Chapter 274: The Spawn’s Summons
Chapter 273: The Spawn’s Summons
Lyria’s POV
I stepped into Jacinta’s chambers, the door closing behind me with a soft click that seemed to echo through the room like a warning.
The chamber was exactly the same—rich fabrics in shades of rose and gold, light filtering through the curtains, the scent of expensive perfume clinging to the air like a second skin. Jacinta sat upon the edge of her bed, her posture perfect, her golden hair arranged in elaborate curls that caught the light. She wore a gown of deep rose silk, the fabric pooling around her, and her hands rested delicately in her lap.
She looked like a portrait brought to life, which was hardly surprising.
I bowed, keeping my gaze lowered, my hands clasped before me.
"Your H-Highness," I said.
Jacinta did not acknowledge the greeting. She simply sat there, watching me with the cold, assessing gaze I had grown to know so well over the years.
"Kneel," she said.
I frowned, blinking at her.
"I said kneel," she repeated.
I held her gaze.
"May I a-ask what I have d-done to offend Your H-Highness?" I said. "I was u-under the impression that I had b-been summoned for a c-conversation, not a p-punishment."
Jacinta scoffed, the sound sharp and dismissive.
"Are you talking back to me?" she asked, her voice rising with each word. "Is that what this is? You have been given the title of princess for a few weeks, and now you believe you may speak to me however you wish?"
I shook my head slowly.
"That is n-not the case," I said. "I have only j-just recovered from a s-serious illness. Kneeling, as Your Highness has r-requested, may be r-risky for my health. I would not w-wish to fall ill again, especially g-given the scrutiny the r-royal family is under."
I paused, letting my words settle.
"What would the n-nobles say if I were to f-fall sick again because of what Your H-Highness has asked of me? They m-might begin to question w-whether the royal family truly c-cares for my well-being, and t-then discussions w-would arise, with accusations s-stating that the royal family is u-uncaring. We m-must ensure that the royal f-family does not lose f-face before the n-nobility."
Jacinta’s eye twitched, just as her parents’ did when they were annoyed.
I had learned to read the small tells of them, the tiny cracks in their composure that betrayed their true feelings.
She stared at me for a long moment, her gaze cold and assessing, as though she were trying to decide whether I was worth the effort of punishing. Then, slowly, she rose from the bed and crossed the room to stand before me.
The distance between us was close enough that I could smell her perfume, which was rather overwhelming.
"It seems," she said softly, "that you now care about the image of the royal family. That is quite shocking to me, given that, from what I know, you do not care about the royal family at all."
I did not answer.
Jacinta chuckled darkly, the sound low and unsettling.
"Very well," she said. "You may remain standing. For now."
Truly, this was her throne room. At least, that was how it seemed.
"Why were you so late in arriving?" she asked.
I kept my voice even.
"I a-arrived exactly when I r-received the summons," I said.
Jacinta’s eyes narrowed.
"I sent it hours ago."
"I d-did not know that, Your H-Highness. I o-only arrived when I r-received it," I repeated.
Jacinta turned to Kyia.
"Is that true?" she asked.
Kyia had been standing near the door, her hands clasped before her, her head bowed. She looked as though she were trying to make herself invisible, blending into the shadows.
"There was a situation I had to—"
Jacinta closed the distance between them immediately. She did not allow Kyia to finish.
The next sound that echoed through the chamber was that of skin meeting skin.
Hard.
Kyia’s head snapped to the side, her eyes widening in shock.
I, too, was surprised.
This was the first time I had seen Jacinta strike Kyia.
Kyia bowed immediately, her hand pressed to her reddening cheek.
"I apologise, Your Highness," she said.
I watched the exchange in silence.
It was strange to see Kyia so meek. The woman who had once looked at me with such disdain, who had whispered behind my back and laughed at my suffering, now stood before Jacinta with her head bowed and her shoulders trembling.
I wondered whether what Elara had done to her was still affecting her. I wondered whether the fear I had seen in her eyes earlier had lingered, making her more susceptible to Jacinta’s cruelty.
I kept my face still and said nothing.
Jacinta scolded Kyia in a cold voice.
"Next time," she said, "even if someone in your family is dying—even if you yourself are dying—my summons must be attended to first. Do you understand?"
Kyia bowed lower.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Jacinta turned back to me.
"You are fortunate that Kyia is at fault for this," she said. "Otherwise, I would not be so lenient."
I said nothing.
"Tell me," Jacinta continued, "do you know why I summoned you?"
I shook my head.
"I h-hope Your Highness will t-tell me."
Jacinta smiled.
It was a cold smile, the kind that never reached her eyes.
"You and I have not had a proper conversation since you became a so-called princess and Moon candidate," she said. "The only people you have spoken with are my parents. Not me specifically."
She paused.
"So I must put things in order. You must know not to cross us. You must understand your place."
I almost rolled my eyes.
Outwardly, however, I kept my face calm.
I bowed.
"That is t-true, Your Highness," I said. "We have not h-had a conversation. I have been r-recovering, and I have b-been occupied with the c-competition and the d-dates."
I paused.
"What does Your H-Highness request of me?"
