No longer a toy

Caspian did not realize when his nails began to dig so deeply into the frame of the oak window that it caused thin cracks to form.

His eyes were fixed sharply on Killian, who stood arrogantly before the palace gates.

For some reason, seeing that man made the blood in his veins boil. It wasn't because he felt threatened by status or wealth, but because he realized that Killian never looked at his wife as an Empress, but as a woman meant to be loved.

Even though his wife, Celeste, had never cared for Killian's feelings throughout the time the three of them spent together, it still bothered him deeply..

I hate this feeling…

Caspian muttered. Killian, who had been standing at the gate, was now being ushered in by a butler. Caspian scowled.

Without hesitation, he strode out of the room quickly.

The butler at his side struggled to keep up with Caspian's pace. The sound of their footsteps echoed throughout the hall.

Shifting to Celeste's room. She released the linen cloth she had been gripping tightly and took a long, deep breath.

Then,

Knock knock knock

A knock came at her door. Startled, she looked toward Kina, who was busy helping her pack her clothes.

They shared a brief, knowing look.

"Kina… hide all these things, quickly..."

She whispered. Without a second thought, Kina stuffed all the items they had been organizing into the wardrobe.

Celeste pretended to sit at her vanity, calmly brushing her long hair.

"Enter..."

Celeste said in a calm voice, as if nothing was happening. A butler entered with a slightly pale face. Celeste turned around.

"What happened?.."

she asked in a flat but curious tone.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty….. but Prince Killian is on his way to see you… here,"

the butler said, his breathing finally steadying.

Celeste furrowed her brows.

Why is he suddenly visiting me?..

Celeste whispered to herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror..

I don't have time to see anyone right now….

She said coldly. The butler remained silent, frequently adjusting his glasses that were nearly slipping off.

"But Your Majesty,…."

the butler said while glancing toward the long corridor. He flinched for a moment.

"There he is…. Majesty."

"Do you need me to send him back or what?.."

the butler asked. Beads of sweat began to roll down his face, and he quickly wiped them away with a handkerchief..

Celeste gasped. She looked toward the empty hallway, but at the end of the corridor, she saw a tall, muscular man walking toward her with a smile.

Celeste rubbed her brow. She then took a step, trying to see the situation outside the palace.

Celeste stood tall, her hand still holding the silver brush, but her grip was incredibly tight. Killian drew closer, his pace casual as if he owned the palace.

"Long time no see, Celeste,"

Killian's voice was soft, yet loud enough to be heard by Caspian, who was apparently standing behind a large pillar in the corridor.

Celeste looked at Killian with an arched brow.

"Prince Killian... your visit is quite a surprise. I believe I never sent out any invitation."

Killian chuckled, his eyes glancing toward the slightly ajar door of Celeste's room, revealing the wardrobe Kina had just shut.

"An invitation? I don't need an invitation to save someone from dying of boredom,"

Killian leaned in, lowering his voice right at Celeste's ear..

"Or... should I say, to save someone from being trapped in this cage that is about to break?"

Celeste flinched. Did Killian know about her plan to escape?Suddenly, a gravelly voice cut through the air.

"Keep your filthy hands away from my wife, Killian,"

Caspian said, stepping toward them. Killian turned to face Caspian.

"Woah woah…. chill," Killian raised both hands in a mock gesture of surrender, though his cynical smirk did not fade.

He showed no sign of fear despite Caspian's aura, which looked as though he wanted to kill anyone who came near him.

"I will not 'chill' while watching an uninvited guest try to poison my Empress's mind,"

Caspian stopped right between Killian and Celeste. He grabbed Celeste's shoulder with a possessive jerk, forcing her to stand behind him.

Celeste grit her teeth. Caspian's grip on her shoulder was painful.

Does he think I'm a toy? One moment he throws me away, the next he pulls me back?

Celeste whispered in her heart, the fire in her soul burning hotter. Killian laughed softly, his eyes flicking to Caspian's hand gripping Celeste's shoulder.

"Your Empress? How funny... I heard your Empress nearly froze to death yesterday while you were busy warming the bed with another woman. So, who is really poisoning whom here, Caspian?"

ZUP!!!!

The atmosphere in the corridor instantly turned cold. Caspian's face darkened completely. The veins in his neck began to bulge.

"How dare you..."

One of his hands was balled into a fist. Whether it was to hit Killian or smash a pillar, he wasn't sure.

"Enough!!!"

Celeste's voice shattered the tension. She wrenched her shoulder away from Caspian's grip with force. Her eyes glared sharply at the two men in turn.

"Prince Killian, if your purpose for coming here is just to spark a fight, the castle gates are still wide open. And you, Your Majesty..."

Celeste looked at Caspian with the coldest expression he had ever seen.

"Don't act as if you care about my safety. Your touch... is enough to make me feel disgusted."

Caspian was stunned. His hand, which had just held Celeste, now hung uselessly in the air. Celeste turned away, walking into her room without looking back.

"Kina! Close the door. I want to rest without being disturbed by any dogs barking in this corridor!"

Kina stood up and nodded slowly. Then,

BAM!

The door was slammed shut right in front of Caspian and Killian's faces. Killian stared at the closed door. Then,

"How cute!!!..."

He said loudly, intentionally loud enough for Caspian to hear as he stared at the door. As soon as he heard those words, Caspian turned his head toward Killian.

"Go back to your own kingdom!!!.."

he shouted loudly while turning to walk away. Killian smirked. Then,

"I can help!!!"

He shouted toward the door before turning around. Caspian, hearing the shout, grit his teeth. He didn't understand what Killian meant.

"Is he crazy?.."

Caspian whispered to himself, stole a quick glance behind him.

Inside Celeste's room,

The voice was heard. Celeste only shook her head slowly while continuing the work they had left unfinished earlier.

She then opened the map she had marked.

"Kina, tomorrow we go see this place…"

she said softly. Kina moved closer, her face pale as she saw Celeste's hands trembling slightly while holding the map. The sound of Killian's shout still echoed in her mind, making the room feel suffocating.

"Majesty... Prince Killian just now... does he really know?"

Kina whispered.

"What if he tells the Emperor about the things we've hidden here?"

Celeste took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart. She folded the map neatly and tucked it under the thick tablecloth.

"Killian is an opportunist, Kina. He won't tell Caspian now because he wants to use my secret as bait to bring Caspian down later. He knows that if he helps me escape, Caspian will lose his dignity as both a husband and a leader."

Celeste walked toward the closed window. She pulled the curtain slightly, looking down at the dark corridor below.

There, she could see Caspian's figure still standing still under the dim torchlight. Caspian didn't leave. He was staring at Celeste's window, his hands clenched so tight his knuckles were white.

There was no magic surrounding them, only the suffocating silence of the night. Caspian didn't understand why the "toy" who had always cried for his attention had suddenly become a woman who looked at him with disgust.

"Kina, we can't wait much longer,"

Celeste said without turning.

"Caspian is no longer just a husband who ignores me... he has become an obsessed man. And that is far more dangerous than his coldness was before."

Celeste rubbed her neck, the spot where Caspian had grabbed her earlier. It still hurt.

"Tomorrow, we go to the town. We'll find the most ordinary carriage. No royal crests, no guards. We need to get out of this cage before Caspian decides to lock its door forever."

Her eyes were filled with strong determination. Her hands were clenched. However, without them realizing it, a bird was watching them intently.

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