“It seems today’s luncheon has been canceled….”
“Did something happen to His Highness?”
“We don’t know the details yet….”
Canceling without even giving a reason?
A flicker of worry crossed my mind.
“Didn’t he have a council meeting this morning?”
“Yes.”
Marianne added with a deeply somber expression,
“His Highness is being too harsh. First, he neglects the wedding night, and now he excludes you from the council meetings.”
As Marianne said, it was customary for the Crown Princess to attend council meetings.
Cassius’s deliberate snub was clear.
“Was my father at the council today?”
“Yes. His Grace naturally attended.”
I suspected Duke Diarov might have caused trouble at the meeting. Knowing his prideful nature, he’d be furious to see his daughter excluded.
Though part of me relished the thought, another part grew uneasy.
For now, it might be manageable, but if this continued, rumors about Cassius and me would spread.
My thoughts tangled, but I saw no reason to show weakness in front of Marianne.
“It hasn’t been long since I became Crown Princess. Perhaps he’s giving me time to adjust.”
“Y-yes. I’m sure he’ll summon you soon.”
As Marianne awkwardly humored me, a servant hurried in.
“His Grace, the Duke, has arrived.”
Could this day get any worse?
Cassius cancels plans, and now the one person I loathe shows up uninvited.
I knew exactly why he was here.
He must’ve lost his temper at today’s council.
A headache brewed, but refusing him wasn’t an option.
I nodded, and Duke Diarov strode in.
“What brings you here?”
The Duke masked his anger with a paternal smile.
“Can’t a father visit his daughter?”
“I’m the Crown Princess now.”
Don’t visit unless necessary.
He misinterpreted my words, smirking smugly.
“Exactly. My daughter is the Crown Princess.”
He clapped my shoulder, playing the doting father—a performance for the servants. After they retreated, his mask dropped.
“I pulled every string to seat you here, yet you still haven’t tamed that fool prince.”
Now I was certain: Duke Diarov held not a shred of love for his daughter. To him, Vivian was merely a tool to secure royal blood.
Even his own flesh and blood…
But challenging him here would be idiotic. Playing along was wiser—for now.
“My apologies. I’ll be more diligent.”
“The nobles chatter endlessly. ‘The prince sees her as a replacement for Rachel.’ ‘He’s already lost interest.’ Pathetic fools.”
His aristocratic club must’ve been buzzing with gossip. Most were vulgar rumors, but they’d clearly pricked his pride. A man like him couldn’t tolerate his daughter being scorned.
Naturally, his rage fell on me.
“I secured your marriage. The rest is your duty. Useless girl.”
What exactly am I supposed to do?
I bit back the retort and forced a smile, my reflection in the teacup looking devilishly poised.
“Don’t worry. No man resists my charms.”
Diarov stared silently, his gaze unsettlingly vacant.
Does he suspect something?
With his experience, he might know of possession spells.
Just as tension coiled in me, he broke into a satisfied grin.
“Good. Once you bear the royal heir, those rumors will vanish.”
Relief washed over me, but seeing his smug face ignited fury in my core.
He added salt to the wound.
“We’ll set an auspicious date for the union. Don’t disappoint me.”
Union? Does he even grasp the state of my ‘relationship’ with Cassius? Of course not. His mind’s fixated on crushing the empire.
Though revolted, I smiled.
“Of course.”
The idea of using Diarov’s scheming to meet Cassius wasn’t entirely terrible. If today’s cancellation was any indication, I might not see him otherwise.
Suppressing my emotions, I steered the conversation.
“Was there an issue at today’s council?”
“The council?”
He frowned.
“Why ask that?”
His twisted expression confirmed clashes with Cassius.
I set down my teacup with a clink.
“His Highness canceled our luncheon abruptly.”
“……”
“I wondered if something happened at the council.”
Diarov’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully before he sighed.
“That brat might’ve noticed the mage I sent to Rosemary Manor.”
My heart plummeted.
A mage sent to Rosemary?
The puzzle pieces snapped into place.
Cassius’s fury on our wedding night.
His belief that Snowfell harmed Rachel.
The way he looked at me like vermin…
If Cassius had uncovered Diarov’s schemes, his rage made sense.
What were you plotting, sending a mage there? It must’ve been critical to risk exposure.*
My mind raced.
The Amplification Stone.
A gem that magnifies magic, coveted by all mages. For centuries, none had located it—until I’d discovered its whereabouts in an ancient text: the Heart of the Blue Dragon.
Retrieving it had been suicidal, but after regressing, I’d had no choice.
If Snowfell learned of the stone at Rosemary Manor…
They’d seize it, their power exploding beyond control. I had to reclaim it first.
But how did they discover it?
I’d told no one, not even my brother Tikan.
Masking panic, I channeled Vivian’s poise.
“What if His Highness traces the mage to us?”
“No concern. Those royal fools couldn’t decipher the magic circle.”
“Couldn’t”? Cassius already has.
I probed carefully.
“The royal mages might uncover it.”
Diarov scoffed.
“That trash? They couldn’t recognize a high-tier spell if it burned them.”
High-tier mages in Snowfell?
I’d known none, but seven years had passed. Had they recruited new talent?
Keeping suspicions hidden, I feigned compliance.
“We should still be cautious.”
“Cautious? Let the prince flail. He’ll find no evidence.”
“Even a toothless dragon shouldn’t be underestimated.”
Tikan would’ve drawn his sword at the insult, but thankfully, he wasn’t here.
Diarov laughed, satisfied.
“Just focus on bedding him. That’ll silence the rumors.”
*
After Diarov left, unease churned in me.
To avert disaster, I had to unravel his schemes.
Cassius must’ve traced the magic to Mark.
Diarov dismissed the risk, but Cassius, despite not being a mage, had an uncanny memory for spellcraft.
For now, aiding Cassius was my best move—even if it drove him further from me.
If he learns Snowfell’s involvement…
But I couldn’t abandon my family to Diarov’s machinations.
How much does Cassius already know? Tracking Tikan might reveal clues.
As Crown Princess, trailing him was impossible. Sending servants risked exposing my intentions.
Simple enough.
I yanked out hair strands and slammed a vial. Marianne rushed in, startled.
“Your Highness! What’s wrong?!”
She found me laughing, tears streaking my face like a madwoman.
Brushing back disheveled hair, I whispered hoarsely:
“Did you know, Marianne?”
“Know… what?”
Her wide eyes trembled.
I met her gaze, voice desolate.
“His Highness… has another woman.”