Married To Darkness
Chapter 256: Jaefel & Emma

Chapter 256: Jaefel & Emma

Confront them, face to face, and demand answers. He had tried to reason with them before, but they had only spewed half-truths and spiteful words.

Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more to their actions. Something he was missing.

"I think I might go to the dungeons later," he murmured, almost to himself.

Salviana stirred slightly in his arms, looking up at him. "The dungeons?"

He hesitated before nodding. "I need to see them again."

Her expression darkened slightly, her green eyes flickering with concern. "Why? Haven’t they done enough to show their true colors?"

"They have," he admitted. "But I need to know why. I need to hear it from them again, to understand what drove them to this. Maybe then... I can find some peace."

Her hand moved to his cheek, and she gently turned his face toward her. "Alaric, don’t let them live in your mind like this. They’re not worth it."

Her words were like balm to his tormented thoughts, and he leaned into her touch, his eyes closing briefly. "I know," he said softly. "But I have to try. For my own sanity."

She didn’t argue further, but the concern in her gaze lingered.

As the carriage slowed, signaling their arrival at the marketplace, Alaric forced himself to push the dark thoughts aside.

Today wasn’t about his cousins or the dungeons. Today was about Salviana, and he wasn’t going to let anything ruin it.

"Come on," he said, offering her his hand with a small smile. "Let’s go find the perfect gift for the king."

She smiled back, though her eyes still held a hint of worry. "Let’s."

The carriage came to a halt, and the coachman opened the door. Alaric stepped out first, extending a hand to Salviana.

And as they stepped out of the carriage into the lively hum of the marketplace,

Alaric silently vowed to himself that he would protect her, no matter the cost.

Even if it meant facing the demons of his own family.

As she took it and stepped down, she felt a surge of determination. Let them whisper, she thought.

She was Salviana, wife of Prince Alaric, and she wouldn’t let anyone dim her fire.

The couple walked into the marketplace, their presence commanding attention. Whispers swirled, but Salviana held her head high, her hand securely in Alaric’s.

Together, they were unstoppable.

~~{────────

~~~~~~~~~~~~}~~~

Emma crouched behind a dilapidated wall, her breath shallow as she kept her eyes fixed on Jaefel.

The knight she once knew as her kindhearted best friend from the village was no longer the man she remembered.

Over the past week, she had carefully observed him—his movements, his routines, and his shadowed demeanor.

She suspected he might be behind the unsettling whispers that had reached the marketplace—girls disappearing, their bodies found lifeless.

And now, her worst fears seemed to be materializing.

Jaefel strode purposefully into an uncompleted building at the edge of a desolate field.

The place was eerily silent, save for the faint rustling of the wind through the tall grass. Emma dared not follow too closely; the open field offered no cover, and she couldn’t risk being seen.

She clenched her fists, forcing herself to remain hidden, her heart hammering as she waited.

Minutes passed, each one dragging painfully, before Jaefel emerged.

Emma’s stomach turned as she saw him—his armor smeared with blood, his hands stained crimson.

His expression was cold, his eyes devoid of the warmth she once knew.

A gasp escaped her lips before she could stop it, and she clamped a hand over her mouth, praying he hadn’t heard.

Her legs trembled as she crouched lower, watching him disappear down the path leading back to the main road.

The sight of him—the blood, the detached look on his face—left her feeling hollow and nauseous.

Once she was sure he was gone, Emma stumbled out of her hiding spot, her hand clutching her stomach.

The bile rose before she could stop it, and she vomited into the grass, tears streaming down her face.

How could this happen? How could Jaefel, the boy who once defended the weak and stood for justice in their village, become... this? A kidnapper? A killer?

The memory of his younger self flashed before her eyes: the boy who had risked his life to protect her from a group of bullies, who had always been the first to offer help to anyone in need. It felt like a cruel joke, a bitter betrayal of everything he once stood for.

Emma wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her sadness quickly morphing into anger. She couldn’t let this go unpunished.

Whatever Jaefel had become, he was a danger to others—and to himself.

She needed to report him, and there was only one person she trusted enough to handle this matter.

The Third Prince.

Alaric. He was the only royal she had a connection to, the only one who might believe her and act swiftly. Emma nodded to herself, her resolve solidifying.

Her steps quickened as she made her way back to the castle.

She had taken a daring risk today, one that left her shaken to her core. But she couldn’t ignore what she had seen, no matter how much it hurt.

Jaefel needed to be stopped.

And she would ensure that justice was served—even if it meant exposing someone she once considered family.

~~{───────

~~~~~~~~~~~}~~~

The marketplace was alive with energy, a vibrant tapestry of sounds and colors beneath the brilliant midday sun.

Merchants called out to passersby, showcasing their wares—fine silks, polished metals, fragrant spices, and trinkets that glittered in the light.

Children darted between the crowds, their laughter blending with the lively chatter of buyers and sellers.

Alaric and Salviana strolled through the cobbled streets, her hand lightly brushing against his arm.

Behind them, her personal guards trailed, keeping a discreet yet protective distance.

Every now and then, they would step forward to collect the items the couple purchased, their arms growing heavier with each stop.

"So,"

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.