Chyna's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice echoing inside her head.
"Please don't do this, Yna…"
It was Jordan.
His voice sounded broken… desperate.
Chyna froze.
Who was he pleading with?
Before she could understand what was happening, another vision flashed before her eyes.
She suddenly saw herself standing inside a glowing circle beside Jordan, who lay wounded on the ground.
Mist slowly seeped out of her body and drifted toward him.
Then darkness swallowed everything.
"What have you done, Yna?" Jordan's voice echoed painfully. "Why did you save me with our memories?"
The vision disappeared instantly.
Chyna grabbed her head in confusion.
"Why would Jordan say something like that?" she whispered. "Why does it feel like this already happened before?"
Her head suddenly throbbed painfully.
More images flashed rapidly through her mind.
Too quickly for her to fully understand.
One memory after another.
Laughter.
Tears.
A forest.
Jordan's smile.
Then finally—
The visions stopped.
She saw herself standing beneath a tree with Jordan.
He was smiling softly at her.
"I love you, Yna."
Everything went blank again.
Chyna's breath caught instantly.
Her heart pounded wildly against her chest.
Without thinking, she rushed out of her room in search of Jordan.
She eventually found him standing alone in the receiving hall.
"Jordan!" she called out immediately.
The man turned toward her and gestured for her to come closer.
But Chyna suddenly froze.
Something felt wrong.
His eyes—
They were grey.
Her heartbeat skipped.
No.
Jordan's eyes were blue.
The moment she blinked, his eyes returned to normal.
But the uneasy feeling inside her remained.
That's not Jordan.
The realization came instantly.
But why would someone impersonate him?
Instead of exposing him immediately, Chyna decided to pretend she hadn't noticed anything.
She slowly approached him while forcing fear into her expression.
"Jordan…" she whispered shakily. "Please help me. I'm scared."
The fake Jordan smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry, Chyna. I'm here."
Her suspicion deepened immediately.
Definitely not him.
The real Jordan would never call me Chyna.
He would call her Yna.
Or Princess.
Never Chyna.
"Come with me," the imposter said gently. "Let's go somewhere quieter."
Chyna nodded slowly and followed him.
Though inwardly, her thoughts remained chaotic.
If this fake is here… then where's the real Jordan?
Then another thought surfaced.
Probably still busy with that relative of his.
She scoffed inwardly.
Why am I even thinking about him right now?
A mischievous smile almost appeared on her lips.
Let's see if he still remembers his promise to protect me.
The fake Jordan glanced at her.
"You look beautiful today."
"T-Thank you," she answered cautiously.
But suddenly his expression changed.
A strange look appeared in his eyes as he slowly stepped closer toward her.
"I can't stop thinking about all the things we could do together…" he murmured.
Chyna's eyes widened slightly.
"J-Jordan…?"
She instinctively stepped backward.
But he kept moving forward until she became trapped between him and the wall.
He lifted a hand toward her hair—
But before he could touch her—
Someone grabbed his wrist violently and yanked him backward.
Chyna immediately turned toward her savior.
Relief flooded through her instantly.
The real Jordan stood there.
"Jordan!"
Without hesitation, she rushed into his arms.
"Thank God you came," she breathed out happily.
Jordan wrapped an arm protectively around her before glaring coldly at the imposter.
"Who is he?" he asked darkly.
"How would I know?" Chyna snapped back irritably.
Jordan narrowed his eyes at her.
"So you knew he wasn't me… and you still followed him?"
"Yes," she answered stubbornly. "So what?"
Jordan stared at her for a moment before exhaling sharply.
"We'll discuss this later."
Then he turned toward the trembling young man.
"Who are you?" Jordan demanded coldly.
The imposter immediately fell to his knees.
"P-Please spare me!"
"Answer me," Jordan growled. "Now."
"M-My name is Cole," the young man stammered fearfully.
"Who sent you?" Jordan asked dangerously. "And what do they want with her?"
Cole merely shook in terror without answering.
"Please… spare me…"
Jordan's expression darkened further.
"Jorge."
At once, Jorge stepped forward from the shadows and bowed respectfully.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Take him to the dungeon."
Jordan's voice turned ice cold.
"And do whatever you must."
Jorge nodded immediately.
"As you command."
He motioned toward two soldiers nearby.
The guards grabbed Cole roughly before dragging him away while his terrified pleas echoed through the hall.