Bound by the Mark of Lies (BL)
Chapter 111 - 106: A new side of the young prince (2)

Chapter 111: Chapter 106: A new side of the young prince (2)

Gabriel’s lips curled into a smirk as he leaned slightly toward Anya, amusement flashing through his dark eyes. "You know, Your Highness, if you were that interested in the Emperor’s personal affairs, you could have asked him directly. But then again," he mused, tilting his head, "I suppose you enjoy the drama more than the truth."

Anya’s face stiffened for a split second before she recovered her composure, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "And what truth would that be, Lord von Jaunez?"

Before Gabriel could answer, Christian sighed loudly, drawing both of their attention. "There is nothing to talk about," he said flatly, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by something far colder. His steel-gray gaze never left Anya, as if he could see through every calculated word she spoke. "The royal hospital confirmed it: Rosaline is not carrying my brother’s child."

Anya blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Oh?" she drawled, regaining her footing. "And yet she was allowed to stay, as if her claim meant something."

Christian’s lips curled downward in something close to disdain. "She should be grateful that the Emperor allowed her to prove her claims rather than executing her on the spot. Many others wouldn’t have been so merciful."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Quite the display of generosity, don’t you think, Your Highness?"

Christian exhaled sharply, as if the subject itself were beneath him. "My brother has no interest in false distractions. Unlike others, he does not waste his time entertaining the whims of liars." His gaze remained fixed on Anya, and the unspoken accusation behind his words was clear.

Anya tightened her grip on her glass, but she gave an elegant shrug, feigning indifference. "What a relief, then. I suppose the court can rest easy now that there is no scandal.

Gabriel laughed, but there was an unmistakable sharpness to his amusement. "It is incredible how quickly some people are disappointed by that news."

Anya met his gaze with a thin smile. "Some people simply enjoy a good story, Lord von Jaunez."

Christian’s expression didn’t shift. "And some people should remember their place."

Anya exhaled through her nose and took a slow sip from her glass to conceal the way her fingers tightened around the stem. She had expected Christian to deflect or play along civilly, but instead she was staring at a side of him she had never seen before. Not the carefree, easygoing prince, but something colder, sharper, unmistakably Lyon.

Before she could respond, a nearby attendant approached Gabriel, bowing slightly and murmuring, "His Majesty has requested your presence, Lord von Jaunez."

Gabriel’s amusement faded slightly, and he cast one last glance at Anya, as if to silently enjoy her mild irritation. "A shame. "Just when the conversation was getting interesting," he remarked before nodding to Christian. "Your Highness."

As Gabriel disappeared into the crowd, the energy between Anya and Christian changed. The nobles in her social circle, along with her maids, kept a respectful distance, watching but not interfering.

Christian tilted his head slightly and studied her with the same unreadable gaze. "You should tread carefully, Anya. My brother’s patience is thinning."

Anya returned his gaze, arching a delicate brow. "I wasn’t aware it was your place to warn me, Your Highness."

Christian let out a quiet chuckle, but there was no amusement in it. "I may be your fiancé, but I have none of his patience for this kind of nonsense. If you think Damian is the only one you need to be wary of, you’re mistaken."

Anya’s lips parted slightly, a flicker of something unreadable in her expression. This was not the same Christian she had dismissed previously. The boy she had deemed unworthy, careless, and foolish was nowhere to be found. In his place stood a man with the same ruthless edge as his brother, and she realized how little she knew about him.

Nonetheless, she was not one to back down. Composing herself, she let a coy smile grace her lips. "You speak so boldly now, Christian. Have you finally grown into your title? Perhaps it’s time you act like a true prince and recognize your allies."

Christian’s expression remained cold. "Allies? Is that what you think you are to me?"

Anya stepped closer, lowering her voice. "We could be. You have no regard for your brother’s decisions, do you? What happens if Damian falls? Think about it, Christian. You stand in his shadow. You always have. But with me, you can be more. We could shape the future together."

Christian exhaled through his nose, as if she had said something completely pathetic. "You assume I resent my brother as much as you do. That’s your first mistake. The second? Thinking I would ever betray him for the likes of you."

Anya’s smile faltered for the briefest moment before she forced herself to keep it in place. "Then you are a fool. You think loyalty will save you? The moment you become inconvenient to him, he will discard you like everyone else."

Christian’s gaze darkened. "I’m not everyone else."

Anya’s temper flared, her nails digging into her palm. "You—"

Christian approached even closer, his presence as suffocating as Damian’s. "Listen carefully, Anya. I tolerated your presence out of duty. But I have no patience for your schemes. My brother is merciful. I am not. Keep pushing the limits of his patience, and I will make sure you regret it."

Anya’s chest rose and fell sharply, fury coursing through her veins, but she could not lash out here, not now. Instead, she kept her rage simmering beneath the surface, vowing to see Christian burn for this insult. She scoffed under her breath. Damian was not merciful; rather, he was cruel in ways that these fools refused to see.

She forced a breathy laugh while tilting her head. "My, my. You’ve truly changed, haven’t you? "How... intriguing."

Christian didn’t respond immediately. Then, with a warm, almost inviting smile, he said, "You think I’ve changed? I never have. You just never bothered to look beyond the surface. The easygoing, immature prince you dismissed? He still exists, but only for those who understand their role.

Anya’s fingers curled tighter around her glass, her breath catching slightly as a chill ran down her spine. To those watching from a safe distance, it must have appeared to be a pleasant exchange between a future husband and wife, with a well-mannered prince charming his intended. But she saw what lay beneath his carefree demeanor. He was watching her, waiting, daring her to push harder.

"You could have seen that side of me, Anya," Christian added, his voice smooth as silk. "But that isn’t something for those who try to betray my brother. I have no patience for them. And, unlike Damian, I would gladly remove you and your father’s little kindom from the way."

His words sent another chill through her, but his expression remained deceptively warm. The contrast made her shudder. Christian wasn’t the foolish boy she had once believed. He was a Lyon through and through.

Anya swallowed her rage and stepped back. "Enjoy the ball, Your Highness. We’ll see where loyalty gets you."

Christian inclined his head slightly, his expression indifferent. "We will."

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