Married To The Villain
Chapter 46: Confrontation In The Castle

Chapter 46: Confrontation In The Castle

Chapter 46: Confrontation in the Castle

As Gabriel was sitting alone, staring at the candle, he touched the book on his lap.

-Legends of Forbidden Mana,- the title was written in faded gold lettering.

The pages were with accounts of powerful individuals throughout history who had been hunted, hidden, or destroyed for the threat they posed to kingdoms.

His headache throbbed as he read about ancient wizards who suppressed mana users through cruel enchantments, imprisoning them in their own minds.

The idea floated uneasily in his stomach, knowing how close Lirian had come to being one of them.

Gabriel sighed and closed the book, placing it on the table beside him.

He glanced at Lirian, who was on the bed across the room, her chest kept rising and falling in one rhythm.

Her face looked peaceful, but the glowing runes faintly were still visible beneath her skin.

Running a hand over his face, Gabriel leaned back in his chair, pressing his fingers to his temples.

The leftovers of the poison Daria had slipped him still remained, dulling his senses and clouding his thoughts.

It was an evil game she had played, manipulating him with the fairy dust’s hypnotic effects.

But now, he was finally beginning to see clearly.

"Duke," a servant said, entering the study with a bow. "Crown Prince Raphael has arrived. He’s waiting in the hall... with Lady Daria."

Gabriel exhaled a long breath, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Of course he is," he muttered, pushing himself to his feet. He slipped his hands into his pockets, masking his annoyance.

"Tell them I’m coming," he said curtly, stepping toward the door.

Raphael was near the center, his royal blue cloak draped over his shoulders, his dark hair looked perfectly combed.

He was tapping his fingers against the hilt of his sword, as if Gabriel was taking too long.

Beside him, Daria paced with a careful expression of distress, wringing her hands together as if she were a victim of great injustice.

Gabriel entered the hall, measuring his steps.

His eyes went to Daria, then back to Raphael, as he spoke calmly.

"Your Highness," Gabriel greeted, inclining his head slightly. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Raphael wasted no time.

"Gabriel, I demand to know why you dismissed Lady Daria so rudely after she traveled to the North to assist you."

Raphael’s tone was straightforward, but still carried a lot of authority.

"She came to your aid when you called for help, and you repay her by treating her like a criminal?"

Gabriel raised an eyebrow, a small, almost amused smile tugged at his lips.

"The North wasn’t in danger, Raphael. No call for help was made."

"What are you talking about?" Raphael’s tone hardened a little.

Gabriel took a step closer, with his hands still in his pockets.

"There was no ’rescue’ needed, Your Highness. The North is stable. The only threat was to one person—Lirian."

His voice turned colder as his eyes briefly flicked to Daria.

"And as for the monsters... they vanish very quickly when the right people are no longer involved."

Raphael’s brows furrowed, and he glanced at Daria, whose pale face seemed to blanch further.

"Is this true?" he asked her, lowering his voice.

"No! He’s lying!" Daria exclaimed.

She stepped toward Raphael, her hands clasped his arm.

"Gabriel has always hated me. He’s twisting everything to turn you against me!"

Gabriel let out a soft chuckle, the sound seemed like it was filled with derision.

"Twisting, am I?" He tilted his head, his golden eyes blinked gently. "Tell me, Daria—where did you get the fairy dust?"

The question landed like a thunderclap in the room.

Raphael’s eyes widened as he turned to Daria, his jaw dropped.

"What?" Raphael demanded. "Fairy dust? What’s he talking about?"

"I don’t know what he means!" Daria said quickly, her voice started trembling. "He’s making things up to humiliate me!"

"Am I?" Gabriel’s tone was deceptively calm, his hands still in his pockets.

"The fairy dust you used to poison me—it wasn’t just a sedative. It was laced with enchantments designed to cloud my judgment. To make me pliable. To make me... yours."

"That’s absurd!" Daria shouted, her lips began to shake.

Raphael stepped away from her. He loved Daria, but if what Gabriel was saying was true, she was in big trouble.

"Daria," he said slowly, it sounded more like a warning. "Is this true?"

"No, of course not!" she cried, her hands reached out for him. "I would never—Raphael, you have to believe me!"

"Your Highness, fairy dust is highly regulated. Its use is forbidden without royal sanction. The only way she could have obtained it is through illegal channels. Ask yourself—what else has she been hiding?"

Raphael’s eyes flicked between Daria and Gabriel, doubt and anger was forming in his eyes.

"Daria," he said coldly, "if you lied to me—if you’ve been manipulating Gabriel—"

"I haven’t!" Daria interrupted, desperately. "This is all a trap! He’s trying to turn you against me because he can’t handle the truth about his failures in the North!"

Gabriel let out a breath, shaking his head.

"Your Highness," he said, addressing Raphael directly, "you’ve known me all your life. You know what I stand for. Ask yourself—why would I lie about this? Why would I risk my reputation and my station just to expose her schemes?"

Raphael stared at Daria, his jaw clenched, his facial muscles hardened.

"You will explain yourself," he looked at her, leaving no room for argument.

Daria’s composure cracked, and she took a step back, her eyes darted around the room as if searching for an escape.

"Raphael, please," she pleaded in a trembling voice. "He’s lying. You have to believe me!"

Gabriel stood silently. He was focused only on ensuring Lirian’s safety—and clearing the poison from his kingdom, no matter the cost.

Raphael’s voice broke the tense silence.

"We will investigate this matter thoroughly," he said, his tone clipped. "Daria, you will remain here in the castle until I have answers."

Daria’s face twisted with fury, but she bowed her head, masking it with feigned humility.

"Of course, Your Highness," she said softly, though her eyes burned with rage.

Gabriel said nothing as Raphael turned and left the hall, though he felt Daria’s glare on him like a dagger.

"You’ve made an enemy of me, Gabriel," she hissed at him.

Gabriel met her glare with icy indifference.

"It wouldn’t be the first time," he said simply, turning on his heel and walking away.

"I will kill Lirian, Gabriel...and then all the men will be mine..."