CHAPTER 168: THE TORMENTING VILLAINESS!

Meanwhile, deep inside the palace, a meeting was taking place.

Caspian sat at the head of the long table, his expression stern as the generals discussed troop movements and border defences. Lucien was seated beside him, quiet, his mind elsewhere... though his posture remained perfect.

Then, a palace guard burst through the door, panting.

"Your Highness! Forgive the intrusion..."

Caspian’s brows furrowed. "What is it?"

"A... a prisoner has been brought to the dungeon. A noble lady brought him herself."

Caspian frowned deeper. "And you’re interrupting a war council for a prisoner?"

The guard bowed quickly. "I apologise, Your Highness. But... the prisoner has white hair."

The moment those words left his mouth, both Caspian and Lucien stood up abruptly.

Lucien’s chair screeched against the marble floor. "What did you say?"

"White hair, sir. The boy looks like..."

Lucien didn’t wait for him to finish. He was already gone, sprinting out of the chamber. Caspian followed right behind him, his long coat flaring as he walked swiftly.

The men left in the room began whispering.

"White hair?"

"Is he the partner from the Crown Prince’s ball?"

"Isn’t that dangerous? Which noble lady would want to lock him up?"

They asked themselves, like they should also follow behind and get a glimpse at who it was but no one dared to move.

.

.

Meanwhile, in the dungeon, Rin was moments away from being thrown into a cell. The guard holding him hesitated. "I really can’t..."

"Do as I say!" Seraphina snapped, shoving him.

But before he could react, a loud voice echoed from the hall.

"Stop!"

Lucien stormed in, eyes blazing. The guards stepped back immediately as he strode toward Rin, shoving one of them aside.

When he saw Rin’s bruised cheek and tied wrists, his expression darkened. He grabbed Rin’s shoulders, pulling him close.

"Who did this?"

Rin winced slightly. "Ow... careful, my hands..."

Lucien quickly drew his sword and sliced through the rope in one clean motion. The blade glinted dangerously under the mana light.

Before Rin could say anything, Lucien pulled him into a tight embrace. Rin groaned softly.

"You’re pressing too hard."

Lucien didn’t let go. His voice was low but trembling with restrained anger.

"Who touched you, Rin?"

Seraphina stood frozen, her earlier arrogance melting under the weight of his fury.

"I... Lord Lucien, I..."

"Shut up," he said coldly as he ignored her.

Caspian entered just then, his expression unreadable. His eyes landed on Rin, then on Seraphina.

"What’s happening here?"

Lucien’s hand tightened around Rin protectively. "This piece of thing laid her hands on him."

Seraphina blinked quickly, forcing tears into her eyes.

"It was a misunderstanding, Your Highness. He... he stained my dress and spoke rudely. I only wished to discipline him."

Caspian frowned. "Discipline?"

Lucien’s eyes burned. "You call this discipline?" He lifted Rin’s wrist, showing the red marks from the rope. "You dare touch what’s mine?"

Gasps came from the guards nearby like they had just heard a new gossip. They thought the white haired boy belonged to the Crown Prince.

Seraphina’s lips trembled as she looked at him. "Lucien... you don’t remember me?"

"I don’t care who you are," he said coldly. "You should have known better."

Her maid stepped forward quickly. "My lady did nothing wrong! I was the one who hit him!"

Lucien turned his glare to her, and she immediately stepped back, shaking.

Rin sighed softly, whispering under his breath. "This is getting ridiculous."

Caspian raised a hand. "Enough. Lucien, put your sword away."

Lucien didn’t move. He just looked at Rin’s cheek again and exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself.

Seraphina’s tears finally fell as she whispered...

"I only wanted to remind him of who I am..."

Caspian’s tone was sharp. "And that is?"

Her maid answered quickly, "This is Lady Seraphina Valaria D’Amaris."

"Who is that?" Lucien’s brow furrowed. "I’ve never heard of her."

Seraphina’s lips parted in disbelief.

"We were promised to each other, Lucien. You and I... are supposed to be married."

The silence that followed was heavy. Rin blinked slowly, looking between them.

’Married? Wait... Seraphina D’Amaris... that name... Hold on a fucking second, is she...?’

A faint memory flickered in his mind... lines from the book he read.

The beautiful and spoilt villainess who was obsessed with Lucien Vortellion. The one who tormented the female lead, Lilienne Fey.

Rin’s blood ran cold as realisation hit him.

’I should have known she was the one when she started hating on me for no damn reason. So she’s the one and she’s going to torment the female lead, except that I’m the new Lilienne. I’m going to be the one tormented,’

His head began to throb painfully. He groaned softly, pressing his hands against his temples.

"Rin?" Lucien’s voice was suddenly worried.

Rin didn’t hear him at first. The pain grew stronger, flashes of the little part he read from the book started flooding his mind... Seraphina’s cruel smile, Lucien standing in shadows, blood on marble floors... She poisoned Lilienne.

"Rin!" Lucien caught him before he fell.

Caspian stepped forward immediately. "Take him out of here. Now."

Lucien didn’t hesitate. He lifted Rin effortlessly into his arms. Rin groaned, muttering weakly.

"Put me down... I’m heavy..."

Lucien’s lips curved faintly.

"You’ll need to eat more to call yourself heavy."

He turned, glaring one last time at Seraphina.

"If you ever touch him again, you won’t leave this palace alive."

Then he walked out, Rin in his arms.

Seraphina stood frozen long after they left. Her knees weakened. The dungeon guards avoided her gaze.

After a long silence, she whispered, her voice trembling with envy and something darker.

"So that’s how much he cares for him..."

Her maid hesitated. "My lady?"

"I should have known..." Seraphina smiled faintly, though her eyes were cold. "It won’t be easy to steal Rin from Lucien... but I’ve never liked anything easy."

She turned, her gown brushing against the stone floor as she walked away... her mind already plotting her next move.