan entered my room, it was terrifying, yes, but didn't give off a coldness. I never felt chill and eeriness In room before hi arrival.
This… this felt dirty like the air was crawling over my skin.
I couldn't turn around. My whole body locked.
Just open the door, Sia. Open it. Fenric and Kael are right outside. Open the damn door.
I pulled the handle.
It didn't move.
My breath hitched. I yanked harder, panic shooting up my throat, but the door wouldn't budge. It felt like someone was holding it shut from above, from the air, from nowhere.
Footsteps started behind me.
They drew closer until I could feel heat radiating against my back.... suffocating heat that pressed between my shoulder blades.
I didn't turn. I couldn't. My knees threatened to give out.
The shadow swallowed my whole reflection in the door's metal plate. Whoever stood behind me was tall and massive and it was Kairan
His hand slid around my stomach, pulling me back into his chest that felt like stone. Veins on his hand lit under his skin like molten cracks, glowing in sick, unnatural pulses and it was burning.
My breath died in my throat.
What is happening to him?
And then, without warning his arm cinched around my waist. Before I could even breathe, he hauled me back against his chest and spun me, turning my body until I was facing him instead of the door.
"Your Highness—"
My words shattered.
Those familiar emeralds had sharpened, the pupils drawn into narrow, inhuman slits.
My stomach dropped. My mouth wouldn't move.
His face was in pain, like he was fighting something inside himself....jaw clenched, veins brightening, breath ragged.
Then his strength vanished.
He collapsed.
His hand remained locked on my waist and pulled me down with him, and we hit the floor.
His arms engulfed me like iron bands, pressing me impossibly close to his massive chest. One moment I was upright… the next I was flattened against him, my ribs pressed painfully beneath weight of his body. My back slammed against the door with a sharp thud but the impact was nothing compared to the force of him holding me so tightly.
I tried to inhale but it was difficult.
His hold tightened again, like his body was reacting on its own, squeezing me to him.
"C–Crown Prince… let me go—"
My words broke, thin and strangled, barely a whisper.
He didn't respond or react.
His grip only grew harsher, arms like iron bars locking me in place. His heat scorched through my clothes, through my skin, through my bones. My legs went weak as black spots flickered at the edges of my vision.
I tried to push at his chest but nothing. I tried to pull in air....nothing.
My lungs screamed, burning as wildly as his body.
My thoughts began to slip, fuzzy and slow.
I can't… breathe…
I couldn't feel my hands or legs. The world wavered. My head dropped helplessly against him as the room blurred and narrowed into darkness.
And then the last bit of consciousness slipped away.
.
.
.
Air rushed into my lungs like I was drowning and finally broke the surface.
I jolted upright with a choked gasp, clutching my throat. My vision spun, the room tilting left then right before settling into place. I coughed, blinked hard, trying to understand where the hell I was.
I was still on the floor slumped against the door like a ragdoll someone tossed aside.
But Kairan was gone.
I touched my ribs, expecting sharp pain, bruising, something after being squeezed like sugarcane in a grinder—but there was no ache, no soreness and not even the training pain from earlier.
My body felt… like it healed.
I slowly got on my knees, checking again and yes, nothing hurt
If anything, I felt stronger, warm and energized in a way that was refreshing considering I trained like a animal.
My eyes darted around the room, paranoia crawling up my spine.
"Kairan?" I whispered, even though I wanted him nowhere near me.
No answer.
Just the curtains swaying softly, like something heavy had moved past them moments ago.
A cold shiver ran down my back.
What the hell happened to him… and what did he just do to me?
I stood up and pulled the door open. This time it opened like it was never stuck at all.
Kael and Fenric stood on either side like two polite pieces of furniture.
"Kael… Fenric…" I croaked.
They both snapped to attention.
"Yes, milady?" Fenric asked calmly.
"How… how long has it been since the maids left my room?" I asked.
Fenric said casually. "Just a few moments, lady. Barely fifteen minutes."
Five minutes.
FIVE MINUTES.
The relief that washed over me nearly knocked me out again. There was still time before the meeting.
I didn't waste another second. I shoved Kairan out of my mind and strode down the hall toward Father's office.
When I entered, my eyes immediately snapped to the figure sitting across from Father's desk.
Kairan.
Oh, fantastic. I nearly passed out in his arms fifteen minutes ago, and now he's here doing corporate diplomacy like nothing happened.
He didn't even face me properly. Just a slight side-eye before looking away again, like some bored cat pretending I wasn't worth his full attention.
I greeted them both. Father nodded and gestured for me to sit.
But I couldn't stop staring at Kairan.
Just minutes ago, he looked like he was in agony but now? His clothes were clean, not wet with sweat, expressios cold and normal.
Was I hallucinating?
Whatever it was, he didn't look at me once.
I couldn't focus on meeting at all and just kept staring at him the whole time. Only for I realise meeting ended with him saying, "Then I shall send the letter to the temple."
Father beamed, "Thank you, your Highness, but you need not trouble yourself by coming here personally every time."
"Why?" Kairan asked, deadpan.
Father blinked. "Well… I mean… surely you have many responsibilities—"
"I do," Kairan said thoughtfully, then nodded. "But I do not mind coming here. I have other tasks to attend anyway."
His gaze flicked to me , for exactly one heartbeat , and then he looked away.
Father looked confused but didn't push it.
Kairan left the room after the courtesies.
And maybe the devil actually had possessed me, because I stood up and walked right out after him. I didn't look at Fathet or wait to be dismissed. I just marched out like a woman with brain damage and zero self-control.
I spotted Kairan walking down the hall, and before I could stop myself, I ran after him.
Why? I didn't know either but it was nagging in my mind.
"Your Highness!" I shouted as I got closer.
"Your Highness—!" I called out again, louder than I intended.
Kairan stopped mid-stride but didn't turn or move.
and now I regretted chasing after him like a rabid dog. I should have disappeared right there but I still moved towards him.
I slowed my steps until I stood a few feet behind him, heart thudding, legs wobbling like noodles.
He finally turned, only halfway, just enough to glance at me from over his shoulder. His face was… normal...Eyes human, posture composed, expression bored like usual.
"Lady Meredia." His voice was smooth as ever. "Is something amiss?"
I swallowed hard. My throat was still a little raw.
"I… uh…"
He fully faced me now, hands on his sides, towering over me like always. "Speak."
Okay. Screw it. I wasn't dying confused.
I lifted my chin, ignoring how my knees screamed at me in betrayal.
"Your Highness… what happened, earlier? In my room."
His eyes didn't flicker even once. He tilted his head very very slightly as if he was judging me.
A long, cold second passed before he replied, "…I do not understand what you are referring to."
Bruh.
There was no reaction on his face or even a twitch of muscles. It was as if nothing had happened. He was acting confused.
My jaw dropped. "You—You don't remember? You were literally—" I made a vague gesture, trying to mime glowing veins and demonic possession at the same time, which made me look like a malfunctioning scarecrow. "—THIS! You were THIS in my room!"
His brows knit together slightly. "Lady, I have been in the Duke's office for the past hour. There has been no detour to your chambers."
My heart skipped.
Hour?
HOUR?
But Fenric said… only a few minutes had passed.
Kairan gestured with his hand, twisting it, "If you require a physician, I shall arrange—"
"No." I snapped. "I'm not hallucinating, Your Highness."
His gaze sharpened and he took one step closer. But I felt my spine hit the wall behind me.
His voice dropped low but polite… with that faint edge that always felt like it could slit a throat or a ribbon with the same efficiency.
"Lady Meredia," he murmured, "If something occurred in your chambers… I assure you, it was not me."
I stared back at him.how could that even be possible? I had seen him... His hands were on me and he was clearly in pain.
Either he was lying or I was going insane
He bowed his head a fraction, enough to be respectful but not submissive.
"Rest, milady. You seem… troubled."
Then he turned and walked away and I stood there, frozen, gripping the wall.
"…What the hell is going on?"