Chapter 110

The meeting with Elana had left my nerves frayed, and I was eager to escape the tension that seemed to suffocate every room in this castle. But before I could slip away, I was stopped by a servant at the door.

"Lady Arin, His Highness Prince Lucian asks for you. I came to check you in your chambers but I heard that you were in the meeting with the Royal Concubine." 

I sighed inwardly. Lucian's request seemed to come at the worst possible times. The fact that I had to go all the way to the royal infirmary to also see him made me very exhausted already. I was sympathetic about his plight but I was tired of playing the dutiful wife. The thought of him recovering so quickly should have made me feel relieved. But somehow, it only stirred a sense of dread within me. 

As I entered his chambers, Lucian was standing, testing his leg with cautious steps. He smiled at me as I approached. I opened my mouth in shock. Last I heard, he wasn't supposed to be walking for at least a fortnight.

Was that a lie?! Has he lied about that?

How could he be walking now? I thought his injury was very swirled. 

"Look, I'm walking again," he said, a sense of pride in his voice. "The royal physician says I've healed much faster than expected. I'm nearly back to normal."

I feigned a smile, my voice a little too forced. "That's wonderful, Lucian. I'm glad to see you're doing better."

He took a step closer, a light smirk on his lips. "You don't sound convinced. Why are you looking at me like that? Shouldn't you be happy? You're my wife and I'm finally walking again, you should be happy that your prayers have been answered." 

I quickly looked away, not wanting him to notice the concern in my eyes. The thought of him moving back into the shared chambers made my stomach tighten. I would lose the freedom I had come to rely on if he was back there. He had no idea of what I was doing behind closed doors. Or how much of a dent in my plans he would make by coming back to  the chambers. 

I remembered how eager he had been for our wedding night the last time, the thought of it reoccurring again made me nauseous 

"I just... don't think it's the right time," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. "You should rest more before pushing yourself."

Lucian cocked his head, clearly not convinced. "Rest? Arin, I'm fully recovered. I'm not going to sit around and do nothing while the kingdom is in turmoil. Someone needs to take control around here and I won't let it be Rowan." 

Before I could respond, the door slammed open, and the Royal Concubine Elana stormed in, her expression twisted in fury.

"You. What was that at the meeting?" she demanded, eyes snapping between Lucian and me. "Arin, are you truly on our side?"

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. Elana's gaze was sharp, as though she were a hawk ready to strike.

"Of course, Your Highness," I said quickly, trying to keep my voice calm despite the heat of the situation.

"I'm not so sure anymore," she snapped, striding toward me. "You were speaking in support of Rowan, defending him in front of the court. How could you do that when you know he stole the throne from your husband? Is that what you've become now? A traitor?"

Lucian, who had been watching with concern, stepped forward. "What's going on, mother? What did she do?!" he asked, his voice low but tinged with alarm.

Elana's eyes flicked to him, her fury still apparent, but she seemed to take a breath before speaking. "At the meeting today, she was speaking in favor of Rowan, defending him when she should know better. This isn't just about the Queen's burial anymore. It's about our position in this kingdom. Arin, you've overstepped. You should have left those women to say whatever they wanted, but your words now, your words have convinced them of something else." 

Lucian's brows furrowed. "Arin? Why would you do that? Do you forget who is the enemy now? Didn't you promise to help me take the throne?!"

"She thinks too highly of him," Elana hissed, her voice rising in anger. "She is naive and foolish. She would betray us if she had the chance to. Tonight have taught me this." 

The tension in the room crackled as Lucian's eyes narrowed, the anger in his voice cutting through the silence. "Arin, you cannot do this. If you keep defending him, you won't like the consequences of your actions. You will be losing everything. Your position, your future—everything."

His words sank deep into me, each one a weight. I could feel my breath quicken as fear settled over me like a heavy blanket. "Lucian, I wasn't—"

"No," he interrupted, his gaze sharp as a blade. "You're not thinking clearly. There must be something wrong with you up there if you think you should be defending my brother. You'll lose your chance to be queen if you don't stop this nonsense."

I clenched my fists, fighting to hold back the rush of emotion that threatened to spill out. How could he speak to me like this, like I was some stupid foolish girl? But the harsh truth of his words settled deep within me.

"You remember what's happened to Delilah right? I'm sure you wouldn't want to end up like that do you?" Lucian's voice was low, almost like a whisper, but it hit me like a bolt of lightning.

My throat tightened at the mention of Delilah. I knew exactly where this was going, and the weight of it pressed down on me with crushing force. Lucian's warning was as sharp as any blade.

"You need to remember what happened to her. Delilah was supposed to do something, she failed to do what she was supposed to do and look where it got her. She thought she could stand up to me and defy me and look at where it got her."

My breath caught in my throat. The thought of Delilah, how she had tried to fight against the power that held her, and the way Lucian had discarded her so easily, he even called for her execution.  Lucian's words were a stark reminder that I had no real freedom, no true choice in this palace. Not as long as I was under their watch.

Lucian took a step closer, his eyes darkening with a warning. "You don't want to end up like her, Arin. I wouldn't advise it."

I swallowed hard, the knot in my stomach growing tighter. I knew exactly what he was implying. If I continued on the path I was walking—defying them, speaking out of turn—there would be consequences. There would always be consequences.

"Lucian, I..." My voice faltered, but I knew there was no use pretending anymore. He had made his point clear.

"I don't want to hurt you," he said softly, his voice almost tender now, as if trying to calm me. "But you need to make a choice. If you want to keep your position beside me, keep your place here, you need to stop this foolishness. Don't test me. Don't test me Arin." 

I nodded, though the words burned in my throat. I had no choice but to comply. I could feel the walls closing in around me, the heavy weight of their expectations pushing me deeper into a corner.

As Elana glared at me, a faint, satisfied smile touched her lips. "Remember your place, Princess Arin. Don’t let us remind you again or there will be consequences."