"Answer me."
Killian's voice was low, cold, and pressing.
His hand still gripped Josselyn's chin, forcing her to look straight into his gray-blue eyes. They were so close that Josselyn could feel his warm breath brushing against her lips.
Josselyn slapped his hand away.
"I already answered."
Killian did not move. His gaze remained sharp.
"Not clearly enough."
"I did not send my uncle to the palace,"
Josselyn shot back quickly. "And I don't care what he wants from the King."
Killian raised a brow slightly. "You don't care? He's your family. You stand to gain the most if his plan succeeds."
Josselyn scoffed.
"Gain?" A cynical smile crossed her lips.
Then she glanced at Darius, who was still standing in the corner of the room.
'Should I tell him about the scars too?' she wondered briefly, then shook her head.
'No. What if my body reacts like it did in the herbal room?'
Josselyn instinctively adjusted her dress, covering herself.
"If he stays in the palace, I'd rather leave." Her voice came out sharper than she intended.
Darius glanced between the two of them.
Killian stared at Josselyn for a long moment.
"Interesting."
"What's interesting?" Josselyn asked, irritated.
"The way you deny it." Killian tilted his head. "Too fast. Too emotional."
Josselyn clenched her fists. "If Your Highness wants to accuse me without proof, go ahead."
"Oh, I have proof," Killian replied casually.
"Really?" Josselyn frowned in disbelief.
Killian stepped closer. "Motive."
Josselyn held her breath.
"Your parents were traitors," Killian continued flatly. "And now your uncle suddenly appears at the palace, bringing a political marriage proposal."
"With my cousin," Josselyn cut in sharply.
"Not me."
Killian smiled faintly. "That doesn't make it better."
Josselyn glared at him. "I didn't even know they were coming here!"
Killian did not answer immediately. His gaze swept over her face again.
Flushed cheeks. Uneven breathing.
"You look… strange," he murmured.
Josselyn turned her face away. "I'm fine."
"Really?" Killian reached out again, this time touching her cheek.
Josselyn immediately tensed. The touch sent heat surging through her body again, stronger than before.
She bit her lip.
'Why hasn't this gone away?' she complained inwardly.
Darius frowned.
"Your Highness," he said quietly, "she has looked unstable since the beginning."
Killian glanced at him briefly. "She's pretending."
"What?"
Killian turned his gaze back to Josselyn.
"You think I've never seen tricks like this before?"
"Tricks?" Josselyn echoed in disbelief.
"Pretending to be weak. Pretending to know nothing. You're not the first to try it."
"If it were a trick, I would have used it from the moment I arrived at the palace!" Josselyn snapped.
Killian gave a faint smile.
"That only makes it more convincing."
Josselyn was about to argue, but her head suddenly spun. She staggered slightly.
Killian caught her arm before she could fall.
"You're even adding a convincing performance," he murmured.
"I'm not…"
Her sentence cut off. Her body grew hotter. Her breathing turned heavy.
Killian was too close.
Josselyn found herself staring at his lips without realizing it. And it seemed Killian noticed.
"You can't even stand straight," he said coldly.
"I can…" Josselyn suddenly grabbed his collar.
Killian frowned. "What are you…"
Josselyn's lips crashed against the Crown Prince's. She pulled him closer, pressing her lips deeper against his.
'Damn. His lips… they're warm.' Josselyn's breathing grew more frantic.
The entire room seemed to stop breathing.
Silence.
Josselyn could only hear the erratic pounding of her own heart. She had already forgotten that Darius was still in the room.
Killian did not move for a full second. His eyes widened slightly.
Josselyn herself did not seem fully aware of what she was doing. Her hand tightened on Killian's collar as she kissed his lower lip with a hunger she could not control.
Josselyn felt Killian respond. And the fire in her chest spread through her entire body.
For one second that lasted too long, Killian did not push her away. It was as if he truly returned the kiss.
Then his awareness snapped back when Darius finally spoke.
"Your Highness…"
Killian's hand tightened around Josselyn's waist, drawing a soft, breathless sound from her lips. But then his other hand tangled in her hair, forcing her to break the kiss.
His nose wrinkled slightly, as if catching a strange scent.
"Don't stop," Josselyn pleaded weakly, her gaze unfocused.
Killian inhaled near her face again, ignoring her.
"Darius."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Do you smell that?"
Darius frowned.
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
Killian leaned closer to Josselyn again.
"A bitter, dry scent. Like burned leaves."
Killian frowned.
"Mandrake."
Darius stiffened. "A truth potion?"
Killian did not answer immediately. He leaned closer again, inhaling around Josselyn's face.
"Strange. The scent is too sharp." Killian narrowed his eyes. "Mandrake doesn't smell like this."
"You mean…?"
"Something was mixed into it." Killian stared at Josselyn's flushed face. "But I don't know what."
Josselyn suddenly let out a soft groan. She clutched her head.
"Why… my head…"
Her words cut off as her knees gave out.
Fortunately, Killian caught her before she hit the floor.
Josselyn was nearly unconscious. It was difficult for her to open her eyes now. But faintly, she could still see Darius stepping closer.
"Should I call a physician?"
She could still hear Darius's question.
Killian looked at Josselyn's pale face.
"No."
"Your Highness?"
"Someone gave her a truth potion. Why?"
Darius looked at him, confused.
Killian lifted Josselyn slightly higher.
"Don't let anyone else know. We can't trust anyone until we find out who did this."
Killian laid her gently on the bed.
"A truth potion does not normally cause a reaction like this," he said.
Killian looked at her face again, two fingers brushing along the side of her neck, checking her pulse.
Darius let out a quiet breath.
"Then that makes it even more dangerous."
Killian did not respond for several seconds. Finally, he said,
"Let her sleep here tonight."
Darius raised a brow.
"Your Highness?"
"Leave the room."
"But what if something happens and she becomes a danger to you?"
Killian looked at him sharply. "What could a girl like her possibly do?"
Darius exhaled shortly.
"Rumors could be dangerous. For her and for you. Especially if she reveals what just happened." His tone carried a hint of sarcasm.
Killian glanced at Josselyn before replying, "She won't reveal it. And rumors would be worse if she's found unconscious in the corridor."
Darius pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek. He could not argue with that.
"Very well."
He walked toward the door, but paused before leaving.
"Your Highness."
Killian did not turn.
"If she truly was given a potion, then someone in the palace is trying to manipulate her, or perhaps target you."
Killian replied without emotion.
"I know."
Darius exhaled, then opened the door.
"I'll investigate."
The door closed softly behind him.
The room fell silent again.
Killian sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the girl's face.
Flushed cheeks. Soft breathing.
He scoffed quietly.
"You really bring trouble wherever you go."
Josselyn murmured faintly, as if trying to say something in her unconscious state.
Killian paused.
"What?"
But her body was more limp than before. She could not move, and her consciousness was fading.
Killian's hand moved through her dark brown hair, then down to her lips. He brushed them gently.
"And now… you even kissed me first."
Killian let out a long breath, as if regaining his senses, and rubbed his face in irritation.
"Crazy girl."