𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒' 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐅𝐔𝐋 𝐃𝐎𝐆 | 𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘵𝘥 𝘹 𝘔.𝘺/𝘯 |

(8) A Gift So Bloody.

"........," 

The Crown Prince reached the stairs and with a brutal move, tossed the figure in his hand onto the marble steps.

A collective gasp erupted from the crowd.

"Crowend Prince!"

The Empress shrieked, leaping from her throne.

The Second Prince rose to his feet but remained silent, a wary glint in his eyes.

"What disgraceful thing are you doing?!"

The figure, revealed to be a young man with disheveled sandy hair and blood staining his once-fine clothes, landed with a sickening thud. 

Shards of a shattered masquerade mask lay scattered beside him.

Callisto, his features twisted in a sneer, turned towards his mother. 

"How is a big brother attending his little brother's birthday a disgraceful thing to do, mother?"

His voice dripped with bitter sarcasm.

"You are the Crown Prince and yet you behave poorly at a place you weren't even invited to!"

The Empress's voice rose in a desperate bid to maintain some semblance of control. 

Her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

Callisto smirked, a cruel twist of his lips.

"What do you mean I wasn't invited? Those words are truly saddening, Mother.

The crowned prince just shrugged sarcastically in response to her display of rage.

"It's because I was invited that I set aside all my duties and came running here."

Judging by his face, he didn't look even one bit sad.

Meanwhile, I watched in stunned silence, my eyes flickering between the two princes and their mother.

What was going on?

What had I gotten myself into by attending this event?

'Isn't she his mother?'

Penelope's grip on my arm tightened, her fingers digging into my flesh. 

Her eyes darted between the two princes and the trembling Empress, a silent question hanging in the air. 

'What kind of twisted relationship is this?'

Sensing her rising panic, I squeezed her hand reassuringly. 

"Stay close,"

I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't get to decide who gets invited here,"

The Empress retorted angrily, her eyes flashing with fury.

"Even your little friend was invited, and guess what? He came."

She gestured toward me, heads turning in my direction, even Penelope's.

'Ah, shit! Here we go again,'

Ignoring the Empress's sputtering outrage, Callisto turned towards me.

Our eyes met for a fleeting moment, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. 

A flicker of surprise, or perhaps something more, crossed his features before he snorted dismissively and refocused on his mother.

"Well, well done, Mother,"

He drawled, each word laced with sarcasm. 

"It seems you've finally learned to play the game."

I used the distraction to subtly inch us away from the crowd, keeping Penelope safely by my side.