Damned by Him

The room still carried the warmth of what had happened within it, the heavy curtains drawn against the pale light outside while the faint scent of perfume lingered in the air, mingling with the warmth that had not yet entirely left the sheets, and although the palace beyond those walls had already returned to the orderly rhythm of servants, guards, and nobles moving through its endless corridors, the chamber itself remained wrapped in a private silence that belonged only to the two people inside it.

Prince Gillian lay against the headboard, one arm resting loosely behind his head while his gaze remained fixed upon the woman beside him, and there was something unusually thoughtful about his expression as he watched Seraphine gather the edge of the sheet around herself before slowly rising from the bed.

She did not appear embarrassed.

If anything, she looked entirely too comfortable.

Her long hair fell loosely over her shoulders as she walked toward the table where a half-filled glass of wine waited untouched, and when she lifted it between her fingers, she turned slightly toward Gillian with a smile that suggested she had known exactly how the night would end from the moment she had entered his chambers.

Gillian’s eyes followed her.

"You certainly seem pleased with yourself," he remarked, his voice carrying a faint edge of amusement.

Seraphine took a slow sip before lowering the glass.

"Shouldn’t I be?"

He gave a quiet laugh.

"That depends on what you think you’ve accomplished."

Seraphine turned toward him fully, her lips curving into a knowing smile as she walked back toward the bed, and when she reached him, she did not immediately sit down, instead allowing her fingers to trail lightly along his shoulder before she leaned closer.

"I think," she murmured, "that I finally have your attention."

Gillian’s expression barely changed, although the slight movement of his eyes told her that her words had struck somewhere beneath his indifference.

"You already had it."

"Not the kind I wanted."

She said it lightly, but there was something deliberate beneath the words, something that made Gillian study her more carefully.

The ball had changed things.

After the palace celebration had ended and the last of the guests had begun retreating to their respective chambers, Seraphine had somehow found her way into Gillian’s room, and what had begun as a deal had gradually become something neither of them had bothered to stop, but Seraphine knew that what happened between them was not enough for her.

She wanted something else.

She wanted influence.

She wanted the prince’s trust.

And most importantly, she wanted the one thing she had never managed to take from him.

His heart.

Unfortunately for her, Gillian’s heart remained stubbornly occupied by another woman.

Rosaline.

Even now, when Seraphine looked at him, she could see the name sitting silently behind his eyes.

She had tried to ignore it.

She had tried to convince herself that desire could replace affection, that proximity could eventually become attachment, and that if she remained patient enough, Gillian would eventually forget the woman who had left the palace with another man.

But patience was beginning to feel like a weakness.

So she had decided to change the game.

"There is a way," she said suddenly.

Gillian’s expression changed.

"A way to do what?"

"To get what you want."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Seraphine smiled.

"Rosaline."

The room seemed to become quieter.

Gillian slowly lowered his arm from behind his head and sat upright, his attention now completely focused on her.

"What about her?"

Seraphine walked toward the window, drawing the curtain aside just enough to allow a narrow stream of light into the room before looking back at him over her shoulder.

"She’s leaving."

Gillian remained silent.

"Rosaline and the Duke of Dagon are heading west," she continued, her voice becoming softer as she watched his reaction. "They’re no longer in the mansion, and from what I’ve learned, they’re travelling toward the western territories before continuing to her kingdom."

Gillian’s gaze hardened.

"How do you know that?"

Seraphine’s lips curved upward.

"I have my sources."

"Your sources?"

"Yes."

She returned to the bed and sat beside him, crossing one leg over the other beneath the sheet.

"You ask too many questions."

Gillian gave her a skeptical look.

"And you give too few answers."

Seraphine laughed softly.

She leaned closer until there was barely any distance between them, her fingers lifting to straighten the collar of his shirt with unnecessary care.

"That’s because answers are much more valuable when they’re earned."

Gillian caught her wrist gently.

"Seraphine."

She looked down at his hand before raising her eyes to his.

"What?"

"Tell me how you know."

For the first time, her smile faltered slightly.

Then she laughed again.

"I told you, I have a source."

"And I suppose you’re not going to tell me who."

"No."

Gillian’s gaze remained fixed upon her.

Seraphine leaned closer, her expression becoming almost playful. "But perhaps you don’t need to know who."

She pressed a soft kiss against his lips before pulling back just enough to look into his eyes.

"That," she whispered, "is why we’re here."

Gillian stared at her.

Seraphine smiled.

"I know where she is going."

A dangerous thought began forming in his mind.

"If you know where she’s going," he said slowly, "then you know where I can find her."

Seraphine nodded.

"Exactly."

Something changed within Gillian’s expression.

It was subtle, but she noticed it immediately.

Hope.

It was not love.

It was not affection.

But it was enough.

And as Seraphine watched that emotion appear in his eyes, something inside her began to twist with satisfaction.

At last, she thought.

She could use this.

If Rosaline disappeared from the picture, perhaps Gillian would finally stop looking beyond her.

Perhaps then there would be room for her.

She lowered her gaze, hiding the smile threatening to appear on her lips.

What Gillian did not know was that she had no intention of simply helping him reunite with Rosaline.

There was another reason she wanted the woman gone.

And for now, that reason remained safely hidden behind her smile.

Gillian stood from the bed and reached for his coat.

"When do they leave?"

"They’ve already left."

He turned toward her.

"And you waited until now to tell me?"

Seraphine shrugged.

"I needed to make sure my information was correct."

Gillian’s expression became colder.

"You could have told me before."

"I could have."

She smiled.

"But then you wouldn’t have needed me."

He stared at her for a moment before shaking his head.

"You are dangerous."

Seraphine’s smile widened.

"And yet you’re still here."

Gillian said nothing.

Seraphine watched him gather his things, her eyes following every movement while her mind raced ahead of him.

The game had finally begun.

And somewhere beyond the palace walls, Rosaline was travelling toward a future she knew nothing about.

Far from the palace, beyond the western roads and the sprawling forests that separated one territory from another, stood a kingdom whose ancient towers rose above the surrounding valleys like pale spears against the sky.

Everbloom.

Inside the palace, King Magnus sat within his private study, a thick collection of documents spread across the enormous desk before him while the fire in the stone hearth crackled quietly behind him.

Across from him stood his son, Prince Frederick.

Frederick was younger than Rosaline, but there was already a seriousness in his posture that made him appear older than his years, and as he listened to his father’s words, he kept his hands folded behind his back.

"The reply arrived this morning," King Magnus said as he lifted a sealed letter from the desk.

Frederick’s attention shifted toward it.

"From Dagon?"

His father nodded.

"The Duke has accepted."

A faint smile appeared on Magnus’ face.

"Duke Xandros of Dagon will be attending the winter ball."

Frederick straightened slightly.

"So Rosaline is coming home?"

King Magnus paused.

"That is what I expect."

There was something strange in the way he said it.

Frederick noticed.

"You don’t sound certain."

"I’m not."

Magnus placed the letter down.

"Your sister has been away for longer than I would have liked, and circumstances surrounding her return are not entirely within our control."

Frederick remained silent.

His father leaned back in his chair.

"But regardless of what happens, the Duke’s presence is important than hers."

"Her husband?"

"Yes."

Magnus’ fingers tapped slowly against the surface of the desk.

"Xandros is not merely Rosaline’s husband. He is a powerful duke, and his influence extends far beyond Dagon."

Frederick nodded.

"I understand."

"I want you to make sure he feels welcome when he arrives."

Frederick raised an eyebrow.

"You want me to entertain him?"

"I want you to befriend him."

The prince’s expression became more serious.

"Father..."

"Frederick."

Magnus’ voice carried enough authority to stop whatever objection his son had been about to make.

"This is not simply about hospitality."

Frederick lowered his gaze.

"I understand."

"The western territories have become increasingly unstable, and Dagon’s military influence could become valuable to Everbloom."

Magnus rose from his chair and walked toward the tall window overlooking the palace courtyard.

"Your sister’s marriage has connected us to a man whose alliances we cannot afford to ignore."

Frederick followed his father’s gaze.

"And you believe the Duke will strengthen that connection?"

"I believe that depends on whether we treat him as an outsider or as family."

Frederick nodded slowly.

"So you want me to build a friendship with him."

"Exactly."

Magnus turned toward him.

"When Xandros arrives, I want you beside him."

"During the winter ball?"

"During the ball, during the celebrations, and wherever else you find an opportunity."

Frederick gave a small smile.

"You are asking me to become his friend."

"I am asking you to become someone he trusts."

The distinction was deliberate.

Frederick understood it immediately.

He lowered his head respectfully.

"I’ll do it."

King Magnus studied his son for several moments before nodding.

"Good."

He returned to his desk and picked up another document.

"There is one more thing."

Frederick looked at him.

"What?"

"Your sister."

Frederick’s expression softened slightly.

"What about her?"

"When she returns that is if she comes at all, I want you to remember that she has been away from Everbloom for a long time."

He paused.

"Whatever has happened to her since she left, do not question her too at all."

Frederick frowned.

"Why would I?"

"Because you are curious."

Frederick laughed quietly.

"That hasn’t changed, then."

"No."

The king looked toward the distant horizon beyond the palace grounds.

"But perhaps this time, we should listen before judging."

Frederick followed his father’s gaze.

Neither of them knew exactly what was coming.

They did not know that Rosaline was already on the western road.

They did not know that someone else had discovered her route.

And they certainly did not know that the arrival of Duke Xandros would bring far more than a simple winter celebration.

For while King Magnus prepared to welcome his son-in-law home, another prince was preparing to chase after her.

And somewhere between the west and Everbloom, several carefully concealed intentions were beginning to move toward the same destination.

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