Chapter 73: Tears
I drop down from the carriage, furious, my fists clenched as I stalk toward the castle. I couldn’t kill the bastards behind the accident and poisoning from three years ago, not all of them at least—not the ones with titles, with noble status, hiding under the Crown Prince’s protection. Their shields may be forged by rank, but it’s flimsy against the sting of vengeance. I’ll tear down everything else they hold dear.
They thought they were safe in their webs of corruption, dripping with the blood of innocents, but I’ve swept through their dens with righteous fury, cutting into their profits, dismantling their operations. Tax fraud, illegal gambling, drugs—I’ve exposed it all, and made sure to do it in a way they’d know it was me. I’ve wiped out the heart of their businesses.
The thought of the Crown Prince’s face when he realizes his precious funds have taken a hit? It almost brings a smile to my lips. Almost. I sent Leona out on a hunt for evidence that will tie those corrupt nobles directly to their shady enterprises. This is only the beginning.
But the blood... the stench of it clings to me. I catch a whiff of iron, sweat, and death, and the memory of the blade I held just a few hours ago flashes in my mind. I need a bath. I need peace. I need him. The thought of my beloved star, Noelle, lifts the weight in my chest slightly. I’ll soak the filth away and then lose myself in his warmth for the rest of the day.
But as soon as I step inside the castle, I notice something’s off. The usual buzz of life among the servants is stifled—strained. They’re nervous. Far more anxious than usual. My instincts flare, a gut-deep warning ringing through my body.
"Where is he?" I bark at the nearest servant, my voice sharper than I intended.
"The greenhouse, my lord," he stammers, bowing quickly before scurrying away.
The greenhouse. Of course. I make my way there quickly, the tension in my shoulders not easing in the slightest. Something isn’t right. I push open the door to the greenhouse, stepping into the warmth and damp air. The scent of fresh earth and flowers surrounds me, usually a calming fragrance, but now it does nothing to soothe the edge in my heart.
And then I see him. Noelle.
He’s sitting by a shrub of delicate flowers, but he isn’t tending to them as he usually would. Instead, he’s just... staring. His eyes are locked on something in the distance, something I can’t see, lost in his thoughts, his expression hollow. It’s like all the light that usually radiates from him has dimmed.
I take a few steps forward, my heart pounding faster now—not with rage, but with concern. What’s happened? What did I miss?