⚠️ Trigger Warning:
(This chapter contains scenes of attempted sexual assault, trauma, and its aftermath. It may be distressing or triggering, especially for readers with related past experiences. Please proceed with care and prioritize your well-being.)
When Zuleika had finally calmed down the night before, her silence was deafening. She never spoke, not even a whisper. Her eyes seemed empty—distant—as if she had retreated far away from the world around her. Cess had tried, begged even, to coax a word or a glance, but nothing came.
Captain Rhys soon learned something had happened, but when he pressed for answers, even he was met with silence. And with the entire entourage still under the Feltogora Empire's watch, they could not risk a reckless move without understanding what had been done.
Later, when Cess bathed her mistress, Zuleika's trembling hands clutched her own arms so tightly it was as if she were trying to hold herself together. Tears spilled soundlessly down her cheeks, and more than once she sobbed into her knees, curling forward like she wished she could disappear. The sight made Cess's chest ache so fiercely she wanted to scream—but she could do nothing. She only knelt by the tub, whispering comfort, knowing her words never reached Zuleika's ears.
That night, Zuleika did not sleep. She remained curled up in her bed, facing the wall, shoulders quivering with quiet sobs. Cess sat in silence at her side, watching helplessly as the proud princess seemed to crumble inch by inch. The only thing she could offer was her presence—her warmth, her loyalty, her arms ready to shield if the world struck again.
When the morning came, departure loomed over them.
"Your Highness, I'll just bring this out so it could be placed inside the carriage," Cess said softly, folding her hands before her as she stood behind Zuleika. The princess sat before her mirror, staring blankly at her own reflection. She didn't respond—not even a flicker of acknowledgment.
Cess lowered her gaze, swallowing the knot in her throat, and quietly gathered a small stack of baggage. She closed the door gently behind her, stepping into the long, ornate hall.
She didn't expect to see Princess Aquila there. The imperial princess stood by the window, posture sharp, eyes glinting faintly in the sunlight, arms folded as if deep in thought. When their eyes met, Cess bowed stiffly and tried to walk past.
"Where is… Princess Zuleika?" Aquila's voice cut through, cold and sharp.
Cess froze. Her grip on the baggage tightened, her jaw locked. Anger boiled beneath her skin, though she forced herself to keep her tone measured. "Her Highness is resting in her chamber."
Something in her voice made Aquila's brows furrow. "Will she not go out? Today is her departure back to her home."
Cess halted fully this time. Slowly, she turned her head, and her glare cut sharper than any blade. "Not go out? Forgive me, Your Imperial Highness. After Princess Zuleika returned last night in tears—bloodied and broken—you dare ask me that?"
The words hit Aquila like a stone to the chest. Her lips parted, stunned. "What do you mean… crying?" she asked, voice hard but unsteady.
Cess's fists clenched so tightly the baggage straps strained. Her tone dropped, low and trembling with fury. "You invited her—told her you had something to give her. Yet she came back shattered. Forgive my insolence, Your Imperial Highness, but since today will be our last day in this Empire, I ask only this: do not show your face to my mistress again."
She bowed curtly, not respectfully, and turned away, leaving Aquila standing frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Bloodied? Crying?" she murmured under her breath, jaw tightening as her chest heaved. She pressed her fingers to her temple, forcing down the sudden storm of confusion.
Yesterday.
She had waited—waited and waited in her own chamber. The Crown Prince had come earlier, asking for her help. He had requested the key to the old wing of the palace, the one that once belonged to the Late Empress. The key was supposed to remain only with Aquila and Prince Zejidiah.
When she asked Matthew why, he had shrugged, feigning indifference—saying he merely wished to revisit the place for memory's sake. Without suspicion, she gave it to him.
And then she waited. Midnight came and went, but Zuleika never appeared. Disappointed, angry even, she had gone to bed, convinced Zuleika had simply ignored her.
Now, as the truth bled through Cess's furious words, her gut twisted.
She never came because…
Aquila exhaled sharply, her nails digging into her palm.
Brother… what have you done?
...
The departure of the Princess of Nexus came silently. Zuleika never once looked back, never once acknowledged the Imperial Family standing there. She only walked straight into the carriage, her head lowered beneath her veil.
The Crown Prince was nowhere to be seen. Only Prince Althurd, Princess Aquila, and Prince Zejidiah stood in the courtyard to witness her leave.
"Hmm, the Princess seems a bit down?" Prince Althurd tilted his head in mild confusion, lips quirking. "And where is our dearest brother?"
At the mention, Zejidiah flinched—so slight it might have gone unnoticed. But Aquila caught it. She always did.
"But awh," Althurd sighed dramatically, turning his back to the retreating carriage that bore the banners of Nexus, "I didn't even get to spend more time with Princess Zuleika. Tsk, what a waste."
Aquila's silver eyes followed the carriage until it disappeared from view. The only image left with her was Zuleika's back as she climbed inside, never her face. Not even once.
"Oh—right. Aki," Althurd called suddenly. "You have a marriage proposal from… mm, who was it again?" He tapped his chin, pretending to think. "Ah, just ask Father about it." With a lazy wave of his hand, he walked off, humming.
"Marriage, how convenient," Aquila muttered under her breath, exhaling through her nose. Her eyes shifted to Zejidiah, who still hadn't moved, still staring at the road the carriage had taken.
"Where is Brother Matthew?" she asked quietly.
Zejidiah's lips parted, but before he could speak, a voice came from behind.
"I'm here."
Aquila startled and turned, only to see the Crown Prince Matthew stepping forward in white casual clothing, a bandage wound around his forehead. Her brows furrowed.
His eyes were cold, lazy, lingering only briefly toward the horizon where the carriage had vanished.
"Where did you get that?" Aquila tilted her head at the sight of his injury.
Matthew's glance flicked to her, then away as he turned to leave. But Zejidiah's voice stopped him.
"You…" Zejidiah's tone was quiet, almost restrained.
Matthew looked back at him, eyes narrowing, cold and sharp.
"Did you really have to make her go through that?" Zejidiah asked—not a question, but a condemnation. His voice was calm, almost unnervingly so, yet the veins at his neck bulged, ready to burst.
Aquila blinked between them, her confusion mounting.
"It is my duty. I do not need your lectures," Matthew replied, voice like ice. But as he turned, Zejidiah's hand shot forward, seizing his collar. The next instant, his fist connected with Matthew's jaw.
The impact sent Matthew staggering, collapsing onto the ground. Blood pooled at the corner of his lips as he glared upward, madness flashing in his eyes.
"You dare lay your hands on me?" Matthew spat, his voice shaking with fury.
Aquila gasped, eyes widening. She turned to Zejidiah—who stood there, terrifyingly calm. For years, this was the only time she had seen him lose control, the last being the day their mother died.
"What is going on?" she whispered, her voice almost trembling.
Matthew spat blood to the side, his glare never leaving Zejidiah. But Zejidiah only gritted his teeth, fists trembling at his sides, before turning away. Without a word, he walked off, leaving Aquila frozen in place.
Her brow furrowed, unease twisting in her chest. "Just what the hell is happening?" she muttered. She glanced once at Matthew, who was already pushing himself up, then turned away to follow Zejidiah.
She found him at the secret fountain, the place he always retreated to when he didn't wish to be found. His hand covered his face, shoulders trembling faintly as he exhaled.
"Zeji…" Aquila's voice softened as she stepped closer. "What happened?"
Zejidiah turned to her. His heterochromatic eyes, usually so unreadable, were filled with guilt and disgust. His lips parted, trembling as though he was on the verge of breaking.
"Matthew…" His voice cracked.
Aquila felt her stomach knot, dread rising in her throat. Her mind screamed for him not to say it, to let her hope remain intact—that this had nothing to do with Princess Zuleika.
But Zejidiah exhaled, his words falling heavy, final.
"He tried to rape her."
The air left Aquila's lungs. Her blood ran cold, her body stiff as stone. The words struck her like a blade, leaving her breathless, drowning in a silence that felt louder than any scream.
...
When the Nexus carriage finally crossed the great gates of the Coral Palace, night had already descended. Yet the palace grounds were still bright with lanterns, the courtyards lined with nobles and commoners alike who had gathered to welcome back their Jewel. They cheered with the same joyous fervor as the day she had departed, waving banners and petals, their voices lifting into the night sky.
But inside the carriage, the Jewel of Nexus sat unmoved. Her crimson eyes, once so radiant, were fixed downward, unblinking, as though she could not bear the weight of the world above her.
The carriage door creaked open.
"Your Highness… we've arrived," Cess whispered softly, her hand trembling as she tapped against the seat.
Zuleika stirred. Slowly, her distant gaze lifted toward the Coral Palace—her home, the very heart of Nexus. Its pearly towers glistened against the moonlight, familiar and warm, but to her eyes, it looked strange. A dream she no longer belonged to.
Her family stood just beyond the steps, smiling, waving eagerly. Her father, King Stewart, raised a proud hand. Her mother's eyes sparkled with joy. Her siblings clustered near, each calling out for her.
Zuleika's lips trembled, parting slightly. The breath in her throat hitched.
Then came the twins, Steven and Elijah, rushing forward with boyish grins. They threw their arms around her waist.
"Lei! You're back!" one exclaimed.
"We missed you so much!" cried the other.
The sudden warmth of their embrace startled her. She flinched, her body stiff, as though their touch burned her. Her hands hovered awkwardly, unable to return their love.
Before she could recoil further, Eloisa bounded forward, her laughter ringing like a bell, and wrapped her arms around her sister.
"Leiiiii! We've missed you sooo much!" Eloisa squealed, squeezing tightly.
They couldn't see her face beneath the veil. They couldn't see how hollow her eyes had become, how her lips quivered as if begging for release. They only felt her silence.
Then, from amidst their cheer, her mother stepped closer. Queen Elisha smile faltered. Her sharp eyes, keen and maternal, saw what the others did not—the trembling of her daughter's lips, the way her body shook beneath their embraces.
"…Lei?" her mother whispered.
Eloisa loosened her hold and blinked up. She too noticed the strange silence, the broken breath that rattled from Zuleika's throat.
"What's wrong, Lei?" Eloisa asked gently.
And there—like glass struck by a hammer—Zuleika shattered.
Her knees gave way, her body crumbling, but her mother was swift, catching her before she collapsed to the marble steps. Zuleika clung to her desperately, her voice breaking into a wail that tore through the night. She wept—not with the quiet grace of a princess, but with the raw, desperate sobs of a child lost in the dark.
Her crimson eyes flooded, her tears soaking into her mother's gown. Her cries echoed, shaking the hearts of all who heard.
The crowd stilled. The Jewel of Nexus, who had always smiled with dignity, who had always carried herself like a flame untouchable—now lay broken, trembling in her mother's arms.
King Stewart's eyes widened, disbelief hollowing him. He looked swiftly at Captain Rhys and Cess, both standing at the side of the carriage. Their heads were bowed, unable to meet his gaze, guilt and grief carved deeply into their faces.
The King's hand clenched at his side. His heart pounded with dread. Something had been done to his daughter. Something unforgivable.
And as Zuleika's cries pierced the night, the Coral Palace—once filled with joyous cheer—fell into a silence so heavy, it seemed the whole kingdom held its breath.
The Jewel of Nexus had returned… but she was shattered.