That Prince Is A Girl: The Vicious King’s Slave Mate Novel

Chapter 159: The maid scurried forward, her head bowed. "Yes, Mistress?"

"What's the gossip out there? Are people still buzzing about Emeriel and his little miracle?"

Nora's eyes lit up with a morbid glee. "Yes, Madam! King Daemonikai must hold the boy in great favor. Why else would one be in the territory of a feral for three days without being torn apart? Oh, the boy must be truly special."

Sinai's lips twisted in disgust, and she shot the girl a disapproving glare. The girl, oblivious to her mistress's displeasure, continued, "I crave more wonders like that. Half the town is still talking about it. Even Grand Lord Vladya was so impressed that he-" "Spare me the details. I already know what he did," Sinai interrupted, her voice laced with acid.

"He moved the human prince to Blackstone," Nora finished.

Sinai's eyes widened, disbelief warring with fury. "Wait-"

Nora's face paled, and she clamped her mouth shut, clearly regretting her loose tongue.

Sinai surged to her feet, her eyes blazing. "Tell me," she demanded, her voice dangerously low. "Now."

Nora fumbled nervously. "Grand Lord Vladya moved Emeriel to Blackstone," she stammered. "He's been tending the estate's gardens for days now. Has his own chamber and everything."

Sinai's vision swam, red with rage and the sting of betrayal. "And, um… last night, his sister was also relocated to Blackstone. She has her own chamber there too."

"That conniving little-" Sinai grabbed a crystal lamp from the dressing table and hurled it at the mirror, the shattering sound a symphony of her fury. "How dare he! How dare he, how dare he!"

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EMERIEL

Emeriel thrashed restlessly through the night, sleep refusing to take hold. Finally, he gave up, sitting upright with a weary sigh. His nightclothes hung loose, his normally bound chest free, his hair unbound. But freedom was fleeting. With a resigned sigh, Emeriel re-bound his chest and secured his hair before slipping from his chamber.

He padded silently to the next room, the door creaking softly as he opened it. Aekeira slept soundly beneath the covers, her face relaxed and peaceful.

A small smile touched Emeriel's lips as he leaned against the doorframe, watching her breathe. It had been a long day. But for now, Aekeira was safe, and that was all that mattered.

He wouldn't dwell on the future, wouldn't torment himself with what tomorrow might bring. The present moment was all that mattered-him and Aekeira, finally with chambers close to each other, and that was enough. Closing the door gently, Emeriel turned away from the room. A different destination called to him. He wouldn't pretend this was just a midnight stroll. A yearning he couldn't ignore drew him to the forbidden chambers. Tugging him towards King Daemonikai. To be near him. To feel his presence.

The fortress was sprawling, the largest he'd ever known, yet the familiar path felt short. Guards stepped aside without a word, allowing him passage.

He pushed open the small gate and door, entering the dimly lit chamber. Moonlight spilled in through the corner window, the one Emeriel had opened during his last visit, casting long shadows across the floor.

Outside the barricade, the beast lay sound asleep, its massive form a dark silhouette against the pale moonlight. Emeriel approached, sinking down beside the creature. Its eyes snapped open, a flash of piercing yellow in the darkness.

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