Chapter 32 032
~LYKA~
I stared at the letters clenched tightly in my hand, my eyes scanning the words again and again even though I already knew them by heart. A strange mixture of emotions swirled violently in my chest....confusion, irritation, curiosity, and a faint, unsettling unease that I refused to acknowledge.
How dare someone think they could stir my emotions so easily?
How dare they believe that scribbling a few words on paper and slipping them under my door....or placing them strategically in hallways....would be enough to shake me?
Even though I hated to admit it, the letters had done exactly that.
Still, I straightened my spine and lifted my chin stubbornly.
Even if I was curious....deeply curious....I was not foolish.
There was no way I would dance to the tune of someone too cowardly to show their face.
“If you’ve decided to hide behind anonymity,” I muttered coldly, my voice echoing faintly in the empty hallway, “then there’s no reason for me to take you seriously.”
With deliberate slowness, I bent down and dropped the letters onto the stone floor as though they meant nothing to me. As if they hadn’t lodged themselves uncomfortably in my thoughts.
Then I turned and walked away.
The sound of my footsteps faded down the passageway, but the moment I was out of sight, I swiftly slipped behind a wide stone pillar, pressing my back against its cold surface. I held my breath, peeking carefully from the side while keeping my eyes fixed on the exact spot where I had left the letters.
My heart thudded loudly in my chest.
I waited.
‘Looks like someone is making a move,’ Elysia purred inside my head, her tone sharp with excitement.
A faint glint flashed through my eyes as movement finally caught my attention.
Someone was approaching.
I watched silently as a maid....her steps hesitant, her posture tense....crept toward the letters. She glanced around nervously before quickly bending to pick them up. Her hands trembled slightly as she gathered the papers, stuffing them against her chest like stolen goods.
A slow, knowing smile tugged at my lips.
So I was right.
The person who placed the letters hadn’t gone far. They had been lurking, watching, waiting for my reaction.
“What are you going to do now?” I murmured under my breath, my gaze locked on the retreating maid. “I didn’t dance to your tune.”
The maid hurried away, disappearing around a corner with the letters clutched tightly in her hands.
‘What?! You’re letting her go?’ Elysia snarled angrily. ‘Why didn’t you confront her? You should have grabbed her and demanded answers!’
I shook my head slowly, my expression calm despite the racing thoughts in my mind.
“No,” I whispered. “That would be foolish.”
I pushed away from the pillar and turned down the opposite corridor, my steps unhurried.
“This isn’t about catching her right now, Elysia,” I continued quietly. “Why should I reveal my hand so early in a game I don’t yet understand?”
Elysia fell silent, though I could still feel her simmering irritation.
“If they’re bold enough to play mind games,” I added, “then they’ll come up with another move once they realize this one didn’t work. And when they do… I’ll be ready.”
Still, as I walked, my thoughts tangled themselves into knots.
Who would go through all this trouble just to provoke me?
Why tell me about misery....about my past, my pack, my pain?
And why did it feel deliberate… personal?
Could it really be someone within Derrick’s pack?
The thought unsettled me more than I liked.
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe.
I couldn’t unravel everything tonight. Overthinking would only weaken me. Whoever was playing this game would show themselves eventually.
Until then, I needed rest.
Or at least… something close to it.
“But living in this pack is so embarrassing!” I groaned as I entered my room, slamming the door shut behind me.
I collapsed backward onto the bed, the mattress creaking under my weight. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping sleep would drag me under and bury the memories of today.
But the moment darkness greeted me, the memories rushed back.
The arena.
Derrick’s voice.
The way everyone stared at me like I was reckless, foolish, unworthy.
My eyes flew open.
“Maybe I should just go to his room and beg for forgiveness,” I muttered. “Beg until my knees scrape the floor.”
The image alone made my face burn with humiliation.
I groaned and covered my eyes with my arm.
“No. That’s even worse.”
‘You could try,’ Elysia teased lightly. ‘I’d love to see that.’
“Absolutely not,” I snapped. “Let’s just sleep it off.”
‘It’s still bright outside,’ Elysia pointed out smugly.
I hissed in frustration, rolling onto my side.
There was nothing I could do. I was too embarrassed to show my face, too restless to sleep, too frustrated to think straight.
Maybe hiding was the best option for now.
“How long are you going to keep hiding like this?”
Amanda’s voice dragged me out of my thoughts, sharp and insistent.
She sat on the edge of my bed, arms crossed, eyes fixed on me with that familiar mix of concern and annoyance. The sunlight streaming through the window told me hours had passed.
“Can you find it in your heart to forgive them?” she continued. “They’re really regretful about what they did. Don’t you think you should at least address them?”
I hissed, burying my face into a pillow.
She had been whining about the morning’s incident ever since she barged into my room, and I was already exhausted. My wounds still ached, my pride was bruised, and my mind was a mess.
“I should be the one asking for forgiveness,” I muttered bitterly.
Amanda leaned closer, squinting at my face.
“Why are you looking like a homeless person?” she teased. “Are your wounds acting up? You look like someone who got dumped in the middle of a wedding ritual.”
I shot her a deadly glare.
“I’m too embarrassed to show my face,” I snapped. “And you have the nerve to tease me?”
I smacked her arm lightly, and she hissed dramatically.
“I know, I know,” she said quickly. “That’s why I feel guilty. You look miserable.”
She sighed.
“But you can’t stay locked up forever, Lyka.”
I glanced at her sharply.
“And that’s exactly why we need him to forgive you,” she continued. “You acted like you had another life earlier. I’m honestly just thankful he didn’t chop your head off.”
A heavy sigh slipped from my lips.
“Do you know any way to pacify his anger?” I asked quietly.
Amanda paused, then shook her head.
“I’m clueless.”
I slumped back onto the bed.
“This is harder than I thought…”
Then Amanda’s eyes lit up suddenly.
“What if we make a plan?” she blurted out. “A plan for him to forgive you!”
My head snapped toward her.
“A plan?” I echoed.
“Yes!” she exclaimed excitedly.
Hope flickered inside me.
“You’re right,” I said slowly. “I think… I think I have the perfect plan.”
I jumped off the bed and marched toward the mirror, straightening my posture as if preparing for a performance.
Amanda’s eyes widened.
“Really?” she asked eagerly. “What plan?”
I met my reflection, a mischievous smile spreading across my lips.
“I’m going to pretend to be sick,” I said. “Dying, to be precise.”
Amanda gasped.
“Are you insane?!” she shrieked. “If he figures it out, he’ll never forgive us!”
I waved her concerns away.
“Don’t worry about his reaction,” I said calmly. “Worry about whether the plan will work.”
Still, uncertainty crept into my chest.
Would he fall for it?
Would Derrick even care?
Amanda hesitated, then shrugged. “He might… or he might not.”
My heart thumped nervously.
But I had no other choice.
If I wanted peace....if I wanted safety for my people....I had to try.
Even if it meant gambling everything.