The Crown's Seduction-Chapter 488: Two Broken Souls

Niran blinked against the harsh sunlight streaming into her room, her vision slowly adjusting as she realized where she was. Her bedroom. Her familiar, quiet sanctuary. And yet, the sight of it filled her chest with an aching hollowness.

She shifted slightly on the bed, her body heavy with lingering exhaustion. As her hand instinctively touched the mark at the junction of her neck and shoulder, she flinched. The skin there still throbbed faintly, a constant reminder of the Coupling Rite and Raul’s bite... his claim.

Her fingers trembled as they brushed against it. It was warm to the touch, as though his presence lingered even in this mark. A wave of emotions surged through her... confusion, regret, and the overwhelming sting of loneliness.

Tears welled in her eyes as she sat up slowly, her gaze wandering around the room. She remembered his arms carrying her, cradling her like she was precious. The memory was vivid, and it brought an odd mix of comfort and pain.

He hadn’t stayed.

The emptiness of the room mirrored the hollow ache in her chest. She had hoped, foolishly, perhaps, that she would wake to find him nearby. But instead, she was alone, left to grapple with the turmoil of her heart.

The door creaked open, and a servant stepped inside, carrying a tray of tea and light food. The woman bowed politely before setting the tray on the bedside table.

"His Highness instructed us to ensure you are comfortable, My Lady," the servant said softly, her tone careful and measured.

Niran’s throat tightened. "Did... Did he say anything else?"

The servant hesitated, then shook her head. "No, My Lady. He left early this morning and has not returned yet."

Niran nodded faintly, her heart sinking further. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling, but the tears she had been holding back finally slipped free.

"Thank you. That will be all," she whispered, her voice cracking.

The servant bowed again and left, closing the door behind her. Niran sat motionless for a moment, her hands gripping the edge of the blanket tightly.

Her eyes drifted back to the mark, her thoughts racing.

"Raul..." she murmured softly, her voice trembling. She didn’t know what hurt more... the mark that tied her to him or the silence that continued to loom between them.

*****

Days turned into weeks, and Niran endured Raul’s cold treatment with a resilience she didn’t know she possessed. His deliberate attempts to hurt her emotionally stung like barbs and she often found herself retreating to her room to cry in solitude.

The pain reached its peak one evening in the Banquet Pavilion, where Raul openly flirted with other women, his laughter echoing like a cruel taunt.

She forced herself to remain composed, even as her heart ached at the sight. "I must endure," she repeated to herself, the phrase becoming a fragile mantra that held her together.

Though Raul had marked her as his, he treated her like a stranger, someone unworthy of his acknowledgement or care. And yet, amidst the storm of his indifference, there were moments when his facade cracked, revealing glimpses of his torment.

Tonight was one such moment.

Niran rushed to Raul’s bedroom, her chest tightening at the sight before her. He was curled up in a corner, his head buried in his knees, his body trembling as incoherent murmurs spilled from his lips.

Her tears threatened to fall as she stepped closer, her heart breaking for the man who seemed so lost. Butler Moller’s words echoed in her mind, how Raul had endured years of trauma at the hands of his mother. The physical abuse, the cruel words, the isolation, all disguised as a twisted form of discipline to mold him into a strong prince.

"Raul..." she whispered softly, kneeling beside him. Her hand hovered hesitantly before she placed it gently on his shoulder.

His body jerked at her touch, and he flinched away as if her presence burned him.

"Leave," he rasped, his voice hoarse and laced with pain.

"No," she replied firmly, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I’m not leaving you like this."

Raul shook his head, his hands clutching his hair as if trying to silence the echoes of his past. "You shouldn’t be here... I-"

Before he could finish, Niran leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"You don’t have to say anything," she murmured against his ear, her voice trembling. "I’m here, Raul. I’ll always be here."

At first, he resisted, his body rigid and unyielding. But slowly, his defenses crumbled, and he slumped against her, his head resting on her shoulder.

Niran stroked his hair gently, whispering soothing words as his breathing began to steady. She could feel his pain in the way his body trembled against hers, and she held him tighter, determined to be the anchor he needed.

For a long while, they stayed like that... two broken souls seeking solace in each other’s presence. Niran knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but she was willing to endure it all if it meant helping Raul find peace.

Niran knew that Raul would return to his cold, distant self soon. The silent treatment would start again, as if she didn’t exist at all. This had become their painful routine. She was always there for him when he had his episodes of inner turmoil, offering comfort and solace. But once he calmed down, he would leave, shutting himself off from her once more.

"Raul, I allow you to drink from my blood and see my memories..." Niran whispered weakly into his ear, her voice trembling. Queen Mineah had suggested this to her before, that Raul might be able to understand her better if he could see through her memories. Maybe, just maybe, it would help him stop doubting her feelings, to understand the truth of what she felt for him.

"No!" Raul growled, his voice filled with frustration and anger. Before Niran could react, the air around her seemed to shift. In an instant, Raul transformed into his mist form and vanished before her eyes, leaving her alone in the stillness of the room.