Chapter 18 I’m not a thief!
Amarien POV
His tears were warm against my face.
For a moment, nothing in the world existed except the feel of Daevir trembling in my arms; his breath unsteady, his heartbeat frantic against my chest, his strength finally cracking open for me. I held him as tightly as I dared, my fingers slipping into his dark hair, stroking gently, soothing him the way I wished someone had soothed me when I cried alone in my cold little rooms.
“You’re not a monster,” I whispered. “Not to me. Never.”
Daevir, I meant it when I promised I'd protect you with all that I have.
His hand fisted in the fabric of my dress as if holding on to a lifeline. I felt a fire in my heart burning for him. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of him swallow the pain of the party, the humiliation, the whispers. For the first time, I didn’t feel cursed. I felt…wanted. Needed. Important.
I felt…safe.
And then…
There was a shift.
Without warning, Daevir’s hands clamped onto my shoulders. He shoved me so hard I stumbled backward, hitting the wall. The shock slammed the breath from my lungs.
“Y…your h-highness?” My voice cracked. “What…?”
He wiped at his face quickly, erasing every trace of softness, every trace of the boy who had just cried in my arms. His eyes darkened into something cold, sharp…dangerous.
“You’re stupid, Amarien.” His voice snapped like a whip. “Utterly stupid.”
The words sliced through me like a blade. I blinked, my chest tightening. “Wh—why would you say that?”
“You ran,” he spat. “You ran when you should’ve stayed in plain sight. You stole from the emperor at the banquet and then ran off like a coward.”
My heart stopped.
“Stole?” I stammered, frozen in confusion. “I didn’t…your highness, I didn’t steal anything! What do you mean?”
He grabbed my wrists so tightly it hurt, pulling them up as if examining evidence on my skin.
“Don’t lie,” he hissed. “I’m not going to let you get away with this.”
My mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Get away with what?
I searched his face desperately, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. His gaze kept flicking toward the shadows behind me. His shoulders were rigid, his grip just a little too deliberate.
Something was wrong.
Terribly, horribly wrong.
“Your highness, please,” I whispered, tugging my hands. “You’re scaring me.”
He didn’t loosen his grip.
“Good,” he snapped. “Maybe now you’ll think before doing something so reckless. Stealing from the emperor? gods! Amarien, have you lost your mind?”
“I didn’t steal…!”
There was a sudden shift in movement behind us.
A presence.
Then a voice.
“Your Highness?”
I froze.
Daevir’s hands dropped from me as we both turned.
Basgrid stepped from the shadows, his armor gleaming faintly under the sunlit corridor. Basgrid is the Head Guard of the Emperor’s Court. The man whose eyes were always cold. Always watching.
Has he always been there?
My stomach twisted violently.
Basgrid bowed stiffly to Daevir, his gaze sliding to me with disgust. “I heard shouting. Is the concubine giving you trouble?”
Daevir straightened so abruptly it hurt to look at him. His eyes hardened like steel, and the gentleness, the boy who clung to me minutes ago, was gone.
“Yes,” he said. “She’s been defiant. And she ran off after stealing the emperor’s ring.”
My breath shattered into a thousand pieces.
“Your…your Highness,” I choked. “Why are you saying that? Please don't do this!”
But he didn’t look at me.
Basgrid’s brows lifted, suspicion sharpening. “Is that so, Your Highness?”
Daevir presented a ring to Basgrid. Basgrid's cold, calculated gaze slid from the ring to me. He looked at me like a criminal.
“Lock her in her chambers until further notice,” he ordered. “No visitors. No leaving. I'll oversee her punishment.” Daevir's voice was crisp. No hint of emotions anymore.
My heart clawed up my throat.
“Your Highness, please!” I lunged toward him, but Basgrid grabbed my arm, twisting it behind my back so tight I cried out. “Your highness!” I screeched, fighting Basgrid’s grip. “What did I do?! Why are you lying? I didn’t steal…I didn’t…!”
Basgrid shoved a hand over my mouth.
Daevir turned away.
My scream died in my throat.
Shock swallowed my breath. I stared at Daevir, tears burning down my cheeks, my chest collapsing in on itself. His jaw was clenched so tightly a vein pulsed along his temple. His eyes stayed fixed ahead, refusing to meet mine.
Basgrid pushed me forward roughly. Two more guards appeared, stepping out from another hall, alerted by the commotion. Their expressions were wary, almost confused, as they took in the scene.
“I’ll escort her,” Basgrid barked.
Basgrid’s large hands gripped my arms, yanking me down the corridor.
But I twisted, fighting, reaching, sobbing. “YOUR HIGHNESS! YOUR HIGHNESS! PLEASE LOOK AT ME!”
Nothing.
He didn’t move. He didn’t turn. He didn’t even blink.
He just stood there as they dragged me away.
I fought harder, kicking, screaming, tears blurring everything.
“Your highness! Why are you doing this?!” My voice broke violently. “Why are you letting them take me? Why won’t you look at me?”
Still nothing. As if I were no one. As if the moments we shared never happened. As if he felt nothing at all.
Basgrid gave him a final nod and yanked me on his shoulder and walked off, like a piece of salt, like he was deaf to my screams and scratching.
I tried one last time.
“DAEVIR!”
Daevir flinched.
But Basgrid was already off the corridor, shutting the gates behind him.
I stopped fighting when we got to the outer courts. What's the point?! I was going to jail anyway. I was going to be disgraced for a crime I never committed.
I could imagine the fury in Corvin's eyes when he finds out what I've been up to. Basgrid reports directly to the Emperor; he has no business scolding Eunuchs for failing to keep their concubines in place.
The first person to hear of this news once Basgrid is out of here is the Emperor. If he shows me mercy, I'll be whipped with lashes and banished from the palace.
Or they’ll cut off both hands in front of the court, then lock me away.
Basgrid boots ground the concrete floor with an eerie rhythm. He is no giant muscular beast for no reason. He is the eye of the emperor in every corner of the palace. The one who reports hidden plans and conspiracies against the emperor. He is also rumored to enjoy people being tortured to death.
Basgrid will show no mercy, no matter my plea.
Tears streamed down my face. I felt helpless again. One moment, I feel safe; the next, I'm on the brink of a very disastrous death.
When we arrived at the concubine quarters. Basgrid finally let me down to walk on my own. He followed closely behind me, escorting me to my quarters.
Basgrid followed closely, but I could feel his eyes burning right into me. We were alone enough in this corridor. None of the concubines were around since they were still at the banquet.
Our footsteps echo through the empty hallways, and for a moment, I wished I could bolt and escape.
But I could see his giant sword tucked by his side. Any wrong move from me and I'll be chunks of meat.
I swallowed and kept moving, my eyes fixed ahead as I dared not look back.
When we arrived at my room, I maintained my composure, stepping in and refusing to look back.
Basgrid stepped into the room with me. His presence alone by the door made the room feel smaller than it was.
“Turn around,” he said.
I did.
My gaze matched his, and I saw something. A flicker. A very unsettling flicker.
“No need to pretend,” Basgrid said, smirking. “I saw you with the Prince.”
I froze.
“I saw you hug him. Caress him. You let him onto your blossom, crying in your arms like lovers.” Basgrid's gaze blazed with malice. He gave a short chuckle.
“I wonder why the emperor will think when he hears what his son and his concubine are up to?”