(Six hours before the Engagement Announcement)
(Violet's Chamber)
The knock came sharp and impatient, echoing through the quiet hallway.
Violet yanked the door open—and instantly regretted it. Her irritation flared the moment her eyes landed on Eyan’s face.
“Are you done counting now?” she snapped, one hand already on the door. “Did you come all this way just to tell me the numbers? If you did, leave. I don’t want to hear it.”
She began to slam the door shut, but Eyan reacted quickly, shoving his palm against it and stopping it midway.
“I’m not here to tease you, Violet,” he said, his voice unusually serious. “I came for something else.”
That made her pause.
She studied his face—no smug smile, no playful glint in his eyes. Just tension. After a moment, she stepped aside silently, allowing him in. Eyan followed her in and shut the door behind him, the sound echoing softly in the enclosed space.
He didn’t waste time.
“Violet,” he said, his voice low, “do you still remember the you made me back at the Imperial Academy?”
She turned to face him. “Yes. I remember it clearly,” she replied. “I said I’d repay you for the help you gave me.”
Then, narrowing her eyes slightly, she added, “But didn’t say I didn’t have to repay you? That you helped me because you wanted to?”
“I did,” Eyan admitted. “But now I want you to repay me.”
Her heartbeat quickened. “And what do you want?” she asked cautiously.
Eyan met her gaze without hesitation.
“Get engaged to me.”
Time seemed to stop.
Violet froze. Slowly, she looked at him—really looked at him—searching his face for any sign of a joke. Finding none, she lifted a finger and dug it into her ear.
Eyan frowned. “What are you doing?”
“I’m cleaning my ears,” Violet replied seriously. “I think my hearing’s gone bad. I could’ve sworn I just heard you say .”
“You didn’t hear wrong,” Eyan said calmly. “I said it. Be my fiancée, Violet.”
She snapped upright. “Eyan, have you lost your mind?” Her voice rose despite herself. “You know secret. And even knowing that, you’re asking me to be your fiancée?”
“Yes,” he answered without flinching. “I’m asking you. You said you’d do I asked in return for helping you. This what I want.”
Her shock quickly turned into anger. “And what about Eva?” Violet shot back. “You were supposed to get engaged to .”
“Yes,” Eyan said. “I was supposed to.”
“But I don’t want to marry her.”
Violet stared at him. “You don’t want to marry her?” She laughed bitterly. “The way you were acting earlier, I thought was the woman you mentioned in the letter you sent me two months ago.”
She paused, realization dawning. “I guess I was wrong. woman must be someone else.”
“No,” Eyan said quietly. “It’s Eva.”
Violet’s confusion deepened. “If it’s Eva you love, then marry her. Why are you asking me to do something so stupid?”
“I can’t marry Eva.”
“You can’t?” Violet repeated. “But you just said you love her.”
“I do,” he replied. “I love her. That’s exactly why I can’t marry her.”
Violet ran a hand through her hair, her thoughts spiraling, unable to make sense of his words. Nothing he said fit together. The more he spoke, the more tangled everything became.
Eyan let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples.
“Fine,” he said at last. “I’ll tell you the whole story.”
__________________________________
When Eyan finished telling the whole story, silence swallowed the room.
Violet sank onto the couch, clutching her temples as if holding her head together. The weight of everything she had just heard pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Eyan watched her carefully. “Now do you understand why I’m doing
She took a slow, shaky breath, forcing herself to process the truth—his truth. And then it broke her.
Violet’s shoulders trembled as a sob escaped her lips. Soon, tears streamed freely down her face, raw and heartbroken.
Eyan frowned slightly. “Now what?”
She laughed weakly through her tears. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered. “Eva fell in love with the person twice.” Her voice cracked. “Why does it have to be Why couldn’t it be me?”
“She’s not in love with ,” he said firmly. “What she feels is obsession. And it’ll end once Eyan gets engaged to someone else. Then she’ll return to —the man she truly loves.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Violet wiped her tears, inhaling deeply. “Fine,” she said at last. “I’ll help you. Let’s get engaged.” She looked up at him. “I know you can’t tell her about your identity because you have your own reasons....so i won't ask you about the reason...i'll just help you.”
“Thank you,” Eyan said quietly.
“But,” Violet added, her eyes narrowing slightly, “there’s something I in return.”
“What is it?”
She leaned closer, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, “A kiss from Eva.”
A smile curved onto Eyan’s lips—but it didn’t reach his eyes. Without a word, he walked toward the window.
“Violet,” he said lightly, “come here.”
She rose from the couch and joined him. Suddenly, Eyan grabbed her shoulders, turning her toward the open window. He leaned close from behind, his voice low and dangerous near her ear.
“Do you that pool?” He pointed ahead.
Violet nodded. “Yes. I see it.”
“If you dream about touching Eva,” he said calmly, “I’ll throw you into that pool.”
She glanced down. The water barely reached knee length.
Violet burst out laughing. “Eyan, you think I’d drown in If you want to threaten me, try something scarier.”
“You see the knights surrounding it?” he asked.
“Yes… six of them.”
“Why do you think they’re there?”
Violet hesitated, confused.
“That pool isn’t ordinary,” Eyan continued. “The water you see is an illusion. It’s filled with magic.” His voice darkened. “My father used to execute people by drowning them there.”
Her laughter died instantly.
“Once someone falls in,” he said, “they’re swallowed by a force. The depth is infinite. There’s only darkness—so dark you can’t even see your own body. People don’t . They don’t . They’re dragged down .”
He paused.
“It takes five minutes to die. And no one has ever come back alive.”
Violet swallowed hard. “If no one ever came back,” she whispered, “how do you know what like from inside?”
“Because I went in,” Eyan replied calmly. “I used to play there as a child.”
Her eyes widened. “Why didn’t you die? It’s filled with magic.”
“That,” he said, turning slightly, “is a secret I can’t tell you.”
He leaned closer. “So if you say nonsense like kissing Eva agai—”
“I won’t!” Violet blurted out, panic flashing across her face. “I swear. Never.”
Eyan smiled. “Good. You understand quickly.”
He stepped back and flicked her forehead lightly. “Stay away from Eva.”
“Ow—!” Violet grabbed her head.
“Oh, come on, Eyan. It’s not my fault I women.”
“You can like any woman you want,” he replied coldly. “Just not woman.”
Violet blinked. “Your woman?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “My woman.”
She sighed dramatically. “Fine. Take your woman. I don’t want her anyway.”
“There’s not much time left before the banquet,” Eyan said, already turning away. “Get dressed. And Violet—wear a red dress.”
“Okay,” she muttered. “As you say.”
Then she hesitated. “Eyan…”
He looked back. “Hmm?”
“If we do this… Eva will be badly hurt.” Her voice softened. “Aren’t you worried she’ll shatter completely?”
Eyan’s expression hardened.
“That’s exactly what I want,” he said coldly. “I want her shattered so completely that she never looks at Eyan again.” His eyes darkened. “And I’ll do anything to make that happen.”
Violet nodded slowly.
“Then,” she said quietly, “I’ll do my best to make that happen too.”
--------------------------------------------------------
(30 minutes after the Engagement Announcement)
(Eyan’s Chamber)
The door burst open, and Eyan and Violet stumbled inside in a rush, slamming it shut behind them.
Violet immediately pressed her palms to her cheeks, groaning.
“Ah—my mouth hurts,” she complained. “All that smiling while standing next to should be considered torture.”
Eyan rubbed his own face, exhaling sharply. “I can say the same. I think my cheeks might be permanently damaged.”
For a brief moment, silence settled—until Violet’s expression shifted.
“Eyan,” she said slowly, lowering her hands. “Did you see Eva’s face?”
His fingers paused. “I did.”
“The way the color drained from her skin,” Violet continued. “The way she nearly collapsed… are you really sure what she feels is just obsession?” She looked at him seriously now. “Because that didn’t look like obsession to me. That looked like love. Eyan… she really loves you.”
“That’s not possible,” he said immediately, too quickly. “There’s no way she would love m—”
BANG.
The door burst open with a thunderous crash.
Both Eyan and Violet turned sharply.
Eva stood at the doorway, her chest heaving, Luca beside her like a silent shadow. The air in the chamber instantly turned heavy.
“Lady Eva,” Eyan said coolly, his expression hardening. “Do you not know how to knock?”
Eva ignored the rebuke. She rushed forward and grabbed his hand, her fingers trembling. “Your Majesty—why?” she cried. “Why did you do this?”
“Do what?” Eyan asked, pulling his hand back slightly. “I don’t understand.”
“You were supposed to announce our engagement,” Eva said desperately. “Then why did you—”
Her gaze shifted to Violet standing beside him.
Violet lifted her chin, her posture proud and unyielding.
Eyan laughed softly and finally pulled his hand away from Eva’s grasp. “So you’re upset because you didn’t get what you wanted?”
“I only wanted to marry you,” Eva said, her voice cracking. “You even said you would.”
“I don’t remember making any promises like that,” Eyan replied flatly.
“You didn’t,” Eva began. “But your fathe—”
“Oh. My father,” Eyan interrupted, a slow realization crossing his face. “Now I understand.”
He looked at her coldly. “Lady Eva, this is my life. I will decide whom I marry—not my father. You took his words for granted. That mistake is yours, not mine.”
Then he gestured toward Violet. “And the woman I’ve chosen to marry is Violet. Not you.”
Eva’s face drained of all color. She turned to Violet and grabbed her hand. “Your Highness,” she begged, her voice shaking. “Please… don’t marry His Majesty.”
Violet yanked her hand back sharply. “Eva,” she said coldly. “Why would I do that? His Majesty and I love each other deeply.”
“You… love each other?” Eva whispered.
She turned back to Eyan. “Your Majesty, you said she was just your friend from the Imperial Academy.”
Eyan laughed again—this time darker. “Looks like I forgot to tell you something important.”
He met Eva’s gaze without mercy. “Violet and I were in a relationship for five years while we studied at the Imperial Academy.”
Eva staggered back. “No… that’s a lie.”
“If you think I’m lying,” Eyan said calmly, “then ask Luca.”
Eva turned desperately to Luca and rushed to him. She searched his face, pleading for denial.
Luca lowered his eyes and said nothing. That silence was her answer.
Eva’s hands trembled uncontrollably.
“You have your answer, Lady Eva,” Eyan said coldly. “Now leave. I have matters to discuss with my future wife.”
Eva didn’t move.
Her hands trembled violently at her sides. Slowly—painfully—she turned back toward him. Then, to everyone’s shock, she lowered herself to the floor before Eyan, folding her legs beneath her as if surrendering her pride entirely.
“You may marry Her Highness,” Eva said softly. “Make her your wife.”
“I don’t need your permission—”
“And take me as your mistress.”
The word hit like a crack of thunder.
Eyan froze.
Something unseen fractured beneath the calm mask he wore—a faint, strained creak escaping as his composure faltered for the first time.
“Lady Eva, stop,” Luca snapped, rushing forward and grabbing her arm. “That’s enough. Don’t degrade yourself—”
Eva tore her arm free violently.
“No,” she said, her voice shaking but fierce. “I can go even lower if that’s what it takes to stay by his side.”
Violet stiffened, her nails digging into her palms.
Eyan closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. When he opened them again, the warmth was gone.
He stepped forward and sat down in front of Eva, his gaze sharp and unforgiving.
“Lady Eva,” he said quietly, “do you understand what you’re saying?”
She smiled—a broken, desperate smile. “I , Your Majesty. Just take me. I’ll be there for you… I’ll warm your bed at night.”
“LADY EVA!”
Eyan's shout thundered through the chamber.
Eva flinched, her shoulders jerking as if struck.
Eyan rose to his feet, his face flushed red with anger, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened. The air itself seemed to recoil from his fury.
To be continued —
