Chapter 20: Chapter 20: His Return (2)
"Your Highness, Prince Kael has returned." Jane bowed slightly. In front of her was Elowen, being dressed by some other maids before a huge tall mirror.
One of the maids stepped behind her and pulled the ropes of the corset, and the expression on Elowen’s face shifted slightly.
"Careful," she hissed, and the maid flinched, cold sweat spreading over her skin.
"Y-yes, Princess," she stuttered.
Elowen’s cold eyes rolled before staring at Jane through the mirror. "Where is he now?"
"He’s making his way to Prince Cassien’s chamber, and from the look on his face, it seems there is trouble." She answered, her hands pressed tightly in front of her.
"How would there not be trouble when the enemies fooled him and caused carnage in our territory?" Elowen scoffed, adjusting her gown. She stared at the long V-neck line that showed her snow white cleavage and the maroon silk gown that hugged her curves.
She turned around and faced Jane, whose eyes were fixed on the floor. Elowen lifted her hand, and the maid who had adjusted her corset stepped forward and extended her hands above her bowed head.
Elowen placed her hand on the maid’s hands for assistance as she slowly stepped off the podium with a cold expression on her face.
"Why don’t I send him a little welcome gift?" she muttered. "Where is that little friend of the servant?"
Jane flinched slightly before lifting her head to meet Elowen’s eyes. "She’s waiting outside with the juice, Princess."
"Good." Elowen nodded with a wicked smile on her face. "Send her to them. I will follow shortly after."
Jane nodded and turned to leave, but Elowen called her, and she stopped, turning around.
"Add that too inside the juice. I heard the chief cook got his hands on some little honey." Elowen said.
"Yes, my lady, but the merchant who distributed it told us it is not the real one. The one with us is used to torture criminals in prison. I can say it is some sort of poison." Jane answered, then paused before asking cautiously, "May I ask why my lady is asking?"
Elowen’s expression changed slightly, and Jane gulped nervously.
"Inform the chief cook to prepare a meal with the honey and send it to my brothers." She ordered, and Jane’s eyes bulged in horror. Seeing that she was not moving, Elowen’s expression did not shift as she said almost monotonously, "You know what happens if this gets out of this chamber."
"Y-yes, my lady!" Jane answered almost immediately, and inwardly she wished to be in the position of the original Jane.
This palace was a war zone, and from that moment, Jane began fearing the princess.
The door was pushed open, and Jane stepped outside. She turned around and gently closed the door before turning to face Lysa, whose head was bent down.
"Come with me," Jane said indifferently. Lysa nodded without speaking and followed after her.
She slowly lifted her head, feeling the pain behind her neck, as she risked a glance at Jane, whose back was straight, her chin lifted up, her maid uniform dragging on the floor.
Lysa turned as something caught the corner of her eye. She saw the huge dragon statue in the middle of the palace that connected all the quarters. Some servants were cleaning the statue.
She shut her eyes and turned her head back to her own problem. Her eyes glanced at the glass of juice on the tray, and she quietly followed Jane.
She did not know where they were going, and this made her nervous.
As if the universe was listening to her thoughts, the quarters of Prince Cassien came into view. Lysa’s eyes widened as she sucked in cold air at the scene before her.
Guards stood straight on both sides with their spears or swords at their sides as they stared at the sky, their chins lifted. She almost mistook them for statues.
"Prince Kael has truly returned," Jane muttered under her breath, and Lysa caught that. Fear gripped her heart immediately, and her hands began trembling.
Everyone knew who Prince Kael was among the princes. He was the true definition of the Devil. Even though he was the quietest among them, he was known to be the executor. He would not hesitate to have a servant’s blood served to his dogs caged in the dungeons.
Lysa’s heart slammed heavily against her ears, blocking out any other sounds. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as her eyes darted frantically.
’This is bad. This is very bad!’ Her hands gripped the tray tightly until her knuckles turned pale.
She wanted to run away from there.
"We are here." Jane’s voice sounded in her ears like a curse, and her head slowly lifted. The door was open, and Jane was standing in front of it with her hand extended inside in invitation.
Lysa moved her eyes from the door and stared at Jane almost pleadingly. Jane, however, ignored her and forced a smile onto her face.
"Get in. The prince is waiting."
Lysa’s lips trembled as she forced herself to move, her legs heavy as she dragged them across the floor. She slowly passed through the door and finally she was standing in front of the three princes and...
Seren?
Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Seren standing behind the silver-haired prince who was sitting in the middle. She stared at her, but Seren seemed lost in thought and did not notice Lysa.
Lysa’s eyes moved to the prince on the left who was going through some documents. His grey hair fell over his face, hiding most of his features, but she could not ignore how pointed his nose was and how thin his lips were.
"Who is this servant?" A cruel voice sounded in her ears. She glanced to the right, and at the same time, she bit her lip to stop the scream that wanted to tear out of her throat.
’It is him.’ She thought inwardly as she stared at Kael, whose eyes were almost glowing in the dimly lit room. His red pupils bored into her, and all her limbs stopped moving.
He slowly got off the chair he had been sitting on and walked over to her. He was almost like a giant as he glared down at her.
His eyes stared into hers before falling to the juice on the tray. Lysa’s lips moved without her knowing.
"I-I brought juice for the heir," she stammered. "I was told the cold juice helps to ease the tension in your bones."
Seren’s ears perked at the voice, and her eyes moved to Kael. She could not see the speaker because of his broad frame.
"Lysa?" she called almost in a whisper. Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he turned to face Seren.
"Do you know this servant?" he demanded.
"Yes, Prince Kael," Seren answered immediately, knowing that delaying would have Lysa’s head detached from her neck. "She is a sister to me."
Kael stared at her for a long moment before turning to Lysa.
"You should count yourself lucky." He took the juice from the tray and gulped it down in one go. The coolness washed over his tongue and down his throat to his stomach.
He licked his lips at the taste and exhaled in relief before placing the glass cup back on the tray.
"Leave." He turned around and walked back to his chair. Relief filled Lysa’s eyes, and she flashed a look of gratitude at Seren.
A warm smile spread across Seren’s face, and she urged her to leave quickly. Lysa nodded, a faint smile still on her face as she turned to leave the room. However, at that moment, a crash sounded behind her, and she froze instantly.
"Brother!" Prince Theron’s head snapped up from his book to Kael, who was barely standing. He threw the book aside and ran to him.
Lysa’s hands gripped the tray in fear as she watched the scene before her. Kael was barely holding himself upright, his body shaking violently.
It felt as though someone was pulling at his heart, and his wolf was going through unbearable pain as well.
"That servant," Kael forced out, turning toward Lysa. "Get her!"
Theron turned his head to Lysa and got up, walking toward her.
"No, Your Highness. I did not do anything!" Lysa stepped back in fear, but Theron was quicker.
He grabbed her shoulder and took the glass cup from her. He lifted it to his nose and took a careful sniff. His eyes widened instantly, and he pulled the glass away.
He stared at the remaining contents in the glass and saw the juice slowly changing color.
"Silver," he mumbled. Aeron’s eyes moved at the word, and he lifted his head toward Theron. "The juice is poisoned with silver!"
Theron slammed the glass onto the floor in anger. Lysa squealed, her legs shaking violently as she realized the trouble she was in.
She did not know what the silver meant, but from the look on their faces, she knew she was in grave trouble.
