The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride

~Mass Release ended.

The guard’s blood sprayed across the floor and the Chancellor’s face as he continued, relentless in his fury.

Finally, he stopped, breathing heavily, his voice as cold as the air around a corpse. "Come in."

He barked at the guard by the door. "Take this useless rat and throw him into the ocean. And bring Princess Araben to the garden."

~*~

Aunt Even was immersed in preparations for the banquet when Rebedina entered the gallery, flanked by a group of noblewomen. Aunt Even scoffed under her breath. Some things never changed, Rebedina, always dragging a small army behind her like a mama duck with her brood in tow.

"Princess Eve! Are you going to design everything without consulting me?"

Aunt Eve offered a polite smile, the kind that oozed courtesy, but inside, her fury simmered like an inferno ready to explode. This woman’s daughter had dared to sever Helene’s hand, and worse, burn countless people, innocent or otherwise. Araben had no right to decide who lived or died. And as for Rebedina, she was the worst kind of mother, the kind whose poisonous influence would shape her child into something far darker.

"Dear Rebedina, it’s my responsibility to handle the castle’s affairs. I trust you remember, the Queen’s seat has remained vacant since the death of the Queen Mother."

Rebedina’s lips curled into a slight, almost imperceptible smile, but it was tinged with resentment, a flicker of malice that never quite left her face.

"Oh, my darling! I was simply suggesting some assistance, seeing as you’ve grown a bit... older, and perhaps weary of carrying such heavy burdens."