Chapter 89: A Question That Shouldn’t Be Asked**

The night air was **cold**, yet Seraphina felt nothing.

Lucian’s words **hung between them like a blade**—sharp, waiting to cut.

*"Are you in love with him?"*

The question **shouldn’t have mattered**.

It shouldn’t have made her **stomach tighten**, or her throat **close up**.

But it did.

Because it was Lucian asking.

And **his voice**—low, rough, with something unreadable in it—**made it feel like a demand, not just a question**.

Seraphina **forced herself to breathe**.

She could still feel his eyes on her, **burning into her skin**, waiting.

But she **couldn’t answer**.

Not yet.

She turned away, her fingers curling into the fabric of her cloak.

"That’s none of your business," she said, her voice quieter than she intended.

Lucian exhaled sharply. "Isn’t it?"

Seraphina **laughed bitterly**.

"Why would it be?" She turned to face him, eyes flashing. "You’re **married**, Lucian."

Lucian’s jaw **tensed**.

"And whose fault is that?"

The words **stung** more than they should have.

Seraphina clenched her teeth.

"This is what you were born for, isn’t it?" she said, voice sharp. "To be a king, to marry for your kingdom—"

"I didn’t choose her," Lucian interrupted, stepping closer. "You know that."

Seraphina **refused to move back**.

"So you’re telling me you’re not happy?"

Lucian’s **silence** was answer enough.

Seraphina **looked away**.

"Does it matter?" she murmured.

Lucian let out a frustrated breath. "Why won’t you just answer me?"

Seraphina lifted her chin.

"And what if I say yes?"

Lucian **froze**.

Seraphina took a step closer, **her heartbeat loud in her ears**.

"What if I say that I love him?" she asked, voice quieter now, but no less sharp. "What then, Lucian?"

Lucian’s fingers **curled into fists at his sides**.

A storm flickered in his golden eyes, something **dangerous and unreadable**.

Seraphina exhaled shakily.

"Would it change anything?" she whispered.

Lucian’s jaw clenched.

"I don’t know," he admitted, voice tight.

Seraphina almost **laughed** at that.

But instead, she just shook her head.

"It doesn’t matter anyway," she said. "He doesn’t want to see me anymore."

Lucian’s gaze **snapped to hers**.

"What?"

Seraphina clenched her hands into fists.

"He caught me, Lucian," she murmured. "I stole the Origin Relic from him, and now he won’t even look at me."

Lucian’s brows furrowed. "You—"

"I betrayed him," she continued, her voice flat. "Just like I betrayed you."

Lucian **stiffened**.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then, Lucian’s voice **cut through the silence**.

"Why?"

Seraphina swallowed. "Why what?"

"Why did you do it?" His voice was **low, strained**. "Why push me through the portal? Why betray Cassian? Why do any of this, Seraphina?"

Her throat tightened.

"Because I had to."

Lucian **stepped closer**, his voice dark. "That’s not an answer."

Seraphina’s chest **ached**.

"You wouldn’t understand."

"Then **make me understand**."

Seraphina **exhaled sharply**.

"Because I was dying, Lucian," she finally admitted, her voice raw.

Lucian **froze**.

Seraphina took a shaky breath.

"Every time I use magic," she said, voice barely above a whisper, "**I lose years of my life**."

Lucian’s expression **shifted**—shock flickering across his face.

Seraphina let out a bitter laugh.

"I’ve known for a while now," she continued. "And the worst part? **There’s nothing I can do to stop it.**"

Lucian’s eyes **darkened**. "Seraphina—"

"I thought the Origin Relic could save me," she interrupted, her voice shaking. "But now that I have it, I don’t even know how to use it. I don’t know if it even works."

Lucian **stared at her**, something unreadable in his gaze.

Seraphina let out a sharp breath.

"And now Cassian won’t even look at me," she said, forcing a hollow smile. "So tell me, Lucian—do you really think my feelings matter anymore?"

Lucian’s jaw **tightened**.

"Of course they do."

Seraphina let out a humorless laugh.

"Not when I might not have long left."

Lucian’s **expression darkened**.

Seraphina saw it then—the way his hands trembled slightly at his sides, the way his breath came uneven.

The way **his golden eyes burned with something he didn’t want to name**.

He looked at her like she was slipping through his fingers.

Like he was **losing her all over again**.

Seraphina swallowed hard.

Lucian took a step closer, his voice quieter now.

"Seraphina," he murmured. "We’ll find a way to stop it."

Seraphina **laughed bitterly**.

"You still don’t get it, do you?" she whispered.

Lucian’s brows furrowed.

Seraphina exhaled shakily, **her fingers trembling**.

"You can’t save me," she admitted. "Not this time."

Lucian’s **eyes burned**.

"I don’t accept that."

Seraphina felt something in her chest **tighten, crack**.

Lucian’s **hand lifted slightly**, as if he was about to reach for her—

But he stopped.

He dropped his hand.

Seraphina stared at him.

At the golden **wedding band** on his finger.

Her heart **ached**.

She **stepped back**.

"You should go back to your wife," she murmured.

Lucian **flinched**.

Seraphina gave him one last look.

"Goodnight, Your Highness."

Then she turned—

And **walked away**.

Leaving Lucian **standing in the cold**, staring after her.

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