Josselyn nearly let out a sigh of relief when Killian stepped away from the edge of the pool.
Water dripped slowly from the man's solid frame as he reached for the long robe that had been prepared. Without haste, he put it on, covering himself with calm, measured movements as if nothing had happened moments ago.
Darius was already standing straight near the exit.
"Your Highness," he said briefly, ready to follow.
"No," Killian cut in flatly, stopping just behind the door.
Darius lifted his gaze.
"Take her to her room," Killian continued without turning around. "And make sure she doesn't even think about running."
His voice was low, yet enough to make the air in the room feel colder.
Darius nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
Killian walked away and disappeared beyond the door without once looking back.
Josselyn exhaled deeply. "Good, he's gone."
"So… how long are you planning to stay in there?"
Darius's voice startled her. She had almost forgotten he was still there.
Josselyn looked up. Outside the pool, Darius was walking toward her. In an instant, she remembered that she was completely unclothed in the water.
"DON'T LOOK!"
Her voice echoed through the room as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Darius immediately turned his back without comment.
"I'm not looking," he said flatly.
"Make sure you're not," Josselyn shot back quickly, her face flushing, whether from anger or embarrassment, she could not tell.
The water sloshed as she hurried to the edge of the pool. A moment later, only the sound of water and fabric brushing could be heard.
"I'm dressed," she said finally, more quietly.
Darius turned around.
Josselyn was now wearing a new alchemist's dress, this one a deep ink blue, clean and neat, a stark contrast to her previous state.
But her expression was still unsettled.
"Are we leaving now?" Josselyn asked.
Darius simply gestured with his chin. "You go first."
~
Their footsteps echoed softly along the stone corridor.
Josselyn hugged her arms, not from the cold, but because her mind was too full. Killian's words from earlier still echoed in her head.
"Why am I not allowed to accept anything from anyone?" she muttered. She glanced slightly over her shoulder, seeking an answer from the Crown Prince's closest knight.
Darius's steps slowed slightly. He did not answer immediately.
"Orders from the Crown Prince usually don't require explanation," he said at last.
"For precaution," Josselyn replied quickly. "I have the right to know why. What is this about?"
Darius let out a short breath. He seemed resigned when he noticed Josselyn slowing her pace to walk beside him.
"Have you ever consumed a large amount of herbal concoctions?" Darius asked as they walked side by side.
Josselyn frowned. "That's a strange question."
"Just answer."
"Yes. Of course." Josselyn shrugged. "My mother was an alchemist. I'm used to tasting potions. Some I even drank daily to maintain my condition."
Darius kept his gaze forward. "What kind of potions?"
"Many. It depends on the need." Josselyn began to feel uneasy. She tilted her head, her expression serious. "Why are you asking this?"
Darius stopped walking.
Josselyn stopped as well.
"The night before you fainted," he slowly turned to face her, "I was the one who brought you back."
Josselyn frowned. "Brought me back…?"
"From the herbal room."
Josselyn's breath caught. Her mind immediately tried to dig through her memories.
"What were you doing there?" Darius continued. "With Yorick?"
Josselyn's frown deepened. Pressure built as she still found no clear answer.
"I…" Josselyn closed her eyes briefly. "I don't remember clearly."
"Not at all?"
"There are fragments," she said softly. "But… everything is scattered."
"What kind of fragments?"
Josselyn clutched the edge of her dress.
"A smell…" she murmured. "A strong herbal scent. Then voices. Like someone speaking. But… not clear."
"Yorick?" Darius asked.
Josselyn opened her eyes. "I don't know."
The corner of Darius's lips lifted slightly.
"You should be careful around him," he said quietly.
Josselyn swallowed.
"Are you accusing Sir Yorick?"
"I'm not accusing anyone," Darius replied coldly. "You wanted a reason to be cautious, didn't you?"
Josselyn scoffed and shook her head quickly. "Sir Yorick would never do that."
"A bold conviction," Darius replied. "For someone who doesn't even remember what happened."
Josselyn fell silent. She had no rebuttal.
They resumed walking.
"You understand herbs better than most. You should know how to be careful," Darius added.
Josselyn clenched her teeth. For some reason, her heart rejected Darius's baseless suspicion.
'Yorick wouldn't do that,' she repeated in her mind, convincing herself. 'Besides, why would he?'
The voices in her head continued to clash as they turned into the main corridor of the palace. Then suddenly, she felt Darius come to an abrupt stop.
"Ck. That troublesome pair should have left the palace this morning."
Josselyn immediately looked up, searching for what had prompted his words.
It did not take long. From the opposite direction, two figures appeared.
Edmund. And beside him, a woman in an elegant gown, her hair styled high, Arabella.
Edmund's expression changed the moment he saw Josselyn.
"You." His tone was sharp.
Josselyn stiffened, but did not step back.
"Uncle Edmund," she said flatly.
"Don't pretend to be polite in front of me," Edmund snapped. "After what you did?"
Darius stepped half a pace forward, enough to block Edmund's line of sight.
"Watch your words, Count Nightvale."
But Edmund did not care. His gaze locked onto his niece.
"You almost ruined my daughter's future," he snapped. "And you dare show yourself again as if nothing happened?"
Josselyn lifted her chin slightly, expressionless. "I never agreed to that plan."
"That wasn't your decision," Edmund cut in. "You are nothing but…"
"A traitor?" Josselyn interrupted boldly. "How is that different from you, trying to sell your own daughter just to pay off your debt?"
Her challenging tone made Edmund's face flush with anger.
"Don't forget who saved you when no one else wanted you," Edmund said, his voice lowering.
"If not for my kindness, you would still be on the streets, starving."
Josselyn's jaw tightened. Her breathing quickened.
Arabella let out a soft laugh beside her husband. Her gaze swept over Josselyn from head to toe.
"Ah… so you disappeared with this man," she said, crossing her arms. "How fitting."
Her gaze shifted to Darius, giving him a brief, dismissive look.
"A woman from a traitor's family, with a man who doesn't even have a name among nobles," she continued lightly. "At least you know your place."
Darius's gaze sharpened.
"Say that again," he said, his voice low.
But Edmund only clicked his tongue dismissively.
"Good," Edmund continued, lifting his chin, "she knows she could never take our daughter Clarisse's place, beautiful and graceful as she is."
Josselyn raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Take her place? You seem very certain Clarisse already has it," she said coldly.
"Of course," Arabella replied lightly. "It's only a matter of time."
Edmund smiled in satisfaction.
"Or perhaps," he added, "you think that by removing Clarisse, you could replace her?"
Josselyn's gaze did not waver from them. It was cold.
A brief silence followed. Then,
"That will never happen," Arabella said with a soft laugh. "No matter how hard you try…"
She stepped closer, leaning her face near Josselyn's ear.
"…you will never be worthy."
The air fell silent. The pounding in Josselyn's chest grew louder. She was still holding herself back.
But not the man beside her. She saw Darius preparing to speak, and Josselyn stepped forward first.
"If I'm truly unworthy," she said softly,
"then why does the Crown Prince still allow me to remain here," her gaze fixed on Edmund, unwavering, "while you are the ones being asked to leave?"