š
The capital did not welcome her.
It watched.
---
From the highest towers to the lowest streets, whispers spread faster than wind.
"The Grand Duke is returningā¦"
"They say she fought something unnaturalā¦"
"Noāworse. They say she was the unnatural one."
---
Rumors changed quickly.
Truth didn't matter.
Perception did.
---
And as the massive gates of the capital slowly openedā
Every eye turned toward her.
---
Rosy rode at the front.
Black armor gleaming under the fading light.
Her posture straight.
Her presenceāunshakable.
---
Behind her, the Blackwell soldiers followed in perfect formation.
Silent.
Disciplined.
Loyal.
---
But it wasn't them the people were watching.
---
It was her.
---
"ā¦She's different."
"That auraā¦"
"Was she always like that?"
---
Rosy heard them.
Ignored them.
---
Because her gaze was fixed ahead.
---
On the palace.
---
And beyond itā
---
The Blackwell estate.
---
---
"You're being watched."
---
Of course.
---
"ā¦They always were," she replied calmly.
---
A soft chuckle.
---
"Not like this."
---
She didn't respond.
Because she already knew.
---
This wasn't curiosity anymore.
---
It was fear.
---
---
By the time she reached the palace gatesā
They were already waiting.
---
The royal guards stood in formation.
Unmoving.
Unyielding.
---
And at the centerā
---
The Crown Prince.
---
His expression cold.
His gaze sharp.
---
"ā¦Grand Duke," he greeted.
---
Rosy dismounted gracefully.
Her movements controlled.
Precise.
---
"Your Highness."
---
A pause.
---
Thenā
---
"You took longer than expected."
---
Her eyes met his.
---
"There were complications."
---
His gaze flickered slightly.
---
"ā¦So I've heard."
---
Silence stretched between them.
---
Tensionā
Thick.
---
---
"And yet," he continued, stepping closer, "you return without a single injury."
---
A subtle accusation.
---
Rosy didn't flinch.
---
"Should I have returned injured?"
---
A beat.
---
The guards shifted slightly.
---
The prince's eyes narrowed.
---
"You seemā¦ different."
---
There it was again.
---
She tilted her head slightly.
---
"People keep saying that."
---
A faint smile.
---
"Perhaps you're only noticing now."
---
---
The prince's jaw tightened.
---
"ā¦You will report to the court."
---
"Of course."
---
---
As she walked past himā
---
"ā¦Isle."
---
She paused.
---
But didn't turn.
---
"ā¦Yes?"
---
A brief silence.
---
"ā¦Do not forget your place."
---
---
Her lips curved faintly.
---
Not amused.
---
Not kind.
---
---
"ā¦I never did."
---
---
And thenā
---
She walked away.
---
---
The court assembled faster than expected.
---
Because thisā
---
Wasn't just a report.
---
It was a spectacle.
---
---
The hall was filled.
Nobles.
Officials.
Observers.
---
And at the centerā
---
The throne.
---
Empty.
---
---
Rosy stepped forward.
---
Unshaken.
---
Unbothered.
---
---
"Grand Duke Isle Blackwell," an official announced.
---
Her name echoed.
---
Heavy.
---
Important.
---
---
And yetā
---
Incomplete.
---
---
She stood in the center.
---
Waiting.
---
Watching.
---
---
Thenā
---
The doors opened.
---
Slowly.
---
He entered.
---
---
The head of the Blackwell family.
---
Her father.
---
---
Tall.
Elegant.
---
Too perfect.
---
Too young.
---
---
The room fell silent instantly.
---
Because his presenceā
---
Demanded it.
---
---
Rosy's breath slowed.
---
Not in fear.
---
But in recognition.
---
---
That feeling again.
---
---
"ā¦Father."
---
The word felt unfamiliar.
---
Heavy.
---
---
His gaze landed on her.
---
And for a momentā
---
Everything else faded.
---
---
"ā¦Isle."
---
His voice was calm.
Measured.
---
Too calm.
---
---
A pause.
---
Thenā
---
"You've returned."
---
---
Something about the way he said itā
---
Was wrong.
---
---
Not relief.
Not concern.
---
---
Expectation.
---
---
"Yes," she replied.
---
Their eyes locked.
---
---
"ā¦And you've changed."
---
---
There it was again.
---
---
Rosy's lips curved faintly.
---
"So it seems."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"ā¦How much do you remember?"
---
---
The question droppedā
---
And the entire room shifted.
---
---
The nobles didn't understand.
---
The prince frowned.
---
But Rosyā
---
Froze.
---
---
Because thatā
---
Wasn't a normal question.
---
---
Her eyes sharpened.
---
"ā¦What should I remember?"
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Thenā
---
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
---
---
"Interesting."
---
---
The word sent a chill through the room.
---
---
"You broke it faster than I expected."
---
---
Gasps.
---
Confusion.
---
Whispers.
---
---
"ā¦What is he talking about?"
---
---
But Rosyā
---
Understood.
---
---
Her grip tightened slightly.
---
"ā¦You sealed me."
---
---
The words were quiet.
---
But they echoed.
---
---
The entire court froze.
---
---
The prince stepped forward.
---
"ā¦What nonsense are youā"
---
"Silence."
---
---
The command wasn't loud.
---
But it was absolute.
---
---
And it didn't come from her.
---
---
It came from him.
---
---
The room obeyed instantly.
---
---
Because his presenceā
---
Was overwhelming.
---
---
"ā¦So you do remember," he said softly.
---
---
Rosy didn't move.
---
Didn't blink.
---
---
"ā¦Not everything."
---
---
A pause.
---
Thenā
---
"That's unfortunate."
---
---
His gaze darkened slightly.
---
---
"Because it would have saved time."
---
---
The air grew heavy.
---
Almost suffocating.
---
---
"ā¦Why?" she asked.
---
---
Her voice steady.
---
But her eyesā
---
Burning.
---
---
"Why did you seal me?"
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Thenā
---
He stepped forward.
---
Slow.
---
Deliberate.
---
---
And stopped just in front of her.
---
---
"ā¦Because you were becoming something you shouldn't."
---
---
Her breath didn't change.
---
---
"ā¦And what is that?"
---
---
A pause.
---
---
Thenā
---
His hand liftedā
---
And for a brief momentā
---
It hovered near her face.
---
---
Not touching.
---
But close enough.
---
---
"ā¦A god."
---
---
Silence.
---
Total.
---
---
The word echoedā
---
Not just in the roomā
---
But inside her.
---
---
Something deep within herā
---
Reacted.
---
---
Not in denial.
---
---
In recognition.
---
---
Her pupils trembled slightly.
---
---
"ā¦That's not possible," she said.
---
---
But her voiceā
---
Wasn't certain.
---
---
His smile deepened.
---
---
"You've always said that."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"Right before you proved yourself wrong."
---
---
Her heart poundedā
---
Not from fear.
---
---
From something else.
---
---
Something ancient.
---
---
"ā¦Then why didn't you kill me?" she asked.
---
---
A beat.
---
---
His expression didn't change.
---
---
"Because you're my daughter."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
And thenā
---
"ā¦And because I wanted to seeā¦"
---
---
His gaze darkened.
---
---
"ā¦if you could break it."
---
---
The realization hitā
---
Hard.
---
---
"ā¦You planned this."
---
---
A faint smile.
---
---
"Of course I did."
---
---
The room felt colder.
---
---
Because this wasn't control.
---
---
This was calculation.
---
---
"ā¦Then what now?" she asked.
---
---
A pause.
---
---
Thenā
---
He stepped back.
---
---
"ā¦Now?"
---
---
His smile didn't reach his eyes.
---
---
"Now we see what you've become."
---
---
The tension snapped.
---
---
And in that momentā
---
Rosy understood.
---
---
This wasn't over.
---
---
It had just begun.
---
---
And this timeā
---
She wasn't just fighting the story.
---
---
She was fighting the one who wrote it.
---
---
End of Chapter 13