The Princess' Harem
Chapter 158: He Knows

Chapter 158: He Knows

The hushed voices in the salon felt like a frail shield. Viana listened to her confidantes, their voices a tight net around her.

Rayne’s hand rested on her shoulder. It felt more like something real, a strange warmth, a quiet, growing heat. The line between acting and true feelings blurred, and that, it unnerved her deeply.

"The night is still young in the main hall," Rayne said, his voice soft, almost a whisper, gentle like the evening air. "We should return. People will notice our absence, after all."

Viana nodded. The short break was over, its peace fleeting. The quiet, shared truth, it was gone now. Time to go back to the grand act, to the dazzling performance.

They went back to the celebration. The main hall pulsed with new energy, brighter, louder. More joyful, too. The strict rules of the beginning, they had loosened their hold.

Laughter, hearty, and free, filled the air. Nobles moved around freely, their faces flushed, warm with wine and good cheer.

Viana forced her bright smile into place again, a mask perfectly fitted. She saw her parents, they stood near the high table, their expressions proud, their smiles wide, announcing the night’s victory for all to see.

Then, he stood there, by the grand archway. Count Lazarus Bloodworth.

The world seemed to tilt, an unsettling shift. A cold, deep wave washed over Viana, stealing all the warmth from her body, leaving her hollow. Her breath caught, a silent gasp, trapped in her throat.

He was here, in her palace, within these hallowed walls.

His outfit was simple, understated, a dark, well-made tunic. It had no extra decorations, no gleaming jewels. Yet, a silent power came from him, a heavy, unsettling calm.

His dark brown hair was loose tonight, framing his sharp and impossibly composed face. His eyes showed no hate, no anger. Only a quiet, almost happy look, a serene, disturbing contentment.

Viana’s mind raced, a frantic whirl of thoughts. Her pulse hammered, a desperate drumbeat against her temples. This was planned, but she had not thought he would come, not out in the open, for all to see.

Every detail of her kidnapping came rushing back, a torrent of icy memories. The cold hand of his thugs on her arm, the muffled shouts, and the feeling of being helpless, utterly, completely powerless.

All of it flashed through her mind. His part in it, his smirk when watching her in one of his bed chambers. And now, he stood there. He was the one who scared her, who haunted her dreams.

But he looked harmless now, and his presence stole her breath away, leaving her gasping for air.

He started to move slowly and smoothly, greeting some lesser nobles near the entrance, offering a brief, polite nod. His smile was easy, a small wrinkle around his eyes, seemingly benign.

His body, it was relaxed, utterly unburdened. He seemed completely comfortable, a guest among friends. No sign of the plotter, the man who pulled strings from the shadows. Nothing of the man who took her.

He moved with quiet grace, like a hunter, silent and unseen. No one in the crowd seemed to notice him, truly notice him. Viana wanted to scream, to show him for what he was, to rip off his mask, revealing the monster beneath.

But her etiquette training held her. Years of courtly acting, of keeping calm, they held her stiff. Her smile stayed fixed, painted on. Her hand, in Rayne’s, did not shake, it remained steady.

She felt a sudden, frantic need to check her defenses, to make sure her boundaries were strong, firm, impenetrable. ’He knows. He knows I know.’

Rayne’s hand tightened on hers. It was almost unnoticeable, a subtle pressure. He felt the way Viana’s body went stiff beside him, like a statue.

He looked where she looked, and his eyes narrowed, a cold understanding showing there. Then, just as fast, his public smile returned. He controlled it completely, every muscle, every expression.

Lazarus moved through the hall, went straight to the high table towards them, his steps calm. He passed other nobles, grand lords and ladies who might have tried to stop him. His focus was clear, however, on them.

He stopped right in front of them, before Viana and Rayne. His dark eyes met Viana’s, holding a strange depth, unsettling. Or maybe, it was a hidden understanding.

Viana could not tell, her mind in a tangled mess. Her vision blurred for a moment. ’He’s playing me. He’s trying to break me,’ she thought, feeling a small tremble in her knees.

"Princess Viana," Lazarus said. His voice was soft, just loud enough for nearby people to hear.

"My deepest congratulations." He bowed his head slightly, a perfect, formal bow. "This is truly a happy time, indeed. Elysia and Valendale. A strong union, indeed."

He looked at Rayne, his smile widened, but there was a flicker of something unsettling. "And Crown Prince Rayne. Good to see you again. My congratulations to you both. May your joining bring wealth and peace to both our kingdoms, for many long years."

He held out a hand to Rayne, not to Viana. Rayne took it. Their hands clasped, a quick and firm shake.

Rayne’s face showed nothing, an unreadable mask. His eyes held only polite interest.

Lazarus held Rayne’s hand a bit longer than usual, a subtle, lingering touch. His gaze, still on Viana, seemed to look through her calm act, her carefully constructed facade.

’He knows. He knows.’

The internal scream echoed in her mind, a frantic, desperate cry.

Then, he turned fully to Viana. His voice dropped lower, almost a whisper meant only for her ears. "Indeed, Princess. This alliance is... quite a statement. Elysia seems to be moving faster than many thought."

His words sounded truly innocent, but they had a double meaning. A twisted compliment to her plan. Viana’s heart pounded.

’He knows!’

The shock hit her, stealing her breath.

Then came his bold request.

"I must admit, Crown Prince," Lazarus said, turning back to Rayne, a charming smile on his face. "I have heard much of Valendale’s hospitality. It would be an honor, truly, if I could get an invitation to the next celebration of this engagement in your empire."