Chapter 66: Pawn
I fling the cursed teacup against the floor with a sharp crack, watching in satisfaction as it shatters into jagged pieces. The sight of destruction, though small, brings me a fleeting sense of control. But it doesn’t last long. My chest is still tight, and my hands tremble with barely-contained fury. That arrogant bastard! How dare he look at me like that, as if I’m beneath him? I am the Crown Prince. No one—no one—should dare to meet my eyes with anything less than absolute submission. And yet, Thorne, with those cold, disdainful blue eyes of his, has always acted like he’s above me.
I clench my fists, the memory of his impassive gaze taunting me. How dare he dismiss me, as if I were some court jester meant to amuse him?
Five years ago... that was when it all began.
– Five Years Ago –
I had finally arranged to meet the so-called hero of the kingdom. Thorne Alden, the Crimson General. My mother had advised me to win him over. She said a man of his power would be an invaluable ally in securing my future reign. The battlefield may be his domain, but here, in the palace, I rule. At least, I should.
My carriage pulled up to the estate—Seraphina’s Heart, an old and dusty place left to rot until Thorne bought it with the fortune he made from war. Of course, he’d taken it as his own, even though it once belonged to royalty. The arrogance. The audacity.
As I stepped out, the air felt thick with the stench of blood. It clung to the walls, to the floors. Rumors were that he had returned from a bloody campaign just days before.
I was led into his office by a nervous servant. Thorne had his back to me when I entered. His broad shoulders were tense, and though he hadn’t turned around yet, I could feel his presence—cold and overpowering. It’s laughable how men like him think that brute strength and violence equate to real power.
When he finally turned to face me, he gave a slight bow. It was barely more than a tilt of his head, not nearly the respect I deserved. I could feel my blood boil at the insult, but I suppressed it. After all, I needed him then.