****
Chapter 52.
~Katrina~
"Queen Fortuna made a strong move," Marissa said, her voice low with disappointment. It was clear we had lost today.
I had already taken off my dress and bathed. Now I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, wishing I had acted sooner… smarter.
"Princess Arabella," I said suddenly, "the one who was meant to marry the king… how can I find her?"
Marissa looked surprised by my question, but she answered anyway. "I don't know exactly. Some say she was married off to a rich old man. Others say she was taken to a mental home."
"Which one do you believe?" I asked.
"The mental home," she whispered. "If she was married here in Xylonia, I would've heard about this rich old man."
So many secrets in this palace… and I hadn't even uncovered one. I turned to her again. "Why does the king have so many women?"
Marissa sighed and leaned in, her voice dropping. "It's all a mystery. But… I once overheard something while working in the main building for Prince Elvin's parents."
She looked around as if afraid someone might hear her, then whispered, "They said the king is a devil… a cursed one."
My jaw dropped.
That was exactly what Prince Elvin had been saying. Even earlier tonight, he called the king a devil.
Was he truly one?
A cold shiver crept down my spine. My heart pounded, and a strange thought rose in my chest.
"They say the devil doesn't come with horns and red eyes," I whispered. "He comes looking like everything you've ever wanted… handsome, charming, kind… until it's too late."
A knock on the door startled us.
Marissa opened it carefully—and in walked Princess Rania. Her expression was calm, but something about her face said she wasn't here for small talk.
"Greetings, Princess," I said, rising from the bed and giving a small curtsy.
"Princess Katrina, how are you?" she asked. Her eyes held concern. "You left the game before it ended."
"Nothing serious," I replied quickly. "I just didn't like the way things were going."
What a lie… but it was better than the truth.
"Are you sure?" she asked, narrowing her eyes a little. "Did Prince Elvin say something to upset you?"
I shook my head and looked away. "No, I'm fine."
She nodded slowly. "If you say so."
She turned to leave, then paused at the door. "I'll go check if Karl has finished his meeting."
Meeting?
So he wasn't with Fortuna?
I nodded, watching as she left. The door shut softly behind her.
"Nothing changed," I murmured to Marissa, who was still standing nearby, eyes wide with wonder.
"He'll go to his queen later anyway."
**
~Karl~
I had a short meeting with the organizers of tomorrow's event. There would be a game, but this time, even the ladies would take part. Something different… something fun. No blood. No death. Just a moment of peace in this cruel place.
"Rania is taking long," Lord Rowland said as we waited in the garden. A few minutes ago, I had asked her to check on Princess Katrina.
She left the game early, and it left a strange feeling in my chest. I knew she didn't enjoy the sight of blood, but I also knew that wasn't the only reason she left. There was more to it.
"Do you think your cousin is the reason?" Rowland asked, changing the topic.
I looked at him. He was thinking the same thing I was. And strangely, I liked that.
"I don't know," I answered, leaning back in my seat and crossing one leg over the other. "I didn't look at them much today. I needed to stay sane."
Rowland chuckled. "It's clear you don't like seeing them together."
I didn't laugh. It wasn't funny.
"Katrina is my woman," I said quietly but firmly. "How can you expect me to smile while she's with someone else? Be realistic, Rowland. This isn't some fantasy story where love works out without pain."
"If you say so, Your Highness." He stopped smiling and sat beside me, then asked more softly, "What about Fortuna? What if she finds out how much you really care about the princess? That you want more than just moments with her?"
"She'll have to live with it," I replied without blinking. I crossed my arms across my chest. "Fortuna and I had an agreement. No second wife. No queen but her. She will always be my queen. But concubines were allowed to come and go."
That deal still stood. I had no reason to break it. Not yet.
"Still… she won't take it well," Rowland said under his breath.
I was about to reply when I saw Rania approaching. She was wearing a purple dress tonight. It fit her well. It was rare to see her in anything but her soldier's uniform. She looked beautiful, but strong—like she always did.
Rania would've made a great king if she were born a man. She had the heart for it, the strength. I was proud of her… and lucky to have her as my little sister.
The light in her eyes dimmed as she came closer.
"Did you find anything?" I asked, standing as she neared. Something in my chest tightened. I already knew her answer wouldn't bring peace.
"Nothing," Rania said with a small shrug. "But the princess is hiding something. I think she had a deep talk with Prince Elvin. She looked scared… and sad. I could feel it."
"Then I need to see her," I said quickly, already turning to leave.
"No, brother," Rania stepped in front of me. "Fortuna is waiting for you. She's not well, remember?"
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, careful not to disturb the mask on my face. "Must I deal with you too now?"
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "But I had to step in."
"Please don't, Rania." My voice was low, my anger rising again. After what I learned about Fortuna today, I had no wish to see her face. She lied. Lied about the fire. And if there's one thing I can't stand, it's lies.
"She shouldn't have lied to me," I said, clenching my jaw. "It's the biggest mistake she's ever made. I won't forget it."
Rania and Rowland stayed quiet. They knew exactly what I meant. The fire began in Fortuna's room. She caused it. And only the gods knew why. She called it a mistake… something she didn't plan. I might've forgiven her for that. But when I asked her this morning—not once, but three times—she looked me in the eye and lied.
"You're angry," Rowland finally said. "And you have every right to be."
"You're the king," Rania added gently. "You can do what you want. But please, don't play with Katrina's heart. That wouldn't be fair."
"What makes her different from the rest?" I asked, though a part of me already knew.
"Her love, brother," she answered without hesitation. "Katrina loves you. And you love her. But I'm afraid this love… it was never meant to be. Not even in the prophecy."
My heart skipped a beat.
I stared at Rania. She wasn't afraid of anything—always so sure, so strong. But now, her voice trembled.
"Live in the moment, brother," she whispered, her eyes shining with tears. "You deserve to be happy… before your twenty-fifth birthday."
A sharp pain pierced through my chest. A reminder. My time was almost up. Soon, I'd die and leave everything behind.
Was I afraid of dying? Not really. But I hated the thought of leaving my family. I hated dying for something I didn't do. A curse passed down… for a sin my father committed, yet I was the one paying the price.
I reached the entrance of the women's quarters. It was quiet. Everyone must've been asleep by now.
I stopped in front of Katrina's door. Rania's words echoed in my head.
Live in the moment.
I wanted to. I wanted to stop thinking. I wanted to do something wild… something real.
And who better to share it with than the only woman I truly cared about?
Did I love Katrina? Maybe. Maybe tonight would tell me the truth.
I knocked softly on her door… and waited.
Cha