Chapter 79
Liana’s POV
dearly she was
I looked as she turned away from me, hiding her face. I was testing her. I knew she was a traitor and today confirmed it. Clearly suppose to sph on Alaric but didn’t do a good job.
The friendship she made with Brielle wasn’t ellective enought
It’s good to know she probably thinks I care about her. If only she knew I didn’t.
She sensed a power from me? I wanted to laugh. It was her guilt speaking but I didn’t say anything.
I started to walk away from her.
“Of course,” Amira said behind me, voice light and laced with something bitter, anger “you always walk away when it gets realTM”
I stopped.
She took that as an
as an invitation.
“Brielle’s dead,” she said softly. “And you’re still pretending it wasn’t your fault.”
I turned slowly.
“You think I don’t see it!” Amira asked, stepping closer. “The way you flinch when I mention her name. The way you can’t even look at blood without looking away. You feel guilty. Because you saw it with your own two eyes how she slit her throat. It scarred you and trust me Liana, you deserve that trauma.”
I stared at her. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what? Speak the truth? You are bad luck. Father and mother died because they wanted to push you out. You weren’t even their blood but they saved you. You always tried to play the victim just because you don’t get mumber one attention.” She stepped closer. “Another bad luck is Brielle, she slit her throat in front of you,” she whispered, lips curving slightly. “And you did nothing.”
My vision went red.
useful? “You watched her bleed out, and now what?” she continued. “You’re playing housemaid to some rebel king like that makes you t The only reason you would be useful is when you’re dead. Die Liana and let the world breathe.”
I clenched my fists. “You’re sick.”
“And you’re weak,” Amira snapped. “Still chasing people who’ll never love you the way you want them to.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know everything,” she hissed. “I watched you grow up begging for scraps of affection. From Father. From the maids. From Alaric. And now from Harden. Spy on him but you want to fuck him. Do you really think you’re different now just because you’re wearing longer dresses and speaking with less of a stammer?”
I raised my hand. I wanted to slap her so hard. Trust me it was so close, the slap almost landed.
Almost
I stopped myself at the last second, breathing hard, hand frozen in the air between us
Amira blinked, startled by how close I’d come. But she didn’t back away.
Instead, the smuded.
“There it is,” she whispered. “That evil. You’ve been luding it.
I lowered my hand, slowly, fingers trembling
“I should kill you.” I said, barely recognizing my
“itut you won’t,” she replied, smug. “Because drejs down, you still want me to love you loo
5:09 PM
Chapter 79
The silence stretched between us
And then she leaned in, just slightly
“I know about the kiss,” she said
My blood ran cold.
She stepped back before I could ask what the hell she meant. Her smile turned sharp.
“You think I don’t notice how you act when Harden enters a room! How your breath changes? I see it. He sees it. Same thing. Wanting love
I forced myself to stay still. “It was nothing.”
“It was everything” she replied. “He’ll use you, Liana. Just like everyone else has.”
I stared at her, really stared, and for the first time–I saw it.
She was scared.
Not of me. Not of Harden. But of being forgotten. Of being left behind.
She had been unraveling quietly all this time, and this was how she hid it.
“You’re alone,” I said quietly.
She flinched.
1 stepped closer. “That’s why you’re doing al
then you’re just… no one.
“Shut up,” she breathed.
all of this. The sabotage. The manipulation. Because if you’re not the one pulling the strings,
“Mother knew,” I continued. “She told me you were scared. That you never knew who you were without a role to play.”
“I said shut up!”
I didn’t.
“You said those words to her, didn’t you?” I asked. “Just before she died. Just before you set the house on fire just because she didn’t agree to you going to the alpha’s mating ball” I chuckled. “They saved me yes, but why was I stuck? Because I went in to save you. Brielle died, but why? Tell me you don’t know.
She gulped, her fists clenching and unclenching.
I shook my head. “You are going to die with your secrets Amira and you will die alone.”
Her face twisted. “You don’t know anything”
“I know Brielle didn’t die for nothing.” I said, voice breaking slightly. “She was trying to protect you. From yourself or whatever you had plamuurd. Or did you want her to kill herself? Was it you?”
“She was unstable”
“Slie was your friend.
“She was disposable, Amira hissed.
My breath caught.
That was the moment I saw her clearly–not the girl who used to braid my hair or teach me how to lie, but the woman standing in front of me now, consumed by her own buterness
“Get out of my way.” I said
Chapter 79
She didn’t move.
“Im warning you, I said through clenched teeth, “I don’t care who you used to be. I’m not scared of you anymore.
She smiled faintly. “Then prove it.”
I walked past her, heart pounding, every step feeling like thunder in my ears.
Behind me. I heard her call out. “You’ll see, Liana. He’ll break you too. Everyone will break and use you. And I would float while you suffer.
I didn’t look back.
Because maybe she was right.
Maybe Harden would break
But not the way she meant.
1 exhaled, forcing my chest to stop shaking. My fingers were still curled at my sides, nails digging crescent moons into my palms. I didn’t even feel the pain. Just the throbbing in my temples, the ache of exhaustion crawling through my bones.
The ballroom was still alive with music and laughter, the sound distant to me now. I pushed through the heavy side doors and into the corridor, away from the heat and perfume and heavy gazes. Away from Amira.
My duties.
Right.
I still had to refill the wine on the northern table and make sure the noblewomen had fresh napkins. I still had to serve the ones who looked down on me like I was dirt in their cups. I still had to keep pretending.
Keep breathing.
Keep smiling.
I moved through the corridors like a ghost, lifting trays, nodding politely, serving goblets with my head lowered. My feet screamed in protest, but I kept going. I’d never done this much walking in heels before. Who designed these shoes? Some hateful sadist?
One noblewoman, draped in sapphires, glanced at me and whispered something to her friend behind a gloved hand. Her friend laughed.
I smiled at them both: as I poured their wine,
They didn’t deserve the satisfaction.
www
By the time I got through the evening, I was limping. My calves ached. My shoulders were stiff from carrying trays. And my eyes–it felt like they had sand in them.
et another
Nothing. Not one damn useful thing all night. Just noble gossip, cruel jokes, and more rumors about Harden rejecting yet potential bride. There was even a bet going around–how long before the “cold king” found someone he didn’t dismiss?
They wouldn’t wan that bet. I didn’t think anyone would. Not the way he looked at people Like they were masks. Like he was always five steps ahead
I dragged myself to the servant’s quarters, half–asleep on my feet, when a young maid I vaguely recognized stopped me at the stairs.
“You’re Lad..she paused, catching herself, “Elena, right?”
I nodded, adjusting my grip on the tray
She offered a tight smile, brushing her hands on her
apron. “Mistress Yela said you’re not staying in the hall tonight”
My brow pinched. “What?”
“Your room,” she said again, slower. “It’s been changed”
Chapter 79
I blinked. “Why?”
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