"Did that lady just slap you?" a voice sneered. "She really underestimated you. You're Prince Dollyo, the one all the girls dream of having a night with, not just a sweet word. You're the future of the Dessman family."
Dollyo's thoughts were in turmoil as the audience around him whispered, gossiping about what had just happened in Dessman's Palace.
Everyone knew Dollyo's bad reputation, his lack of manners, and his disregard for others. Yet, no one ever dared stand up to him. He was the prince, after all, and he got any girl he desired, even if it meant taking her away from her husband. His power and status allowed him to act however he wished.
"You..." Dollyo's voice trailed off as he raised his hand, preparing to strike the man in front of him. But before he could make his move, a tall figure stepped forward—green eyes and blond hair. "What are you trying to do, Your Majesty?" the man's voice demanded.
The presence of this stranger was like a storm in the room. Dollyo felt an indescribable pressure, as if he were a small rabbit staring into the eyes of the king of the jungle. The man stood with such elegance and strength that Dollyo momentarily froze.
"Shame on you for raising your hand to a woman," the stranger said, his fist firmly gripping Dollyo's arm, making it almost unbearable. With a great effort, Dollyo managed to break free, though the force of the man's grip left him stunned.
"No need to thank me," the man added nonchalantly, before turning away.
But when the man turned, he found the space around him empty—Taya was gone. While he was focused on Dollyo, she had slipped away, leaving him behind. She had something more important to attend to than indulging in this petty drama.
"Where did they go?" Dollyo muttered to himself, searching the garden and the back hall, but there was no sign of her. Taya was nowhere to be found.
Meanwhile, Taya had been standing quietly, her head tilted back as she watched from the second floor. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw the silhouette of a man and a woman locked in an embrace. It was him—the same man who had hurt her before. Would this happen again? Was this her life repeating itself?
Her thoughts were clouded with frustration and pain. She quickly ran toward the library, determined to stop whatever was unfolding before her. She couldn't bear to let the past repeat itself.
Suddenly, as she turned into the left hallway, Taya collided with a large figure. She looked up, meeting the piercing gaze of Orig, who had somehow descended from the second floor far quicker than she expected.
"Where have you gone?" he demanded, his voice cold. "It wasn't polite of you to leave the party like this."
Taya swallowed hard, trying to steady her breath. Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, though she did her best to maintain her composure. "Are you afraid of being left alone?" she retorted, her words sharper than she intended.
Orig's eyes narrowed as he studied her, sensing the bitterness behind her words. "Something expected from the Dessman family," she continued, her voice laced with disdain. "Abandonment is practically inherited from your family. Excuse me, but my guests are waiting. I've done my part by bringing you here, without any benefit to myself."
Her words hit him like a bomb. His nerves flared, and for a moment, he barely held back his anger.
I can't blame her, Orig thought bitterly. If Abheer hadn't suggested I check on Meral, I'd be in Taya's arms right now. For reasons he couldn't understand, he had not followed Meral. Instead, he had decided to return to the party. But as he thought of Taya, his mind was filled with conflicting emotions. How would she react to him now?
"You are my wife in front of these people," Orig said, his voice cold and unyielding. He grabbed her arm and pressed her against the wall, the vase beside them crashing to the floor, the sound echoing like the breaking of her heart. "When you are with me, you will do as we agreed. The information K wants in exchange for this luxury and prestige. Don't expect any loyalty from me in this relationship. What we have is just business."
Taya turned her eyes away, avoiding his gaze. Orig, who hated being provoked, leaned in closer and spoke in a low, controlled voice. "I don't like it when people remind me of my words. Don't think you can talk to Orig Dessman like this. Leave me, and go catch up with your lady."
Taya's heart twisted. The thought that Orig had run to see Meral, even if nothing intimate had happened between them, suffocated her. The idea of them spending time alone together made her sick with jealousy.
Before she could say anything more, one of Orig's knights approached. "Your Highness, Prince Eveno requests your presence, and your wife's, at once," he said, his tone indifferent to Taya's mood.
"Okay," Orig replied, his anger still simmering. He dropped Taya's arm and turned to leave, his back stiff with frustration. He was angry at himself for allowing her to insult him so freely.
For God's sake, who does she think she is? Orig seethed inwardly.
One of the knights, still keeping a close eye on Taya, thought to himself, This is only the first week, and the prince is already starting to lose his mind. That woman is going to drive him crazy.
Taya, meanwhile, stood frozen in place, watching Orig walk away. She felt the weight of his words hanging in the air, stinging her more than she wanted to admit. She was no longer in the mood to continue the party. Instead, she needed space. She needed air. She needed to escape from everything, even if just for a moment.
Leaving the halls behind, Taya found herself in the garden. She stood there in silence, her fingers gently caressing the petals of the roses, the vibrant colors a stark contrast to the emptiness she felt inside. The trees, the fountain, even the sunlight seemed to offer some small comfort.
"It hurts," she whispered to herself, the pain in her heart almost too much to bear.
As she stood there, staring out at the view, her thoughts turned to Meral again. I won't let things go like this. I promise you, Meral, we will meet, and you will regret everything.
Taya's ankle still throbbed with pain, but she ignored it. She pressed on, determined to appear strong, even though everything inside her ached. She wanted so badly to be Orig's wife, but what could one-sided love do in her situation?
"Your Grace, are you okay?" Evail's voice broke through her thoughts as she bent down beside Taya. It seemed the princess had dozed off for a few moments, and a small headache had started to form. Taya nodded, reassuring her. "I'm fine," she said, though her heart was far from it.