"Repeat what you just said!" King Sebastian roared, his voice filled with rage.
"Nyx, Your Majesty," Candice stuttered.
King Sebastian took a deep breath, trying to regulate his anger.
"You do know that lying against the royal family is a death sentence, without trial, right?" King Sebastian asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I'm certain about what I'm saying," Candice replied.
"Nyx wouldn't do something like that. So, for the sake of your friendship with her, I will forgive you this one last time. Take back what you just said," King Sebastian said, trying—and failing—to control his anger.
He loved Nyx so deeply that if anyone spoke ill of her, he wouldn't hesitate to send that person to hell, regardless of who they were.
Candice felt a sharp pain pierce her heart as countless questions flooded her mind. Why does he love Nyx so much? she wondered bitterly. Is she more beautiful than every other lady in the kingdom? What makes her so special?
The jealousy and resentment she had buried for years threatened to consume her whole.
King Sebastian's eyes suddenly glowed a terrifying crimson as the last thread of his patience snapped. The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly, sending chills down Candice's spine.
Before she could even blink, his figure blurred with incredible vampire speed. In the next second, his hand was tightly wrapped around her throat, effortlessly lifting her off the ground as though she weighed nothing.
Candice gasped for air, her feet kicking helplessly in the air.
"K-King Sebastian..." she croaked, her voice barely audible as her blocked windpipe prevented her from breathing properly.
"Take back what you said. Now." His voice was cold enough to freeze blood.
His crimson eyes had already turned a frightening shade of dark red, and his sharp fangs slowly extended from his mouth, glistening under the chandelier's light. One more word, and he wouldn't hesitate to tear her apart.
"I... have proof..." Candice struggled to whisper between desperate gasps as tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
King Sebastian studied her face before loosening his grip.
Thud!
Candice collapsed onto the marble floor, coughing violently as she desperately tried to fill her burning lungs with air.
"It better be worth it," King Sebastian said coldly as he returned to his seat, his piercing gaze never leaving her trembling figure.
Two months earlier, Nyx was just a month pregnant.
She had decided to pay Candice a visit. The moment she arrived at Candice's mansion, one of the servants welcomed her with a respectful bow.
"Your Majesty," the servant greeted. "This way, please."
Nyx acknowledged him with a graceful nod before following him into the living room.
As soon as she stepped inside, her attention was drawn to a glass of vintage wine resting on the center table. Assuming it had been prepared for her, she walked over and picked it up.
The sweet fragrance of human blood immediately filled her nostrils.
Her crimson eyes flashed instinctively, and her vampire instincts took over. She slowly raised the glass to her lips, ready to take a sip.
Just then—
"Your Majesty!"
Candice hurried into the room and quickly snatched the glass from Nyx's hand, startling her.
"I'm so sorry," Candice apologized, clutching the glass to her chest. "This was specially prepared for my husband. He hardly ever drinks red wine, so I had it made just the way he likes it."
Nyx smiled apologetically.
"No, it's not your fault. I should have asked before picking it up," she said.
A relieved smile spread across Candice's face.
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty," she said, giving Nyx a playful curtsey.
"You're welcome, my lady," Nyx replied with the same playful tone, causing both women to laugh softly.
"Let me quickly drop this off for my husband," Candice said with a smile.
"Sure. I'll be waiting. I have a surprise for you," Nyx replied cheerfully.
"I'll be right back, Your Majesty."
Nyx nodded before closing her eyes and leaning comfortably against the sofa, patiently waiting for Candice's return.
The moment Candice stepped out of the living room, the warm smile on her face disappeared, replaced by a cold, sinister one.
Nyx, you're just walking right into my trap, she thought, the corners of her lips curling into a wicked smile.
After dropping the wine off for her husband, Candice returned to the living room as though nothing had happened.
The two women spent time talking and laughing together like the closest of friends. During their conversation, Nyx happily shared the wonderful news of her pregnancy.
Candice widened her eyes in surprise before wrapping Nyx in a warm embrace, showering her with heartfelt congratulations and pretending to celebrate the joyous news with her.
But behind every smile she wore and every congratulatory word she spoke was a beautifully crafted wicked plan.
To Nyx, Candice was a loyal friend.
To Candice, Nyx was nothing more than the perfect target.
Back in the present...
Two days before Candice came to the palace, she had set out on a mission to find a witch with the rare ability to conjure.
Witches with conjuring powers were extremely difficult to find, especially in Country B. Even after searching tirelessly for two whole days, she was on the verge of giving up when fate finally smiled upon her.
Without hesitation, Candice offered the witch a large amount of gold in exchange for one task—to conjure a false vision and distort the truth of what had happened in the past.
Back in the throne room, after finally catching her breath, Candice slowly rose to her feet.
"I brought a witch with the power to see the past," she announced.
A murmur swept through the room.
King Sebastian fixed his sharp gaze on her.
"Where is the witch?" he asked.
"She arrived a few minutes after me, Your Majesty," Candice replied respectfully.
King Sebastian glanced at the guard who had entered earlier. Without uttering a single word, he used telepathy to command him to let the witch in.
The guard immediately bowed before leaving to carry out the king's order.
The guards bowed respectfully before turning around and walking out of the throne room.
A few minutes later, the large doors opened once again.
A beautiful woman with long black hair and piercing green eyes stepped inside. Her presence immediately caught everyone's attention. There was something mysterious about her, something that made the atmosphere in the room become heavier.
She walked forward gracefully before stopping in front of the throne.
"I am Cordelia, Your Majesty," she introduced herself with a slight bow. "I am a witch, and I possess the ability to see the past."
Cordelia paused for a brief moment, carefully choosing her words.
She deliberately left out the other ability she possessed—the power to conjure.
No one in the room needed to know everything about her abilities.
King Sebastian studied her with a sharp gaze before speaking.
"So, I assume you already know the reason for your presence here," he said.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cordelia replied calmly.
She raised her hand slightly, preparing herself.
"I will begin immediately."