Chapter Eight: A Dangerous Secret
1059 Words
POV: Melissa / Mary
“Thank you… for protecting me.”
My brain stopped functioning.
Cassian’s voice was low and calm, but hearing those words after almost getting eaten emotionally by a giant wolf made my heart beat strangely fast.
No.
Absolutely not.
I refused to develop feelings for the secret wolf male lead.
That path led directly to suffering.
Probably death too.
Meanwhile, Ethan and Lucas were still staring suspiciously between us.
I smiled awkwardly.
“Haha… I don’t know what Lord Cassian means.”
Cassian looked completely calm.
“Don’t you?”
NO.
Please stop talking mysteriously in public.
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
“You two seem unusually close tonight.”
Panic.
Pure panic.
“We are not close!” I denied immediately.
Too quickly.
Too loudly.
Even Tiffany looked unconvinced now.
Cassian tilted his head slightly.
“I thought we were becoming friends.”
Friends?
FRIENDS?!
Sir, I just helped hide your illegal wolf existence.
That is not normal friendship behavior.
Before I could respond, Ethan suddenly spoke.
“Melissa.”
His tone was colder than before.
“Yes?”
“You seem comfortable around Cassian.”
The ballroom became quiet again.
Why did conversations around these men always feel like political battles?
“I’m comfortable around many people,” I answered carefully.
“A lie,” Lucas muttered.
Traitorous brother.
Ethan’s golden eyes stayed fixed on me.
“Earlier this week, you could barely hold a conversation with him.”
Because original Melissa only had eyes for YOU.
Honestly embarrassing.
“Well,” I replied awkwardly, “people change?”
Cassian suddenly looked amused again.
I wanted to cry.
The Emperor, who had silently approached during the conversation, finally spoke.
“Young people certainly are lively tonight.”
Everyone immediately bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s sharp eyes briefly met Cassian’s.
A silent understanding passed between them.
Ah.
So he already knew.
Of course he knew.
Cassian calmly lowered his gaze.
Meanwhile, I was trying very hard not to scream internally.
Because standing between a Crown Prince, a secret wolf, and the Emperor who hides supernatural creatures was NOT how I planned to live my second life.
The Emperor suddenly smiled at me.
“Lady Melissa.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“I heard you encountered something interesting in the garden.”
My soul left my body again.
WHO REPORTED THAT SO FAST?!
“I-It was nothing serious.”
“Mm.” The Emperor looked thoughtful. “Still, you handled it bravely.”
Wait.
Was that… praise?
From the Emperor?
Several nobles nearby looked shocked.
Apparently Melissa being praised publicly was rare.
Honestly understandable.
Original Melissa caused chaos professionally.
The Emperor then added casually—
“Some creatures become dangerous only when they are afraid.”
My breath caught slightly.
That statement was definitely not random.
Cassian’s eyes flickered briefly toward the Emperor.
Oh.
They were talking about the wolf situation indirectly.
The Emperor looked at me knowingly.
“And sometimes,” he continued calmly, “kindness changes more than fear ever could.”
For some reason, those words stayed in my chest heavily.
Before I could think further, the music suddenly began again.
Nobles returned to dancing slowly, though whispers still followed me everywhere.
I sighed internally.
Wonderful.
Now the entire empire probably thought I was romantically involved with Cassian Vale.
Exactly the peaceful life I wanted.
Tiffany suddenly appeared beside me.
“My Lady,” she whispered excitedly, “people are saying Marquis Vale smiled because of you.”
I nearly choked.
“He WHAT?”
“It was very small,” she admitted. “But it happened.”
This is bad.
Very bad.
Because in romance novels, mysterious men smiling usually leads to emotional destruction later.
I needed distance.
Immediately.
“Yes,” I said firmly. “I’m going home.”
Tiffany blinked.
“But the ball isn’t over yet.”
“My social energy is dead.”
“…What?”
“Nothing. Let’s leave.”
As we prepared to leave the ballroom, a familiar voice suddenly called out.
“Melissa.”
I turned reluctantly.
Ethan stood a few steps away, his expression unreadable.
“Your Highness?”
He hesitated slightly before speaking.
“…I’m glad you’re recovering well.”
I froze.
Wait.
Was that genuine concern?
The Crown Prince of the original novel rarely spoke kindly to Melissa.
Not because he was cruel—
But because Melissa’s obsession made him uncomfortable.
Yet tonight…
He had spoken to me more than he ever spoke to original Melissa in several chapters combined.
Dangerous.
The plot was already changing.
“Thank you,” I answered softly.
Ethan looked at me for a moment longer before saying—
“You seem happier now.”
My eyes widened slightly.
That was the second time someone had said that to me.
Was original Melissa truly that miserable?
Before I could answer, Cassian suddenly approached again.
Sir please stop appearing silently.
“You’re leaving already?” he asked calmly.
“Yes,” I replied immediately. “Very leaving.”
For some reason, his eyes softened slightly.
“I see.”
Silence fell briefly between us.
Then unexpectedly—
Cassian removed one black glove slowly.
My eyes widened.
WAIT.
THE CLAW HAND?!
But instead of claws…
I saw pale fingers marked with strange silver lines glowing faintly beneath the ballroom lights.
Beautiful.
But also unnatural.
Cassian noticed my stare.
“These marks frighten most people,” he said quietly.
The atmosphere around us suddenly changed.
Softer.
More vulnerable.
For the first time since meeting him—
He looked lonely.
My chest tightened unexpectedly.
Then before my brain could stop me—
“They’re pretty.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Cassian froze.
Ethan looked surprised.
Even Tiffany gasped dramatically.
Oops.
Did I say that out loud?
Cassian stared at me carefully, almost like he was searching my face for a lie.
“…Pretty?” he repeated softly.
I nodded awkwardly.
“They look unique.”
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then slowly—
Very slowly—
Cassian smiled.
Not the tiny amused smirk from before.
A real smile.
Soft.
Warm.
Beautiful enough to make the entire ballroom freeze.
Several noble ladies nearby nearly fainted.
Honestly?
Understandable.
Because suddenly I understood why readers were obsessed with him.
Oh no.
This story was becoming dangerous for my heart too.
- Writer
