Lina's head began to spin. Her vision grew blurry. When she felt something wet on her face, she realized it was tears. Whether they were from stress or disbelief, she did not know.

  Lina had never felt more disappointment in her life. Was her sacrifice that meaningless? She wanted nothing out of this marriage. She expected nothing from it. All she needed to know was that war would be stopped. She put her life on the line, her livelihood, and her dignity to come here.

  Lina knew she'd be insulted and abused in Ritan. She knew people would never view her as a proper citizen of this place. People would never take her opinions seriously, for she was just a little Princess from Teran.

  Lina heard the chair being loudly scrapped. Kade shot out of his chair. His hard expression darkened.

  "Lina," Kade snarled.

  Kade noticed the blood on her face and her dress. He was immediately on high-alert. Where were the guards he assigned to her? He didn't need to think too much of it. He knew what happened. He knew the events that transpired.

  His guards were dead. She had fled here. What an obedient wife.

  "Ritan is declaring war on Teran?" Lina repeated.

  Lina's gaze swept over to the two strangers in the room. She didn't know who they were, but they appeared intimidating. One of them was already wearing armor. His face was menacing and filled with sun marks. His features were rough, with bushy and ungroomed brows, thick beard, and permanent scowl.

  Lina could only infer he was a Commander or high-ranking military officer. The next stranger was dressed in ministerial clothing, so she concluded he was one of the important figures in court.

  "The meeting is concluded," Kade addressed his people.

  The Commander took a glance at the woman at the doorway. She was as fragile as a lotus. It didn't take a genius to figure out she was the Seventh Prince's wife. Suddenly, he felt a dangerous stare coming his way.

  Kade was glaring daggers at the Commander.

  The Commander let out a disgruntled noise.

  "We'll end it here then," the Commander stated, stepping away from the desk.

  The military minister nodded his head in agreement. He took the scrolls from the desk and quickly rolled them up. These documents would be sent to the Emperor later. No doubt, the entire palace would've heard about the Eighth Princess' fate.

  "Princess," the minister greeted, nodding his head in acknowledgement before brushing past her.

  The Commander took a final look in the Princess' direction. Whilst she was dressed in expensive white silk, there was a little girl dead at the palace entrance. What a life of luxury Lina lived. He sneered in her direction and stormed off.

  "Tell me it's not true," Lina begged.

  Lina stormed into the private study, ignoring the stunned Sebastian. She knew she was a mess right now. Her hair pins had scattered in the hallway, her hair wild, and her clothes covered in blood. She was in distress, but tried to control it.

  "Tell me there isn't another war!" Lina screamed.

  "Dove," Kade called out.

  Sebastian winced at the shrill of her voice. He had never seen her lose control like this.

  At the mention of the nickname, his eyes flew to a painting on the wall, depicting a small messenger bird. It showed a fallen white animal, with its wings reaching upwards, but the body spiralling towards the ground. A tiny white letter was slipping from its legs, an arrow through its heart.

  Before Sebastian eavesdropped some more, he quickly exited the room as well, to give the couple some privacy.

  Once Sebastian was gone, Kade finally spoke up.

  "Who's blood is this?" Kade murmured.

  Kade walked around his desk. He approached his wife, but she stepped backwards. She didn't want to be touched by him.

  "I asked you a question," Lina snarled.

  Lina couldn't believe it. The only reason she had come to Ritan was to stop the war. Now, another one was happening. Was her sacrifice that meaningless? What was her duty in Ritan now that there was another war?

  Lina felt useless. She wanted to go home.

  "My guards are dead, aren't they?" Kade asked.

  Lina's eyes flashed with aggravation. "You—"

  "Come here," Kade stated.

  Kade grabbed her elbows and tugged her towards him. She wasn't in the right state of mind. Witnessing two murders in one day must've derailed her emotions.

  Lina struggled in his hold. She shoved him off. She created distance between them. What gave him the right to comfort her?

  "Lina," Kade stressed. "Let me explain—"

  "Call off the war," Lina demanded.

  Kade's expression darkened. She did not know who the war was for, did she?

  "No."

  "Then as of this moment, we're no longer husband and wife," Lina stated.

  Suddenly, Lina withdrew her emotions. She raised and jutted her chin in the air. The agreement for their marriage was a treaty. If the agreement could not be upheld, then there was nothing between them.

  "Bold of you to assume you can leave me," Kade snarled.

  Lina was surprised by his cunning voice. She tried to walk away, but he was in front of her in a blink. He grabbed her upper arms. His features were chilling. He resembled a mad man, with large eyes, and an eerily calm face.

  "We're husband and wife, regardless if there's a war. We married under legal conditions," Kade slowly explained to her like she was a child.

  "We only got married to stop the war. Now that another one is breaking out, I refuse to acknowledge you as a husband, I—"

  "Even if you don't think of me as a husband, I'll still treat you like my wife," Kade spoke in a collected voice.

  Lina was disgusted. She tried to shove him off of her, but his grip tightened. His fingers dug into her skin. Caution flashed in his eyes, warning her to behave.

  "You don't understand, do you?" Kade whispered.

  Lina wished he was the violent type. That way, his actions would be predictable. Instead, he was calm in the face of a calamity. He didn't reveal his wrath to her, but she could see the wildfire burning in his eyes.

  "The cause of this war is because of Teran's greed. Teran kidnapped one of our Princesses, was the cause of her death, and now, they dare to demand you back?" Kade snarled.

  What?

  Lina didn't realize her country wanted her back that desperately. But why? She was suddenly reminded of her blood-stained sheets. She realized. Atlan.

  Atlan had taken her virtue, showed the bed sheets to her father, and now, Lina's claim was being questioned. In Teran, the man who took a woman's virtue would take responsibility for her. In the eyes of Teran, Atlan was supposed to be her rightful husband. Not Kade.

  "You understand now, don't you?" Kade softly asked.

  Kade's grip loosened. With the back of his hand, he calmly caressed her face. Her skin was cold. It was still covered with dried blood, but he wasn't fazed.

  "This time, the war isn't for iron ores and land," Kade stated.

  "No…" Lina whispered.

  Lina's knees felt weak. The one thing she despised in life was war. What was the point of such anguishedfighting? Why must lives be on the line for greedy rulers? Why must there be so much devastation because of selfishness?

  "Please…" Lina whimpered.

  Lina was the cause of the one thing she hated the most.

  "On the surface, this war is for the Eighth Princess, but in reality, it's to keep you.? I won't lose you.? I won't let him claim you," Kade stated.

  Lina's eyes watered. She sunk to the ground in disbelief. Her face crumbled. Her entire world was beginning to shatter.

  "And the one leading Teran's battle is none other than Atlan, your mentor," Kade sneered.

  Lina couldn't hold back the tears anymore. When she had lost her maidservant, she controlled her emotions. When she was the cause for so many deaths, she shoved her pain away. But this time, she couldn't stop the dam.

  "The prize of this war is you, Lina."