Damned by Him

Breakfast had already been laid by the time Rosaline entered the dining hall, yet the sight that usually would have stirred her curiosity barely managed to hold her attention. The long table was crowded with dishes unlike those she was accustomed to seeing in the mountain estate... steamed rice arranged in delicate mounds, fragrant noodles glistening beneath the morning light, dumplings nestled neatly inside bamboo baskets, tender pieces of glazed duck, stir-fried vegetables, and several other delicacies whose unfamiliar aromas mingled pleasantly in the warm room.

Rosaline slowed beside her chair, looking over the feast with faint curiosity before taking her seat.

"It seems breakfast has become rather extravagant."

She murmured the words, but her gaze had already drifted toward the doors.

Where was Xandros?

She lowered her eyes and picked up her chopsticks, turning a piece of food around without eating it. He had left early, that much Lily had told her. Yet the knowledge offered no comfort. Instead, it only gave her mind more room to wander, and no matter how many times she tried to think of something else, the same image returned to her.

The woman.

Xandros.

His face buried against her neck.

Rosaline’s fingers tightened slightly around the chopsticks.

She hated that she could remember every detail.

Across the table, Christophine had been eating with considerably more enthusiasm than she had ever seen Lily display. She had already cleared half the dishes before Rosaline had managed to take more than a few bites, and when Rosaline’s attention remained fixed upon nothing in particular, Christophine finally reached across the table and rapped her knuckles sharply against the polished wood.

"Are you planning to stare at your breakfast until it grows legs and walks away?"

Rosaline blinked, startled from her thoughts.

She looked up.

"I’m sorry."

Her lips curved into an apologetic smile.

"I was lost in thought."

Christophine raised an eyebrow, then glanced pointedly at the abundance of food spread before them.

"Lost in thought?"

She picked up another dumpling and bit into it without the slightest hesitation.

"With all this food sitting in front of you?"

Rosaline gave a small laugh.

"It’s nothing."

"Nothing?"

Christophine repeated, clearly unconvinced, though she made no effort to press the matter.

Instead, she continued eating.

Rosaline watched her for a moment, and a different thought gradually pushed aside the one troubling her.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Lily..."

"Hm?"

Christophine answered with her mouth half-full, entirely unconcerned about proper table manners.

"Has your appetite suddenly become larger?"

Christophine paused.

Rosaline gestured toward the empty plates surrounding her.

"You’ve eaten almost everything."

"And you’re still eating as though you haven’t had food in weeks."

Christophine looked down at the table.

Then she looked back at Rosaline.

A shrug followed.

"I just can’t get enough of the food."

She reached for another piece of duck.

"It’s good."

Rosaline couldn’t help smiling.

"It certainly seems that way."

Her gaze wandered toward the servants standing along the wall.

She had noticed something else.

The maids were not looking at Lily with their usual expressions of polite indifference. Several of them appeared openly irritated, particularly whenever one of them was forced to step forward and serve her another dish.

One maid reluctantly approached the table and refilled Christophine’s cup before retreating with an expression that was barely concealed behind her lowered gaze.

Rosaline pressed her lips together.

A quiet laugh escaped her.

Christophine immediately looked up.

"What?"

Rosaline shook her head.

"Nothing."

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, I said."

Rosaline dabbed the corner of her mouth with her napkin before carefully folding it beside her plate.

Then she pushed her chair back.

"You enjoy your meal."

She rose to her feet.

"I’m going upstairs to rest for a while."

Christophine’s chewing slowed.

Her golden eyes followed Rosaline as she stood.

"You’re leaving already?"

Rosaline nodded.

"I’m not particularly hungry."

Christophine studied her face for several seconds, as though trying to determine whether that was truly the reason.

"Alright."

Rosaline smiled faintly before turning away.

"I’ll see you later."

She walked toward the doors.

Yet even after Rosaline had disappeared from the dining hall, Christophine continued staring after her.

There was something wrong.

She could feel it.

Rosaline was eating less than usual, speaking less than usual, and every few minutes her attention wandered toward the entrance as though she were waiting for someone who had not returned.

Christophine’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Then her stomach growled.

She immediately dismissed the thought.

Whatever Rosaline’s problem was, she could worry about it later.

Food came first.

She turned toward one of the maids.

"You."

The maid stiffened.

Christophine pointed toward the far side of the table.

"Pass me that plate."

The maid hesitated.

Only for a moment.

But Christophine noticed.

Her golden eyes slowly lifted to meet the woman’s.

The maid swallowed before reluctantly reaching for the plate.

"Of course, Lily."

She carried it across the table and placed it before Christophine.

The instant her fingers loosened from the edge of the porcelain plate, Christophine snatched it away.

The sudden movement startled the maid, who jolted backward.

Christophine stared at her.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Then Christophine’s expression twisted into open displeasure.

She gave the maid a dismissive wave.

"Go."

The maid hurried away, her face tight with irritation.

Christophine watched her retreat before giving a quiet scoff.

"Unbelievable."

She pulled the plate closer and resumed eating without another thought, completely unconcerned with the offended glances of the servants around her.

Whatever else might have changed since she had entered Lily’s body...

Her appetite certainly wasn’t one of the things she intended to apologize for.

Far within the Palace, where the morning bustle of courtiers and servants gradually faded into the quieter passages reserved for the imperial family, Xandros sat in the Emperor’s private study with one leg crossed leisurely over the other, his posture composed enough to suggest that nothing in the world could disturb him.

The study itself was vast and solemn, lined from floor to ceiling with shelves of ancient volumes and leather-bound records. Tall windows opened toward the eastern gardens, allowing the pale morning light to fall across the great desk between the two men. Several scrolls and parchments had been spread across its polished surface, their edges weighted down with small bronze ornaments bearing the imperial crest.

Across from him sat the young Emperor, Darian.

Darian had handed Xandros several documents requiring his scrutiny, and Xandros had accepted them without complaint. His grey eyes moved over the first parchment, then the second, his expression remaining as unreadable as ever.

At least, that was what it appeared to be.

In truth, he had read the same paragraph three times.

His gaze rested upon the words, but his mind was nowhere near them.

Rosaline.

The sudden distance in her eyes.

The way she had refused to answer him.

The door slamming behind her.

And, most irritatingly, Christophine’s strange words from the previous evening.

If you were only going to break her heart... why didn’t you at least allow me to use it for something meaningful?

Xandros’ fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the parchment.

What exactly had Rosaline told her?

Across the desk, Darian watched him.

At first, the Emperor said nothing.

He merely tilted his head.

Then his gaze shifted toward the parchment in Xandros’ hands.

Then toward Xandros’ face.

Then back toward the parchment.

Several moments passed.

Xandros turned another page.

He did not read a single word.

Darian’s eyes narrowed.

"Xandros."

No response.

The young Emperor leaned forward.

"Xandros."

Still nothing.

His expression slowly changed from curiosity to amusement.

Then, without warning, he knocked his knuckles sharply against the desk.

Bang.

Xandros’ eyes finally lifted.

"What?"

Darian stared at him.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing."

The answer came too quickly.

Darian’s eyebrows rose.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing." Xandros lowered his gaze toward the documents again.

Darian leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.

"I don’t believe you."

"You don’t have to."

"I do, actually."

Xandros ignored him.

Darian continued staring.

He stared for several seconds.

Then several more.

Xandros turned another page.

Darian stared harder.

Eventually, Xandros slowly lifted his eyes.

"Is there something on my face?"

"No."

"Then stop staring."

"I can’t."

"Why?"

"Because you’re behaving strangely."

Xandros’ expression remained blank.

"I’m behaving normally."

Darian snorted.

"You’ve been staring at the same paragraph for nearly ten minutes."

Xandros glanced down at the parchment.

"...Have I?"

"Yes."

Darian leaned farther across the desk, his eyes brightening with the unmistakable curiosity of someone who had just discovered a secret.

"You aren’t even reading those."

"I am."

"You’ve read that page three times."

Xandros said nothing.

Darian’s lips slowly curved into a grin.

There it was.

A weakness.

The young Emperor had always been notoriously curious, and once something caught his attention, he was nearly impossible to deter.

He studied Xandros’ face again.

The slight tension around his eyes.

The way his fingers rested against the parchment without turning the page.

The unusual silence.

Then suddenly...

Darian’s eyes widened.

His mouth fell open.

He pointed accusingly across the desk.

"Ah!"

Xandros’ brow furrowed.

"What?"

"I know."

"You know what?"

Darian’s grin widened until it became almost unbearable.

"Your wife."

Xandros’ expression changed instantly.

His head rose.

His grey eyes fixed directly upon Darian.

Darian’s face lit up with triumph.

"I knew it!"

Xandros stared at him.

Darian leaned forward eagerly.

"Is your wife giving you trouble?"

The silence that followed was immediate.

Xandros slowly placed the parchment upon the desk.

His crossed leg uncrossed.

For the first time that morning, every trace of his earlier indifference disappeared.

Darian’s grin only grew wider.

"Oh..."

He settled comfortably into his chair.

"Now we’re getting somewhere."