The moment Lily stepped off the train, her eyes darted through the station, searching for Axel. Would he even come to pick her up? Or would it be Knox? That letter was burned into her mind, the rumors had already spread through her class like wildfire. But she hadn’t expected them to reach so far, so fast.

  ?

  ?A familiar figure approached, his messy dark hair tousled by the wind, golden cuffs glinting under the dim station lights. Her heart gave an involuntary jolt.

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  ?“How was your ride back, Your Majesty?” Knox’s voice was neutral, but when he reached for her bags, his fingers brushed against hers, sending a shiver up her spine.

  ?

  ?“It was fine…” she answered, trying to steady her voice. “Call me Lily, Knox. You don’t need to be so formal. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”

  ?

  ?Knox simply nodded, his face unreadable behind his ever-present mask of calm.

  ?

  ?“Knox… that letter… the rumors about Axel. Don’t tell me it’s—”

  ?

  ?“I don’t want to believe it either.” His voice was low, careful. “But it’s too much of a coincidence to just ignore.”

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  ?Lily’s breath hitched. Was Axel actually taking these accusations seriously?

  ?

  ?“But Axel wouldn’t— you know that! You’ve known him since—”

  ?

  ?“I know he wouldn’t.” Knox cut in sharply, his fingers tightening around her bags. “I never said he did. I’m saying that’s why the rumor gained so much traction.”

  ?

  ?Lily swallowed hard, her heart pounding. “Knox… I can’t believe he would order the murder of seventy people. Or hire an assassin to kill Sean McKeon.”

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  ?Her uncle’s name was a dagger to the heart. The news had hit her like a brick wall.

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  ?“Me neither,” Knox admitted. “But think about it, Lily. Sean was the only real threat to Axel’s claim to the throne. He’s been against him since day one.”

  ?

  ?“He’s our uncle, Knox. Axel wouldn’t hurt family. I know it.”

  ?

  ?Knox sighed. “I hope you’re right.”

  ?

  ?Lily pulled her hood up, suddenly feeling exposed, but then Knox reached over and adjusted it slightly, his fingers grazing her hair. Her face warmed despite everything.

  ?

  ?“And the bit about the blood manipulator?” she asked, shaking the feeling away.

  ?

  ?Knox’s expression darkened. “I don’t want to believe it…”

  ?

  ?“What does it even mean?”

  ?

  ?He hesitated, eyes scanning the platform as if searching for unwanted ears before finally speaking. “Princess… when the first children of cursed blood were born, they were told they could manipulate natural elements. That was the order of things. The balance. But one faction… they wanted more. Led by the smallest clan of the time, they discovered blood manipulation. The Saints tried to stop them—failed. Their leader slaughtered his entire clan to fulfill the conditions necessary to wield it.”

  ?

  ?Lily’s stomach twisted. “And this man—”

  ?

  ?“Was supposedly defeated by the Lightning Incarnate of that era,” Knox finished. “But that story has little basis in fact. For all we know…”

  ?

  ?She blinked. “He’d be dead by now, wouldn’t he?”

  ?

  ?Knox exhaled, his gaze hard. “Not necessarily. Blood manipulation may have allowed him to halt his own aging.”

  ?

  ?“H-how?”

  ?

  ?“I don’t know. I wish I did.”

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  ?Lily struggled to process it all. “But this is just speculation, right?”

  ?

  ?Knox shook his head. “Not entirely. The North has a hidden chamber—no one in your family has ever been allowed access. Not your father. Not Axel. It’s one of the kingdom’s biggest conspiracies.”

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  ?Lily’s pulse quickened. “How do you even know all this?”

  ?

  ?Knox gave a dry laugh, looking at her for the first time with something bordering on exasperation. “Lily, what did you think me, Axel, and Aki did when we weren’t working? We’re the Big Three. We function beyond the AOMC. That’s why we’ve kept this under wraps. The AOMC has classified documents related to this exact mystery.”

  ?

  ?Her mind spun. “How does any of that tie back to my brother?”

  ?

  ?Knox’s face hardened. “Why won’t you understand, Princess? Your brother is being accused of working with a new blood manipulator. Do you realize how serious that is?”

  ?

  ?The castle loomed in the distance. The guards at the gates straightened, opening the entrance as they approached.

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  ?“I…” Lily found herself at a loss for words.

  ?

  ?“Regardless of what we believe, the public has already made up their minds,” Knox continued. “That doesn’t change the fact that someone—someone powerful—is out there, targeting non-cursed blood people.”

  ?

  ?He nudged her forward, stopping at the entrance.

  ?

  ?“W-wait, Knox—” she reached out, but he stepped back.

  ?

  ?“I’m sorry, Princess. Your brother has requested you remain in the castle until things settle down. I have to go.”

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  ?He turned on his heel, walking off before she could stop him.

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  ?“Knox!” she called after him, but he didn’t turn back.

  ?

  ?Lily stood at the castle gates, her hands clenched into fists. Bewildered. Frustrated. And more afraid than she wanted to admit.

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