Wheels stopped turning, and shadows were seen lining up at the entrance outside the mansion. We've arrived. Damien held his hand out to me.

"Would you like some help coming down?" He offered.

"No," I declined.

"Do you hate me that much, my liege?"

"It's not hate. I can't trust you yet."

"I’m but a humble servant trying to serve the royal family.”

I ignore him and get up with Donna in my arms. Before I could even step off the carriage, that crazy man stole her away from me and handed her off to one of his men. Before I could protest, my hand was pulled up.

“Allow me to escort you off the carriage safely, my liege,” Damien smiled.

My eyebrows twitch, but I plaster a formal smile, "Very well."

I was helped off the carriage and greeted by a young butler. He had short silver hair, blue eyes, a light tannish orange skin tone, and a welcoming expression. His white uniform fits him quite well, complimenting his collected and calm demeanor.

"Welcome back, your grace," the butler bowed.

"Glad to be back," Damien responded.

The butler glanced in my direction and wore a surprised look. He immediately bowed in respect towards me.

"Forgive me for not recognizing you first, my liege, Lady Everdeen," he apologized.

The lineup of maids and servants also began to bow in respect for me. I'll never get used to this.

"At ease," I commanded. "Don't worry about my existence for the night. Carry on as you normally would."

"Your benevolence knows no bounds, my liege," Damien retorted. "Prepare two rooms for my guest here, one for our liege and one for her maid."

"Yes, your grace," the butler obeyed.

The butler turned to the maids, "Prepare the rooms for our distinguished guests."

He turned to the servants, "Tell the kitchen that dinner should be prepared with utmost haste. While you're at it, set up the table."

Everyone dispersed to do their duties. The butler turned back to me with a sweet smile.

"Please feel free to make yourself at home, my liege," he said. "I'll make sure your stay tonight is comfortable."

"That will be all, Bryant," Damien sighed. "You never fail to show off."

"You wound me, your grace," the butler, Bryant, joked. "I'm simply upholding my due diligence as the head butler of the Silvercrest Manor."

"We get it already."

Looking between the both of them, I could tell that they had a long history together. I wonder how this upstanding individual came to know of Damien.

Bryant seems like the easy-going type, someone you could depend on in your time of need. His grace, however, seems more like the type to leave you to die if you're useless.

Such a stark contrast in one another.

"I appreciate your help, Bryant," I thanked him. "If you don't mind, I would like to head inside. My maid is going to freeze in this cold if she stays out here any longer."

I had to pinpoint the reason I was here in the first place. Bryant was a little concerned as to why Donna wasn't waking up to sudden movements. Damien had to assure him that she was alive and simply let her rest in the sitting room until her room was ready.

"General Garrett," Damien called.

"Yes, your grace," the man behind him answered.

General Garrett was the man holding Donna. Even underneath his armor, you can tell how built he was. Not like a crazy bodybuilder, but someone you definitely don't want to mess with.

I peeked just to make sure nothing inappropriate was happening to Donna while she was still unconscious. You can never be so sure with a large number of men in a given area. Then again, that's my paranoia coming out from servicing them for six years.

Damien caught my peeking at the side of his eye but ignored it, "Take the maid to the sitting room so she can warm up. Maybe some heat will wake her. Be sure that the maids give her warm blankets and fluffy pillows."

The sound of Donna being pampered like the sick patient that she is comforted me. I stopped peeking and sighed in relief. Good, she's going to be in good hands then.

Damien gave a sly smirk, "Our liege and I will be in my office. We have much to discuss, so don't disturb us unless dinner is ready."

With that being said, his grace began walking to the entranceway. It would've been nice to politely decline, but as he walked further and further away, the more likely I was to follow. So I did just that.

Before I closed the gap on Damien, I turned around and curtsied to General Garrett and Bryant, "Thank you again for the hospitality. You don't understand how much this means to me. I'm truly grateful."

They were shocked by the formalities, and before they could say anything, I quickly turned around to match his grace's pace.

—

Damien’s office was quite extravagant. Everything, from the furniture to the decor, was of high quality. The couches that he had by the coffee table were made of premium leather. His table was deep mahogany with reflective glass in the center. In the middle, a pristine and delicate tea set made out of said reflective glass.

I picked one up to get a closer look. It's like having mirrors everywhere. I wonder why he has these made of this type of material.

"Would you like me to prepare some tea for you?" Damien asked.

I raise an eyebrow, "You can brew tea?"

To be honest, I'm pretty sure anyone can brew tea. It's just boiling water and placing tea leaves in a cup. Add sugar and honey if you're a child. Drink bitter if you're an adult.

I still add sugar and honey anyway…

Damien just gave me a tired look, "It's not hard. A servant doesn't have to do everything for me."

I'm glad we have that much in common.

I take a seat on the couch, "I would love some. Thank you, Damien."

He flinched, "I didn't know we were that close for you to call me by my first name like that."

"Well, how should I address you, then?"

"Are you truly that ignorant of who I am?"

"Yes. If you don't get straight to the point, I'm clueless. Don't beat around the bush with me. I honestly know nothing about you."

"..."

He slowly picked up the teapot and went to the other side of his office to get it prepared. He was still within earshot.

"I'm the Duke of House Silvercrest," he began. "Also known as The King's Crow."

I figured that he was a very important nobleman. However, he looks quite young to be a Duke. Marquis Hannington was at least twenty-five when his title was passed down to him. Damien looks to be about twenty-one.

Also, what does he mean by the King's Crow?

"Are you supposed to be part of the king's military?" I asked him.

"No, I simply have my own," he answered. "The kingdom's military and my military all have the same goal of protecting the king. My military is just better in every way. My network is larger, too."

He came back to the table with the teapot and poured a cup for me. He then scooched it over closer to my direction as if egging me to try some. I stared at it.

"It's not poisoned," he assured.

My eyes widened as I shot him a look, "You knew?"

"What don't I know?"

A part of me wanted to toss this tea directly at his face. The Duke has a larger network and military compared to the royal family, but his nickname is the King's Crow. Which means he works for the palace. Which means I absolutely can't trust him.

I feel like I walked into a trap.

As if Damien could tell that my guard was up around him, he poured a cup of tea and sipped it.

"See? Not poisoned," he said. "If your tea was poisoned, the cup would've turned black. These are standard tea cups that are required for use in the royal family."

If it's required for use in the royal family, and everyone apart of the royal family is supposed to have their own set, why did Fantasia-?

Oh.

I answered my own question. My hands covered my mouth out of realization. It was disrespect after disrespect. The king of Alabastrum never considered Fantasia a part of the royal family. Thus, never gave her a tea set. With Fantasia not knowing that key factor, it was easy to assassinate her.

So, if a tea set is here, Damien is a part of the royal family.

"Are you a relative of the king?" I asked, balling my fists.

"I'm not your enemy," Damien whispered.

I flinched. Not my enemy? I want to believe him, but it's hard. I can't trust anyone at the moment besides Donna — so where is he going with this?

"How am I supposed to believe that?" I pleaded. "Everyone in that godforsaken palace knew of that bastard's true intentions and did nothing. They forced me down from my position as queen and gave it to another Duke's daughter all because she was higher in rank and from the same kingdom."

I felt like crying. Tears were welling up in my eyes because of how unfair the situation was. They set up Fantasia for failure from the very beginning. Her life was in the palm of her hands, and they crushed it. No remorse.

"Not only that, I never slept with that bastard in the first place. I was considered unsightly in his eyes," I complained. "Then he had the nerve to not allow me on the royal carriages due to my infidelity, but he has five wives."

My silver hair was glowing. I paid no mind to it as I continued to ramble on about Fantasia's misfortune. Damien was paying very close attention to it, though.

"And speaking of infidelity, I did nothing with Marquis Hannington. I just wanted someone who could listen to me for once and not belittle me for my feelings! Is that so wrong?!" I yelled.

My whole body was glowing. Anger fueled my soul and traveled fast throughout my body.

"I don't even want anything to do with that stupid palace anymore! Get me off of this goddamn chessboard already!" I screamed at him.

I held onto my head in frustration, tears falling down my face as the anger continued to fuel the glow. Then, I felt arms wrapped around my body, pulling me close into a hug.

I was ready to push Damien away until he whispered in my ear, "So my hunch was right. You're the new Saintess, aren't you?"

My eyes widened.

Oh no…