š
By eveningā
The entire palace knew.
Rumors didn't spread.
They exploded.
"Lady Seraphine collapsedā¦"
"They say she was in tearsā¦"
"Something happened in the gardenā¦"
"And the Grand Duke was thereā¦"
Rosy stood by the window of her chamber, watching the fading sunlight bleed into the horizon.
"ā¦That was fast," she murmured.
Too fast.
Which meantā
This wasn't spontaneous.
It was planned.
---
šŖ Knock.
"Enter."
A maid hurried in, clearly nervous.
"Miladyā¦ the Crown Prince has summoned you."
Rosy didn't turn.
Of course he did.
Right on schedule.
"ā¦I'll be there."
---
The throne hall felt colder this time.
Not because of the weather.
But because of the atmosphere.
Every noble was present.
Every eye was on her.
Waiting.
Watching.
Judging.
At the centerā
The prince.
And beside himā
Seraphine.
Seated.
Pale.
Fragile.
Like a broken doll.
Rosy almost smiled.
Impressive performance.
---
"Lady Isle Blackwell."
The prince's voice echoed.
"Step forward."
Rosy walked forward calmly, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor.
No hesitation.
No fear.
"Your Highness."
She bowed slightly.
---
"You were seen alone with Lady Seraphine in the royal garden," he said coldly.
"Yes."
"And shortly after, she collapsed."
A pause.
"Explain yourself."
---
The hall held its breath.
This was it.
The moment.
In the original storyā
This was where Isle stayed silent.
Where she accepted blame.
Where everything began to fall apart.
---
Rosy lifted her gaze.
"ā¦Is Lady Seraphine claiming I harmed her?"
A ripple moved through the court.
The prince's eyes narrowed.
"Answer the question."
"I just did."
Her tone remained calm.
Sharp.
Controlled.
---
Seraphine's fingers trembled slightly.
"Pleaseā¦ don't fight because of meā¦" she whispered weakly.
"I'm sure Lady Isle didn't mean any harmā¦"
Ah.
There it is again.
The gentle knife.
Rosy tilted her head slightly.
"Then I assume you will clarify what actually happened."
Silence.
Seraphine froze.
Just for a moment.
But it was enough.
---
"Iā¦" Seraphine hesitated.
"I simply felt unwellā¦"
"Then say that clearly," Rosy cut in.
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it carried.
"If you were unwell, then that is your conditionānot my action."
Gasps.
Soft.
Sharp.
Scattered across the hall.
---
The prince's expression darkened immediately.
"You will watch your words," he said coldly.
Rosy met his gaze.
"I am."
---
A noble stepped forward.
Old. Calculating.
"Your Highness," he said, bowing slightly. "Regardless of intent, the timing isā¦ suspicious."
Another voice followed.
"The Grand Duke has always beenā¦ difficult."
"And now Lady Seraphine is harmed?"
"It cannot be coincidence."
---
Rosy listened quietly.
One voice.
Then another.
Then another.
The court wasn't seeking truth.
It was building a narrative.
Brick by brick.
Lie by lie.
---
So this is how they destroy her.
Not in one blow.
But slowly.
Publicly.
Irreversibly.
---
The prince raised his hand.
Silence returned.
"Lady Isle," he said, his tone final. "Until this matter is clarified, you willā"
"Be restricted?"
Rosy finished for him.
The hall stilled.
Again.
---
The prince's eyes hardened.
"You seem quite familiar with the outcome."
Rosy smiled faintly.
"Patterns are easy to recognize."
---
A pause.
Tension thickened.
Thenā
A voice.
Deep.
Calm.
Amused.
"Is that so?"
Every head turned.
Rosy didn't need to.
She already knew.
---
He stood at the entranceā
As if he owned the space.
Dark hair.
Sharp features.
Eyes that held something far more dangerous than anger.
Interest.
"ā¦Who is he?" whispers spread instantly.
"A foreign noble?"
"Noā¦ something feels offā¦"
---
The prince frowned.
"You are interrupting royal proceedings."
The man inclined his head slightly.
"My apologies."
His tone said otherwise.
"I simply found the situationā¦ lacking."
---
Rosy's eyes narrowed slightly.
What are you doingā¦?
---
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" the prince asked.
The man's gaze shiftedā
Landing directly on Rosy.
Then back to the court.
"It's quite inefficient," he said calmly, "to accuse someone without evidence."
A ripple.
Uneasy.
Uncomfortable.
---
"Are you questioning the court?" a noble snapped.
"I'm questioning your logic," he replied smoothly.
A few nobles stiffened.
---
The prince's patience thinned.
"This does not concern you."
"On the contrary," the man said lightly.
"It concerns someone I'mā¦ interested in."
Silence.
Heavy.
Immediate.
---
All eyes turned to Rosy.
---
Ah.
So this is how you play.
Rosy exhaled softly.
Fine.
---
"And who might you be?" the prince demanded.
A pause.
A smile.
"Someone you shouldn't provoke."
---
The temperature in the room dropped.
Even the prince hesitated.
Just slightly.
But Rosy noticed.
Interesting.
---
The man stepped forward.
Slow.
Unhurried.
Dangerous.
"If Lady Seraphine claims she was harmed," he continued, "then let her say it clearly."
His gaze flickered to her.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
"Otherwiseā¦ this is nothing more than speculation."
---
Seraphine's lips parted.
But no words came out.
For the first timeā
She looked cornered.
---
Rosy watched silently.
You just lost control of the narrative.
---
The man stopped beside her.
Close.
Too close.
And yetā
She didn't move.
---
"ā¦What are you planning?" she whispered under her breath.
His reply was even quieter.
"Saving you."
A pause.
Thenā
"Or ruining you."
---
Her lips curved faintly.
"ā¦We'll see."
---
The prince clenched his jaw.
"ā¦This matter will be postponed."
There it was.
Not resolved.
Not proven.
But not sealed either.
The first crackā
Widened.
---
As the court slowly dispersed, whispers returned.
But nowā
They weren't the same.
"She didn't loseā¦"
"That manā¦ who is he?"
"Something is changingā¦"
---
Rosy walked past them, her steps steady.
Unshaken.
Untouched.
---
But insideā
Her thoughts weren't calm.
That man.
That devil.
He didn't just interfere.
He shifted the entire balance.
---
As she stepped out into the corridorā
He followed.
Of course he did.
---
"You enjoy chaos," she said without turning.
A soft chuckle.
"Only when it benefits you."
She stopped.
Finally turning to face him.
"Why?"
A simple question.
But heavy.
---
His eyes met hers.
Dark.
Endless.
"Because," he said quietlyā
"You were never meant to lose."
---
Her breath stilled.
Just for a second.
---
"And this storyā¦" he continued, stepping closerā
"ā¦is far from over."
---
For the first timeā
Rosy smiled.
Not uncertain.
Not nervous.
But sharp.
Certain.
Dangerous.
---
"Good," she said.
"Because neither am I."
---
End of Chapter 4