“Ah… ha…! Ugh—!” I gasped, struggling to breathe. My fingers clawed at my throat as panic rose.

“What—what is happening to you?!” Alexander’s voice cracked as he grabbed my arms.

My vision swam. I felt nauseous, my stomach twisting violently. Tears spilled uncontrollably, blurring everything until the world became a smear of light and shadows.

My knees buckled.

I would have hit the floor—

But Alexander caught me.

For the first time… he held me as if he truly cared.

COUGH—!

I covered my mouth, but when I lowered my hand, crimson stained my skin.

“What is going on?! I—I will call the doctor!” Alexander said as he lifted me effortlessly into his arms and placed me on the couch.

As he turned to run for help, he found Stella standing near the door.

“Stella? Were you here the whole time?” he asked, breathless.

I fought to keep my eyes open, but the world tilted every time I inhaled. My breaths became shallow, my sight dimming—

Then I heard her voice, cold and careless.

“Calm down, Alex. It is not a strong poison. She is not going to die.”

My eyes gave up at that very moment, darkness swallowing everything.

“WHAT?!” I roared at her. “You gave poison to her?! What were you thinking—she is my wife-to-be!”

“I know, Alex… but I did not like her. You deserve someone like me. And do you know how she and that man bullied me?” Stella said, wrapping her arms around me as if she had any right.

“Get away!” I pulled myself back sharply.

“What? I told you she is not going to die… and you cannot treat your childhood lover like that,” she whispered.

“Listen to me,” I said, my voice low and cutting. “Whatever we may have had before was nothing but friendship. That woman is my wife-to-be. If I do not protect her, if some strange rumor spreads… I will not forgive you.”

“But—!”

“Silence.”

I shut her up with one word. I lifted the unconscious woman into my arms. “Even if I do not love her, I will not allow you or anyone else to destroy the reputation I worked for my entire reign. Now—go and fetch the doctor. I am taking her to her room.”

I left without looking back, hoping she understood the seriousness of her crime.

After a few minutes, I spotted a maid inside the lady’s room. Lara. “Do not let anyone know a single detail about this.” i said.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she said, bowing quickly. I tilted my head, dismissing her, and she slipped out of the room.

I placed the unconscious lady on the bed. Her limp head tilted sideways, so I gently supported it and laid her properly. Only then did I notice the faint blood stains on my white gloves.

My expression twisted in disgust.

“Ugh…”

I tore them off and threw them straight into the fireplace.

I sank onto the couch, staring at her pale face.

“You… you truly like him, do you not?” I muttered, looking up at the ceiling.

There was a time—no, many times—when I hated her. I still do, perhaps.

It all began when I was forced into an engagement with her as a child. The reason?

My mother, the queen, was close friends with Mrs. Rosendale.

How foolish.

Before my debut, I worked tirelessly to become the perfect, admired king—not a man wasting time doting on a wife who could very well take care of herself.

But when I saw her standing beside him…something twisted strangely in my chest.

As I was lost in that unfamiliar feeling—

A knock.

“Your Majesty, the doctor has arrived.”

I stood. “Let them come in.”

The doctor entered, Stella trailing behind like a shadow.

“I am glad you listened to me,” I said.

“It is your order, so I must. But this is pointless—this poison will not kill her. It will only make her weak,” she whispered.

“Still,” I stepped closer, “are you not afraid that I might punish you for poisoning a royal fiancée?”

“No. You will not,” she said coolly, “because I am your future wife. Not her.”

“You clearly know that you are not—”

I began, but the doctor interrupted.

“Your Majesty, the lady is stable. I have given her medicine. She only needs rest.”

“Stella,” I said suddenly, “give me your ring.”

“What? That is your gift to me!” she whispered.

“Give it to me. Now.”

She hesitated, then surrendered it. I stepped forward and dropped the ring into the doctor’s palm.

“Do not speak a single word of what you saw tonight. If you value your life.”

“Yes—yes, Your Majesty! My lips are sealed!”

He grabbed the ring and ran out of the room.

“Your Majesty?! That ring was precious—it was from you!” Stella shouted.

“How dare you raise your voice at me?!” I thundered.

“If you want more, I can give you a thousand rings. But yell at me again… and you will not live long enough to receive them.”