Chapter 383
Later that night, once the guests had departed and the corridors grew quiet, everyone began retreating to their chambers. Katelyn walked slowly, her heart beating faster as she spotted Sage waiting outside her door.
Earlier, during their dance, she had asked him to meet her here.
As she approached, Sage turned his head toward her. The sudden contact of their eyes made her falter, her fingers curling into her palms.
“What was it you couldn’t say earlier?” Sage asked.
“Ah… that Katelyn began, gathering her courage as she stepped closer. But before she could finish, her heel caught on the hem of her gown. She stumbled forward with a small gasp.
In an instant, Sage’s hands were on her, steadying her. Her fingers clutched at his arms instinctively, feeling the firm strength beneath them.
“Careful, Princess,” Sage murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“Thank you,” Katelyn said, her gaze meeting his again. She fiddled with her fingers, worrying her lower lip.
His thumb brushed across her mouth. “Don’t. You’ll chap it p>
Katelyn pressed her lips together.
“Why are you hesitating to speak?” he asked, amused.
“I’m not. I was going to ask how I might win your mother’s amulet back from you,” she said at last. “It was meant for me. It wasn’t entirely my fault that I tossed the bag after you told me. So, you should give me a chance p>
“Why are you so insistent on having my mother’s amulet?” Sage asked, baffled by her persistence.
“I told you before. What if your mother asks me about it again? What will I say? She already asked if I liked the gift, and I had to lie. As long as I’m with you, I should at least know the things you care about, including your mother’s amulet p>
“Hmm. Just win me, and I’ll give it to you,” Sage replied.
“And how exactly am I supposed to ’win’ you? You’re not some trophy,” Katelyn frowned, her eyes searching his.
“Like this.” Sage leaned forward suddenly and brushed his lips against hers.
Katelyn went frozen.
“Pamper me the way a girlfriend should,” he teased. Then, flicking his fingers before her face, he added with a widening smirk, “Why aren’t you blinking? Did my kiss shock you p>
“You can’t do that to me,” Katelyn muttered, blinking rapidly now. “I told you not to play with my heart. I shouldn’t have even asked p>
As Katelyn pivoted on her heels to leave, Sage’s hand closed around her arm, halting her in place. With a sudden tug, he drew her back, leaning close until his breath brushed her ear.
“Kate,” he murmured, “I know who the man is that you like. Goodnight. I’ll see you in the morning p>
Before she could turn to demand an explanation, he was already gone, vanishing from her sight as swiftly as he had appeared.
Her stomach tightened. ’He knows about Karmen. But how?’ The thought made her swallow hard, panic curling through her chest. If Sage decided to tell her parents, it would be disastrous. And yet, for now, she was helpless, she didn’t even know where he was staying.
“Calm down, Kate. Maybe he’s simply testing you. He doesn’t know,” she told herself, taking a deep breath. Then, exhaling it, she went back to her chamber, where maids were already waiting for her.
Dominick stepped into the room after freshening up and changing into clean clothes. His gaze immediately fell on Juniper, lying motionless on the bed. At first glance, she seemed asleep, and it worried him that why she went to bed.
He hurried to her side, sitting down and leaning closer, only to find her eyes wide open, fixed on him.
“I thought you’d already fallen asleep because—” he began softly.
Juniper’s voice cut through his words, sharp and edged. “Why did you ruin it for us p>
Dominick blinked, bewildered. “What do you mean p>
“You could have told your elder brother to choose another day, Nick,” Juniper said, her voice trembling. “I dreamt of this day for so long. We were supposed to be the couple everyone remembered. But no, you let your brother share it with Zilia.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she brushed them away with shaking fingers.
“June, sit up,” Dominick urged gently, leaning back to give her space. “I thought you would like it p>
Juniper pushed herself upright, turning her face aside. “Why would I like it? Everyone forgot that it was our wedding day, not Casaio’s and Zilia’s. And as if that weren’t enough, your father declared your brother the next king. Everything was about them, Nick. Not us p>
Dominick frowned, confusion knotting his brow. “I don’t know why you’re thinking this way. It isn’t true. People congratulated both of us. We sought the blessings of our elders, we laughed, we celebrated. You were happy. You’ve always been happy in others’ joy. So why this sudden anger?” he murmured, still puzzled by her reaction.
“Nick, yes, I find happiness in others’ joy,” Juniper said, her lips quivering. “But I never meant to share this day with anyone else. You’re not understanding me. I wanted us to be the center of the news tomorrow. But what happened… It was the complete opposite. Your family favored Zilia and Casaio. Wasn’t she a spy? And yet your father chose her to be the next Queen for your brother p>
Dominick stared at her, disbelief written across his face. Juniper had never spoken like this before, then why was she acting so strangely now?
“Just… sleep,” Juniper muttered. “It’s been a tiring day for both of us. Switch off the light, and don’t touch me. I’m just not in the mood.” She lay back down, pulling the blanket over herself and turning her back to him.
Dominick stood up slowly and turned off the lights. He slid inside the blanket from the other side and found Juniper turned her back again.
’Why she addressed Zilia as a spy? Why do I get a wrong feeling about you, June p>