The Blood of the Crown [BL]

Cassius was talking to a group of nobles, holding a glass of red wine. I approached discreetly, pretending to be distracted, and with a swift motion, I spilled my own glass of wine in his direction. The scarlet liquid splashed onto his immaculate attire, staining the fabric.

"Oh, what a mishap!" I exclaimed, feigning concern. "Let me help you clean up, Crown Prince."

Cassius looked at me, his red eyes blazing with anger. "You did that on purpose," he murmured, his voice laced with menace.

"Me? Never," I replied with an innocent smile. "It was an accident, I swear."

He didn't seem convinced, but before he could respond, Bianca approached, a curious look in her eyes.

"What happened here?" she asked, her tone light yet filled with suspicion.

"Oh, nothing much," I replied with a casual wave of my hand. "Just a little accident with the wine. I was merely trying to help the prince clean up."

Bianca glanced at Cassius, who was still visibly irritated, then back at me with a calculating look. She knew I was lying, but she said nothing. Instead, she turned to Cassius.

"You should go clean up," she suggested in a soft tone. "I can accompany you if you'd like."

Cassius hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. He shot me one last look of disdain before following Bianca toward the private chambers.

As Cassius and Bianca walked away, I felt a faint warmth creeping up my face. I glanced at my reflection in a nearby window and saw my cheeks tinged red. I couldn't understand why that simple interaction with Cassius had affected me so much.

"What the hell, Zephyr?" I muttered to myself, trying to shake off the feeling. "He's just an arrogant, spoiled prince. It's not like he's special or anything."

But deep down, I knew I was lying to myself. Cassius was different. There was something about him that drew me in—something I couldn't explain. Maybe it was the way he carried that aura of mystery, or maybe it was just the fact that he was the protagonist of this story. Either way, I couldn't let it get to me.

I followed the prince and Bianca to one of the rooms, pretending to be concerned about a stain on my own attire.

As Bianca exited the room, murmuring something about finding fresh clothes for Cassius, I seized the opportunity. I slipped into the room quickly, shutting the door behind me with an audible click. Cassius had his back turned, attempting to clean the wine stain from his clothing, but he immediately spun around at the sound of the door locking.

"What are you doing here, Delacroix?" he asked, his voice edged with suspicion and slight irritation.

I smirked, twirling the key between my fingers. "Just wanted a little chat, Crown Prince. After all, it's not every day we get to speak without an audience of nobles listening in."

Cassius glanced at the key in my hand and then back at me, his red eyes glowing with an intensity that would make most people step back. But I wasn't most people.

"Give me the key," he ordered, extending his hand.

"Oh, not so fast," I replied with a teasing smile. "Let's talk first."

He stepped toward me, clearly annoyed. "I don't have time for your games, Delacroix."

Before he could snatch the key, I tossed it aside, letting it land near the window. Cassius followed its path with his eyes before fixing his glare back on me, his expression hardening.

"You're insufferable," he muttered, striding toward the window to retrieve the key. But before he could reach it, I stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

"Relax, prince," I said lightly. "No need to be so dramatic. I just want to talk about something important."

Cassius stopped, his crimson gaze locked onto mine. "And what could be so important?"

"Bianca," I said bluntly. "I want to ask for her hand in marriage."

For a moment, Cassius remained silent, as if he hadn't processed what I had just said. Then, his expression changed, and I saw the anger simmering in his eyes.

"What?" he asked, his voice dangerously low.

"You heard me," I continued, keeping my tone casual. "I want to ask for your sister's hand in marriage. I think it would be a good alliance for our families, don't you?"

Cassius didn't respond. Instead, he took a step forward and shoved me against the wall with a force I hadn't expected. His hands gripped my shoulders firmly, and I could feel the fury radiating from him.

"You will not go near my sister," he said, his voice deep and dripping with contempt. "And if you even think about touching her, I swear—"

"Relax, prince," I interrupted, trying to keep my tone light despite the pressure on my shoulders. "I won't do anything she doesn't want. But speaking of which, you should clean up before the stain sets. Wouldn't want you catching a cold."

Cassius glared at me, clearly frustrated with my nonchalant attitude. But before he could retort, something changed in his expression. His eyes gleamed with an eerie light, and small fangs peeked from his lips. Intricate markings, like tattoos, began to spread across his face and body, revealing his demonic nature.

I was taken aback for a moment but quickly regained my composure. "Well, that's new," I murmured with a smirk. "But not entirely surprising, considering we're in a novel."

Cassius stepped back, his red eyes still glowing with that supernatural light. He turned to the mirror, as if seeing something beyond his own reflection. His hands trembled slightly, and I could feel the weight of the pain he carried.

"You don't know anything about me," he murmured, his voice laced with bitterness. "No one does."

I stepped closer, maintaining a respectful distance but near enough for him to feel my presence. "Then show me," I said, my voice softer than usual. "Let me see who you really are."

Cassius didn't respond. Instead, he continued staring into the mirror, as if trapped in a trance.

And then, something strange happened.

The air around us grew heavier, and a mist began to form in the room. I turned to Cassius, but he seemed distant, lost in another place.

And that's when I saw it.