Chapter 5:

Her clothes were disheveled, hair loose and wild, her beautiful face flushed crimson with fury. Dane stormed out of Vincent's room, humiliated and enraged.

From childhood until now, she had never liked anyone as much as she liked him. In her mind, only the king of an entire pack was worthy of someone like her. Dane had never experienced such disgrace before.

She grew up sheltered and doted on by her entire family. She was the kind who would sneer and laugh whenever someone foolishly tried to confess their feelings to her. Vincent had always been her target since she was a child and into adulthood. Now, they were finally engaged, just as she had always wished, and Dane's pride soared even higher.

She could never have imagined a day would come when her fiancé would mistake her for another woman in bed while he was drunk.

If she could swallow this humiliation, then her name might as well be written backward!

Dane rushed into the bathroom, glaring at her pathetic reflection in the mirror, and her rage flared even more. Without a second thought, she strode purposefully toward Majori's hospital room.

Majori was like a flower sheltered in a greenhouse. The number of guards stationed around her room was almost comparable to those around Dane's own mansion, a clear indication of how much the king cherished this wretched woman.

Fuming, Dane approached and raised her hand to push the door open. The guards outside instantly stepped in front of her, their expressions stern.

"No one is allowed to enter or leave this room without the king's direct order."

Dane's face twisted into a cold smile, and without a moment's hesitation, she slapped the speaker across the face with a resounding crack. The guard, not daring to retaliate, still held his ground firmly, continuing to block her path.

"I am the king's future wife, your mistress. Open the door—immediately!"

Her command was met with silence.

The guards' obstinance turned Dane's face pale with fury. It felt as if she were a clown performing in front of others, making a fool of herself. She glared deeply into the room, her eyes blazing with hatred.

She, the future queen, was being denied entry while this wretched, picked-up stray got to be treated with such reverence!

Just then, a hand gently rested on her shoulder. Dane turned sharply, only to be met with Ryder's handsome face. He looked at her with a solemn expression.

"Miss Dane, you should go back."

Dane gritted her teeth, unwilling to yield. She hissed each word through clenched teeth:

"I can't just stand by and let that bitch steal His Majesty's attention!"

Ryder looked at her thoughtfully. They had been friends for a long time. Or rather, Ryder had served Dane's family for many years, attending to this haughty lady personally ever since he was a small boy.

No one understood Dane better than Ryder. How could he not see the murderous intent burning in her gaze?

So he looked at her and smiled gently. Even though his current status was highly esteemed, Ryder still couldn't turn a blind eye to the lady he had chased after during his youth.

"Miss, trust me and go home. Leave the rest to me."

Dane bit her lip hard. The guards would never allow her to enter. She had no choice but to place her trust in Ryder. With a dramatic sweep of her long strides and the sharp clack of her high heels, Dane finally disappeared from view.

The rest of the work now fell to Ryder.

As the chief physician whom the king placed absolute trust in, Ryder had the privilege to enter and exit this room freely. The guards did not dare impede his path and quickly stepped aside to let him through.

The scene inside the room made Ryder's heart sink for a moment.

The girl was sitting on the bed, looking at him with a faint smile still tugging at the corner of her lips. Her face was pale and haggard, like a wilting flower. Her long hair cascaded over her frail shoulders, and her eyes were calm, as if all the recent turmoil around her had nothing to do with her.

This woman… Ryder wasn't surprised that someone like her could capture the king's heart.

***

I looked at Doctor Ryder, forcing myself to muster a tired smile as a greeting.

He stepped closer, asking the usual questions:

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm still in a lot of pain and can't move much."

"Don't rush. It's only been a day. Your body isn't a machine that can be repaired overnight. You've survived a major catastrophe—already a miracle in itself."

I nodded. He was right, but if this life was saved only to be imprisoned by Vincent, it seemed hardly worth it.

Ryder picked up a bottle of medication, deftly removing it along with the intravenous needle in my arm. As if speaking casually, he commented:

"I've never seen the king treat another woman with such care. Not even his fiancée receives this level of attention."

My mind went blank. I stared at him for a moment before whispering:

"Vincent has a fiancée?"

Ryder frowned slightly. Indeed, these two had a complicated relationship. Addressing the king by his given name wasn't something just anyone could do—not even his closest aides dared to.

It could only be a name used before he ascended to the throne.

In that case, they must have known each other for a very long time.

Ryder couldn't quite grasp my emotions at this moment. Upon learning that Vincent had a fiancée, it seemed I felt both relieved and… strangely empty. My eyes, usually so calm, suddenly lost their focus. Ryder grew even more curious about the history between us, but knowing his place, he refrained from prying.

He pulled another vial from his coat pocket and inserted it into the IV stand. I paid no mind to what he was doing. He adjusted the equipment, took my hand gently, and inserted the new IV needle.

"Did I upset Vincent's fiancée?" I asked softly.

All I received was a soft hum in response from the young doctor.

This woman was truly perceptive.

If she weren't so close to the king, if she weren't a potential threat to Miss Dane, perhaps she wouldn't have ended up like this. Ryder mused.

By coincidence, the person responsible for her treatment was someone who had always been secretly in love with the emperor's fiancée.

No one could be blamed for this situation; it was simply fate weaving a twisted play. Ryder wasn't sure if, after tonight, he would still be alive. This might be the most foolish decision he had ever made, or perhaps it would be the last thing he did for Miss Dane.

"Thank you, Doctor."

The unexpected gratitude startled Ryder, causing his hand to pause momentarily. He had known she was clever, but he hadn't expected her to figure it out so soon.

Indeed, the substance he had just administered was poison.

This toxin wouldn't produce any immediate reaction. It would silently constrict her blood vessels, causing blood to clot and preventing circulation. In a few hours, her body would slowly suffocate, her brain would cease to function, and her heart would stop beating.

A silent death in her sleep, without causing much commotion. Mixed within the poison was a suitable dose of tranquilizer to ensure she would drift off peacefully.

Ryder looked at me, his gaze meeting my tranquil eyes. She knew she was going to die, yet she still thanked the one who would kill her?

The countless scars on her body told him that she hadn't lived an easy life. Even after being saved by the king, she showed no signs of harboring any selfish desires.

Majori was the strangest person he had ever met.

But that wasn't his concern.

Ryder glanced at me and gave a faint smile:

"Goodbye."

He turned and walked out without a backward glance, leaving the girl behind with her serene smile.

...

The sedative acted quickly—royal-quality medication was indeed effective. I mused, feeling my eyelids grow heavy. I didn't want to fall asleep so soon. If only I had tried bargaining with the doctor earlier.

I cast one last lingering look at the scene outside the window. The night was dark, the maple leaves rustling softly in the wind. The breeze was cold and mournful. It was a pity I wouldn't get to see the bright sun tomorrow.

Perhaps I would leave this world in the same gloom that had defined my existence.

Dying was a release. I had already died once in those woods; this broken life wasn't worth holding onto. A painless departure was perhaps the best gift I could receive.

I closed my eyes, a single tear rolling down my cheek.

Slowly, I drifted away.

...

"Aah…"

In the midst of his drunken stupor, Vincent jolted awake, clutching his chest as a sharp cry escaped him. Pain! Such searing pain! The nightmare he had just seen tore through him unbearably!

He saw Majori leaving, disappearing from his life forever!

Vincent turned pale, a sudden realization gripping him. He jumped up, not even bothering to change his clothes, and sprinted straight toward Majori's room.