Damned by Him

Xandros followed the butler through the quiet corridors, his expression already hardening as he made his way toward the study.

The interruption had come at an inconvenient time.

He had barely begun eating with Rosaline, and although he would never admit it aloud, he had been enjoying the strange domesticity of sitting across from her while she pretended to be pleased that he had agreed to eat with her.

Now Seth had summoned him for something urgent.

By the time Xandros reached the study, Seth was already waiting near the large windows, a sealed document clutched in one hand.

The moment Xandros entered, Seth turned.

"Your Grace."

Xandros walked toward the desk.

"You said it was urgent."

"It is."

Seth placed the document on the table and broke the seal.

"The western territories have become increasingly unstable over the past few weeks."

Xandros’ expression remained unchanged.

"Explain."

Seth unfolded the letter.

"The governors of three western provinces have refused to release their grain reserves to the Imperial capital. They claim the reserves are needed because of the approaching winter, but according to the reports we’ve received, several merchant houses have already begun purchasing the grain from them at inflated prices."

Xandros’ eyes narrowed.

"Smuggling."

"Most likely."

Seth nodded.

"And it gets worse. Two of the provincial governors are related to influential nobles in the capital. They’ve been using those connections to delay the investigation."

Xandros moved toward the desk.

"How much grain has disappeared?" He asked sharply.

"Almost a quarter of the recorded reserves."

The room fell silent.

Xandros’ gaze hardened.

"That much?"

"Yes."

Seth placed another document beside the first.

"And there are rumors that the merchants intend to move the remaining stock across the western border before the first snowfall."

Xandros picked up the report.

"Why hasn’t the Imperial army intervened?"

"They have."

Seth’s mouth tightened.

"But the soldiers sent to investigate were turned away at the provincial gates."

Xandros slowly lowered the parchment.

"By whom?"

"The local forces."

A cold silence settled over the study.

That was no longer a matter of corruption.

It was defiance.

Seth watched him carefully.

"The Emperor wants this handled before it develops into something larger."

"Where is Darian?"

"At the palace."

"And he sent you?"

"He sent me with this."

Seth reached into his coat and produced another letter.

Unlike the previous documents, this one bore the unmistakable imperial seal.

Xandros took it.

He broke the seal without hesitation and unfolded the parchment.

The Emperor’s handwriting was immediately recognizable.

His eyes moved across the contents.

The message was brief but direct.

"The western provinces were becoming increasingly resistant to Imperial authority. Darian wanted the matter resolved quietly before the nobles involved realized how much information the Crown possessed."

And there was one more request.

Xandros was to travel west.

He was already scheduled to journey toward the western kingdom for the upcoming Winter Ball in Rosaline’s Kingdom, and Darian intended to use that opportunity to have him investigate the situation personally.

Xandros read the letter once.

Then again.

His fingers tightened around the parchment.

With a sudden motion, he slammed it onto the desk.

The sharp crack echoed through the study.

Seth’s eyes widened.

He stared at Xandros and noticed that something was wrong.

The Duke’s face remained composed, but there was a restrained anger beneath it, something dark and volatile lurking beneath the calm surface.

Seth had seen Xandros irritated before.

This was different.

"Your Grace?"

Xandros’ gaze remained fixed on the letter.

"I understand."

Seth hesitated.

"You do?"

"I said I understand."

His voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

Seth studied him for another moment.

Then, as Xandros turned slightly toward the window, Seth caught something strange in his grey eyes.

For the briefest instant, there was a dark shimmer within them.

Almost black.

It vanished so quickly that Seth wondered whether he had imagined it.

"Your eyes..."

Xandros turned.

Seth stopped himself.

"What?"

Seth shook his head.

"Nothing."

Xandros’ expression remained unreadable.

"I know."

Seth frowned.

"You know what?"

"The change."

Seth stared.

Xandros picked up the imperial letter and folded it neatly.

"I can control it."

His voice left no room for argument. "You may leave."

Seth remained where he was.

"Are you certain?"

Xandros looked at him.

"I said I can manage it."

Seth studied him for another second before finally nodding.

"Then I’ll have the preparations made."

"When?"

"Immediately."

Xandros glanced toward the letter.

"We leave for the western kingdom before the Winter Ball."

Seth nodded.

"I’ll inform the guards and arrange the route."

He turned toward the door.

Then paused.

"Your Grace."

Xandros looked up.

Seth hesitated before speaking.

"Try not to kill anyone before we get there."

A faint crease appeared between Xandros’ brows.

"I make no promises."

Seth sighed.

That was precisely what he had been afraid of.

He left the study and closed the door.

Xandros remained alone.

His gaze dropped toward the imperial letter once more.

Then, unexpectedly, his thoughts drifted away from the western provinces.

Rosaline.

He had left her eating.

She had looked entirely too pleased when he agreed to sit with her.

A faint tension formed between his brows.

He had told her to stay in bed.

He hoped she would listen.

Knowing Rosaline...

She probably wouldn’t.

*******

Meanwhile, Rosaline had absolutely no intention of listening.

The moment enough time had passed after Xandros’ departure, she pushed the blankets aside and pushed the food away as she carefully lowered her feet onto the floor.

She remained still for a moment.

The dizziness did not return.

Good.

She straightened.

Her body was still weaker than usual, but she could walk.

That was enough.

"Seth will probably keep him occupied for a while."

She glanced toward the closed door.

"Which means I have time."

Her greatest concern now was Lily.

The butler’s explanation had only made her more suspicious.

Why would Xandros reprimand Lily so severely that she wasn’t even allowed outside?

And why had the butler been so reluctant to tell her where she was?

Rosaline stepped into the corridor.

She knew the mansion well enough by now to recognize the places where servants moved constantly and the quieter areas where hardly anyone ventured.

If Lily had been confined somewhere, it would have to be a place where no one would accidentally stumble across her.

Rosaline walked slowly through the mansion.

She passed the main sitting room, the library, the servants’ corridor and the large eastern hall before eventually reaching a quieter section of the estate.

The atmosphere changed almost immediately.

The corridors here were dimmer.

There were fewer candles.

The walls were decorated less extravagantly, and several doors appeared to have remained unopened for long periods.

Rosaline remembered the butler mentioning this part of the mansion.

It was rarely used.

Only when the household had special duties or required additional rooms.

He hadn’t explained much beyond that.

Rosaline had thought nothing of it at the time.

Now, however...

She stopped.

Her instincts were telling her something.

She looked down the empty corridor.

"Why would Lily be here?"

She walked farther.

The silence became almost complete.

Then she heard footsteps.

Rosaline immediately stepped behind one of the pillars.

A maid appeared from around the corner.

She was carrying a small tray.

Rosaline waited until the maid passed before stepping out again.

Her eyes followed the direction the woman had come from.

A small smile slowly appeared on her face.

"Hmmm."

There was no reason for a maid to come all the way to this forgotten section of the mansion unless someone was here.

Rosaline followed.

At the very end of the corridor stood a plain wooden door.

She reached for the handle.

For some reason, her heart beat faster.

Could Lily really be here?

She pushed the door open.

"Li—"

The word died on her lips.

Rosaline stood completely still her eyes widened, almost falling out of their socket.