Priscilla knew Kade's emotions were all over the place. She applauded how well he hid it behind an aloof expression. She saw the truth. She witnessed the pain in his dark eyes. She saw the hatred lingering in his gaze.

  He hated her. She loved power. Thus, she loved him.

  "Your Highness," Priscilla addressed, presenting him with her best smile but it barely provoked an reaction from him.

  Kade frowned deeply at her presence. His eyes were bloodshot and he appeared to not have slept for days. There was a rugged appearance about him that only made him more handsome in her eyes.

  "Uhm……" Priscilla trailed off, not sure where to begin.

  Whatever it'd take for Priscilla to receive Lina's treatment as his wife, Priscilla was willing to do. She couldn't stand being a handmaiden anymore. She was once the served. Not the servant.

  "What's this?" Kade demanded, picking up the empty piece of paper on the tray.

  Kade's expression turned venomous. Was this another one of her tricks? Now that he thought about it, Lina hated Priscilla. Lina always felt unhappy around the woman. He narrowed his eyes.

  Those who displeased his wife should just die.

  "An empty letter?" Kade spat out.

  Kade took a threatening step in her direction. He should've killed her when he had the chance. This woman was getting on his last nerves. He didn't have enough patience to deal with her. She was a nuisance to him. He couldn't wait to get rid of her.

  "I've tucked the letter somewhere on my body," Priscilla said in a sultry voice. "If you want it, you must find it."

  Priscilla set the wooden tray onto his desk. She did a little twirl for him, gesturing to the lack of clothing she wore. The robes were off the shoulders, barely held up by the ribbon she securely tied around her waist. She peered up at him, innocently batting her lashes.

  Priscilla's heart jumped at his furious expression. She thought he enjoyed her presence. Didn't he seem that way when they were under the peach blossom trees? He had glanced her with a tender expression that made her feel special.

  "Or I can just kill you."

  Priscilla gulped. Just how did Lina manage to love this kind of man? He was frightening. Shakily, she forced a smile. She knew he'd hate it if she feared him.

  "That'd ruin the fun, wouldn't it?" Priscilla murmured.

  "Fun?" Kade spat out, his words like venom to her heart.

  "Yes, fun," Priscilla repeated, completely dropping the address.

  If Priscilla was going to mean something to him, she can't be seen as a servant.

  "How about this?" Priscilla offered. "If you're able to empty the entirety of the teapot in a single gulp, I'll tell you."

  Kade narrowed his eyes. "Do you take me for a fool?" he spat out.

  Kade didn't have time for this. He unsheathed his sword, deciding to just cut off her head right then and here. It'd make the search much easier. He'd also be getting rid of one of Lina's nuisances.

  "Sigh, you're so boring," Priscilla grumbled.

  Priscilla reached into the dip of her breasts. Kade stiffened, his lips curling in disgust. He gazed away, towards the tea pot, just as she revealed a tiny slip of paper.

  Priscilla pouted in irritation. Suitors used to line up at her door, begging for her hand in marriage, admiring her great beauty. Why did he regard her like scum under his shoes?

  "Here," Priscilla said with a loud sigh.

  Priscilla handed him the small letter. Once Kade took it, Priscilla quickly poured him a cup of tea.

  Kade quickly read through the contents. His jaws tightened. His gaze dimmed. In an instant, he snatched the tea from her hands and drank it. He wished it was alcohol. It'd make him feel much better.

  "Damnation!" Kade snarled, throwing the tea cup to the ground.

  Priscilla jumped back in fear. Luckily, she came prepared. She poured him another cup and he immediately drank it like rice wine.

  Kade could barely believe the letter in his hand, written in a dark red material. From the iron scent, he knew it was blood. Her blood.

  'Dear Father,

  I feel unloved in Ritan. Kade has replaced me with a woman much more beautiful than I could ever be… Dare I say he's fallen in love with her? There is no place for me in Ritan anymore. Even so, I want him to love me again… Please Father, I beg of you, to call off this war.

  Only after you do, will I finally return to Teran.

  Signed,

  Your Dearest Lina.'

  Kade gritted his teeth. So she wanted to return to Teran all along. Furious, Kade gulped down the tea again. He smashed the second tea cup. He began to rip the letter to shreds, unable to contain his madness.

  Not a second later, Kade angrily tossed the letter to the ground. He downed another cup of the sweet tea. Suddenly, he realized how hot his body was growing. His breathing turned shallow. His heart pumped.

  Kade was infuriated by her decision. To write this letter in her blood. She meant every word she said.

  "God damn it!" Kade hissed, clutching his forehead.

  Kade's head began to throb. For the first time in a while, he was unable to see the bigger picture. Whilst he was fighting hard to keep her by his side, she was doing everything she could to run off. So that night in the forest wasn't a trick. She truly ran away on her own accord.

  Kade thought she was tricked. Maybe by a threatening letter from Atlan. Maybe her older sister summoned her back. Or maybe, she was kidnapped.

  Never in his wildest dreams would he believe his wife wanted to willingly leave him.

  "Here, another tea… it should quell your nerves," Lina whispered to him.

  Kade froze at the sound of her voice. He raised his head, his vision hazy. The world around him was blurry. He felt hot. So hot. His skin was burning.

  "Lina?" Kade murmured, staggering forward.

  Kade's eyes glazed over her outfit. Why was she in such revealing clothes? Lina should've known she needed nothing to seduce him. Her presence alone sent his member hardening. Always. Just her alone.

  Skimpy outfits like this did not please him. But the sight of her again did. He approached his wife, confused by her presence.

  Was this a dream?

  "Drink," Lina whispered, pressing the tea to his mouth.

  Her hands were shaky, her fingertips like thin branches.

  Kade couldn't take his attention off of her. He swallowed hard. He drank the tea she presented to him. He'd drink it a thousand times if it meant he could see her longer.

  "Lina…" Kade repeated, grabbing her by the elbows and pulling her close.

  Lina widened her gaze, her mouth opening. Then, she closed it and gazed at the ground. Kade let out a breath.

  Kade shakily touched her face, unable to believe the sight of her. His vision was in a daze. Everything was obscured. The background. Their surroundings. Everything, including her silhouette.

  "My husband," Lina responded, touching his wrists.

  Kade's breath hitched. Only when she touched him did the pounding headache go away. Only from her icy touch, did the fire die down. He was growing overheated from his burning skin. He needed more of her.

  "My wife, you've returned to me," Kade muttered, his voice cracking towards the end.

  Kade suddenly embraced her tightly. He felt her face in his chest, her hair in his fingers. They felt strange. She didn't feel like his wife, but she resembled her. He was unable to hold back his emotions. He softly wept over her.

  Lina stiffened in his arms. She was unable to move or say anything. All she could do was stay still, weak in his embrace.

  "I'm sorry," Priscilla whispered, suddenly feeling guilty.

  Priscilla had no choice. This was the only way. The hallucinogen and aphrodisiac tea was her only way of winning him over. Even if it meant he viewed her as a dead woman. Even if she'd have to pretend.

  "Let me embrace you once again, my husband," Priscilla softly said, pulling away from his embrace.

  Priscilla met his bewildered expression. She was hurt. A knife twisted deep into her chest. He did not love her. He felt nothing for her before the tea. Now, with him hallucinating that she was Lina, his expression was tender.

  A lone tear slipped down Priscilla's face. The things she did to gain power. This was going to hurt her. It was going to scar her for life.

  Her first time would be with a man who imagined her as another woman.

  "Let me heal you, my husband," Priscilla whispered, bringing his hand to her naked chest.

  Priscilla did not know how rough the Seventh Prince was. Nor did she understand his stamina. That is, until he yanked off her robes and shoved her to the ground.

  Priscilla's breath hitched at his violent actions. She raised her head and saw his gaze was still hazy. Was this how he usually treated his wife? Then, she saw the rage on his face.

  "How could you?" Kade demanded. "How could you leave me?"

  Priscilla's eyes grew wide. Before she could even say something, he had parted her robes. His touch was painful. Unlike the gentleness he showed his wife, he treated her like a mistress. Someone to be played with and then discarded.

  But Priscilla did not mind.

  Power was what she wanted. Power was what she would get.

  Any means necessary, she was going to gain power and status again…… Even if it meant she'd have to be in pure agony from his lack of kindness.