Lina wasn't sure if Kade would ever go back on his word. The only reassurance she had was his honor to upkeep his promises. Then again, how could he be confident she'd keep her love for him? It was all left in the air.

  Despite that, her heart was full.

  Thus, Lina smiled like a naive fool. Neither of them could be certain about who'd change their mind first.

  "What are you smiling about?" Kade mused.

  Kade felt a tickle in his chest. Whenever she was happy, he felt inclined to make her happier. Her smiles weren't rare, but he still cherished each one of them. He was worried there'd be a day he'd never see her smile ever again. The thought terrified him, as much as the doom lurking in his stomach.

  "I don't know," Lina said.

  Kade let out a scoff.

  "As if anyone is going to believe that," Kade responded.

  "Well, it's the truth and—"

  Kade suddenly kissed her. Her eyes grew wide before they fluttered shut. His mouth moved upon hers with urgency, for he had been starved. She responded with the same passion. He groaned low within his throat. She tasted so damn sweet.

  Kade pulled away. She was dazzled, her eyes distant. She always had a faraway look when their mouths met. She was forever in her own little world—he always wanted to join her there.

  "These sheets are too unsuitable for you," Kade said in disgust, lifting the less quality mattress.

  "These are meant for your concubines," Lina pointed out, her heart stinging with the word.

  Concubines.

  Was Kade going to have them? Lina wasn't silly. She never wanted to share him, but knew it was inevitable. For a woman to demand her husband to love her and only her, how selfish would she be? How dare a Princess request such a thing from her husband?

  Kade was a Prince. He needed to ensure his family name lived on for a long time. He'd need many heirs. How could Lina provide that many without endangering herself?

  "And my bedroom is meant for my wife, so come," Kade urged.

  Kade carried her off the bed. She was startled, whether by his strength or speed. He didn't care. He simply whisked her out of the bedroom like she weighed nothing.

  "Kade," Lina suddenly said.

  Kade froze. She rarely used his name. He glanced down and saw her hesitant expression. She had so much to tell him, but so little confidence to utter it. What happened to her little rants? It must've only happened when she was too anxious.

  "Can I have you to myself for a while longer?" Lina asked him.

  Lina knew she was greedy. Selfish and spoiled. She had swallowed her dignity to ask him this question. What was pride when it couldn't feed you?

  "What a stupid thing to ask," Kade pointed out.

  Lina slowly blinked. "Was it wrong of me?"

  "Yes."

  "Oh."

  Lina bit her bottom lip. She didn't want to feel disappointed, but she did. Her shoulders dropped. She didn't even feel embarrassed when they passed by his people. It was evident the guards knew what transpired between them.

  Their Prince had brought back his conquest.

  "Then… how long do I have left until another joins?" Lina asked.

  Kade's brows grew taut with confusion.

  "Joining what? Our sessions in bed?" Kade questioned.

  At the thought of sharing her with another man, a fire grew from within. Kade would kill the man with his bare hands. He'd never let someone touch what belonged to him.

  Lina was his to love, his to corrupt, and his to adore. She was his and only his. No one else's. He couldn't even fathom another woman touching her the way he did, caring for her as much as he would, and adoring her as he'd do.

  "Joining hands with you…" Lina trailed off, unsure of how she should word it.

  Lina was mortified at the thought of voicing her concerns outloud. She didn't know how to. She could barely talk about their love sessions in bed, much less ask about his future wives. Wives. Plural.

  Her heart grew heavy. Her mouth tasted bitter.

  "Dove," Kade sighed. "You must be direct with me."

  Lina frowned. Her mother taught her to beat around the bushes, to not anger the husband. Everything about Kade went against her mother's teachings.

  "How long do I have left until you find a concubine?" Lina asked.

  Kade stopped walking. He instantly looked at her. "Too long of a time to count."

  Lina wished she could believe him. In the end, the words men said were empty. Just like her father's promises to her mother.

  Lina could only painfully smile up at him. He was trying his best to comfort her, but it'd never work.

  No amount of promises in the world would reassure her heart. It was her fault, really, but also the environment she grew up in.

  Out loud there had only been a single Emperor in this world who hadn't found a concubine yet, but he was located far, far away from this place.

  Lina could only imagine being that blessed——

  Lina didn't know how it happened, but some time into the night, she had fallen asleep on Kade's chest. They talked all night about miscellaneous things of no value. Yet, it made her feel whole.

  Lina woke up alone. Again.

  Lina sat up, touched the bed, and felt disappointed. She thought he'd stay.

  "What time is it?" Lina wondered out loud, peering at the window, only to realize the protective blinds were shut tightly.

  Lina slipped out of bed and unlocked the blinds that effectively blocked out the morning light. Instantly, sunlight poured through the windows, filling the room with the sound of chirping birds, and the soft scent of morning.

  Without warning, the doors to the estate were roughly opened. This had happened for the eleventh day now—ever since Kade abandoned her.

  "Oh, you're up," the maidservants started with a shrug, not even bothering with an address.

  "Please get dressed then, we have brought you water to wash in," another one said.

  Lina coldly turned to them. Just how was she going to punish them now? She had taken their abuse with goodwill, but it was being dragged on.

  Now, she'd no longer tolerate it.

  "Where's my husband?" Lina asked.

  Lina wondered where Priscilla was, but didn't think too much of it.

  The maidservants looked at each other, but suppressed a laugh. To think the Princess still thought of the Seventh Prince as her husband… especially after yesterday's betrayal.

  The Fourth Princess of Teran was a fool.

  "We don't know. Maybe he's with Priscilla? Men do get tired of one woman warming their bed all the time," one of the servants boldly said.

  "Right." Lina gazed to the bed, where it had been messy from their usage.

  Lina guessed the maidservants didn't know of yesterday's events. She'd remember their faces well. The face of each person that did her dirty.

  Wordlessly, Lina watched as the maidservants carried in a large wooden tub. Finally, Lina saw Priscilla, as she was the one in the lead, pulling the bathtub into the room.

  Priscilla's brows were wrung in concentration, but the strain was visible on her face. The maidservants had been confused by her presence, but said nothing.

  The maidservants poured in water, but Lina saw no steam. That was fine with her.

  Lina saw the sun was barely peeking through the skies. A sly smile curled on her mouth. It was bright and early in the morning. He was going to return soon.

  "Get in," the maidservant said.

  The handmaidens were tired of playing nice to a useless Princess. They felt no benefit from serving her, seeing as she wasn't the Prince's favorite anymore. All of them were thinking of jumping ship. What's the point of serving a powerless woman?

  "Fine." Lina didn't bother to undress herself.

  Lina stepped into the bathtub. Her teeth instantly chattered. Her skin tightened and her body tensed. The water was freezing. Nonetheless, she bit back her complaint and submerged her body.

  "God, she's crazy," one of the maidservants whispered amongst themselves.

  "No wonder the Seventh Prince lost interest in her," another responded.

  Lina simply leaned back in the tub. She didn't even wince when a maidservant yanked her wet hair. Instead, she allowed strands to fall onto the ground. She didn't cry out when one of them yanked off the bandages without care, blood immediately seeping from the unhealed wound.

  "Bare with it, Princess," a servant sneered, showing her no mercy.

  How could they show any sort of compassion to this spoiled brat when a little girl was kidnapped? Everyone in the Seventh Prince's estate blamed her. They sympathized with the Seventh Prince, for they knew how much he cherished the Eighth Princess. That poor thing.

  Suddenly, Lina let her hands fall into the bathtub, soaking it pink. Her white sleeping gown was slowly dyed the same color.

  "Have you lost your mind?!" A maidservant shrieked.

  Immediately, the temperature in the air dipped. A murderous wrath filled the room, sucking up all the air. Winter crawled through the open doors. Just his presence could kill.

  "Have you?" A calm voice demanded from the doorway.

  Every pair of eyes snapped to it. The Seventh Prince had returned. And he was here for vengeance.