PHIN

of the nights I had spent with Damian. Why was this flower, a secret piece of my private life, tucked inside a book from the King?

e had assigned to me, entered the room carrying a tea service

ss!" she whispered, her voice full of

flower in my hand. The pieces didn't fit. The generosity was too mu

I said quietly. With a deliberate slowness, I brought my

ile froze.

g the floral dust from my fingers. "It feels

door, his posture stiff. "Your Excellency,

uched my lips. Of course.

my voice flat. It was the first time I had used th

He says it's urgent, my la

There he was, my ex-fiancé, pacing the corridor like a caged animal. The usual arrogance was gone fro

d. I wanted him to see me. I wanted him to see the opulent suite behind

ry," I said. M

on his face was palpable, quickly followed by a wave of raw, desperate reg

m smoothly, not yielding an inch of space. "Or has your new

as a fool," he choked out, his eyes pleading. "I didn't know t

ou didn't come here to apologize to Seraphina, the woman you so easily discarded when she

rue! I realiz

away a diamond because you were too stupid to see its worth without a royal stamp of approval.

me out. He looked utterly pathetic,

on," I said, my voice dropping to a lethal whisper. "Now, I am

trated, ragged breathing on the other side. There was no pity in

oyal library. I needed to learn about

ries, a flicker of movement from behind a marble column caught

stopped

rounded the corner, my breath catching in my throat. The corridor was empty. A

palace? A simple paid companion could never get this deep into the royal