Episode 8
804 Words
The words were spoken so calmly, so indifferently, that they hardly seemed like a warning or an expression of concern.
They were simply said without emotion, or without hesitation.
Raina was completely stunned.
For a moment, she forgot to struggle, barely registering the arms holding her.
“No! Prince veyne, no!”
She jerked away, scrambling out of his grasp and dropping to her knees in a panic.
“Greetings Prince Veyne!”
Since she was demoted to a servant's place, she had never thought of coming across any of Alpha Darius sons, not even her so called mate, Axel.
Now, She and Veyne are soaked, their clothes clinging uncomfortably after the fall into the pond. Yet his cold face remained without expression, his expression unreadable.
Veyne gaze suddenly settled on Raina.
"What were you doing?"
Raina froze.
What was she doing?
Her mind raced, thinking of the Bread and stew she had just stolen and eaten. Had he seen?
'Please don't let him have seen me steal the bread and stew.'
Raina silent prayed as shame flooded her, and her mind beat repeatedly...
It was over for her if, he saw her and decides to report her....
"Your Highness," she murmured, forcing herself to stand. "I will take my leave."
She turned to walk away, but her body failed her.
A wave of dizziness crashed over her as her vision darkened.
The world tilted, and before she could even react, she was falling.
.....
A strange sensation filled her chest.
Even in unconsciousness, she felt it.
Danger. Instability.
Slowly, her mind drifted back to reality.
Her lashes fluttered open, and the familiar sight of her small, worn down room came into view, the wooden bed, the tattered curtains riddled with holes.
Her gaze shifted, and her eyes suddenly widened in shock.
A face hovered just above her, cold and impossibly handsome.
Prince Veyne.
Panic ran through Raina as she tried to sit up, but her limbs were too weak to move.
Veyne's hand pressed against her shoulder, holding her still.
“Don’t get up.”
"Huh?," Raina was too shock to make out a sentence.
Veyne gaze didn’t move.. He was watching her.
And holy sh*t his presence was too close, too overwhelming for Raina to take all in..
Raina suddenly swallowed as her eyes shifted to Veyne face.
However, without warning, he reached forward and took her wrist in his grasp.
Raina’s breath almost stopped.
Holy sh*t! He was taking her pulse.
His expression remained unreadable as he focused on the steady rhythm beneath his fingertips.
Then his eyes flickered shifted, settling on something else.
A small stain on her wrist. A trace of toad’s blood.
He stared for a while.
And for the first time, his composed mask slipped, just a little.
Raina stiffened.
Memories of their last close encounter flooded back..
That night, when Axel had nearly forced himself on her.
That night, when Veyne had intervened, saving her.
Even if he was the son of Darius, an enemy, a traitor to Kai’s throne, he had saved her.
She had never thanked him for it.
Before she could open her mouth to speak, the door slammed open.
A furious voice shattered the silence...
“What are you doing?!”
Raina flinched as her eyes shifted to the door.
She yanked her hand away, her head snapping up.
And there, standing at the doorway, was Kai.
The boy who had once been a prince.
But he was no longer the sheltered heir who had lived in luxury.
He had grown.
His hair was tied back, fastened with a plain band, revealing a face that had sharpened with time. His once delicate features had transformed into something strikingly handsome, his brows bold, his gaze piercing.
But it was his eyes that stood out the most.
His eyes shone like silver, a light, frosty color, like ice veiled in mist.
Cold. Yet irresistible.
Even dressed in simple work clothes, covered in dust, lime, and scratches, he commanded attention.
And he was furious.
His sharp gaze locked onto Veyne's hand, the one that had just been holding Raina’s wrist.
A silent rage burned in his eyes, as though he wished to tear them apart.
But Veyne remained as unreadable as ever.
Without a single word, he released Raina’s hand, turned, and walked away as if nothing had happened.
Raina could only stare after him, confused.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
Kai was still standing there.
She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to her feet. Ignoring the weakness in her limbs, she took a step toward him, her eyes softening at the sight of the dirt smeared across his face.
"You were working again today?" she murmured, reaching up instinctively to wipe away the grime. "How did you get so..."
Bang!
- Writer
