Anna's POV
It's been two months since I came here, and I must say it wasn't a bad idea. I was able to establish myself with the gold Kai gave me, and with Ivan's connections. It's been stressful since the night Ivan and I attended the ball a lot of high-ranking daughters have come to me to make their gowns.
Of course I'm happy, but it's tiring. I'm glad I can earn money here, and to be honest, it's all thanks to Ivan. He's been so good a true friend.
A lot of those noble daughters think Ivan and I are in a relationship. One of the minister's daughters, Maya, came to me and practically interrogated me: "Are you and Ivan in a relationship? What's going on between you two? He told us he's not interested in marrying anyone."
"Us? How many of you did he tell?" I asked, chuckling.
"Don't laugh," she snapped, annoyed. "This is important to all of us."
So I lied. "Okay I'm his cousin." The moment I said it, Maya beamed and hugged me. I was startled. What was wrong with this girl?
"If you're his cousin, you can help me win his heart," she squealed. "I have to be very nice to you. Thank the goddess I didn't insult you the day I saw you at the ball."
I suddenly regretted lying. I only wanted to be free from the noble daughters' interrogation; I didn't realize I was stepping into a fire.
Maya turned to her maid. "Go home and get my jewelry box. I must bribe this cousin." She eyed me slyly. "I hope you won't mind."
I was shocked. Did I just open the doors to a flood of gifts? Great. After that day, word spread through the Devil's Land that I was Ivan's cousin. The little lie turned every noble daughter into a patron jewelry, invitations, favors. For two months I made connections; every high-ranking daughter wanted to be my friend.
I'm grateful I didn't claim to be his betrothed then I'd be dead meat. It's better to have friends than enemies. So far, life here has been good.
Until today. Something bad happened.
Kai's Chambers
"We couldn't find her, Your Highness."
"What do you mean? It's been two months and you still can't find her in the palace. Did you collect the blood samples from every maid with blonde hair?" Kai demanded.
"Yes, Your Highness. We did. None of their blood glowed. We followed them secretly one by one none looked suspicious."
"What's going on?" Kai asked, frustration sharpening his voice. "HIM said she lives in the palace. Where is she? I've been getting too much pressure from HIM."
"Umm… Your Highness, HIM said he should tell you that she's not in the palace anymore," the subordinate replied.
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Not in the palace? Then where?"
"She's in the Devil's Land," the subordinate said.
"The Devil's Land?" Kai barked. "That place is huge. Why would I send my men there? It'll be nearly impossible to find her. How sure is he that she's there?"
"He tracks her blood, Your Highness. I don't know what sorcery he uses."
"If he can track her blood, why is he stressing me?" Kai snapped. "He should go himself."
"He doesn't want to, Your Highness," the subordinate whispered. "I heard from his private guards that the reason he's killing the Wintermore family is that only someone with Wintermore blood can kill HIM."
Kai froze. "What?" To imagine someone even a powerful being could be killed only by a Wintermore sent a chill through him.
"Shh. Your Highness, don't be so loud. You don't know who might be listening."
Kai lowered his voice. "I understand. I'll keep my voice low." He thought for a moment, eyes hard. "If it's true that someone of the Wintermore line can kill HIM, that's a weakness we can exploit but we must confirm it."
He straightened. "Prepare my best guards. Send them to the Devil's Land to find her."
~Lucas ~
From your grave expression, I can already guess — you still haven't found her," Lucas said, his cold eyes fixed on the trembling soldiers before him.
"We're sorry, Your Majesty. We've failed you," the black night replied, lowering her head.
"I understand," Lucas said, voice low and measured. "Go to the dark room and receive your punishment. I can't wait any longer. It's been three months, and the reports of Wendigo attacks on humans keep increasing. We can't afford to waste more time."
He leaned back on his throne, his eyes glinting with resolve.
"We'll proceed with the original plan."
---
Lucas sat upon his throne, his sharp gaze scanning the circle of high-ranking ministers assembled before him. He trusted none of them. The air was thick with unease.
To his right stood Bryan tense, pale, and sweating under the weight of the silence. Lucas gave him a slight nod before speaking.
"With the evidence presented before this court," Lucas said, his tone icy and deliberate, "Bryan is hereby charged with treason."
Gasps rippled through the hall. Ministers exchanged bewildered glances, murmurs spreading like wildfire.
Bryan? Charged with treason?
They'd been friends since childhood how could this be?
Lucas's expression didn't waver. "Guards," he commanded, "seize him. Take him to the dungeon, where he will await his execution."
Bryan's face went pale. "Execution? You can't be serious!" he shouted, his voice cracking with disbelief. "So what you think you can just kill me like that? I can tell them all what's really going on! I can tell them the truth!"
The ministers froze. "What truth?" one of them asked, curiosity and fear mixing in their tone.
Bryan's voice trembled but grew louder. "The prophecy child she's come to him! Just as the Golden Witch foretold! He's destined to fall into the abyss and die if he doesn't avoid her!"
The hall fell silent. Even Lucas was momentarily stunned. "The prophecy child…" he muttered under his breath, his mind racing.
Then, regaining his composure, his tone turned deadly. "Take him away. There's no need to listen to the ramblings of a traitor."
The guards dragged Bryan from the hall as his protests echoed through the marble chamber.
The meeting was adjourned.
The ministers dispersed some whispering, some glancing nervously at one another.
Confusion spread through the palace like a shadow.
Exactly as Lucas intended.
Because hidden behind his cold expression was a plan to use this chaos to uncover the real traitor within his court.