CHAPTER 81: A WILD LADY

"Kathryn does not love the prince, and she never has," Grim said, his voice suddenly stern. "And I’m warning you, stay away from her. She’s dangerous, and if you’re not careful, she might drag you into serious trouble."

Lilith nodded after a moment of silence. "I’ll watch out for her."

"Good." Grim stretched and hopped off the bed. "I’m heading back to the prince’s chambers to get some sleep. We’ll talk later. Have a wonderful day, Lilith."

With a mock bow and a flick of his tail, Grim strolled out of the room, shutting the door behind him with a tap of his foot.

Lilith lay back on the bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling as a storm of thoughts swirled through her mind.

~~~

Holding up the edge of her dress, Kathryn made her way toward the waiting carriage. As she approached, the footman stepped forward and opened the door. She climbed in gracefully, settling comfortably onto the plush seat.

"You kept me waiting, Kathryn. I almost thought you wouldn’t show," Harriet said, adjusting her hat with a slight tilt of annoyance.

"Forgive me," Kathryn replied, brushing a lock of hair from her face. "I had to deal with something before coming." Her eyes flicked to Harriet and then to the space beside her. "Where is it?"

Harriet rolled her eyes and lifted the edge of her skirt, retrieving a small brown ragged pouch that looked somewhat filthy. "This is it," she said, handing it over.

Kathryn took the pouch and pulled out a tiny bottle. As soon as she brought it to her nose, she gagged. "It smells like rotten eggs and cheese! What is this?"

"Don’t be so dramatic—it’s not that bad," Harriet replied with a smirk. "Most potions smell awful, but the taste is mild and nearly undetectable. Just mix it into his wine or food, but he must consume it within thirty minutes or it’ll lose its effect. And make sure to use the entire content."

"I see. How long does it take to work?" Kathryn asked, eyeing the bottle warily.

"Different bodies, different timing. Just be patient—give it a day or two." Harriet gave a knowing smile.

"Very well. Thank you, Harriet. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without you." Kathryn leaned in and gave her friend a brief hug.

"Next time we meet, I expect good news," Harriet said with a wink. "An heir on the way, or maybe an engagement—or better yet, a wedding ceremony!"

Kathryn laughed, her cheeks flushing pink. "Very soon, my dear friend."

"And Kathryn," Harriet added with a mischievous smile, "I’d like you to introduce me to the prince’s friend—Lord Rune. I find him quite handsome... and interesting. Don’t you think we’d make a lovely couple?"

Ah, this sly woman. Harriet never did anything without wanting something in return. Kathryn had wondered why she would go to such lengths to get her a love potion, but it was all a clever ruse, Harriet simply needed leverage to pursue what she truly wanted: Rune.

"I didn’t take him to be your type," Kathryn said, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You’ve always found blond men childish."

Harriet chuckled. "Yes, I did. But you’re mistaken if you think I’ve changed my opinion. I still feel the same way... though I believe Lord Rune might be worth making an exception for. He strikes me as a rather promising lover."

"Though the Lord hasn’t exactly hidden his distaste for me. I’ll see what I can do," Kathryn replied

She knocked on the carriage door to alert the footman she was ready to leave. "Thank you once again."

"You’re welcome, Kathryn," Harriet said with a smile. "Besides, what are friends for?"

Kathryn descended from the carriage and waved as it rolled away, disappearing down the path. With a sigh, she turned and began walking back toward the castle.

In the courtyard, she immediately spotted Charlotte sprawled on a bench in an eye-catching orange dress, one leg dangling lazily as she sang loudly to the sky.

Kathryn rolled her eyes. That girl doesn’t deserve to be a noble. Loud and wild, Charlotte was everything a titled lady ought not to be. Kathryn tried to walk past quietly, hoping to avoid her, but she wasn’t stealthy enough, Charlotte had already spotted her.

"What are you plotting now, Kathy? Nothing good, I suppose," Charlotte said, swinging her leg back and forth.

Kathryn clenched her jaw, fists tightening at her sides. She took a calming breath and stepped forward.

"I heard a bit of gossip at the market," Charlotte continued with a smirk. "You assaulted a butcher’s daughter just because she looked you in the eyes. That’s not very nice of you—but then again, I suppose ’nice’ is a foreign word to you." Charlotte chuckled, her tone dripping with mockery.

Kathryn halted, clearly irritated, and turned to face Charlotte, who was now sitting upright on the bench with a smug smile.

"I think you should learn to mind your business, Charlotte. And someone like you shouldn’t dare point fingers—gossip about you isn’t exactly flattering either," Kathryn snapped.

Charlotte leaned back leisurely against the bench, unfazed. "Well, let’s see, shall we?" She began counting on her fingers. "’Charlotte is loud and wild... she isn’t fit to be a lady... she’s a disgrace to her family... Viktor shouldn’t be seen with her... if I had a daughter like her, I’d send her far away.’ What else?"

"I wouldn’t know," Kathryn said with a forced shrug. "I’m far too busy to pay attention to idle gossip."

"At this point, I’m starting to wonder if you even have a house of your own anymore," Charlotte retorted, a sly glint in her eye. "Why else would you still be in the castle when you have no ties to the prince? Let me give you some earnest advice—redeem yourself and go home, Kathryn."

Kathryn scoffed and crossed her arms. "Allow me to return the favor—stop being a bitch and act like an adult for once. Maybe then you’ll be less of a disappointment to your parents. How about that, Charlotte?"

Charlotte ignored her words, eyes flicked to the brown pouch dangling from Kathryn’s hand. "What’s that?"

Kathryn’s heart dropped—she had forgotten to hide the pouch. She tightened her grip and replied stiffly, "Nothing that concerns you."

Without another word, she spun on her heel and walked away in hurried steps before Charlotte could press further.

Charlotte narrowed her eyes, watching her retreat. What was that about? She shrugged the thought off and stood, ready to head inside when she spotted Lilith approaching from the other end of the courtyard. A wide smile spread across her face, and she jogged toward her friend. But as she neared, she noticed someone walking beside Lilith—Viktor. They were engaged in what seemed like a serious conversation.

Charlotte hesitated, then decided not to intrude. She turned the other way, making a mental note to find Lilith alone later.

Meanwhile, Lilith and Viktor strolled in silence, the cool breeze brushing past them.

"Are you related to Charlotte in any way?" Lilith asked, breaking the quiet.

"Unfortunately, no," Viktor replied. "Her parents adopted me when I was very young, and I’ve lived with them ever since."

"Forgive me for asking, but... what happened to your parents?"

"I can’t remember much," he said, his voice soft. "All I know is that we were running from something. Maybe a war... or maybe someone was trying to kill us. I’m not sure. My mother got separated from us, and it was just me and my father. He was badly injured and dropped me at their doorstep before disappearing. They tried to find him, but he was already gone."

"I’m sorry about that. It must be horrible to lose one’s family," Lilith whispered.

"I mean, Lucy’s parents were angels. I couldn’t have asked for anything better," Viktor said with a gentle smile. "They loved—and still love—me like I was their own child. Lucy was just a year old when they took me in. They tried to have another child, but after an accident, Mother lost the baby and couldn’t conceive again. Honestly, I’m grateful for everything. It could’ve been worse." He chuckled softly.

"It could be," Lilith smiled back. "Do you hope to see your parents again? Maybe someday in the future?"

Viktor exhaled deeply. "I do hope so, but I don’t dwell on it. Instead of wishing and hoping for something that may never happen, I choose to focus on what I have now. I’m content with my family—and that won’t change."

Lilith’s heart warmed at his words. "That’s wonderful to hear."

Viktor glanced at her. "How about you? Do you miss your family?"

Lilith’s smile slowly faded, her throat tightening. "I do miss my mother. Even though she rarely stood up for me against my stepfathe, she never forgot my birthday. She made me a chocolate cake every year." Her voice trembled with raw emotion.

"I... I’m sorry. No child should have to go through that kind of pain," Viktor said gently. "If your stepfather was cruel to you and your mother, why didn’t you both leave?"

"My mother didn’t want to," Lilith replied quietly. "She truly loved him, and I believe he loved her too... but he was an egotist. There were always problems between them, and he made it clear that peace would only come if my mother acted like I didn’t exist. That’s what he wanted—for me to be treated like a ghost."