The flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows on the grand walls of Jihoon's chamber. The Paraidal Palace was silent at this hour, yet his mind refused to follow suit. He sat on the edge of his bed, fingers tangled in his hair as he let out a long, frustrated sigh.
"Damn it," he muttered, staring at the floor. His chest felt heavy, his thoughts tangled in a never-ending loop.
Everything was moving too fast. It's seems he's already in his way to be awakened. Ryan. The way Ryan had looked at him earlier, dazed and lost, as if something inside him was slipping away. Jihoon clenched his fists.
What the hell am I doing?
He had come here with a mission—to investigate, to uncover the truth about the demon alpha prophecy. But somewhere along the way, things had gotten complicated.
He exhaled sharply.
"I'm betraying him. . . . . And I was saying I will stay by his side. I'm just like everyone destroying him ruining him," he admitted in a whisper, the words stinging as they left his lips.
Ryan had started to trust him, in his own hesitant way. And Jihoon… he wasn't blind to his own emotions either. He wasn't indifferent to Ryan. But here he was, planning to deceive him, to manipulate his emotions to get closer.
"How the hell am I supposed to do this?" Jihoon asked himself, rubbing his temples. "How do I keep Ryan from figuring out the truth? And what if he does? What if he finds out that I've been playing him this whole time?"
The thought made his stomach churn.
Ryan isn't like the others.
Jihoon had dealt with alphas before—their arrogance, their desire for control. He had learned to navigate their world, to use their expectations against them. But Ryan was different. He wasn't just an alpha. He wasn't just a prince.
He was something more, something terrifyingly unknown.
And Jihoon… Jihoon was walking straight into the fire.
A sudden knock on his door made him jolt upright. He shot a glance at the clock—nearly midnight. Who the hell would come at this hour?
"Prince Jihoon?" A soft, composed voice came from the other side. "Forgive the disturbance, but Her Majesty, the Queen, wishes to see you."
Jihoon froze.
The Queen?
Ever since arriving at the palace, he had never once seen her. She was nothing more than a shadow in the royal family, an untouchable figure who rarely appeared in public. And now, out of nowhere, she wanted to see him?
"…Did she say why?" Jihoon asked cautiously.
The maid lowered her gaze. "No, Your Highness. Only that you were the only one she wished to meet tonight."
Jihoon's brows furrowed. That only made this stranger.
After a beat, he nodded. "Alright. Tell her I'll be there shortly."
The maid bowed and left. Jihoon stood there for a long moment, staring at the door.
Something about this didn't feel right.
************
Jihoon stood outside the grand double doors, his heart beating just a little too fast. The hallway was eerily quiet, the cold air pressing against his skin.
He swallowed hard.
Why am I nervous?
Taking a steadying breath, he raised a hand and knocked.
"Enter."
The voice was soft yet commanding, carrying an authority that sent a shiver down Jihoon's spine. He pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.
The room was vast, but not in an extravagant way. It was refined, elegant, with tall windows that overlooked the palace gardens. A grand fireplace crackled in the corner, its glow casting long shadows on the marble floor.
And in the center of it all, sitting on an ornate chair, was the Queen.
Jihoon's breath caught in his throat.
She was beautiful—almost too beautiful. Ethereal, in a way that made his skin crawl. Her black silk gown pooled around her like ink, shimmering with dark red embroidery. Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders in perfect waves, and her emerald eyes gleamed like polished jewels.
But there was something wrong about her.
Jihoon couldn't explain it, but the moment their eyes met, he felt something coil around his throat—an invisible pressure, suffocating yet undetectable.
"Your Majesty." Jihoon bowed respectfully, masking his unease.
"Prince Jihoon," she greeted, her lips curling into a slow smile. "I apologize for calling you at such an hour. I hope I did not disturb your rest."
Jihoon forced a polite smile. "Not at all, Your Majesty."
She gestured to the chair across from her. "Please, sit."
Jihoon hesitated before obeying, his posture rigid as he settled in. The Queen studied him, her gaze unwavering, as if peeling back his layers and peering straight into his soul.
"How have you been living here?" she asked smoothly. "I trust the palace has been accommodating?"
"Yes, of course," Jihoon answered cautiously. "Everyone has been… kind."
The Queen chuckled softly, tilting her head. "Kind? You are far too polite, Your Highness."
Jihoon tensed slightly.
"I must apologize for not meeting you earlier," she continued, tracing the rim of her wine glass. "A guest as important as you deserves a proper welcome."
Jihoon remained silent. There was an edge to her voice that made him wary.
Her emerald eyes glimmered as she leaned forward slightly. "Tell me, Jihoon… is there anything troubling you?"
Jihoon hesitated. "No, Your Majesty."
A slow smile spread across her lips. "Are you certain? No concerns, no… strange occurrences?"
Jihoon stiffened. She was testing him.
He forced his expression to remain neutral. "I'm certain, Your Majesty."
She hummed in amusement before shifting the conversation. "And what do you think of my son?"
Jihoon's blood ran cold.
He schooled his expression carefully. "Prince Ryan is… strong. Nice and Kind. Unlike other usual alphas."
"Nice and kind," the Queen echoed, swirling her wine. "Yes. That is one way to describe him."
Jihoon's grip on his knee tightened.
The Queen's expression darkened, her smile turning almost cruel. "Ryan has always been… difficult. Unruly." Her tone was light, but the words dripped with venom. "He was never meant to rule, you know. There were always… better options."
Jihoon swallowed. He didn't like where this was going.
The Queen sighed dramatically, tilting her head as if in thought. "Tell me, Prince Jihoon… Do you believe Ryan is fit to be king?"
Jihoon's heart pounded. He knew a trap when he saw one. Every instinct in him screamed to be careful, to tread lightly.
"…I think that is not my place to decide," Jihoon answered carefully.
The Queen chuckled, the sound cold and hollow. "Smart boy."
Jihoon exhaled quietly, but his relief was short-lived. Because as the Queen leaned back, her expression unreadable, she murmured, "You should be careful, Jihoon. You are walking a very fine line."
His breath hitched. What does she know?
The Queen's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "Good night, Prince Jihoon."
Jihoon stood, his legs feeling heavier than before. He bowed slightly. "Good night, Your Majesty."
And as he walked out of that suffocating chamber, the weight of her words stayed with him, clawing at his thoughts. Something was very, very wrong. And Jihoon was running out of time.
To be continued...…