I pace my chamber, arms crossed, my mind spinning with questions. The queen and Liliana, what are they plotting?
What is the old witch up to this time?
I grip the edge of the vanity, staring at my reflection. Is Liliana being manipulated like I was? Or are they partners in crime? What is their endgame?
And why do I care?
I shake my head, scoffing. I don't care. I want nothing to do with Cassian, his mother, or their twisted games. My plan is still the same; survive this mess and leave when the time is right.
But…
I sigh, rubbing my temples. There's a nagging feeling in my gut, something I can't shake. Cassian is about to be a pawn in the queen's game. I can feel it. And for reasons I can't explain, something in me wants to protect him.
I exhale sharply. "Not my business," I mutter.
But deep down, I know, I've already been pulled into this whether I like it or not.
***
Finally, I found a job opening that excites me. It's not exactly what I had before, but it's close, maybe even better. A position at a law firm. Something familiar. Something that reminds me I am more than just Princess Celeste.
My interview is set for tomorrow. I'll go alone. No palace car. No royal escorts. Just me.
Do I need to tell Cassian?
I sit with that thought for a moment, weighing it. I don't owe him anything, but to fulfill all righteousness, I decide I will.
After dinner, I make my way to his chamber. The door isn't locked, so I let myself in. The living room is empty. A quiet tension lingers in the air, a warning I don't quite catch until I hear a struggle inside his bedroom.
A scuffle. Shuffling. A muffled protest.
I push the door open…
And freeze.
Cassian is on the bed, his expression a mix of frustration and anger. Liliana, draped in a short, see-through nightgown, is all over him, fumbling with his robe, pressing desperate kisses to his jaw while he struggles to push her off.
A rush of heat flashes through me, not from jealousy, but from pure, seething irritation.
Liliana senses my presence immediately. She stills, then slowly turns her head toward me.
Our eyes lock.
Her expression shifts from guilty to smug in an instant. But I don't move. I stand tall, poised, and unwavering, my presence filling the doorway like a silent warning.
She moves to leave, but I don't budge.
She's close now, standing inches from me, forcing herself to meet my gaze. I tilt my head slightly, running my eyes over her, sizing her up. Under the dim light, her heavy makeup barely hides the years that have settled on her face. Her beauty is striking, but next to me? She doesn't hold a candle.
She knows it too.
I say nothing. I don't need to. The message in my stare is clear; try harder, sweetheart.
Liliana huffs, flipping her hair as she squeezes past me. I step aside just enough to let her pass, then I turn and close the door behind her.
When I finally turn back to Cassian, he's standing awkwardly, adjusting his robe, running a hand through his hair. He looks… uncomfortable. Almost guilty.
Good.
I cross my arms. "Well. That was interesting."
He exhales sharply, looking anywhere but at me. "It's not what it looked like."
I arch a brow. "Oh? Because it looked like your ex-fiancée was crawling all over you in bed."
His jaw tightens. "I told her to stop."
I smirk, taking a slow step toward him. "Did you?"
Cassian meets my gaze, frustration flickering in his dark eyes. "Why are you here, Celeste?"
I stop a few feet from him, tilting my head. Why am I here?
Whatever I came to say is long forgotten. Instead, I find myself wondering something else…
Why do I suddenly feel like I have a reason to stay?
I stare at him, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Why am I here? I throw the question back at him.
Cassian's jaw tightens. He doesn't answer, but his silence says enough.
"It seems I'm the only one who's never welcome in your space," I remark, watching his face closely.
Still, nothing.
I exhale, shaking my head. "Look, it's none of my business, but seriously; why are you this cheap, Cassian?"
His eyes snap to mine, sharp with anger. "Excuse me?"
I step closer, voice steady. "I'm not judging you. But come on, give yourself some credit. Stop letting everything under a skirt have access to your body."
His nostrils flare. "You don't know what you're talking about."
I smirk. "Don't I?"
He steps forward, closing the space between us. "Why are you here, Celeste?" he repeats, voice low and edged with irritation.
I hold his gaze, unflinching. "I have an interview tomorrow. For a job."
Surprise flickers in his eyes. "You want to work?"
"Why not?"
His brows pull together. "The palace allowance isn't enough for you?"
I scoff. "I don't see any allowance. And even if I did, sitting around, doing nothing? That's not who I am." I pause, my voice softening just slightly. "I want to go back to what I was doing before… all this."
Cassian studies me for a moment, unreadable. Then he asks, "Have you talked to the queen about it?"
I let out a dry laugh. "I don't need to."
He tilts his head, watching me carefully.
"I'm telling you because, unfortunately, my name is now tied to yours," I continue. "So in case you get a call asking about a Celeste Lucien, just know it's me." I flash him a quick, sarcastic smile. "Put in a kind recommendation for me."
But just as my hand reaches for the door, a voice, low and strained, stops me cold.
"Celeste... if you go for that job, there may be consequences."
I freeze, my pulse thundering.
Slowly, I turn my head, meeting his gaze.
And for the first time, I see fear in Cassian's eyes.