Everyone in the palace knew Princess Naiya for her volatile temper, and they did everything in their power to avoid crossing her path. Yet it had not gone unnoticed that since the arrival of the neighboring prince, her usual outbursts had ceased entirely.
Ellen's palm hovered over her face as numbness spread through it, her ears ringing while a sharp sting throbbed across her cheek. What had she done to anger the princess? Whatever it was, she had to apologize before matters spiraled beyond control. She dropped to her knees at once, pressing her forehead against the cold marble floor. "My princess, forgive me for whatever I have done," she pleaded, though her words never reached Naiya's ears.
All of the princess's attention was fixed on the prince—the one who had dared raise his voice at her over a filthy maid.
How dare she? How dare he?
Naiya's chest rose and fell as she struggled to process what had just occurred. No one had ever shouted at her, not even her own family. To be reprimanded over a scruffy servant was an insult she would not endure. Her eyes narrowed as a sinister smile curled across her lips, her brown gaze locking onto Barron's green eyes as though searching for something buried deep within him.
Unbeknownst to most in the kingdom, every member of the royal family possessed a gift unique to them alone. Naiya's was the ability to discern emotions by gazing into another's eyes, as though she were peering directly into their soul. She saw it clearly now—where once his heart had leaned toward her, it now beat for another. He loved the maid. And that truth burned.
She could not alter his feelings, nor could she punish him, for his status rivaled her own. So all of that fury, that humiliation, had only one place to go. The maid. She would erase the filthy creature entirely and punish the prince in the cruelest way possible for daring to choose someone else.
Her gaze dropped to Ellen, and in a vicious motion, she seized the maid by the hair. Ellen's eyes widened in shock as pain tore through her scalp, the grip so brutal it felt as though her hair would be ripped free. Naiya began to move, her heels striking the marble with sharp authority as she dragged the maid along.
Prince Barron's eyes widened, his lips parting in disbelief. What was she about to do to the woman he loved?
"Princess Naiya!" he shouted, rushing after her. She only quickened her pace, her grip tightening with every step as Ellen cried out in agony.
Ellen remained unaware of her crime, though years of service had taught her that understanding was unnecessary—only submission mattered. "Your Highness, forgive me!" she sobbed. "I swear it will never happen again!" Tears flooded her eyes as blood rushed to her head, her scalp screaming beneath the merciless pull. Her pleas were music to Naiya's ears, and she smiled with the delight of a child receiving a long-awaited gift.
"It will never repeat itself, dear," Naiya hummed sweetly. She intended to end the creature permanently.
Barron finally caught up, grabbing Ellen's arm in an attempt to halt the princess. He tried to pull her away, but Naiya's grip did not loosen. The harder he pulled, the more Ellen screamed, each cry tearing at his heart. "Let go of her this instant," he snarled, his teeth clenched as his eyes bore into the princess. Shock rippled through him—this was not the woman who had always appeared gentle and composed in his presence.
Naiya turned slowly toward him, his defiance only feeding the inferno within her. She smiled at him, though it never reached her eyes. Her fingers loosened, and Ellen gasped in relief, confusion clouding her pain as she wondered why the prince would defend her so fiercely.
The moment Barron's tense expression eased, Naiya struck.
With inhuman speed, she seized Ellen's other arm and wrenched it violently. Fangs slid into view as her brown eyes bled into a deep, unnatural red. A sickening sound split the air as flesh tore apart, and Ellen's arm was ripped clean from her body.
A bloodcurdling scream erupted from Ellen's throat as blood sprayed across the marble, splattering both Barron and Naiya. The metallic stench filled the hall. Naiya calmly wiped a smear of blood from her face with her finger and brought it to her lips, licking it slowly. "Tsk," she murmured. "It tastes just as awful as the owner looks."
Her eyes faded back to brown, her fangs vanishing as satisfaction settled across her face. Without another glance, she turned away, her heels clicking softly as she walked off.
Ellen collapsed to the floor, her once bright golden-brown eyes wide with unbearable pain. Blood spilled from her parted lips as it soaked her dress, her heartbeat faltering. Her head came to rest against Barron's thighs as she drew her final breath.
A tear slipped down his face, landing on her pale skin. His trembling fingers searched her neck for a pulse and found nothing. She was gone.
"No!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the hall as anguish tore through his chest. Cradling her face, he pressed a gentle kiss to her cold lips, sobbing as he rested his head against her bloodied chest.
Not far away, Oryen stood frozen, her hands covering her mouth as she watched in horror. Tears streamed down her face as disbelief consumed her. This couldn't be real. Ellen would wake up—she always did. She would sing again. She would smile again.
She had to.