Something heavy dropped onto her body.
"Get up."
Josselyn jolted. Her eyes opened halfway, her breath catching before awareness returned.
A blanket.
She stared at the thick fabric now covering her, then slowly lifted her gaze.
Darius stood in the doorway of her cell, his expression as rigid as ever.
"Your time is limited," he said coldly. "Get ready."
Josselyn blinked several times. Her head felt heavy. Her body felt… strange.
"Get ready for what?" Her voice came out hoarse as she tried to sit up.
Darius glanced at her briefly. "You're being released."
Josselyn stopped rubbing her head. Her gaze lifted to meet his, firelight reflecting in his eyes.
"…What?"
"With conditions." Darius cut her off quickly, his hardened expression seemingly uncomfortable with the flicker of hope that crossed her face.
Josselyn exhaled heavily. Exhaustion was written all over her.
"What conditions?" she asked, sounding almost indifferent.
"That's not my responsibility to explain," Darius replied shortly. "Clean yourself up. Change your clothes."
"But how am I supposed to clean myself? There's not enough water here…"
"Not here. Fix your clothes first. You're not leaving looking like that," Darius interrupted. He stepped out and shut the door with a hard clang.
His reaction made Josselyn instinctively look down.
That was when everything felt wrong.
Her buttons were partially undone. The fabric was wrinkled, uneven across her chest.
She frowned. She was meticulous about her appearance. Always careful, always neat.
Her hand moved to her neck. Her skin felt sticky. Slowly, her fingers trailed down to her chest. The same sensation, like something had dried there.
"What is this…?"
She looked down further. Her hair fell messily over her shoulders. Her dress was nothing like it had been the last time she was conscious.
Her chest tightened.
"Why do I…"
Her fingers moved to part the collar of her clothing.
Her breath caught.
Red marks.
One. Two. Several.
Clear against her pale skin.
"…What are these?" she whispered.
Her fingers brushed over them, and a faint sensation spread beneath her skin.
Not just strange.
Disturbing.
Her heart began to pound faster, slamming against her ribs.
"I…" She tried to recall the night before. "I didn't…"
"Hurry up," Darius cut in, followed by a loud knock against the door. "You don't have time to daydream."
Her thoughts scattered. Josselyn closed her eyes briefly, taking a slow, steady breath.
"Whatever happened last night, I need to get out of here first."
~
"Don't talk. Just follow."
Darius walked ahead, his torch lighting the narrow corridor.
Josselyn pulled the blanket tighter around herself as she quickened her pace to match his.
"Is this the Crown Prince's order?" she asked quietly.
Darius remained silent for a moment.
"Do you think I'd be kind enough to release you on my own?" His tone was sharp with sarcasm.
"I was just asking," Josselyn replied defensively. "Why not let me return to my room? I could clean myself there and…"
"You're conditionally released. Still under the Crown Prince's supervision."
Josselyn fell silent. Her gaze dropped to the marks around her wrists.
A trace of disappointment surfaced as she noticed yet another set of marks added to her body.
"So it's just a different kind of cell," she muttered.
Darius slowed slightly, though he didn't look back. "You'll understand later."
They stepped out of the stone corridor into the open air. The cool night wind brushed against Josselyn's face.
Cold.
But freeing.
"Fresh air…"
Before her stretched the royal lake, calm, dark, and silent.
But Darius did not stop.
He turned down a narrow path to the side, descending along a nearly hidden trail.
Josselyn followed, hesitant. "Why are we…"
Her eyes suddenly widened. She clamped her hands over her mouth.
"Don't tell me I'm just being moved to another cell…"
"You're noisy," Darius snapped. "Watch your step."
Ahead, a narrow staircase descended into darkness.
Josselyn paused, peering down. She could see nothing but shadows.
"Go down," Darius ordered. "Or do I need to tie your hands again and drag you?"
Her legs trembled. She nearly stepped back, but the memory of him dragging her through the forest made her shudder.
"What if Killian suspects me even more? He might strangle me again."
Without realizing it, she touched her neck.
She quickly shook her head, pushing the thought away.
"I-I'll go down."
She followed him.
At the bottom, another stone corridor awaited. Darker. Quieter. But not as cold as the dungeon.
Josselyn let out a small breath of relief.
Until they reached a wide chamber.
It resembled a cavern, but part of the ceiling was open, revealing the night sky filled with stars.
Her lips parted slightly in awe. The sight was breathtaking. She stepped forward instinctively.
But after two steps, Darius grabbed her arm.
She stumbled forward, colliding against his chest.
"I told you to watch your step," he said coldly.
Josselyn felt his strong hand steady her waist, pulling their bodies close.
"S-sorry." She instinctively looked up, their eyes meeting.
And for the first time, she saw it clearly.
His eyes were not the same.
His right eye was a cold gray. His left held the same shade, but laced with a faint golden glimmer, like light trapped within it.
"Your eyes…"
Darius immediately released her.
"Watch behind you," he said, gesturing with his chin.
Josselyn followed his direction.
Her breath caught.
A large pool lay before her.
The water was clear. Warm. Thin steam rose gently from its surface.
"You can take your time cleaning yourself," Darius said, handing her a bundle. "Your new alchemist dress. And a towel."
Josselyn took it, frowning. "I'm bathing here?"
"Yes."
She scanned the semi-open space, then looked back at him.
"Are you sure this is safe? It's beautiful, but… too exposed."
"This is the Crown Prince's private place. No one knows about it. Unless…" Darius stepped closer, and Josselyn instinctively stepped back. "You tell someone. Like last time."
His gaze sharpened, intimidating.
Josselyn swallowed. "W-why… I mean, if the Crown Prince doesn't trust me, why bring me here?"
Darius stopped.
"To determine whether you can be trusted," he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "And you know the consequences if you can't."
He turned away and walked toward the open side of the chamber. Stopping beneath a large tree, he sat down with his back facing the pool.
"I won't look," he said flatly.
Josselyn exhaled softly. She hesitated, but the sticky discomfort of her body pushed her forward.
Her fingers moved to undo her buttons, one by one. The fabric slid down, falling away.
She stepped into the water.
Warm.
Her body responded instantly. Tension melted from her muscles.
Josselyn closed her eyes. Her hands drifted through the water, creating soft ripples.
"This feels so good…" she murmured, a faint smile forming.
When she opened her eyes, her gaze fell on the red marks across her chest.
She touched them.
"…What really happened last night…"
"That's a good question."
Josselyn froze.
That voice was unmistakable.
Killian.
He stood at the edge of the pool.