Cordelia moved her hands in a smooth, rhythmic motion as she chanted an ancient spell under her breath. Moments later, a shimmering mirror materialized out of thin air, startling Candice and causing her eyes to widen in surprise.
Unfazed by the reaction, Cordelia continued reciting the incantation without pause. The mirror's once-silent surface rippled like disturbed water before gradually clearing. Soon, vivid images began to appear within it. No... they weren't merely images. It was a living scene unfolding before their very eyes, as though the mirror had become a window into another place and another time.
In the scene reflected within the mirror, a young woman was seated quietly in the living room of Candice's house. At first, her face was slightly obscured, but as the image became clearer, everyone present recognized her. It was Nyx.
King Sébastien's eyes widened in shock, and a sharp gasp escaped his lips. There was no mistaking the woman before him. His beloved wife was sitting there with a gentle smile gracing her beautiful face, a bottle of wine cradled carefully in her hands. She extended it toward Candice in what appeared to be a warm, friendly gesture, completely unaware of what would follow.
Candice accepted the bottle with a grateful smile before turning around and leaving the living room. Without wasting another second, she headed toward her husband's study, where he was busy attending to his work, the wine held securely in her hands.
The man looked up from what he was doing as his wife entered the study. A gentle smile spread across his face the moment he saw her.
"Honey, what are you doing here?" he asked in a caring tone.
"The Queen gave us this bottle of wine as a gift. You know I'm not really good at drinking this type of wine, so I decided to bring it to you instead," Candice said lovingly as she handed him the bottle.
"Thank you, my love," the man replied with a warm smile, taking it from her hands. He admired her for a brief moment before setting the bottle on his desk, completely unaware that it would soon cost him his life.
"I'll leave you to your work now," Candice said softly.
"Sure. Once again, thank you."
Candice simply nodded before turning around and quietly leaving the study. The room fell silent once more as the man resumed his work. After a while, he uncorked the bottle, poured himself a glass of wine, and drank it without the slightest suspicion.
Two hours later, Nyx had already returned to the palace, believing the visit had ended peacefully. Meanwhile, Candice's husband suddenly began shaking violently inside his study. His body convulsed uncontrollably as an unbearable pain tore through him. Blood started gushing from all seven of his orifices, staining his clothes, his desk, and the floor beneath him.
He tried to call for help, but the agony stole his voice. His vision blurred, his breathing became labored, and within moments, the life drained from his body.
He bled to death.
The once-quiet study became his final resting place. With no one checking on him throughout the night, his lifeless body remained where it had fallen until the following morning, when the servants opened the study door and were met with a horrifying sight that sent shockwaves through the entire household.
Cordelia swiftly swung her hands, and the scene within the magical mirror came to an abrupt halt. The shimmering surface gradually returned to normal before disappearing into thin air as though it had never existed.
Sebastian slowly lowered himself into his seat, his body drenched in cold sweat. His heart pounded violently against his chest as countless thoughts raced through his mind. He couldn't bring himself to believe that the woman he loved—the woman he had always defended without hesitation—could be so vicious.
What reason could Nyx possibly have for killing Candice's husband if not out of sheer wickedness?
But why?
Nyx was supposed to be Candice's best friend. Why would she deliberately inflict such unbearable pain on someone she claimed to care about? The more he thought about it, the less it made sense, yet the horrifying scene he had just witnessed continued to replay in his mind.
Lost in his thoughts, Sebastian failed to notice the faintly frightened expressions on the faces of the two women standing before him. The scene they had just watched was filled with loopholes and unanswered questions. Silently, both Candice and Cordelia prayed that he wouldn't notice them.
Thankfully, he didn't.
Nyx was the woman he loved, yet she had now brought disgrace upon him and the entire kingdom. If this truth became public, the royal family's reputation would be ruined beyond repair.
No... I have to do something. This must never leave this room, Sebastian thought grimly.
He finally looked at Cordelia and Candice, his expression unusually solemn.
"Return in two days," he instructed. "Until then, not a word of this must leave your lips. Keep everything you've seen a secret."
"Yes, Your Majesty," they replied in unison, curtseying respectfully before turning to leave.
The moment they stepped outside the chamber, a sinister smile slowly crept across Candice's face.
Her plan had already begun.
The Next Day...
Queen Nyx returned from her homeland accompanied by several royal guards, completely unaware of everything that had transpired during her absence. A cheerful smile graced her lips as she softly hummed a pleasant tune, her heart overflowing with excitement. It had only been a short time, yet she already couldn't wait to see her beloved husband again.
However, the moment she stepped into the palace grounds, an uneasy feeling settled in her heart.
Normally, Sebastian would have been the first to welcome her home, greeting her with that warm smile she loved so much. But this time... he was nowhere to be seen.
It was unusual.
For a brief moment, she wondered if something had happened, but she quickly brushed the thought aside. He must be busy with royal duties, she told herself with a reassuring smile.
A few minutes after her arrival, her personal maid, Janis, approached and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has summoned you."
Nyx's smile widened.
"I'll go right away," she replied without hesitation.
Completely unaware of the storm awaiting her, she made her way toward the King's chambers. But the instant she pushed the door open, the smile on her face slowly faded.
A heavy, gloomy atmosphere filled the room.
The air itself felt suffocating.
Her eyes instinctively searched for Sebastian, only to find him staring at her with an expression she had never seen before.
Confusion flashed across her face.
What was going on?