Chapter 43: Villainess Princess × Slave (6)

Outside the doors of the Princess’s private quarters, the grand marble corridor was hushed, save for the distant steps of passing servants.

A few young maids bustled past carrying armfuls of fresh silk linens and scented oils. As they passed Cassian, their hushed whispers trailed off into mocking glances. They cast dirty looks at the fallen crown prince, eyeing his torn, dirt-stained clothes and the iron cuffs bound around his wrists.

Cassian didn’t bat an eye. He remained standing against the cold stone wall like a carved marble statue, his breathing slow and even. To him, the spiteful glares of mere servants were as irrelevant as buzzing flies.

Soon, three senior maids stepped around the corner, led by a tall woman holding a book and a long wooden etiquette rod. Seeing the broad, imposing man standing directly in front of the Princess’s bedchamber, the lead maid frowned in deep annoyance.

"Move, you filthy slave," the lead maid snapped arrogantly, waving her hand as if trying to shoo away trash.

Cassian slowly turned his head. His dark hair parted slightly, revealing his pitch-black eyes as he shot her a sudden death glare. The suffocating pressure radiating from his icy gaze hit the maids like a physical wall.

The lead maid’s mouth instantly snapped shut. The words died in her throat, and a cold sweat broke out across her forehead. The two younger maids behind her took a step back, clutching their skirts in terror.

Cassian’s voice cut through the silence- raspy, low, and smooth "I am appointed as the Princess’s personal guard. She explicitly ordered that no one is to disturb her."

The lead maid swallowed hard, forcing herself to regain her composure despite her trembling knees. "W-We are here on the Emperor’s direct orders to prepare Her Highness for her daily royal lessons! It is time for her imperial etiquette training, and we must enter this instant!"

Cassian’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Then I will go ask the Princess myself."

Before the maids could protest or stop him, Cassian turned. He lifted his iron-bound hand and knocked twice on the door.

Knock, knock.

No sound came from inside. The chamber remained completely silent.

Without waiting for permission, Cassian grasped the brass handle, turned it smoothly, and stepped into the grand, sunlit room, pulling the door closed behind him.

The air inside the bedchamber was warm and smelled faintly of sweet rosewater and lavender. Sunlight filtered through the lace curtains, casting soft, golden beams across the polished floors and rugs. The room was completely silent, save for the soft sound of quiet breathing.

Cassian’s sharp gaze swept across the room until it finally shifted toward the massive, golden canopy bed in the center.

Lying amidst a sea of white pillows and blankets was Lyra.

She was fast asleep, utterly exhausted from the morning’s chaotic events. Her dark, glossy hair was spread wildly across the pillows, framing her delicate face. Her long, dark eyelashes fluttered softly as she dreamed, and her skin glowed with a breathtaking, pearlescent warmth under the faint sunlight streaming through the window.

Cassian walked up to her bed with silent steps, his bare feet making no sound against the thick carpet.

He stopped right beside the mattress, leaning down slightly as his dark eyes trailed over her features. His gaze lowered from her rosy lips down to her small, milky-white neck- so pale, fragile, and completely exposed against the dark green covers.

So small... Cassian thought, his pitch-black eyes darkening as a dark, dangerous impulse twirled inside his mind.

One little squeeze, and it will tear apart... He stared intently at the soft pulse beating beneath her delicate skin. I just need to press down for a few seconds... and warm, sweet blood will flow out all over these golden sheets.

A cold, dark smirk slowly curved on his lips as he leaned a fraction of an inch closer, enjoying the vulnerability of his sworn enemy.

In her deep slumber, Lyra suddenly felt an icy, horrifying shudder ripple straight up her spine. It was as if a ghost had walked over her grave.

Her dark eyes snapped wide open!

The very first thing her vision focused on was a pair of icy, bloodthirsty black eyes hovering merely inches away from her face.

"AHHH!"

In a surge of pure terror, Lyra gasped and tried to jump straight up off the bed to escape. But Cassian was leaning far too low over her.

HARD CLACK!

Their foreheads collided with a loud thud!

"OUCHHH!" Lyra shrieked, clutching her forehead with both hands as tears instantly welled up in her big eyes. She tumbled back onto the soft mattress, curling into a tight ball as her skin turned bright red.

Cassian barely flinched, though he took a single step back, his dark eyebrows pulling together in slight annoyance as he rubbed his broad forehead with his chained wrist.

"Oww... my head..." Lyra whined, her eyes watering as she glared at the ceiling.

Cassian stared down at her, his expression returning to an unreadable, icy mask. "What happened, Your Highness?" he asked, his raspy voice dripping with subtle mockery. "Why does it look like you have seen a ghost?"

"Not a ghost, but something way worse than that!" Lyra muttered angrily, squeezing her eyes shut as she rubbed the tender bump forming on her forehead.

Cassian’s ear twitched slightly at her whispered complaint. His dark eyes glinted sharply. "Did you say something, Princess?"

The sound of his dark voice instantly snapped Lyra back to reality. She remembered where she was, who she was supposed to be, and the absolute monster standing right next to her bed!

Lyra snapped her head up, sitting straight up on the mattress. She pointed a trembling finger right at his chest and glared at him with all the fierce, arrogant rage her small body could muster.

"You dirty slave!" Lyra shouted, her voice ringing loudly through the chamber. "How dare you enter my private bedchamber without explicit permission?! Also, your disgusting, creepy look just now made this princess utterly disgusted! And don’t call me ’Your Highness’! Call me ’Princess’ like everyone else in this palace!"

Lyra poured so much frantic energy into delivering her loud, haughty rant all in one single breath that her chest was left heaving. She stopped abruptly, gasping wildly for air like a fish out of water, her cheeks flushed bright red.

Cassian just stood there silently, his tall, muscular frame completely still as he stared down at her frantic, panting figure. His dark eyes showed no anger, no fear, and no submission- just a quiet observation.

Is this girl truly the same vicious princess who whipped me yesterday? he thought, his mind analyzing every ridiculous expression on her tear-streaked face.

Lyra caught her breath and realized he hadn’t moved an inch, nor had he bowed his head in apology.

"You... you still dare to stand there and stare at me?!" Lyra yelled, throwing a feather pillow straight at his chest.

Hearing her loud shouts echoing through the wooden doors, the three maids waiting outside panicked and rushed frantically into the room.

"Princess!" the lead maid gasped, bowing low. "Are you alright?! Did this filthy slave dare to harm you?!"

Lyra threw the covers off her legs and stood up on the bed, her emerald dress rumpling around her knees as she pointed furiously at Cassian.

"Get this slave into a proper shower right now!" Lyra commanded loudly, her dark eyes flashing with absolute authority. "Take him to the washchambers and scrub him with soap until his skin turns bright red and completely clean! And get him a proper, clean pair of guard clothes immediately!"

The three maids froze, exchanging a quick, deeply confused glance with one another.

"B-But, Princess..." the lead etiquette maid stammered nervously, holding up her book. "Your imperial etiquette training... The Emperor explicitly instructed us to conduct your manners lesson right now..."

Lyra turned her glare onto the lead maid, her chin lifting high with obnoxious, spoiled royal arrogance.

"Did I ask for your opinion?!" Lyra snapped coldly. "I said, take him away and clean him! I cannot stand looking at a filthy, dirt-covered servant in my clean room! Do as I said this instant!"

The maids trembled under her sharp tone, quickly bowing their heads until they almost touched the floorboards.

"Y-Yes, Princess!" they chimed in frantic unison.

The lead maid quickly turned to Cassian, keeping a safe distance while gesturing toward the hallway. "You heard Her Highness! Move out to the servant washchambers at once!"

Cassian didn’t look at the maids. His pitch-black eyes remained fixed on Lyra, who was still standing tall on her mattress, glaring down at him while trying desperately to hide the subtle tremble in her small hands.

A tiny smirk flickered across Cassian’s lips before he slowly turned around, his iron wrist cuffs clanking softly as he walked out of the bedchamber.

The moment the doors clicked shut behind them, Lyra’s arrogant posture completely collapsed.