In the late afternoon, the palace seemed to settle into a peculiar stillness, a lull that hung between the morning's frantic rush and the quiet anticipation of evening events. Cassie moved through the eastern wing, the stone corridors cool and dim as the light began to fade.
She clutched the leather-bound ledger to her chest, its surface faintly warm from her grip. The Crown Prince had tasked her with ensuring every detail of the hunting competition was flawless, and the added responsibilities left little room for error.
The air in the hall was heavy, though she couldn’t tell if it was the chill of the palace or the unease still lingering from the night her quarters had been rifled through. No further signs of intrusion had followed, but the memory clung to her like a shadow.
Her footsteps echoed softly as she rounded a corner. She planned to inspect the last of the provisions stored near the southern courtyard before reporting back to Theodoric.
Then, just as she entered one of the narrower passageways, the stillness fractured.
“Cassandra,” a familiar voice called, smooth as silk but laced with something sharper.
Cassie stopped abruptly, her pulse spiking. She turned to find Dietrich stepping out from the shadows of a side alcove, his easy grin belying the tension in his gaze.
“Going somewhere important?” he asked, pushing off the wall and stepping closer.
“Just completing my tasks, Your Highness,” she said, keeping her voice even.
“Ah, of course,” Dietrich replied, his smile widening. “So dutiful. It’s no wonder my brother has taken such an interest in you.”
Dietrich’s words hung in the air, their implications clawing at her composure. Cassie straightened her shoulders, her face carefully blank.
“I wouldn’t presume to know the Crown Prince’s thoughts,” she said.
He chuckled, a low sound that sent a shiver up her spine. “How modest. But let’s not waste time with games.”
He stepped closer, his presence closing the distance between them. Though his smile remained, his eyes hardened, the calculated charm falling away like a mask.
“The hunting competition,” he said softly, “isn’t just sport. It’s a battlefield. Every faction in the court is watching, waiting to see who gains—or loses—favor.”
Cassie stayed silent, her grip on the ledger steady despite the unease prickling at the back of her neck.
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“My brother,” Dietrich continued, “has a way of turning everything into a power struggle. It’s his nature—rigid, unyielding, always striving for control. But even he knows that power is a delicate thing.”
He tilted his head, studying her with a predatory curiosity. “Which is where you come in.”
Cassie’s chest tightened.
“You’ve been close to him lately,” Dietrich said, his tone almost playful. “Closer than most. That must give you… insights.”
“I only do as I’m told, Your Highness,” she replied carefully.
“Of course,” he said with a faint smirk. “But surely you’ve noticed things. His strategies, his weaknesses.”
Cassie’s breath hitched, but she kept her face impassive.
“Information, Cassandra,” Dietrich murmured, his voice low and intimate. “That’s the currency that keeps this palace alive. And I happen to be a very generous buyer.”
Her fingers curled around the edge of the ledger, the leather biting into her skin.
“You’re offering me a deal,” she said flatly.
Dietrich’s grin widened. “Smart girl. Yes, a deal. You keep me informed about my dear brother’s plans for the hunting competition, and I’ll make sure you’re… protected.”
The unspoken threat laced in his words hung heavy in the air. Cassie’s stomach churned, but her expression didn’t waver.
“I think you overestimate my position,” Cassie said, her voice calm but firm. “I’m just a servant.”
“Don’t insult me, Cassandra,” Dietrich snapped, his charm momentarily slipping. His gaze darkened, the flicker of frustration unmistakable. “You’re more than that, and we both know it.”
Cassie hesitated for the briefest moment before shaking her head. “I don’t know anything about that, Your Highness.”
Dietrich’s expression stilled, his smile returning but colder now. “You’re clever, I’ll give you that. But cleverness won’t save you if you pick the wrong side.”
He leaned in, his voice a whisper that brushed against her ear. “The Crown Prince won’t protect you if you become a liability. And believe me, liabilities don’t last long in this palace.”
Cassie’s heart hammered in her chest, but her face remained impassive.
“You seem certain of that,” she said quietly.
Dietrich pulled back, his grin sharp and gleaming. “I’ve been in this game longer than you, Cassandra. I know how it ends for people like us.”
“People like us?” she echoed, unable to hide her disbelief.
He laughed, the sound low and bitter. “Don’t let the title fool you. This place devours everyone, whether you wear a crown or not. The only difference is how long it takes.”
Cassie said nothing, her silence calculated.
Dietrich sighed, feigning disappointment. “Well, I suppose I can’t force you to see sense. But remember this: when the competition begins, watch your back. No one is invincible.”
His words were laced with finality, a warning that felt more like a promise.
Dietrich stepped away, his footsteps echoing softly in the empty corridor. His figure disappeared around the corner, leaving Cassie alone in the cold silence.
She exhaled slowly, the tension in her chest refusing to ease. Her fingers uncurled from the ledger, her knuckles stiff and aching.
No one is invincible.
The phrase repeated in her mind, a dark echo that settled uneasily in her thoughts. Dietrich’s words weren’t just a warning—they were a declaration of intent.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Whatever he was planning, it was clear she was now a part of it, whether she wanted to be or not.
But she wasn’t his pawn.
Straightening her shoulders, Cassie turned and continued down the corridor, her steps firm and deliberate. The weight of the ledger in her hands felt heavier now, not with the Crown Prince’s crest but with the choices it represented.