Chapter 41
The men had spent the entire morning hunting wolves, while the women, by noon, had already begun to rest.
Gwendolyn made her way over to Deborah. “Princess Deborah, I brought some pastries with me. Would you like to try one?”
Deborah glanced into the distance. The men were also taking a break–but even during their re
zone.
they were gathered around maps of the predator
Word was, they’d discovered the wolves‘ main den. Judging by the mood, they were preparing to charge in and finish things once they’d caught their breath.
She turned back to Gwendolyn, who had now come to stand in front of her. “And you are…?”
“I’m Gwendolyn, a concubine of Prince Nigel,” she replied, offering the pastries with both hands. “Would Your Highness care for one?”
“Prince Damian told me not to eat anything from others. I’m sorry, Gwendolyn,” Deborah said politely, shaking her head.
On the surface, Nigel and Damian seemed cordial–but everyone knew they were top contenders for the throne. Their rivalry ran deep, both above and below the surface.
Deborah didn’t understand all the ins and outs of ancient court politics, but if she wanted to stay alive, she had to eliminate every possible risk.
Gwendolyn wasn’t offended. She smiled softly. “You seem to listen to Prince Damian quite closely.”
“Simon loves Prince Damian very much. He told me to follow his lead,” Deborah replied, calm and unbothered.
Gwendolyn’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, but she simply let out a quiet laugh and didn’t press further. She stepped beside Deborah and looked off toward the men in the distance.
“Prince Damian and Prince Simon look so much alike. I honestly can’t tell them apart. Do you ever get confused?” she asked.
Deborah gave her a smile. “Oh, you’re teasing me, Gwendolyn. How could I not recognize my own husband?”
Gwendolyn studied her closely, but Deborah’s expression remained serene and unshaken.
“They say twins often have a deep connection. They tend to like the same things… sometimes even the same woman.” Her smile deepened, touched with something colder, more calculating.
She fixed her gaze on Deborah’s face, watching for even the slightest reaction. “Tell me, do you think Prince Damian might have feelings for you- because of how deeply Prince Simon cares for you?”
“Of course His Highness likes me,” Deborah said with a bright smile and a twinkle in her eye. “He treats me just like he treats Simon–warm, kind, completely doting.”
She leaned in and added playfully, “We’re family, after all. Anyway, I should go find him now. Goodbye, Gwendolyn!”
Basket in hand, filled with freshly picked fruit, she skipped off, light–footed and carefree, straight toward Damian.
Not long after, Gwendolyn returned to Nigel’s side.
“She looks delicate and sweet,” she said quietly, “like someone without much guile. But everything she said–there wasn’t a single crack.
“I suggested Prince Damian might be interested in her. Not only did she not get flustered–she acted like it was completely normal.”
Deborah’s expression had been so natural, so unbothered–it truly didn’t seem like there was anything inappropriate between her and Damian.
“For now,” Gwendolyn murmured, “I don’t see any special feelings from her toward him.”
Nigel didn’t reply.
If even Gwendolyn couldn’t read anything, then there were only two possibilities: either there really was nothing between them–or this Deborah was far more clever than she appeared.
He narrowed his eyes, watching the pair standing not far away. He simply didn’t believe it could be that simple.
Damian had always been known for keeping women at arm’s length. He’d never let anyone into his space. But this one–this little Deborah–not only broke that boundary, she could touch him, and he let her.
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9:24 AM
Chapter 41
His instincts told him: something was off. There was more going on here than met the eye.
“I have other ways to test them,” he said slowly. “If I can find Damian’s weakness, I’ll know how to control him.”
Not far away, Deborah held out her basket of fruit to Damian. Her face was all sweetness and innocence, but her words were cautious.
“Your Highness, I think Prince Nigel is trying to test something… about you and me.”
“And what exactly is there between us that’s worth testing?” Damian replied, clearly unconcerned.
Of course. Deborah expected that. He never cared what others thought.
She lowered her voice. “If anything happens to me later, don’t step in. Thomas will be with me–he’ll protect me.”
But Damian’s eyes turned cold. “They’re planning something against you?”
2/2
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Chapter 41
Chapter 41
The men had spent the entire morning hunting wolves, while the women, by noon, had already begun to rest.
Gwendolyn made her way over to Deborah. “Princess Deborah, I brought some pastries with me. Would you like to try one?”
Deborah glanced into the distance. The men were also taking a break–but even during their rest, they were gathered around maps of the predator
zone.
Word was, they’d discovered the wolves‘ main den. Judging by the mood, they were preparing to charge in and finish things once they’d caught their breath.
She turned back to Gwendolyn, who had now come to stand in front of her. “And you are…?”
“I’m Gwendolyn, a concubine of Prince Nigel,” she replied, offering the pastries with both hands. “Would Your Highness care for one?”
“Prince Damian told me not to eat anything from others. I’m sorry, Gwendolyn,” Deborah said politely, shaking her head.
On the surface, Nigel and Damian seemed cordial–but everyone knew they were top contenders for the throne. Their rivalry ran deep, both above and below the surface.
Deborah didn’t understand all the ins and outs of ancient court politics, but if she wanted to stay alive, she had to eliminate every possible risk.
Gwendolyn wasn’t offended. She smiled softly. “You seem to listen to Prince Damian quite closely.”
“Simon loves Prince Damian very much. He told me to follow his lead,” Deborah replied, calm and unbothered.
Gwendolyn’s eyes flickered with something unreadable, but she simply let out a quiet laugh and didn’t press further. She stepped beside Deborah and looked off toward the men in the distance.
“Prince Damian and Prince Simon look so much alike. I honestly can’t tell them apart. Do you ever get confused?” she asked.
Deborah gave her a smile. “Oh, you’re teasing me, Gwendolyn. How could I not recognize my own husband?”
Gwendolyn studied her closely, but Deborah’s expression remained serene and unshaken.
“They say twins often have a deep connection. They tend to like the same things… sometimes even the same woman.” Her smile deepened, touched with something colder, more calculating.
She fixed her gaze on Deborah’s face, watching for even the slightest reaction. “Tell me, do you think Prince Damian might have feelings for you- because of how deeply Prince Simon cares for you?”
“Of course His Highness likes me,” Deborah said with a bright smile and a twinkle in her eye. “He treats me just like he treats Simon–warm, kind, completely doting.”
She leaned in and added playfully, “We’re family, after all. Anyway, I should go find him now. Goodbye, Gwendolyn!”
Basket in hand, filled with freshly picked fruit, she skipped off, light–footed and carefree, straight toward Damian.
Not long after, Gwendolyn returned to Nigel’s side.
“She looks delicate and sweet,” she said quietly, “like someone without much guile. But everything she said–there wasn’t a single crack.
“I suggested Prince Damian might be interested in her. Not only did she not get flustered–she acted like it was completely normal.”
Deborah’s expression had been so natural, so unbothered–it truly didn’t seem like there was anything inappropriate between her and Damian.
“For now,” Gwendolyn murmured, “I don’t see any special feelings from her toward him.”
Nigel didn’t reply.
If even Gwendolyn couldn’t read anything, then there were only two possibilities: either there really was nothing between them–or this Deborah was far more clever than she appeared.
He narrowed his eyes, watching the pair standing not far away. He simply didn’t believe it could be that simple.
Damian had always been known for keeping women at arm’s length. He’d never let anyone into his space. But this one–this little Deborah–not only broke that boundary, she could touch him, and he let her.
1/2
9:24 AM
Chapter 41
His instincts told him: something was off. There was more going on here than met the eye.
“I have other ways to test them,” he said slowly. “If I can find Damian’s weakness, I’ll know how to control him.”
Not far away, Deborah held out her basket of fruit to Damian. Her face was all sweetness and innocence, but her words were cautious.
Your Highness, I think Prince Nigel is trying to test something… about you and me.”
“And what exactly is there between us that’s worth testing?” Damian replied, clearly unconcerned.
Of course. Deborah expected that. He never cared what others thought.
She lowered her voice. “If anything happens to me later, don’t step in. Thomas will be with me–he’ll protect me.”
But Damian’s eyes turned cold. “They’re planning something against you?”
