đ
The capital did not welcome her.
It watched.
---
From the highest towers to the lowest streets, whispers spread faster than wind.
"The Grand Duke is returningâŠ"
"They say she fought something unnaturalâŠ"
"Noâworse. They say she was the unnatural one."
---
Rumors changed quickly.
Truth didn't matter.
Perception did.
---
And as the massive gates of the capital slowly openedâ
Every eye turned toward her.
---
Rosy rode at the front.
Black armor gleaming under the fading light.
Her posture straight.
Her presenceâunshakable.
---
Behind her, the Blackwell soldiers followed in perfect formation.
Silent.
Disciplined.
Loyal.
---
But it wasn't them the people were watching.
---
It was her.
---
"âŠShe's different."
"That auraâŠ"
"Was she always like that?"
---
Rosy heard them.
Ignored them.
---
Because her gaze was fixed ahead.
---
On the palace.
---
And beyond itâ
---
The Blackwell estate.
---
---
"You're being watched."
---
Of course.
---
"âŠThey always were," she replied calmly.
---
A soft chuckle.
---
"Not like this."
---
She didn't respond.
Because she already knew.
---
This wasn't curiosity anymore.
---
It was fear.
---
---
By the time she reached the palace gatesâ
They were already waiting.
---
The royal guards stood in formation.
Unmoving.
Unyielding.
---
And at the centerâ
---
The Crown Prince.
---
His expression cold.
His gaze sharp.
---
"âŠGrand Duke," he greeted.
---
Rosy dismounted gracefully.
Her movements controlled.
Precise.
---
"Your Highness."
---
A pause.
---
Thenâ
---
"You took longer than expected."
---
Her eyes met his.
---
"There were complications."
---
His gaze flickered slightly.
---
"âŠSo I've heard."
---
Silence stretched between them.
---
Tensionâ
Thick.
---
---
"And yet," he continued, stepping closer, "you return without a single injury."
---
A subtle accusation.
---
Rosy didn't flinch.
---
"Should I have returned injured?"
---
A beat.
---
The guards shifted slightly.
---
The prince's eyes narrowed.
---
"You seem⊠different."
---
There it was again.
---
She tilted her head slightly.
---
"People keep saying that."
---
A faint smile.
---
"Perhaps you're only noticing now."
---
---
The prince's jaw tightened.
---
"âŠYou will report to the court."
---
"Of course."
---
---
As she walked past himâ
---
"âŠIsle."
---
She paused.
---
But didn't turn.
---
"âŠYes?"
---
A brief silence.
---
"âŠDo not forget your place."
---
---
Her lips curved faintly.
---
Not amused.
---
Not kind.
---
---
"âŠI never did."
---
---
And thenâ
---
She walked away.
---
---
The court assembled faster than expected.
---
Because thisâ
---
Wasn't just a report.
---
It was a spectacle.
---
---
The hall was filled.
Nobles.
Officials.
Observers.
---
And at the centerâ
---
The throne.
---
Empty.
---
---
Rosy stepped forward.
---
Unshaken.
---
Unbothered.
---
---
"Grand Duke Isle Blackwell," an official announced.
---
Her name echoed.
---
Heavy.
---
Important.
---
---
And yetâ
---
Incomplete.
---
---
She stood in the center.
---
Waiting.
---
Watching.
---
---
Thenâ
---
The doors opened.
---
Slowly.
---
He entered.
---
---
The head of the Blackwell family.
---
Her father.
---
---
Tall.
Elegant.
---
Too perfect.
---
Too young.
---
---
The room fell silent instantly.
---
Because his presenceâ
---
Demanded it.
---
---
Rosy's breath slowed.
---
Not in fear.
---
But in recognition.
---
---
That feeling again.
---
---
"âŠFather."
---
The word felt unfamiliar.
---
Heavy.
---
---
His gaze landed on her.
---
And for a momentâ
---
Everything else faded.
---
---
"âŠIsle."
---
His voice was calm.
Measured.
---
Too calm.
---
---
A pause.
---
Thenâ
---
"You've returned."
---
---
Something about the way he said itâ
---
Was wrong.
---
---
Not relief.
Not concern.
---
---
Expectation.
---
---
"Yes," she replied.
---
Their eyes locked.
---
---
"âŠAnd you've changed."
---
---
There it was again.
---
---
Rosy's lips curved faintly.
---
"So it seems."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"âŠHow much do you remember?"
---
---
The question droppedâ
---
And the entire room shifted.
---
---
The nobles didn't understand.
---
The prince frowned.
---
But Rosyâ
---
Froze.
---
---
Because thatâ
---
Wasn't a normal question.
---
---
Her eyes sharpened.
---
"âŠWhat should I remember?"
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Thenâ
---
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
---
---
"Interesting."
---
---
The word sent a chill through the room.
---
---
"You broke it faster than I expected."
---
---
Gasps.
---
Confusion.
---
Whispers.
---
---
"âŠWhat is he talking about?"
---
---
But Rosyâ
---
Understood.
---
---
Her grip tightened slightly.
---
"âŠYou sealed me."
---
---
The words were quiet.
---
But they echoed.
---
---
The entire court froze.
---
---
The prince stepped forward.
---
"âŠWhat nonsense are youâ"
---
"Silence."
---
---
The command wasn't loud.
---
But it was absolute.
---
---
And it didn't come from her.
---
---
It came from him.
---
---
The room obeyed instantly.
---
---
Because his presenceâ
---
Was overwhelming.
---
---
"âŠSo you do remember," he said softly.
---
---
Rosy didn't move.
---
Didn't blink.
---
---
"âŠNot everything."
---
---
A pause.
---
Thenâ
---
"That's unfortunate."
---
---
His gaze darkened slightly.
---
---
"Because it would have saved time."
---
---
The air grew heavy.
---
Almost suffocating.
---
---
"âŠWhy?" she asked.
---
---
Her voice steady.
---
But her eyesâ
---
Burning.
---
---
"Why did you seal me?"
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Thenâ
---
He stepped forward.
---
Slow.
---
Deliberate.
---
---
And stopped just in front of her.
---
---
"âŠBecause you were becoming something you shouldn't."
---
---
Her breath didn't change.
---
---
"âŠAnd what is that?"
---
---
A pause.
---
---
Thenâ
---
His hand liftedâ
---
And for a brief momentâ
---
It hovered near her face.
---
---
Not touching.
---
But close enough.
---
---
"âŠA god."
---
---
Silence.
---
Total.
---
---
The word echoedâ
---
Not just in the roomâ
---
But inside her.
---
---
Something deep within herâ
---
Reacted.
---
---
Not in denial.
---
---
In recognition.
---
---
Her pupils trembled slightly.
---
---
"âŠThat's not possible," she said.
---
---
But her voiceâ
---
Wasn't certain.
---
---
His smile deepened.
---
---
"You've always said that."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"Right before you proved yourself wrong."
---
---
Her heart poundedâ
---
Not from fear.
---
---
From something else.
---
---
Something ancient.
---
---
"âŠThen why didn't you kill me?" she asked.
---
---
A beat.
---
---
His expression didn't change.
---
---
"Because you're my daughter."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
And thenâ
---
"âŠAnd because I wanted to seeâŠ"
---
---
His gaze darkened.
---
---
"âŠif you could break it."
---
---
The realization hitâ
---
Hard.
---
---
"âŠYou planned this."
---
---
A faint smile.
---
---
"Of course I did."
---
---
The room felt colder.
---
---
Because this wasn't control.
---
---
This was calculation.
---
---
"âŠThen what now?" she asked.
---
---
A pause.
---
---
Thenâ
---
He stepped back.
---
---
"âŠNow?"
---
---
His smile didn't reach his eyes.
---
---
"Now we see what you've become."
---
---
The tension snapped.
---
---
And in that momentâ
---
Rosy understood.
---
---
This wasn't over.
---
---
It had just begun.
---
---
And this timeâ
---
She wasn't just fighting the story.
---
---
She was fighting the one who wrote it.
---
---
End of Chapter 13