✍️✍️✍️✍️ Garden Of Poison Chapter 96 - 100 Complete Chapters ✍️✍️✍️✍️

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GARDEN OF POISON

Brush of Death ( Chapter 96 )

The guard watched the unconscious woman sink into the water, and then he picked up the empty gunny sack, hoisting it over his shoulder before departing from the scene.      

Anastasia could feel her body being pulled towards the bottom, and the water stung her already wide-open eyes. She had taken a deep breath before falling into the water, granting her precious additional moments to free her legs.      

She attempted to use the dagger to cut the ropes binding her legs, but in her effort, the dagger slipped from her grasp and sank deeper into the water. Not knowing what else to do, she mustered all her strength to force her legs apart before she succeeded, as most of the work of tearing the ropes had already been done.      

Having never swum before, Anastasia had no clue what to do. She resorted to flailing her hands, which somehow propelled her upwards, allowing her head to emerge out of the water to take a deep breath. But she couldn't keep herself afloat and continued splashing while desperately calling for help.     

"HEL—P!" Anastasia coughed the water that had entered through her nose and mouth.      

Adrenaline and panic coursed through her mind, and Anastasia fought to stay alive by continuously kicking her legs and paddling her hands, refusing to stop even for a moment, fully aware that she had to cling to hope for someone to notice her, or else she would be condemned to forever rest at the bottom of the sea.      

But with every passing second, dread filled Anastasia at the thought that she would die here. Despite her desperate struggle to stay alive, exhaustion soon crept into her limbs, and her efforts faltered, causing her to be pulled back beneath the water's surface while losing consciousness.      

As one of the local women strolled along the water's edge to reach the cleaner side of the sea, carrying a basket of clothes securely hoisted on her waist, she caught sight of a pair of hands sticking out of the water, only to swiftly disappear beneath the surface.      

Startled, the woman dropped the basket on the ground and shouted for help,      

"There's someone drowning in the sea! Someone is drowning! Help, help!" She continued to shout until a group of people gathered, but all they could see was the sea undulating as it usually did.      

"Where did you see the person drowning?? Are you sure you saw someone, and it wasn't just some cloth drifting in the water?" a local man questioned, looking left and right as he wasn't sure where to direct his attention.      

The woman appeared unsure as she pointed her finger in a specific direction.      

"Is there a good swimmer here who can jump in and check?" asked one woman, but no one stepped forward, and the crowd looked anxiously at each other's faces, as they were scared of the monsters residing at the bottom of the sea.      

While the crowd worriedly gazed at the sea, the sound of horses' hooves clip-clopping against the ground approaching them reached their ears. The people momentarily turned to see who it was before quickly offering their deepest bows.      

"Prince Dante!" The men and women looked even more worried now than when they were peering at the water, for the cursed prince himself had arrived.      

"Why is there a crowd gathered here?" Dante questioned the people because there were no ships to be seen on the water.      

Aziel, who had accompanied the first prince, demanded, "Speak up! Don't stay silent."     

One of the men stepped forward and conveyed, "Someone drowned in the sea. This woman here, she claims to have seen a person's hand," and this statement put a frown on the faces of both men sitting on the horses.      

As Dante turned his attention towards the sea, Aziel looked taken aback and questioned, "Why haven't any of you gone to save the person?!"      

"W—we don't know how to swim. The water is too deep for us to wade in, and we'd drown," said someone from the crowd.      

When the old minister noticed Dante dismounting from his horse and removing his coat, draping it over his horse, he asked, "Prince Dante, are you planning to enter the water?"      

"It would be better to do it now before the person's body floats up to the surface of the water because, by then, it will be too late," Dante remarked before heading to the water's edge and diving in.      

The saltwater didn't sting Dante's eyes, and he continued swimming, searching for the drowned individual. His hands gracefully moved through the water, pushing against its resistance that impeded his progress. And because his midnight eyes weren't sharp enough to detect anyone in the water, his eyes quickly shifted to fiery red, enhancing his vision. His keen ears picked up the gurgling sound of the water and the subtle ascent of small bubbles rising towards the water's surface.      

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As Dante continued to press on through the water, his eyes finally caught sight of something white gently floating on the seabed before he recognised it was a person in a white nightgown.      

Anastasia!      

Filled with urgency, Dante quickly swam towards where she lay and lifted her into his arms, realising she was unconscious. He placed his hand on the side of her neck, only to find no discernible pulse.      

No, this couldn't be happening! Dante exclaimed inwardly in alarm as he gritted his teeth. His already red eyes turned darker, and ominous black fumes began to emanate from his body, dispersing into the water. He brought her body close to his chest, embracing her tightly before he closed his eyes.      

The people standing on the boardwalk stared at the water with their eyebrows drawn together, and one of them murmured to another,      

"It has been a good few moments. I hope they haven't drowned."     

Aziel scolded the man who had spoken, warning him, "I will sever your tongue for uttering such words!" Then with conviction, he stated, "He will be back. He must still be looking for the person who drowned." With that, the minister redirected his attention to the water while anxiously counting the seconds until the prince would resurface out of the water as internally, he was also worried.      

"Who knew the prince would dive in at a mere word?" one of the women asked in astonishment, surprised at the unexpected sight of a member of the royal family willingly getting their clothes wet.      

"Isn't that obvious, though? I mean, Prince Dante is the only one who rides his horse around here while interacting with people," said another person. "Hopefully, the person's body wasn't carried away by the waves."     

And while they were waiting, someone suddenly pointed and exclaimed, "W—what is that? That thing in the water!" Everyone's eyes shifted in the direction indicated by the person's outstretched hand, just in time to catch sight of the water's surface turning dark, completely obscuring the view beneath it. "What is going on?!" Murmurs of confusion and concern rippled through the crowd.      

All of a sudden, a wave of water splashed onto the people standing along the boardwalk, catching them off-guard as they leaned forward to get a better view of what was happening in the water. The unexpected deluge left everyone nearby blinking in shock, as it felt as if someone had splashed a massive bucket of water on each of them, drenching them before they gasped at the sight presented before them.      

Aziel had just finished wiping the water off his face with his hand when his eyes fell on a round, crystal-like formation of water that encapsulated Prince Dante and the person who had drowned, though he couldn't discern the face of the person as it was turned towards the prince's chest. The spherical water crystal floated above the surface of the water, while fumes emitted from the prince's body much more intensely than he had ever witnessed before.      

The people around were too dumbstruck to react or utter a word as they stared at the view in front of them with their mouths hanging wide open. The water fell back to the sea, and the black fumes dispersed into the air before the prince jumped back onto the ground while still carrying the unconscious woman.      

Dante gently lowered Anastasia onto the wooden surface of the boardwalk, and he placed his hands on her chest before pumping her chest continuously, the black fumes moving towards her.      

"It is the curse!" one of them muttered, and in less than three seconds, the men, women and children ran back to their houses.      

Aziel's eyes widened upon realising the woman was none other than the courtesan. How did she even end up here?!      

Dante leaned forward, and soon his lips touched Anastasia's cold and pale lips as if trying to breathe life back into her. When he began to pump her chest again, she started to cough out the water she had swallowed when she was in the sea.      

He held her, relieved that she was alive, watching her cough out the water, and for a fleeting moment, her eyes opened before she fell back into an unconscious state.      

Dante, who was cradling Anastasia's head, felt the bump on the back of it.      

"Aziel. Get the physician to the palace," Dante's voice was eerily low, and there was a whisper of darkness to it that had the minister look away from the woman to him.      

"Not here, Prince Dante? She can—"      

When Dante raised his eyes to meet Aziel's old eyes, the minister froze upon noticing the golden slits in the dark red eyes. He stated, "Have the physician prepared by the time she's ready to be seen."     

Aziel mounted his horse and went to inform the physician to come to the palace immediately before he made his way through the corridors to find the Mother Queen. He burst through the doors of the room where the old woman was sitting. At the moment, her legs were being massaged by a maid and another was waving a fan for the wind to blow at her.      

"Mother Queen! Mother… Queen," Aziel gasped as he had run to get there, and he placed his hands on his knees to take a breather before remembering it wasn't the time. He blinked a couple of times, as he could see spots in his vision before he said, "It is Prince Dante."     

The Mother Queen's eyes narrowed at the mention of her precious grandson, and she raised her hand before dismissing the maids, "Leave us alone."      

Once the maids stepped out of the room, Aziel said, "I think Prince Dante's demon is breaking out. Maybe not all, but maybe… maybe sixty percent?" and he took a deep breath. Still out of breath, he brought his hands forward to count something on his fingers. He said, "There's thirteen days left before the golden moon makes its presence."     

"Where is he now?" the Mother Queen questioned him, and they walked out of there.      

Once they reached one of the guest rooms, the Mother Queen stepped inside, and her eyes fell on Dante's back, who stood next to the bed, where the physician was tending to an unconscious Anastasia.      

Soon the other royal family members appeared in the corridor and in front of the room to see what the commotion was that they had heard the servants gossiping about. And with them was the Vizier, who entered the room before his eyes narrowed at the sight of the courtesan, whom he had ordered to be disposed of so as not to be found.      

How did she get back here?! the Vizier asked himself.      

Not a moment later, King Maxwell arrived at the room, and everyone, except for the physician and Prince Dante, bowed at him, making way for him to step inside. His blue eyes grew worried before he demanded,      

"What happened to her?"      

Aziel was the one to reply, "Someone threw her into the sea, Your Highness! We don't know what happened, but Prince Dante and I were out riding our horses when we found her."     

"How is that even possible? A courtesan thrown into the sea?" The Mother Queen found it appalling that things like this were taking place.      

Lady Noor frowned before asking, "Maybe Madame Minerva might know what happened? Where is she?"      

Queen Maya's face had turned pale, a slight feeling of dread coming over her. Niyasa, who was also in the room, stared at the useless courtesan before her eyes moved to look at the other people in the room, coming to settle on her brother.      

"Bring her here!" King Maxwell ordered, and one of the servants quickly left to fetch the woman. He was making his way towards the bed when Dante finally turned for everyone to notice the slits in his eyes, except for Maxwell, whose eyes were on Anastasia.      

The Mother Queen took a sharp breath before she whispered, "That's more than eighty…"     

Before Maxwell could reach Anastasia's side, Dante stepped in front of him, his cold red slitted eyes meeting Maxwell's surprised blue ones.      

"What are you doing?" Maxwell questioned Dante for blocking his way, while also confused about his brother's eyes.      

Dante stared back at Maxwell before he openly laid claim on Anastasia, "I will be taking her as my woman. It would be best for you not to hover over her, or people will wrongfully get the impression that you are looking at her when you have already found your soulmate."     

________

GARDEN OF POISON

Shift in power (Chapter 97)

With the exception of the Mother Queen, Aziel, and Princess Emily, everyone else's faces displayed frowns and questioning gazes at Dante's sudden proclamation. They stared at each other as if seeking answers before their eyes shifted back to focus on Dante and Maxwell.      

Queen Maya, apprehensive that her son would expose their grand scheme, quickly tried to divert everyone's attention by suggesting, "I think we should allow the girl to rest and have everyone leave the room."     

But a dry chuckle escaped from Maxwell's lips, his voice carrying a hint of mockery as he said, "How bold of you, Brother, to make such a statement. And to take her for your own?" He continued, "This woman here is one of the palace's valuable treasures, and your mere word is not enough to claim her. You will need to submit a formal request in writing… just like every one of us has done in the past. Do correct me if I am wrong, Mother Queen."      

The Mother Queen felt caught between a rock and a hard place because of her two grandsons. One had the authority as the king, while the other faced a race against time, with the demon inside him on the verge of awakening. Carefully choosing her words, she responded,      

"You are correct, Your Highness. Dante will need to put it in writing, formally declaring that he intends to take the courtesan as his woman, making her exclusively his."     

Maxwell said to Dante, "There you have it. Why don't you go and get the necessary writing done?"      

"Aziel."      

"Yes, Prince Dante?" the old minister promptly responded, stepping forward with his hands folded respectfully.      

"Go fetch the parchment and ink," Dante ordered the man, maintaining his position as if protecting the woman from being taken away from him.      

Prince Aiden, who had arrived late after fixing the horseshoe in the shed, asked his sister in a whisper, "Why is Brother Dante taking Anna as his concubine?" His eyebrows had drawn together with concern, because he knew how much Anastasia desired freedom rather than being bound as a concubine.      

"I guess… he just likes her a lot," Princess Emily whispered in response to her younger brother. But other things worried the princess now, especially how her two brothers looked as if they were ready to cut each other's throats over Anastasia.      

Before Maxwell could do or say anything, Queen Maya interjected, "Dante, even though you want to claim the courtesan, she will not be considered yours until an official document is drawn, sealed, and approved by the Elders. Until then, you have no rightful claim over her, and as the head of this matter, I order that—"     

"I will pass on that," Dante responded, leaving Queen Maya's mouth hanging open. "Whatever you plan to say, I refuse it."     

"You are defying the Queen of Versailles, Dante," Queen Maya's eyes narrowed at Dante's refusal to oblige. She said, "This order applies not just to you but to everyone in the room. Leave."     

Dante took a step towards Maxwell and remarked, "After you, My King."      

Queen Maya turned to others and said, "Everyone meant everyone."      

Maxwell's lips twitched before he finally took a step back, turning to leave the room, and the others followed suit, departing one after another, still curious if the two Blackthorn brothers had their sights set on the courtesan.      

The Vizier stepped out of the room with the others and then turned to address Dante, but before he could speak, the first prince ordered,      

"Find out who left the palace this morning. Every guard, every servant, and every minister is to be brought to me within the hour. I will find the culprit before dusk."      

"But Prince Dante, I have other pressing duties to attend to in the courtroom," the Vizier attempted to reason, his mind racing to cover his tracks. He needed to eliminate the courtesan before she woke up. He said, "I will have someone—"     

"Do you think I was asking you?" Dante questioned, his eyes narrowing even more than before. "Position guards here so that no one enters."     

"Yes, Prince."      

The Vizier grew increasingly nervous, and though his heartbeat fluctuated, it was protected from being heard by Dante. Similar to when King William had been stabbed to his death, his thoughts and those of the other person involved were kept concealed from the late king.      

Dante's eyes scanned the long corridor, and his ears tried to listen to any suspicious sounds from nearby passageways, but he couldn't pick up any unusual activity. As they walked on, the Mother Queen quickly caught up to her grandson.      

"Dante!" the Mother Queen called out, prompting him to halt his footsteps and turn to look at her. "Where are you going?"      

"It is time to unveil the deception that has been circulating, don't you think?" Dante asked, and the older woman's eyes widened. He asked, "Is it ready on your side?"     

"Almost," the Mother Queen nodded in agreement before expressing her concern, "Isn't it too soon, though? If things don't go as planned, Maya or Maxwell could imprison you in the dungeon and implicate both of us, turning the tables against us."     

"There is no reason for it to fail," Dante replied confidently, and he said, "It is only a matter of time before another mistake is committed, and that moment isn't too far away. Before that happens, I need to find out who threw Anastasia into the sea."     

"I wonder if someone discovered something," the Mother Queen mumbled. This worried her, knowing that if anyone found out that Dante had a soulmate, the woman's life would be in danger, especially since the demon hadn't yet fully awakened. But at the same time, luck seemed to be inviting the demon, enticing its awakening quicker than anticipated.      

Dante couldn't believe Anastasia's luck because he had personally accompanied her to the staircase and watched her ascend it, never anticipating finding her at the bottom of the sea this early in the morning.      

"There is something I forgot to tell you before," the Mother Queen uttered with a solemn expression, but before she could come out with it, the sound of hurried footsteps, as if someone were running, reached their ears, and soon they noticed Aziel rushing towards them.      

If it weren't for the excited expression on his face, one would think someone was chasing him with a sword.      

"The parchment is here! The parchment is here!" Aziel came to a sudden halt two steps away from the two royal family members and stretched out his hand, "The parchment… here!"      

Dante took hold of the rolled parchment and unfurled it to read its contents—     

'We hope this letter finds you well.      

In accordance with the request made by Queen Ginger Blackthorn, we hereby affirm that the courtesan, Anastasia Flores, is now formally recognised as the concubine of His Royal Highness, the first prince, Dante Blackthorn. Henceforth, she shall exclusively belong to the said prince, and no other men or the king shall have any claim upon her. The registry shall soon be dispatched to secure the signatures of both the prince and Miss Flores, thereby preserving this decree in our official records.'     

The document bore the signature of one of the Elder ministers, and Dante turned to look at his grandmother. The Mother Queen said,      

"I wanted to surprise you."      

"I am truly grateful to have you as my grandmother," Dante remarked, even though he didn't know when she had dispatched the letter.      

A grin appeared on the Mother Queen's lips, and she proposed, "So am I. How about I arrange a room for Anastasia on the same floor as yours? It will be easier to have her moved once she regains consciousness and feels physically well."      

"That would be very much appreciated," Dante replied, and the Mother Queen noticed the slits in his eyes vanishing, although the red hue didn't revert to his usual black. "I will check if the Vizier has found the individuals who left through the palace gates this morning."     

Upon seeing Dante leave the corridor, the Mother Queen sighed and addressed her minister, "See, Aziel? At the mention of Anastasia, Dante's mood noticeably improves, and that is a good sign. Meaning the balance is working well."     

Aziel nodded in agreement. However, a faint worry came to form on his face, and he asked, "What if they attempt to use her to get to Prince Dante now that she is his concubine?"      

"I don't think that will happen," the Mother Queen replied before her lips tightened as she recalled the scene she had witnessed back in the room. "Maxwell appears to have taken an interest in her, which would dissuade him from causing her any harm."     

"He has?" Aziel inquired, too absorbed in staring at Dante to notice anything else.      

"Mm," the Mother Queen hummed in response.      

On the other side of the palace, Maxwell had returned to his room, seeking solitude, but his sister had followed him, persistently questioning him when he desired some peace and quiet.      

"Brother, have you taken an interest in that courtesan? You were just joking there, weren't you?" Niyasa asked with a bewildered expression, as she couldn't fathom the idea of Anastasia becoming her brother's concubine. "I mean, you already have Lady Evin. Why would you need someone else—"     

"Get out of my room, Niyasa," Maxwell snapped, fed up with his sister's incessant chattering, like a parrot that never stopped squawking.     

"But we aren't done talking. You cannot take that woman—" Niyasa began to protest.     

"Did you not hear what I said?" Maxwell interrupted, before firmly gripping his sister's arm and dragging her towards the door, despite her protests.      

"Brother Maxwell, are you upset because of what I said? Because of that woman?" Niyasa didn't stop, refusing to relent, unable to accept that the eyesore had suddenly become everyone's favourite choice.      

When Maxwell successfully dragged Niyasa towards the door, knocking on it for the guards outside to open it, he roughly pushed his sister out of his room, leaving the princess staggering back in shock and embarrassment. Before the doors could be fully closed, Queen Maya appeared, and the princess voiced her complaint,      

"Mother, look at—"     

"Return to your room, Niyasa. I need to speak to your brother. Alone," Queen Maya commanded without looking at her daughter. She stepped inside the room, and the doors closed behind her, leaving the young princess fuming in anger, ready to stomp her feet. But instead of doing that, she turned on her heel and made her way to where Anastasia was.      

Once inside the king's room, Queen Maya demanded, "What the hell was that back there, Max?! First, it was that deceased concubine that you took in, and now this one? Have you decided to put our heads on the chopping block?!"     

Maxwell, already tired from listening to his sister, snapped at his mother, "Can you just stop talking?!"      

"How do you expect me to? Maxwell, you were well aware from the beginning that this was the course of action we had to follow through without any mistakes, as there was no room for any errors!" Queen Maya's frustration grew as she witnessed her son's immaturity and indecisiveness in sticking to their initial plans. "Why would you attempt to ruin it now? We can still salvage the situation if you don't—"     

"I cannot continue with this any longer," Maxwell stated, as if tired.      

Queen Maya's eyes widened, and she walked to where her son had turned away from her; turning him to face her, she said, "You cannot do this, Maxwell. Do you realise what kind of dire situation it will put all of us in? If you were unwilling from the start, you should have said so from the beginning! Is there nothing you can do without sabotaging it?!"      

"I can't!" Maxwell fired back at his mother, his emotions boiling over, "I couldn't protect the one woman I fell for. When I agreed to your plan, I didn't expect her to fucking die!" He expressed, overwhelmed with frustration and despair as he ran his hand through his blond hair. He wanted to be the king so he could have the woman by his side, but the moment the position was given to him, she died, leaving him consumed by anger and bitterness, now lashing out at his mother.      

Queen Maya tried to control her anger by taking a deep breath and schooling her features. She said,      

"Maxwell… she wasn't your soulmate."     

"Must two people be soulmates for love to exist between them?" Maxwell asked his mother, who stared at him with an aloof expression as if unable to understand his feelings.      

Every time he saw Anastasia, memories of Marianne flooded his mind, and the desire to preserve her in any way possible, to feel like she was still there with him, drew him to the newly turned courtesan. And then Dante came between them, and his jaw clenched with frustration.      

"I couldn't save Mary, but I can save this one," Maxwell asserted, causing Queen Maya to nearly lose her composure at her son's reckless behaviour.      

"How do you expect to save anyone if you'll be beheaded once people find out that you deceived your way to the throne?! Maxwell, for heaven's sake or your own sake, think before you act!" Queen Maya tried to make her son see reason. She continued, "You can have the courtesan as your concubine. But you will need to eliminate every single male sibling of this family, leaving no heirs for no one else to claim the throne."     

Upon hearing this, Maxwell's eyes shifted to look at his mother, who nodded solemnly, as if to tell him she was serious. She said,      

"Something is not right with Dante, and you saw it too. His eyes and the way he speaks now, the way he stood against you, Maxwell. If you truly desire that woman, you should have him imprisoned in the dungeon and then kill him. You understand it, don't you?" Her tone softened as she tried to persuade him.      

In the room where Anastasia lay on the bed, Emily and Aiden sat by her side, watching the unconscious woman. Aiden asked his sister,      

"Do you think we will be scolded for entering the room again?"      

"It should be fine. The order to leave was for our two brothers and not for us," Emily replied, holding Anastasia's hand, which still felt cold to the touch. She said, "I cannot believe someone threw her into the sea. Why would anyone do that?"      

"Maybe they don't like her. Do you think it was Queen Maya who ordered it?" Aiden whispered cautiously so their voices didn't slip out of the room.      

"It's a possibility," Emily whispered, though she wasn't completely sure. "To have her taken out of the palace without anyone noticing, don't you think it is strange?" She mused, frowning thoughtfully.      

Aiden, who was thinking, got up from where he was sitting and said, "Lily, I will see you later!" He said and swiftly headed out the door.      

Emily watched her younger brother bolt out of the room, and she sighed before turning her attention back to Anastasia. She hoped she was alright and would wake up soon while also wondering what other problems would arise in the future.      

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Niyasa entered the room. The younger princess remarked,      

"What are you doing here? I thought Mother made it clear not to enter the room."     

Emily pondered whether it was Niyasa who was behind Anastasia being thrown into the sea. But as wicked as her sister was, she doubted she was capable of doing something like that. Or was she? Gathering her thoughts, she responded,      

"I knew you were going to visit your future sister-in-law. I thought you could use some company," she offered a faint smile, noticing the sharp daggers glaring back at her through Niyasa's eyes.      

"Over my dead body," Niyasa retorted, "She will never be related to me, and even if it happens, I will take matters into my own hands."      

Emily frowned, "Be careful with your words, Niyasa. If anyone were to overhear you, they would think you were the one who pushed her into the sea. And you will have to answer to a lot of people."      

Niyasa silently wished she had been the one to push the courtesan into the sea, and that bitter thought made her bite her lip. She asserted,      

"I won't let it happen."     

"Okay," Emily nodded nonchalantly, but her lack of reaction only riled the younger princess, who shot her another glare before she stormed out of the room.      

Outside the palace, guards, ministers and the servants who had passed through the gates that morning were lined up to be interrogated. Standing before them were Dante and the Vizier, prepared to question them. Meanwhile, King Maxwell arrived on the front balcony of his room to witness the scene unfold to see who had dared to drown the courtesan.      

The Vizier asked, "Shall I commence the questioning, My Prince?" He waited, but received no response.      

Dante stared at the people before him one by one, his red eyes shifting from one individual to the next. After a few seconds, he walked behind the row of men and inquired, "Upon whose orders was the woman thrown into the sea?"      

He paused behind a guard, and his hand ran through the guard's back, his fingers penetrating deep into the man's flesh. So deep that his fingers curled around the guard's beating heart.      

Blood spluttered from the guard's mouth, leaving those around him in shock. It was the first time the prince had forsaken his dagger and instead used his bare hands to inflict pain.      

"To have such audacity, it seems you had no idea what you were getting yourself into, did you?" Dante's voice rang out eerily low and emotionless.      

And while his hand remained firmly lodged deep inside the guard's back, Dante shifted his attention to another guard, who looked visibly horrified. The guard's heart raced uncontrollably as Dante posted the question,      

"Feel like speaking yet?" Then without hesitation, he pulled out the heart from the guard's chest.      

_______

GARDEN OF POISON

Driven by Bloodlust (Chapter 98)

—     

[Music Recommendation: Tetrachord- War and Fate: Nicholas Britell]     

Warm blood dripped from Dante's hand, trickling down the length of his long, slender fingers before eventually falling to the ground. He brought his bloody hand to his lips before licking the blood off one of his fingers.      

Despite the sun's rays touching the ground where they gathered, a chill of fear ran through everyone's body as they witnessed the gory scene before them. The onlookers looked terrified, not understanding what was happening, and this included the Vizier, who grew more visibly tense with every passing second.      

The frown on King Maxwell's face deepened as he continued to watch the unfolding scene below from the balcony of his room. He tightly gripped the railing on which his hand was resting. As his mother had said, something was wrong with Dante, and one could sense it by observing the man's demeanour. The atmosphere grew heavy, permeated by a palpable sense of dread.      

When Dante dropped the dead guard's body to the ground and started walking towards the other guard, the rest of the onlookers warily attempted to step away without drawing attention to themselves. The second guard, visibly shaken and frightened, stammered in terror,      

"P—Prince Dante, I—I didn't do anything, anything. I only walk—ed away from there and wasn't the o—one to throw her in." The guard took a fearful step back, but Dante had already closed the distance, standing in front of him.      

"Do you still think you did nothing?" Dante questioned, his eyes growing hollow with the scent of blood filling the air. His hand shot up to the guard's neck, curling around it firmly, and he remarked, "You seem useless. You watched the palace's courtesan drowning, and instead of helping her, you left her to die. There's no need for you to work here any longer."      

With those words, Dante drew out his dagger and forcefully rammed its tip into the guard's head, which made a distinct cracking sound as the metal vanished into the man's skull.      

"Now, the third one at the back there," Dante turned to look at the last guard, whose heart raced faster than the rest, causing his breath to be uneven. "Are you going to spit out who ordered you to throw her in the sea, or would you prefer I kill you?" With a tilt of his head and one eyebrow raised in question, Dante awaited the guard's response.      

The last guard had been the one who had carried and thrown the courtesan into the sea. Initially, he had stayed calm, not displaying any sign of fear, believing that there was no way for anyone to discover the truth. But seeing the two guards lying in pools of their own blood, he began to tremble. The guard didn't know if he should confess, because any side he took would lead to inevitable punishment.      

"There's no reason to be shy now," Dante coaxed the guard, though this only intensified his fear.      

When Dante took a step towards the trembling guard, he finally managed to speak, stammering, "It was—was—We did on—It was the—"     

"Brother Dante, it is Zion!"     

It was Aiden, who, after learning that the guards and the other men were being interrogated at the front of the palace, had finally arrived at the scene, huffing for air. The others turned their attention towards him, startled by what the third prince had exclaimed.      

"—the Vizier who ordered us to do it."     

And despite the guard revealing the truth, it didn't save the man from the wrath of Dante's dagger. Swiftly, the blade sliced through the guard's throat, causing him to cough up blood while writhing in a desperate struggle for his life on the ground.      

Upon hearing his name mentioned by the guard and Prince Aiden, Zion swiftly turned on his heel and began to run as fast as he could. Before gathering the guards for questioning, he had arranged a horse to aid his escape. But he only managed to cover a short distance before he felt a dagger thrust into one of his legs, soon followed by two more piercing his back, causing his pace to slow and eventually making him fall forward to the ground.      

"I saw him dismissing the guard carrying the gunny sacks, and the quantity seemed peculiar. Zion was the one who dismissed the guards!" Aiden informed Dante, coming to stand beside him.      

King Maxwell's eyes narrowed at this detail and disclosure of who attempted to kill the courtesan. He quickly left his balcony to make his way towards the others. Meanwhile, Dante walked over to where the Vizier was attempting to stand up to flee, but his efforts were in vain.      

"Don't think I missed your vital points, Zion, because killing you is not my intention. We have much to discuss why you did what you did," Dante remarked, his footsteps on the ground firm and deliberate. He halted when he reached the Vizier's side and inquired, "How does it feel? The feeling of pain that you have usually avoided by having someone else take the fall?"      

Seating himself on his heel, Dante opted not to pull out the dagger from the Vizier's leg. Instead, he twisted it as if it were a key, causing the minister to cry out in pain,     

"AHHH!!"     

"Like it?" Dante asked him calmly. "How about now?" With a forceful motion, he pulled the dagger to one side, slicing through the leg muscle, and Zion yelped in agony,      

"AHHHHHHHH!!!"     

Dante stared at the minister with cold, dark red eyes that thirsted for blood. A strange sense of peace washed over him at the sight of the minister writhing in pain, and his cries seemed to bring a soothing calmness that eased his turmoil-ridden soul at that moment.      

He remembered when he was first taken into battle when he was young and unprepared. The Vizier had been there with him. The memory was deeply buried among the multitude of experiences he had endured because of the absence of his Crux. He was dragged to the battlefield to make himself useful, as he was deemed unnecessary in the palace.      

Amidst the chaos of the war, a young Dante was left unprotected and at the mercy of the enemy soldiers, facing the grim prospect of being shredded and buried alongside the others who had already fallen in battle.      

As the soldiers fought, one of them, a young man who had joined their ranks to combat the neighbouring kingdom, shouted while running to Zion, 'We are outnumbered!' Desperation in his voice, he exclaimed, 'What do we do?'     

While the soldiers engaged in battle, shedding their blood and sweat, the Vizier, who had only recently been appointed to the court, had joined to participate in the conflict. And though well-versed in the art of sword fighting, he remained passive, seated on his horse at a safe distance, merely observing the battle without lifting a finger.      

Zion turned to the soldier, whose face was smeared with blood and dirt. He instructed, 'Gather the men who are still in the tent.'     

'But, Sire, they are still recovering from the injuries they received in t—'     

'Don't you know how important the victory of this battle is? Bring every single one from there, and also take Prince Dante with you,' Zion commanded. 'I will join the battlefield once I take a look at something.'      

A young Dante, around the age of thirteen, turned to look at Zion.      

'The prince?' the soldier gawked in disbelief, uncertain about the idea of the young prince joining the battle.      

'This is precisely why his father sent him here. To learn about war, and it is time for him to witness it firsthand. He will be useful on the battlefield,' Zion said, waving his hand and smiling at the young prince. 'I will see you soon, Prince Dante.'     

Before long, the young prince arrived at the war-torn area with the other soldiers, which was filled with the pervasive stench of death. The young boy tried to defend himself and fight, but he had never taken a life before. In the midst of the chaos, one of the men ruthlessly drove their horse into his, causing him to be thrown off the horse he was riding.      

Swiftly, he found himself surrounded by men who engaged him in fierce combat, showing no mercy despite his young age. Behind him, a man's voice rumbled with laughter, questioning,      

'Versailles must have lost its mind to send a boy to fight us?' Young Dante turned to catch sight of a bulky, bearded man who raised his sword and brought it down upon him.      

Despite the boy's attempt to jump away from the man, the sword came too close, inflicting a cut on the side of his eyebrow. Not a moment later, blood began to trickle down the side of his face.      

He fell to the ground, desperately trying to scramble backwards while being trampled by the other men and chased by the one who had set his sight on him. It didn't take long for the boy to understand the only way to come out alive was to defeat these people, and that meant resorting to killing. He had no choice but to do whatever it took to stay alive, ensuring that he could be there for his mother.      

So when a fleeting chance presented itself before the young boy, with the buff man becoming momentarily distracted by another soldier's attack, he seized the opportunity. Pushing himself off the ground, he flung himself at the man, grasping his dagger tightly. He leapt onto the man's back, determinedly holding on even as the man attempted to shake him off. Refusing to let go, the boy grabbed the man's hair and swiftly slit his throat with the dagger.      

After the battle was won, Zion clapped for the young prince and exclaimed, 'Bravo, Prince Dante! Bravo! You have done well!' However, even at a young age, Dante could sense the condescending tone in the man's praise.      

In the present, Dante remarked, "You disappoint me, Zion. For an advisor, one would expect you to be smarter than this. And to think the fruit will not just fall but be placed right into my hand. Foolishness must run deep in your mind." With a cold and calculated motion, he pulled one of the daggers out of Zion's back, making the man cry out in even more pain.      

"Move!" King Maxwell's arrival prompted the crowd gathered around the scene to quickly disperse and make way. "Pick him up!" he commanded, and two guards quickly forced Zion to his feet.      

Zion couldn't believe his ill luck, as he had hoped that Prince Aiden would never suspect him. He had taken a leap of faith, which would now cost him his life. Suddenly, King Maxwell punched the Vizier directly in his stomach, making him cough out blood from the injuries he had received.      

"Why did you do it?!" King Maxwell questioned impatiently, glaring at him. "What did she do to make you attempt to end her life?"      

The question burned in everyone's mind, leaving them wondering why the Vizier would try to kill a courtesan. Dante pressed on, demanding, "Was it you who orchestrated this, or were you following someone else's orders?"      

Zion knew that any answer he provided would result in his death. The palace considered the lives of the courtesans and the concubines to be precious, even though the women's fate was forced upon them. He spoke up,      

"It was my own doing, My King."     

But this only led to the minister being mercilessly beaten by Dante, who had stepped forward, grabbing the front of the man's shirt. Glaring down at the minister, he stated,      

"I didn't notice it at first, but something appears to be hindering me from noticing you. You are working for someone, so tell the truth about why you did it. Or death won't come easily for you."     

When the minister chuckled, Dante swiftly grabbed the man's hand and twisted it, inflicting intense pain that shot up Zion's shoulder.      

"I will tear off one limb at a time, and you will wish you answered sooner," Dante threatened Zion in a low, menacing voice. The minister lifted his gaze to meet the prince's, his face battered, and Zion commented,      

"Look at what they have done to you, Prince. The woman was going to get in the way, so I was instructed to… get rid of her."     

Dante's patience was wearing thin, and he pulled out the other dagger from Zion's back to hear him groan in pain, and he questioned, "Who ordered you to do this?"      

Gritting his teeth due to the wounds he received, Zion finally revealed, "It was Queen Maya."     

Everyone looked taken aback by the Vizier's reply, and Dante narrowed his eyes as he turned to look at Maxwell before stating,      

"And I wonder why she gave such an order."     

Maxwell's hands went cold, and the anger that was present in his eyes was replaced by shock. He shook his head and whispered, "That can't be true… Mother wouldn't do that."     

"I have no reason to lie, King Maxwell," Zion answered, adding, "I know death is what awaits me."     

Maxwell's jaw clenched, and he ordered the guards, "Capture her and put her in the dungeon! I will question her personally! Now!"      

Upon Maxwell's command, the guards promptly departed while the Vizier remained held up by the other two guards. Dante ordered, "Keep him alive in the dungeon. I will deal with him." Maxwell watched his elder brother from the corner of his eyes.      

"Yes, Prince Dante!" The guards forcibly dragged the Vizier through the other door, leading him to the dungeon.      

Before heading to the dungeon, Dante turned, his red eyes locking with Maxwell's blue ones, which were filled with distrust and confusion. He pulled out a scroll from his coat and thrust it at Maxwell, stating,      

"I hope this will serve you as well as it did for me." With that, he turned and walked away.      

Aiden, uncertain about whether to stay or leave, glanced at Maxwell, who was unrolling the scroll. Fully aware of its contents, he decided to return inside the palace to where Emily was. Upon entering the room, he was surprised to find his sister wasn't sitting there alone. With her sat his grandmother, Lady Noor, and Prince Victor.      

"How are things unfolding out there?" the Mother Queen inquired while sitting on the other side of the bed, next to Anastasia.      

"Queen Maya will be imprisoned, and the Vizier was the one who threw Anna into the sea on her orders," Aiden informed them, and the room fell silent for a moment before Lady Noor questioned with concern,      

"Why would Queen Maya want to throw this poor girl into the sea?"      

"I think it is glaringly obvious," the Mother Queen murmured, and then continued, "She killed the concubine who was with William that day because she posed a threat to Maxwell's reign, and she's now targeting this one because the threat has returned. However, this will mark the end of her rule as queen."     

Lady Noor, who was out of the loop, didn't understand what the Mother Queen was talking about and frowned in confusion. She expressed her disbelief, stating, "I cannot believe that she would have someone throw Anna into the water, especially when she has been the head of the concubines and courtesans."     

The Mother Queen shrugged off her concern, replying, "What can I say? Those who are unfit to rule tend to act foolishly. Nothing to be alarmed about." She then rose from her seat and added, "All of you look after her. I will go visit the dungeon."      

"Would you like me to accompany you, Mother Queen?" Lady Noor asked, but the older woman dismissed the suggestion with a wave of her hand.      

"I will be fine on my own. I need to see if Aziel has died, as he has not returned," the Mother Queen replied before making her way out of the room, passing by the guards still stationed at the entrance.      

As hours passed, Anastasia continued to remain unconscious, completely unaware of the changes that were taking place while she rested peacefully, with people being killed, dragged into the dungeon, and confined for questioning.      

And behind her closed eyes, she drifted into a familiar scene, one she had always carried with her. In this dream, she was transported back to the time when she desperately flailed her limbs in the water, but unlike reality, she was able to swim and reached the safety of the shore.      

As she wrung out the skirt of her dress, Anastasia heard Marianne's voice say,      

'Anna, you made it!' Anastasia turned to look at her sister with surprise. Her sister tried to usher her along, saying, 'Hurry, before they catch you.'     

Anastasia didn't go to follow her sister and said, 'The last time you took me somewhere, I ended up being thrown in the sea.'     

Marianne frowned and asked, 'I did? That is something we can discuss later. Come, we need to get you out of here before you are killed. Things are going to be difficult.' The look in her eyes turned sad, and she said, 'If it weren't for me, we would have been somewhere else, and you wouldn't have gone through…'     

'Who wants to kill me, Mary?' Anastasia interrupted, pressing her sister for an answer.      

But her sister ran towards the high walls of the kingdom, and Anastasia ran right behind her. She called her sister's name and told her to wait, and when she was just about to catch her sister, she woke up with her hand stretched forward, grabbing at the air.      

A sudden pain sparked on the back of her head, and Anastasia felt her head sway as if it was heavy. But soon a warm hand came to cradle the back of her head, and she heard Dante's voice,      

"Careful there. Your head was hit pretty hard." Once she was stabilised, he pulled his hand away from the back of her head.      

Anastasia's gaze steadied along with her weak body, and her brown eyes moved to meet Dante's red ones. She noticed him sitting on the bed next to where she was, as if he had been watching over her all these hours. She asked him,      

"Did you… pull me out of the water?"      

"Who else would, if not me?" Dante questioned her back. Though the credit was to go to his habit of riding through the streets in the mornings, which is why he was there to save her. His eyes narrowed, and he said, "I thought I saw you to the tower before I left, and didn't I tell you not to wander in the night?"     

Anastasia's mind was still fuzzy, but she tried to remember what happened last night. She whispered, "My sister led me…"     

"Your sister?" Dante frowned, and Anastasia nodded. "You mean her ghost?"      

"Mm… I am sure I am not imagining things! I have seen her two times. Because I know I saw her and she took me to where… the Vizier was talking. He was the one who intercepted Lady Sophia's letter about your mother," Anastasia explained, and Dante's calm demeanour began to change into a menacing one. "I didn't see who was talking to the Vizier and after that I found myself in the shed… and then being thrown into the water."      

The thought of the sea terrified Anastasia, as she still remembered the experience of drowning in the water.      

Dante noticed Anastasia tremble, and he placed his hand on hers. Out of nervousness and avoiding his eyes, she joked, "You must agree that the palace is unsafe for me, and I would be better off somewhere else."     

"Next to me," Dante responded in seriousness. "You will be safer next to me than anywhere else."     

Anastasia felt her heart skip a beat from his words. Her eyes widened, and she immediately met Dante's eyes, which had never stopped looking at her. She asked him curiously,      

"Where is the Vizier?"      

"Resting in the dungeon now," Dante responded, and Anastasia looked surprised. "He was the one to have you thrown in the sea. Did you think he wouldn't be caught?"      

Anastasia murmured, "I thought he would be caught after I died." She expressed her gratitude toward him, saying, "Thank you for rescuing me… again."     

When she went to bow out of habit, Dante placed his palm on her forehead and said,      

"There's no need for you to bow to me."     

"But you are a prince," Anastasia pointed out, and Dante's lips twitched as his hand moved away from her forehead, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.      

[Music Recommendation: Deep End- Ruelle]     

"Is that why you bow to me? Because I am a prince?" Dante questioned her, with a hint of mirth playing in his voice. He still hadn't let go of the piece of her hair between his fingers.      

Anastasia quickly shook her head. "It is because you have helped me in my time of need! It is to thank you…" her voice trailed at the end.      

"You don't have to do that anymore. There's no need for any formalities between us," Dante stated, staring into her brown eyes. He asked her, "Did they hurt you anywhere else apart from your head and hands?"      

Anastasia looked down at her hands and noticed the rope marks around her wrists. She had used too much force when using the dagger to cut the bonds. She replied, "That is all." She saw him look at her hands and then check the bump on her head, and she felt like a little butterfly was trying to flap its wings in her stomach.      

She wondered how long he had been sitting here, watching over her, as it didn't seem like he had been doing anything else. She said,      

"You shouldn't worry about me as I am awake now. You should get some rest."     

"I was," Dante responded, his eyes coolly looking at her. "You are going to have tough luck trying to chase me away."     

"That wasn't my intention. I was only worried that you might not have rested," Anastasia replied.      

"If you are worried, shouldn't you kiss the worries away?" Dante asked her. He added, "There's no reason to be shy, as it has happened twice already."     

"Twice?" When was the second time? Anastasia asked herself.      

As if reading the thoughts that were visibly passing over her face, Dante replied, "It was when I pulled you out of the water. Lips so cold and pale." His eyes shifted to look at her now pink lips. "I thought I lost you when I found you in the water."     

Anastasia would have joked to divert the subject, as she could feel Dante invading her space and emotions little by little, but she found it hard to speak with him looking at her with such intensity.      

"I hear so many heartbeats, and yours is the one I like to listen to the most," Dante confessed with a thoughtful expression, and his eyes moved back to look at Anastasia's eyes, while the back of his fingers gently brushed her cheek. "Still worried, or shall I take the lead?"      

But it wasn't a question, as the next second Dante moved into Anastasia's space, and he whispered above her lips, "Part your lips, little rabbit."     

Dante's breath was enough to have Anastasia part her lips, and as if to secure her position, he placed his hand on her hand that was resting on the bed.      

The next moment, Dante captured Anastasia's lips, and the kiss was nothing like the one she remembered, which had been a brush against her lips. This one felt different, and the butterfly that had tried to flap its wings in her stomach began to create a storm when he took her bottom lip between his teeth to suck on it.      

Anastasia didn't know how something so simple could evoke such emotions, and she felt her toes involuntarily beginning to curl as Dante continued to suck and nibble on her lips. Her back began to arch, her body beginning to awake.     

She felt Dante's hand curl on the side of her neck, feeling him angle her face for the kiss with the help of his thumb. His lips were sensual and soft, taking their time to touch and feel, learning what made her heart stutter as he continued to taste her lips.      

All her reasoning now began to fade away, while Dante invited her to see the world he wanted to offer her. When he nipped on her lips, she gasped, and her eyes that had closed opened to see him watching her. He licked her lips languidly, imprinting every emotion she felt now with him. There was something very raw about the way he watched her now, and his hand didn't delay in entangling itself in her hair.     

When Dante pulled away from her lips to watch the rare art he had created, he noticed her dilated eyes, her quickened breathing, and her heart rapidly beating against her ribcage.      

Anastasia whispered, "We should stop before someone enters the room." This was not in her plan! But at the same time, the sensation was intoxicating, making her feel torn.      

"I made sure to lock the door," Dante replied against her lips, saying, "You taste too sweet to stop here and now."     

_______

GARDEN OF POISON

The Late Visitor  (Chapter 99)

Hearing Dante's words against the beating of her heart, Anastasia nervously swallowed as she attempted to grasp and hold onto her resolve before she lost herself in the moment. Whoever claimed that Prince Dante had no experience with women had to be thrown into the sea for spreading such falsehoods!      

Her throat felt parched, and she felt hot. She averted her gaze, and her eyes fell on the glass of water on the bedside table.      

"Thirsty?" Dante asked her before he grabbed hold of the glass.      

However, when Anastasia reached out to take it, he pulled it away from her grasp, and her eyes met his red ones. There was something unruly in his eyes that looked at her like a predator biding his time, as if it were waiting to find the perfect moment to pounce.      

"Dante," Anastasia asked for the water. Dante felt slightly amused that she used his name whenever she wanted to appease him, but he didn't immediately hand her the glass.      

Instead, Anastasia watched as he raised the glass to his lips and took a mouthful of the water. Her feeble attempt to distract and change the subject failed, and the butterfly in her stomach returned, anxiously fluttering as he leaned towards her and angled his face in front of hers. Hesitantly, she brought her lips closer to his before parting them.      

Soon, she was able to drink the water from Dante's lips, and when she was done taking a sip, a few drops of water spilt from the corner of her mouth. She gulped it down, becoming aware of how much saltwater she had consumed earlier.      

"More?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.     

Anastasia couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about Dante tonight, and it would be a lie if she said it didn't daunt her. And it wasn't just his piercing red eyes, which smouldered as he gazed at her, searing her from within when she vowed not to be affected. She found herself saying,      

  "You told me you would wait."      

"In what regard?" Dante asked her, entranced by her flustered expression. He then said, "We did agree that we would wait for your feelings to catch up, but also that I would help you get there, didn't we?"      

As Dante brought the glass back to his lips to take another sip of the water, she voiced her concern, saying,      

"If we continue, I would be no different from any other courtesan."      

Anastasia saw him gulp down the water he had sipped. She didn't want to upset him because she was truly grateful towards him for repeatedly saving her, and a slight frown marred her forehead. But despite her concern, Dante was far from upset as he continued to gaze at her intently. He enjoyed seeing her stand her ground, a stark contrast to the other women who readily complied, even though he knew her resolve would ultimately be futile. But she didn't need to know that.     

"Have faith in my reputation of not taking a woman. And know that you aren't like the others, which is why we are here," Dante said as he placed the glass to the side. When he turned towards her, he gently placed his hand on her chest, just above her beating heart. He stated with his low, velvety voice, "It is beginning. You have already started to react to me, and though we could debate it, I doubt it is necessary."     

Anastasia didn't refute his words, as her senses had turned weak, and she wondered if the blow to her head had been harder than she thought. Despite her attempts to guard her heart, Dante's actions and words ran parallel, weakening her lifelong resolve.      

"Why deny what you are starting to feel, Anastasia, when it's evident you are being affected by it?"      

"…!"      

Anastasia gasped when Dante's hand moved lower, brushing against the side of her breast while he maintained eye contact. Nervously, she placed her free hand on his chest, feeling the smooth fabric that felt like water beneath her touch and breathed out, "Anyone can be… affected by what you just did."     

"I didn't know you were susceptible to seduction."     

"I am not," Anastasia denied, her cheeks flushing pink and replying just as Dante had anticipated her to, and one side of his lips curled up. He had her exactly where he wanted.      

Dante knew he wasn't playing fair, but an intense urge to possess her had taken over him, and his earlier patience had vanished the moment he had pulled her from the sea.     

"Then there's nothing for you to worry about," Dante's face angled to hers, and he whispered, "Because you aren't affected by it."     

Anastasia felt Dante's words reverberate against her sensitive, trembling lips. She then felt him playfully brush his lips against hers, and her heels dug deeper into the surface of the bed in response.      

"Still nothing, right?" Dante inquired between the tender brushes, and for Anastasia, each gentle caress served as a kindling that ignited the fire within her.      

The man knew what he was doing! On the other hand, the doors to pleasure had only just opened to Anastasia, and her body betrayed her as it responded to Dante's subtle yet captivating actions, from his mesmerising gaze to his enticing lips and the words he softly whispered to her.      

Dante asked her, "Apart from what you would have learned in the last few days at the Paradise Tower, were you taught anything else?"      

"Three days is too short to learn anything," Anastasia replied, relieved that, at least for now, she wasn't forced to pleasure men. She said, "One of them offered to teach me—"     

"I will teach you everything that you need to know. Don't seek guidance from anyone else, ever," Dante's words were firm, as he didn't want to share Anastasia with anyone, even with another woman, when it came to anything remotely sexual or any form of physical touch.      

New and unfamiliar thoughts began seeping into Dante's mind, and they were things he had never considered with any other woman before. Some were good, some were dark and unsettling, and he could tell it had something to do with the demon nature within him, and Anastasia had fallen prey to it. The desire to possess her completely took hold of him, to the point where he wanted to sink his teeth and nails into her, wanting to imprint himself so deeply onto her that even if she thought of escaping, he would haunt her every thought.      

And as the idea of her leaving the palace crossed his mind, his eyes darkened. Unaware of Dante's inner thoughts, Anastasia noticed a change in his gaze as slits appeared in his eyes. Before she could gauge what had caused the shift in his mood, in the blink of an eye, she found her back pressed against the surface of the bed, with him positioned above her.     

Anastasia's heart shuddered at the sudden movement, and she felt Dante's breath hovering against her lips as they stared at each other.      

"You have stalled long enough, my rabbit… It is time for you to be devoured," Dante declared, his eyes fierce as his lips descended on hers.      

As her hands moved to rest on his chest, he swiftly caught them before he pressed them against the bed, pinning them on either side of her head, holding her captive. The sensation sent a shiver coursing through her body, leaving her uncertain whether it was born out of fear or desire.      

As Dante's lips met hers, Anastasia felt a sudden electrifying sensation through her body, reminiscent of the lightning she remembered from childhood. Compared to the last kiss, this one was demanding, and Dante showed no restraint in taking her. She felt him suck and passionately kiss her lips, and in the next second, he nipped at her bottom lip, eliciting a moan from her.     

The little nip left the taste of her blood on his tongue, and he couldn't help but lick his lips, savouring the taste of it.      

When Dante pulled away from her lips, Anastasia was greeted by the sight of his elongated canines. He gazed at her with fascination, and a soft moan escaped her lips when his knee, placed between her legs, touched the sweet spot over her dress.      

"Dante…" Breathless, Anastasia uttered his name. The resolve she held so tightly in her mind began to waver and slip away, replaced by a sense of weightlessness, and a growing sense of urgency began to stir in the lower half of her body.      

Dante let go of her left hand and gently ran his thumb over her tender lip as he confessed, "You are driving me insane."     

Anastasia didn't know who was driving whom crazy.      

As he caressed her lips, he gently slipped his thumb inside her mouth, parting her lips, and then seamlessly replaced his thumb with his own lips. His tongue entered her sweet mouth, rubbing her tongue in an erotic dance. This elicited another moan, each one causing Dante's heart to pound harder, and he deepened the kiss in response.     

Dante proceeded to leave a trail of kisses across her jawline, leaving Anastasia breathless, her chest heaving rapidly, and her vision blurry.      

As her vision cleared, she felt him caress her cheek, and his tenderness warmed her amidst the coldness of the palace that made her feel lonely. Her face felt warmer than just a few moments before, and she whispered, "You stole my breath."      

A smile attempted to break through Dante's serious expression, amused that her mind had wandered to the same place as his. She was precious, he thought to himself, and then said,      

"Those breaths are mine now. It was only right that I take them for the rest of our lives."      

As Dante's handsome face hovered above her, the little butterfly attempted to take flight again, fluttering its wings, but Anastasia quickly shooed it away. She turned her gaze to the locked door. He wasn't wrong, she thought to herself. He was affecting her, and she realised he was the only one she could count on in this palace to keep her neck intact. But accepting him would mean opening her heart to something she had closed off before.      

Upon hearing Anastasia's heart skip a beat, Dante leaned forward and surprised her by placing his forehead against hers.      

"Dante," Anastasia called his name, noticing his eyes were closed.      

"Yes?" Dante replied as he attempted to rein in his turbulent emotions, which had reached a high he was trying to come down from.      

"Please don't forget your word to me," Anastasia reminded him, hoping that despite his courtship and efforts to win her over, she didn't want to be forced into anything she didn't want.      

Dante opened his eyes and noticed the worry in Anastasia's brown eyes. There was a quiet plea there.      

After what happened today, with her almost dying and Maxwell trying to get closer to her, Dante did the first thing he believed was right. And that was to protect her, which he could once she belonged to him. He had told her he wouldn't force her, but he had, and before that, his grandmother had already sent out a letter to the Elders, making her officially his.      

Did he feel guilty? Not one bit. He didn't mind breaking his word if he could protect her and keep her safe. But would she be able to digest it? Where he and his family had stripped her of her right to choose since she had stepped foot in the place. He wasn't unaware that if she had never been brought to the palace, she would have never gone through the troubles like being whipped in public or drowning in the sea.      

Anastasia wondered what Dante was thinking about before they heard someone knocking on the door, and they turned to look at it before he moved away from her. He adjusted her dress and pulled up the bedsheet that had slid down before opening the door.      

Dante opened the door, and there stood Aziel, who offered him a bow.     

"My apologies for disturbing you, Prince Dante, but the Mother Queen was wondering if you would be joining the interrogation in the dungeon?" Aziel asked, while not looking inside to see if the woman was awake.      

Dante nodded, as they had left both the accused and the culprit alone in the dungeon since this morning so that everyone could take some time to prepare, as the prisoners weren't just anybody, but the king's advisor and the queen.      

Another servant came to the front of the room and announced, "Sire, a red oak carriage has arrived at the front of the palace."     

"Who is it?" Dante asked, and the servant shook his head.      

"The guards didn't find anyone inside it," the servant responded.      

"Who could have possibly arrived in a red oak carriage?" Aziel murmured in question.      

Anastasia, who had sat upright on the bed, saw Dante turn to look at her, and he said, "I will be back in some time. In the meantime, you can have your meal."     

"Wait!" Anastasia stopped him before he departed, and she asked, "May I request for Theresa's company?"      

Dante turned to look at Aziel, who quietly looked back at the prince as if waiting for the next words to be spoken, before the meaning of the prince's gaze dawned on him, and he bowed, "I will have the woman and your meal sent immediately to the room."     

When Dante stepped out of the palace, as mentioned, a carriage stood in the corner without any passenger or driver. He took a deep breath and his eyes narrowed. He murmured,      

"Wet soil."     

Inside the palace, Emily and Aiden walked in one of the corridors on the front side of the palace. Shaking her head, Emily said,     

"I cannot believe you didn't question further, and just turned away."     

"It was an honest mistake, Lily. It isn't every day that I suspect that people are being carried around wrapped in gunny sacks. It isn't unusual for bodies to be transferred once in a while, which is why I didn't question it," Aiden replied to his sister. "I still find it hard to believe that Zion was behind it."     

"The more surprising thing is about Queen Maya. Also, didn't Brother Maxwell put her in the dungeon a little too soon?" Emily asked, lowering her voice.      

"If you ask me, he was protecting her," Aiden replied, and this made Emily turn to look at him in question. "From Brother Dante. Especially after how he treated Zion."     

"Yes, you told me about it," Emily murmured with a frown. From what Aiden described, it felt very out of character for Dante to punish the minister without first being interrogated.     

"Told you what?" came a person's voice, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps.      

Emily and Aiden turned to look down the opposite end of the corridor, where a man's figure appeared in their view. They both looked surprised, and the princess frowned before asking,      

"What are you doing here?"      

"That's not very polite, Princess," Prince Raylen responded with a kind smile, before his eyes subtly narrowed at her, and he added, "Especially when you have the habit of touching people's coffins."     

"He has a coffin already?" Aiden whispered to his sister, and Emily whispered back,      

"I told you he's not right in the head." She saw the prince look around, and she plastered a polite smile on her face and said to him, "This isn't a very good time to stop by, and I ask you to visit tomorrow, if you do not mind." Her family was busy dealing with unfortunate circumstances, and this was no time—     

Her train of thought stopped when she noticed two servants carrying trunks.      

Prince Raylen smiled back at them with the same politeness as the princess, and he said, "I will be in Versailles for a couple of weeks, and decided to accept the invitation I didn't take advantage of two months ago."      

________

GARDEN OF POISON

Phasing of the Moon  (Chapter 100)

Music Recommendation: Blooming Truth- Byun Sang Hoo     

—     

Emily and Aiden stared at the Storm Kingdom's prince, wondering if he was being serious, as it was evident that he wasn't here by official invitation but had taken the liberty to invite himself in. Aiden tried to understand the situation by asking,      

"Not to be rude, Prince Raylen, but from whom did you receive the letter?"      

"Queen Maya," Prince Raylen answered, and then he remarked, "I must say, the palace seems quieter than the last time I came to visit."     

Not a moment later, they heard the sound of another pair of footsteps echoing through the halls and corridors before Dante came into sight. Prince Raylen turned towards him and offered a polite bow, greeting him,      

"Good evening, Prince Dante. Pardon me for arriving at such a late hour. Also, I want to offer my deepest condolences for the loss of your mother, the news of which has reached me."     

"Evening, Prince Raylen," Dante greeted, his eyes subtly narrowing as he looked at the prince before him.      

Like the rest of his family members, Dante wasn't too keen about Prince Raylen's presence in the palace. But unlike his siblings, he had already been informed earlier in the week that they would be hosting Prince Raylen until he finished his work, and Queen Maya had been happy enough to accommodate him with the hopes of building a good relationship with the Storm Kingdom.      

"Aiden," Dante called out to his brother, who stood on the other side of the corridor. "Have Norrix prepare a suitable room for Prince Raylen and ensure he has everything he needs."     

"That is very kind of you, Prince Dante," Prince Raylen replied, and as he continued to smile politely, his keen eyes had already noticed the cursed prince's red irises.      

It appeared that his calculations were correct; the demon was awakening faster than expected, and it was only a matter of time before chaos ensued. Prince Raylen managed to maintain a slight smile that didn't reveal his concerns.      

"Prince Raylen, please follow me. Would you like me to have a servant bring you something to eat or drink?" Aiden warmly offered, pleased to be able to host the prince. Meanwhile, his sister, who didn't share the same enthusiasm, walked over to her elder brother.      

"A glass of rum in my room should do," Prince Raylen replied as they started walking, and then gestured toward the servants carrying his trunks. "The rest of what I require I always carry, to be self-sufficient."      

Coming to stand next to Dante, Emily questioned him, "Why is he here so close to midnight?" There was something unsettling about the prince that made her uneasy.      

"I've heard that he's here on the behest of one of the Elder ministers, given his connections there," Dante responded, fixing his gaze on the prince and his brother, who continued to talk as they disappeared at the end of the corridor. "Word is that he's here to discuss and enhance trade relations between our kingdoms. Queen Maya agreed to it, believing it would be mutually beneficial and strengthen the peace between us."     

Emily nodded, putting thoughts of the Storm Kingdom aside, and she inquired, "Is Anna awake?"      

"Yes, she is. For a few minutes now," Dante answered, before advising his sister, "You should get some rest and sleep, like your mother."     

"I went to visit her, and she made it clear she wants no part in the interrogation this time," Emily replied with a sigh, understanding her mother's cautious approach. Her mother was trying to be wise by not getting entangled in the situation and avoiding being framed as a possible culprit. "Will you be visiting the dungeon now?"      

"Mm," Dante acknowledged, and before leaving for the dungeon, he said, "Emily. Refrain from informing Anastasia about her being my concubine. It is something I would like to explain to her personally."     

"Okay," Emily replied, adding, "I will make sure the others are aware too, especially Aiden, as he has the habit of blurting things out."     

Dante then made his way to the entrance of the dungeon before descending the stairs until he reached the enclosed cell where Queen Maya was imprisoned. The cell seemed more decent than the others, with a bench platform and provision for water arranged for her. Standing before the room were Queen Maya's two children and Mother Queen Ginger.      

"Oh good, Dante has finally arrived, and we can now begin a fair discussion about what took place this morning," the Mother Queen remarked.      

"Unlock the door," King Maxwell commanded, and the guard who had accompanied them turned the key, swinging the door open.      

The guard opted to remain outside while the others entered the room to find Queen Maya sitting on the bench with her eyes closed. Princess Niyasa, visibly worried about her mother, hurriedly went to sit beside her and asked,      

"Are you alright, Mother?!"      

"You can sleep later, Queen Maya. We have some questioning to do," the Mother Queen declared, and Queen Maya opened her eyes and directed a glare at the old woman. "Do you care to explain why you attempted to throw a courtesan into the sea?"      

"Like I said in the morning, I had nothing to do with it. The Vizier is lying through his teeth and trying to frame me for something I took no part in," Queen Maya responded wearily, exhausted from the shouting and yelling she had engaged in earlier that day when she was forcibly dragged in here.      

In a stern and hardened voice, King Maxwell stated, "Zion has been tortured to the point of unconsciousness, but the only name that has come up is yours. What does he gain from implicating you?"      

The accused woman looked frustrated, struggling not to snap at her naive son, who, instead of focusing on learning the games of the court, seemed preoccupied with mourning a woman who was no more.      

"Have him look me in the eye and question if I truly committed such an act then!" Queen Maya snapped, her glare shifting to her son. She knew that if it had been her daughter, Niyasa, facing these accusations, she would have protected her and their position more effectively. "Last night, I relaxed in the sitting room for a while, and Niyasa was with me. Then, I retired to my room to sleep. After that, when I woke up, out of nowhere, I found myself being thrown in here like some common criminal!"      

"You are the only one who has had issues with her, Mother! Did you try to kill her, as well as Marianne and the former king?" King Maxwell questioned his mother, his inquiries only adding to Queen Maya's anger.      

"This is something I am interested in as well," the Mother Queen chimed in, raising her eyebrows. "Though, if we are discussing those who disliked Anastasia, then there's one obvious suspect," she added, turning to look at her granddaughter, who was staring at her mother.      

Princess Niyasa, feeling the weight of her grandmother's gaze, became startled, but then she laughed, "You are joking, aren't you, Grandmother? I didn't do it!"      

"It is just a possibility. Relax," the Mother Queen said, looking at the princess, who seemed offended.     

Queen Maya then turned to the one person she believed to be of sound mind and addressed him directly. "Dante, you don't think I am someone who would do that, do you? Have you questioned the Vizier and uncovered his lies?" she asked, with hope in her voice.      

As Zion's heartbeat remained steady when he revealed the truth, Dante had no reason to question the Vizier's answer about whom he was working for. But at the same time, he could sense that Queen Maya was not foolish enough to be involved in throwing Anastasia into the sea. Because if she had been responsible, it would have reached the same point they were at now, with her confined in this dimly lit room.      

Even if Queen Maya wasn't involved, it was evident that the Vizier was still concealing the truth, suggesting that this wasn't merely a simple scheme to get rid of a courtesan.      

Despite Dante's intuition that Queen Maya had no involvement in this matter, he replied,      

"Given the circumstances and Zion's testimony, we have no choice but to believe he is telling the truth. He has been tortured for information, and you are the only one he mentions."     

Queen Maya's mouth fell open, and the thought of rotting in this prison threatened to drive her mad. She shook her head in disbelief and whispered,      

"This is all a lie. How could you even lock me up here without any solid evidence?!"     

The Mother Queen parted her lips to say something but then decided to keep the remark to herself until it was determined whether the woman was innocent or guilty.      

Dante observed Queen Maya closely, sensing her inner turmoil, despite her attempts to remain composed. His red eyes blazed brighter than the sun, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. Even though they had likely not yet found the true culprit working with Zion, he enjoyed the sight in front of him. After all, this was the woman who had banished his mother from the palace, and he relished the idea of watching her burn up in the fiery consequences of her actions.      

"You can ask my maid, and she will confirm that I never once left my room," Queen Maya urged, hoping for them to verify her alibi right away to secure her release.      

"She has already been questioned," Dante responded before adding, "And her statement was that she fell asleep, so she cannot be entirely certain."     

"As this is a matter concerning the palace, the ministers won't be getting involved in it," the Mother Queen stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "I seem to have forgotten what the consequences of trying to drown a courtesan were." At this, the woman paused and then corrected herself, "Pardon me, not a courtesan, but a concubine of the royal family."     

Queen Maya, who had not witnessed what had occurred after being placed in confinement, furrowed her brow before turning to look at her son in disbelief. Princess Niyasa wore a similar expression of shock, as she had not expected the lowly maid to become a concubine this quickly.      

"Dante's concubine," the Mother Queen disclosed, revering the fact, and she observed how Queen Maya appeared confused by the revelation.      

"Dante's concubine?" Queen Maya repeated, and the Mother Queen nodded while King Maxwell's expression hardened at the reminder of the news personally delivered to him by his brother.      

"That's correct. You attempted to drown his concubine, who is a member of the royal family, and the repercussions will be severe. Because it is a crime," the Mother Queen emphasised, intending to scare the woman.     

King Maxwell then ordered those present in the room, "I would like to have a word with my mother. Alone."      

"I will go check to see if Zion is awake," Dante announced, stepping out of the room, and the Mother Queen stated, "I will do the same."     

As their receding footsteps softly echoed down the passageway, Princess Niyasa hadn't stepped out of the cell, torn because this was her mother who was imprisoned. She found it hard to digest that her mother was confined in such a place, and she demanded answers from her brother,      

"Brother Maxwell, how could you subject our mother to this rotten space? Do you not believe her words?"      

"Do you require a special order to get out of here, Niyasa?" King Maxwell questioned his sister, causing her to instantly shut her mouth.      

"Why are you angry at her for speaking the truth?" Queen Maya asked her son, her voice tinged with hurt. "I cannot believe you would do this to me."     

"You didn't give me any reason to believe you," King Maxwell shook his head as he stared back at her. "Just this morning, you were showing disdain towards her, and you are the only one who gains from it in every aspect. Did you kill Marianne, Mother?"      

Queen Maya's lips tightened, and she calmly replied, "Listen to me carefully, Maxwell. I had nothing to do with your father's death or that concubine. I am capable of many things, but I am not a murderer. It is your choice whether to believe me or not, and there is very little more I can say. You bring me nothing but disappointment, Maxwell."     

The expression in Maxwell's eyes hardened, and his jaw clenched. He said, "Even though I am the king, just as you wanted me to be, it will never be enough. No matter how much I strive to meet all your expectations, Mother. Because you will never see the effort and thought I put in for your sake."      

"Thank you for imprisoning me here without even knowing whether the allegations are true or not. Clearly, you consider it a wise decision," Queen Maya said, looking down on her son for his lack of capability. "If you truly care and love me, prove it by getting me out of here."     

Maxwell turned a deaf ear to his mother's words and said, "This is the safest place for you to be at the moment, at least from what I have seen. And maybe you will not accept it, but I am doing what I can."     

"How long am I supposed to stay here?" Queen Maya asked him, her lips forming a thin line, indicating her dissatisfaction.      

"Not more than a week. I will release you as soon as I know it is safe for you," Maxwell assured his mother, who only stared back at him.      

Away from the room where Queen Maya was confined and being questioned, Dante and his grandmother arrived at the place where the Vizier was restrained, his arms tied by two ropes and raised towards the ceiling. His legs were shackled with a thick iron chain connected to the ground, severely restricting his movements.      

"Did he die, or is he still alive?" The Mother Queen observed the bloody lines and the mess that covered the floor. Zion was shirtless, wearing only trousers.      

"Alive, considering he is awake," Dante replied, taking a step forward.     

"Huh, you can tell?" the Mother Queen expressed her amazement and wondered what other powers her grandson possessed. From what she had heard from Aziel, Anastasia had spent quite some time in the sea before being rescued, and Dante had been engulfed in black smoke. She then questioned the bound man,      

"A little too ambitious, weren't you, Zion?"      

Zion had only just regained consciousness, and he opened his eyes, blood smeared on his face. Dante questioned him,      

"Who are you working for?"      

"I already told you… it is Queen Maya… She's the one I work… for," Zion replied tiredly, as he could still feel the sting of the ropes over the fresh stab wounds he had received from the first prince. He then chuckled and added, "It is a pity, isn't it? To know you deserve something, but you cannot have it?"      

"If you are talking about your family stealing my family's line of work, you are damn right," the Mother Queen retorted.      

With Queen Maya and the Vizier being held on opposite sides of the dungeon, it was easier for them to speak without interruption. "Nothing that cannot be fixed after your blunder," she added, ending her words there.      

"Who offered you a better position that you decided to create a rift between the royal family members?" Dante questioned as he unlocked the cell's iron door and stepped inside. "You knew how important that letter was, and you failed to deliver it to me."      

"Why don't you ask her instead of me? You will find all the answers you need," Zion responded, and he said, "Lady Lucretia was going to die one day anyway. What does it matter?"     

Dante's fingernails started to elongate as a rush of anger coursed through his veins.      

"You seem different, Prince Dante. Your eyes are red, as if they crave blood…" Zion murmured as he cautiously watched Dante from the corner of his eyes. He then asked, "Are you going to kill me?"      

Dante's nails returned to their original length as he calmly remarked, "Not yet. But until then, live in fear." He continued, "Let us assume you are working for Queen Maya. Since when have you been scheming against the Blackthorn family members?" When he didn't receive a response, he picked up a leather whip and lashed it across the man's back, eliciting a painful groan that echoed through the other empty cells.      

Zion's face was contorted in pain as he hissed through his clenched teeth, feeling the whip tearing the skin on his already bloody back. He murmured, "Years… It has been years. Carefully planned."     

"And what does the plan entail?" Dante inquired further to see the man smile.      

"The fall of the Blackthorns."      

[Music Recommendation: Following the clock to sleep- Oberhofer]     

Far away from the echoes of the man's screams and the woes of the trapped schemer in the dungeon, Anastasia continued to sit on the bed with her face buried between her drawn-up knees. She whispered to herself,      

"So shameful…" She had never known a tongue could be used the way Dante had.      

After Dante left the room, closing the door behind him, Anastasia had combusted in embarrassment at what they had done, and her cheeks burned brightly.      

Even though several minutes had passed since it happened, Anastasia could still feel the lingering sensation of Dante's lips on hers, and when she unconsciously bit her lip, her eyebrows drew in as she felt a slight sting. Lifting her head to sit up straight, she touched her lips, only to notice a red liquid on the tip of her finger.      

Blood. His teeth had nipped her, and, at that moment, he resembled the devil because of those sharp canines and red eyes. As she heard the doorknob turn, Anastasia turned her gaze towards it and saw Aziel stepping back inside the room. He was followed by Theresa, who pushed a food cart inside.     

"This meal was cooked a few minutes ago and is still hot. There's also sherbet made from lemon and ginger to replenish your lost energy, milady. If you need anything else, please pull the rope at the side of the bed, and a servant will arrive to assist you," Aziel informed Anastasia with a bow. "I shall take my leave now," he said to her before departing.      

"Thank you," Anastasia returned the bow from where she sat, and the door closed, leaving her and Theresa alone.      

Theresa stopped the cart beside the bed and sat beside Anastasia before placing her hand on the latter's forehead. She asked in concern,      

"Are you sick, Anna? Your forehead is burning up."      

Anastasia shook her head, placing her own hands on her cheeks and feeling their warmth. She said, "I am fine. Really."     

"Some of the maids were whispering about a woman being thrown into the sea. Don't tell me that was you?" Theresa asked suspiciously, and Anastasia smiled sheepishly. "Anna…"     

"It just happened. I seem to follow wherever trouble arises, or trouble is just everywhere. At least now I know that I cannot swim back home," Anastasia joked before a sigh escaped her lips.      

Theresa frowned at her remark and murmured, "Every time we think things can't get any worse, you prove it wrong… People in this palace are cruel. No matter what happens, nothing justifies taking a person's life."      

"When you can buy many people with money, a life or two doesn't make much difference. All that matters to them is their own selfishness," Anastasia replied with a sad smile as she hadn't forgotten drinking an enormous amount of salt water. "We are treated as commodities, owned by others."      

Today, Anastasia came to the realisation that knowing someone's secret could get her killed. If it weren't for Mary's ghost, who had led her there, she would have never learned the truth, and the Vizier would have never been caught. Maybe Dante would find closure regarding what had happened when Lady Lucretia was on her deathbed. So, in a way… even though she almost drowned, there seemed to be a silver lining in this situation.      

She then said, "There is good and bad in the palace. In the corners, in the quietness…"      

Theresa looked confused, as what Anastasia said didn't make sense to her. She said, "I don't follow you, Anna."      

Anastasia let go of her knees and stretched out her legs before she said, "Even though many things are not right in this palace, there are some good aspects. Like Princess Emily, Prince Aiden, and Prince Dante, who have been kind to me. And then there's you," she smiled. And as the thought crossed her mind, she couldn't help but reflect on how being treated with respect and kindness was the most basic aspect of human interactions. Unfortunately, she realised only a few truly understood and practised it.      

Theresa returned the smile and said, "Of course, I will be here for you. And I am glad that others are treating you well. You deserve all the goodness, Anna." When Anastasia's stomach grumbled, the older woman added, "You must be very hungry. Let's get you something to eat right away."      

Anastasia asked, "Did you eat?"      

"Three hours ago," Theresa replied with a smile as she began to dish the food onto a plate. Anastasia quickly swung her legs over the side of the bed to help herself, as she was not used to having people serve her anything.      

"That means it is past twelve in the night," Anastasia suddenly felt guilty for selfishly asking Theresa to come here when the woman must have been sleeping.      

"Don't look at me like that, Anna. We aren't strangers, and if the situation was reversed, wouldn't you have done the same for me?" Theresa asked, and Anastasia handed the plate back to her. "I told you, I already ate."      

Anastasia nodded before saying, "But that was three hours ago, and eating alone feels lonely. Not to mention, the food looks delicious."      

Theresa responded, "Both of us will get into trouble. You, for feeding a maid, and me for eating it." When Anastasia rose from the bed, Theresa inquired, "Where are you going?"      

When Anastasia stood up, her bedsheet slid from her body and fell on the ground as she walked towards the closed door and pushed the latch to lock it. She then turned to Theresa and suggested, "Now we both can enjoy the food together."      

The enticing aroma of the delicious food assaulted Theresa's senses, and with just the two of them present in the room, she hesitated a moment before agreeing. They both settled on the edge of the bed, savouring the meal. As Theresa laid eyes on the delectable spread, she couldn't help but say,      

"The royals sure like to feed the courtesans and concubines well, don't they? They like to fatten all of you up and take good care of you."      

Anastasia didn't know if it was due to her hunger, but the food tasted absolutely delicious. Her eyes took in the various items on her plate as she chewed and swallowed the food before saying,      

"I think they feel bad because I almost died. Because as far as I remember, courtesans aren't usually provided with such generous portions of food, nor such a variety."      

Unbeknownst to both women, it wasn't merely pity driving the special treatment, but rather Anastasia's sudden change of status that had prompted this special attention.      

"Here, try this. It tastes good," Anastasia offered as she served a dish to Theresa as they sat together, eating and talking, not realising how much time had passed. Once they finished eating, they neatly arranged everything back on the trolley and washed their hands using the copper jug and a bowl.      

Anastasia was grateful for the meal and decided to thank the prince for sending it. Thinking about Dante, however, only brought back memories of their intimate moments on the bed, causing her to stand up abruptly.      

"Are you sure you aren't feeling sick, Anna? Your face is turning red," Theresa pointed out with concern.      

"I think it's just the weather. It feels quite hot," Anastasia downplayed her discomfort, behaving as if it were nothing. She walked over to the window and pushed it open, inviting the breeze to enter the room. "This feels much better. Come here, you can see the sea beneath the stars, and the half-moon is shining brightly too."      

Theresa sensed something was amiss but decided not to press Anastasia, as she had already had a hard day. She got up and joined the young woman near the window, where Anastasia's head peeked out with a smile. Theresa followed suit and commented,      

"It does look beautiful here at this hour."     

"Right?" Anastasia replied, feeling the air cooling her warm skin. As she took a deep breath and exhaled, she couldn't help but acknowledge that the sea looked intimidating. She said, "It's so peaceful here—"     

Suddenly, they were startled by a crashing sound that caused Anastasia's heart to leap out of her chest. When they turned around, their eyes fell on a grim-looking Dante standing at the front of the room.      

_______

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