The Cursed King's Reluctant Bride

Chapter 7: The Midnight Trap

Rain poured relentlessly over Blackthorn Castle.

Lightning split the night sky, illuminating the towering walls before darkness swallowed them once more.

Seraphina stared at the mysterious letter in her hands.

If you want to live, come alone to the Moon Garden at midnight.

It could be a trap.

But it could also be the only chance to learn who had murdered the seven brides.

She made up her mind.

"I'm going."

Mira gasped.

"My Lady, you can't! What if they're waiting to kill you?"

"They already want me dead," Seraphina replied softly. "If I hide in this room forever, nothing will change."

Before Mira could stop her, Seraphina wrapped herself in a dark cloak and slipped into the silent corridor.

---

The castle bells chimed twelve times.

The Moon Garden lay hidden behind the eastern wing of the palace, where silver flowers bloomed only under the light of a full moon.

Tonight, however, the moon was hidden behind storm clouds.

The garden was empty.

"Hello?" Seraphina called.

No answer.

Only the sound of rain.

She took another cautious step.

Crunch.

Her foot landed on something.

She looked down.

A silver bracelet.

It was stained with dried blood.

Before she could examine it, a voice echoed from the shadows.

"You came."

A hooded figure emerged between the hedges.

His face remained hidden beneath a black cloak.

"You know who killed the brides?" Seraphina asked.

"I do."

"Then tell me."

"They were never meant to become queens."

Her heart pounded.

"Who ordered their deaths?"

The stranger slowly raised a trembling hand.

"I can show you..."

Suddenly—

Thwack!

An arrow pierced the man's chest.

His eyes widened in horror.

He collapsed to the ground.

"No!" Seraphina rushed toward him.

The dying man grabbed her wrist.

"Don't..."

Blood filled his mouth.

"...trust..."

His hand fell limp.

He was dead.

A second later, dozens of masked assassins burst from the darkness.

"Kill the princess!"

Seraphina stumbled backward.

She had walked straight into an ambush.

---

Steel clashed against steel.

Just as the first assassin lunged at her, a black figure landed between them.

Lucien.

His sword flashed through the rain, knocking the assassin's blade aside.

"I told you not to wander alone," he said without taking his eyes off the enemy.

"You followed me?"

"I protected you."

More assassins charged.

Sir Elias and the royal knights stormed into the garden from every direction.

"Protect the future queen!"

The battle erupted.

Lucien fought like a force of nature.

Every swing of his sword was swift and precise, driving the assassins back.

Yet there were too many.

One masked attacker slipped behind Seraphina unnoticed.

He raised a poisoned dagger.

Lucien saw it too late.

"Seraphina!"

Without hesitation, he threw himself between her and the blade.

The dagger sank into his shoulder.

Time seemed to stop.

The assassin smiled.

"The poison of the Black Sun."

"You won't survive until dawn."

Lucien ignored the pain.

With one powerful strike, he sent the assassin crashing into a marble fountain.

The remaining attackers fled into the darkness.

The garden fell silent once more.

---

Seraphina caught Lucien before he collapsed.

"You're bleeding!"

"It's... nothing."

"It is not nothing!"

Dark blood soaked through his black coat.

His breathing had become uneven.

Sir Elias rushed over.

"Your Majesty!"

"We need the royal physician!" Seraphina cried.

Lucien looked at her through half-closed eyes.

"You should have stayed in your room."

Tears filled her eyes.

"You were hurt because of me."

For the first time, the cold king gave a faint smile.

"No."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"I was hurt... because I chose to protect you."

Before Seraphina could respond, Lucien's body went limp.

He collapsed into her arms.

As thunder roared above the castle, the poison began spreading through the Cursed King's veins.

And somewhere deep beneath Blackthorn Castle...

The ancient seal cracked once again.