Fourth Arc (Thorns of The Black Throne) - 459. The Caring Stepmother II
Angel didn't blink. "No. Like I said before, I believe it's time we discuss things face to face. Trade. Border cooperation. We've hidden behind envoys and diplomats long enough. Don't you agree?"
There was no threat in his voice.
And that made it worse.
Darius hesitated. "And yet you bring a lost princess as a… what, gift?"
Angel tilted his head just slightly. "Would you prefer I left her in the woods where we found her?"
Seraphine's lips twitched.
Jane's hand curled tighter in Rose's.
"No," Darius muttered. "Of course not."
He turned away for a moment, jaw clenching. Angelus was dangerous. Powerful. And worst of all? Honest.
Darius didn't know how to deal with that.
"So," Angel said quietly. "Will you accept our presence as a gesture of goodwill? Or should we take our leave?"
Rose raised her brow slightly. That tone was not casual. Not really.
But Seraphine moved first.
She glided up beside Darius, fingers brushing his arm with casual affection, and said in a gentle murmur, "Don't be rude, my love. We owe Euphorion much. And this… reunion, whether temporary or permanent, is a blessing. Jane has been missed."
"Has she?" Rose asked softly.
Just loud enough for Seraphine to hear.
Seraphine's smile didn't flicker. But her fingers curled against her thigh for a second.
Darius cleared his throat and gestured toward one of the waiting attendants. "Prepare the royal wing. Give our guests full access. Jane's old quarters. And whatever Euphorion needs, make sure it's arranged."
Angel didn't nod. He simply stepped back beside Rose again.
It was over for now.
But the game had started.
As the servants moved, Jane followed quietly between Rose and Angel, her steps light. Her eyes scanned everything. She remembered more than they knew.
Every shift in color. Every servant who used to sneak her sweets and now looked away. Every place Seraphine had redesigned.
And when they passed the southern hall, she slowed.
The painting.
It wasn't just gone.
The wall had been whitewashed. Repainted in soft floral tones. Like they were trying to pretend it had never existed.
Jane tilted her head and smiled slightly.
Interesting.
Rose saw it. "It's alright. You'll find your way," she said gently, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear.
Jane nodded slowly.
A few maids looked up at that. Whispers spread. That's the princess. She's alive? They said she was dead. No… missing. But who is she clinging to?
Rose gave them nothing. Just that regal air and calm voice.
Angel walked in silence beside them, though his hand hovered slightly close to Rose's waist. Protective. Ready.
But Seraphine watched it all.
And she didn't like what she saw.
Not the way Rose let Jane hold her hand.
Not the way Angel deferred to Rose's timing.
Not the way Jane ignored her completely.
So Seraphine did what she always did.
She smiled.
She turned to a nearby maid. "Have some of Roric's old gifts prepared. Perhaps something familiar will help trigger her memory."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
And then she added, loud enough to carry.
"She always loved her brother."
Jane stopped walking for just a second.
Angel noticed. Rose did too.
But Jane didn't turn around.
She just murmured, "I don't remember."
They continued walking.
Only once they turned the corner did Rose whisper, "You're doing great."
Jane squeezed her hand once. "I know."
The royal suite doors opened.
The scent of old wood polish, sun-warmed curtains, and faint jasmine greeted her like a ghost. It was her old room. Same layout. Same furniture.
But the portrait?
Gone.
Her collection of pressed flowers?
Gone.
Her old harp?
Broken, tucked behind a curtain.
"Don't cry," Rose whispered. "Not here."
Jane wiped her eyes quickly. "Wasn't going to."
"I'm staying here tonight," Rose said, placing her cloak on the bedpost. "We are."
Jane blinked. "You are?"
"We don't leave you alone, remember?"
Angel added, "Besides, I have a meeting with King Darius."
Rose smiled and pulled Jane into a hug. Her eyes locked to Angel as if they said "We're not stupid."
And for a second, Jane did let her guard drop.
Just for a moment.
She buried her face into Rose's shoulder, inhaling the warmth, the scent Rose always carried. And she whispered, "Thank you."
Rose didn't answer.
She just held her tighter.
Across the hall, Seraphine stood beside Roric's study, watching.
She didn't see a girl clinging to an older sister.
She saw a pawn being moved out of reach.
A threat.
But she smiled again, the kind of smile that tasted like sugar and poison, and turned away with a graceful swirl of her skirts.
Fine.
Let the game begin.
She always preferred when things got personal.
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