Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 25: Chasing a Lead...

Chapter 25: Chasing a Lead...

Damian turned back to Evelina, his jaw tightening. "Stay here."

Before she could protest, Jasper added, "Actually, milady might want to see this too."

Evelina frowned, her curiosity getting the best of her. She pushed herself to her feet, wobbling slightly before Damian steadied her with a firm hand.

"Let’s go."

They followed Jasper through the palace until they reached a small antechamber, where a guard stood waiting with a bundle of cloth cradled in his hands.

The guard bowed, his face pale. "We found this near the pyre, Your Highness."

Damian motioned for him to continue. The guard hesitated, then carefully unwrapped the bundle, revealing a charred bracelet—the same one Evelina had seen in her vision.

Evelina’s breath caught in her throat, her hand instinctively reaching out to touch the bracelet before stopping short.

What’s all this? Who was trying to kill the prince—and why?

Damian’s voice cut through her thoughts. "Do you recognize this?"

Evelina hesitated, her pulse pounding in her ears. "I... I think I’ve seen it before," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damian’s silver eyes narrowed with an unreadable expression. "Where?"

Evelina’s pulse raced, her fingers hovering just above the bracelet. A thousand thoughts surged through her mind. She’s tried the fire... twice. That got her nowhere. But maybe... maybe... this could be her way back—finding out the true killer.

The visions weren’t just glimpses; they were pieces of a puzzle.

Damian’s voice cut through her haze. "Where have you seen it?" he repeated.

Evelina hesitated.

If she told him the truth about her visions, he might think she was losing her grip on reality—or worse, he might stop her investigation altogether.

Instead, she gave a noncommittal shrug. "I... don’t remember. Maybe in passing."

Damian frowned, clearly unsatisfied with her answer, but before he could press further, she turned on her heel. "I need to check something."

"Evelina," Damian called after her. "You’re not leaving my sight until you tell me what’s going on."

"Then come with me," Evelina snapped, not breaking her stride. "But don’t get in my way."

Damian’s jaw tightened, but he followed without another word.

************

The kitchen was quieter this time, the bustle long gone. Evelina’s eyes immediately darted to the counter where the goblet had been left. It gleamed innocently under the soft light, as though it weren’t the centerpiece of a deadly mystery.

She reached for it, ignoring Damian’s questioning gaze.

The metal was cool against her skin as her fingers wrapped around the stem. She held her breath, willing the vision to come, but there was nothing—just the faint sound of crackling embers from the hearth behind her.

Her brow furrowed in confusion, frustration seeping through. She gripped the goblet harder, shaking it slightly, as though the motion might unlock the images she needed.

"Evelina," Damian said quietly, stepping closer. "What are you looking for?"

She didn’t answer, her mind spinning. Why wasn’t it working? What had triggered the vision before?

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. Damian turned toward the door as Lord Luther entered, his presence commanding as always.

His gaze flicked from the goblet in Evelina’s hand to her troubled expression.

"Well," Luther said calmly, his tone curious and with a faint edge to it. "What do we have here?"

Evelina bristled at the way his sharp and assessing eyes lingered on her. She set the goblet down with a loud clink, crossing her arms. "Just following a lead," she said coolly.

Luther’s lips curved into a polite but insincere smile. "A lead? Or perhaps a wild goose chase?" He glanced at Damian. "The physician did recommend rest. Perhaps Lady Evelina would benefit from some time away from all this... stress."

Evelina’s fists clenched at her sides. "I’m not losing my mind," she bit out.

Luther lifted an eyebrow, his expression calm yet obviously skeptical. "No one’s saying you are, my lady. But exhaustion can cloud even the sharpest of minds."

Before Evelina could retort, Damian stepped forward, his silver eyes blazing. "Enough, Lord Luther," he said firmly. "Evelina’s judgment is fine, and I won’t have anyone implying otherwise."

Luther’s smile didn’t waver, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Of course," he said lightly. "I only have her best interests at heart."

Evelina glared at him, her frustration bubbling over. She felt like she was grasping at straws, the one tangible thread she had slipping through her fingers.

Turning back to the goblet, she gritted her teeth. "If you’re really concerned, Lord Luther, I think I might need your help."

Luther inclined his head slightly, the gesture almost mocking. "What do you need?"

Evelina didn’t answer immediately.

Her mind raced, and an idea struck her. She turned to Damian. "Bring all the maids who worked in the kitchen the night of the poisoning. Every single one of them."

Damian hesitated. "Evelina—"

"Do it," she said firmly. "If you want answers, if you want to protect your precious kingdom, you’ll do it."

Damian’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before he nodded. "Jasper," he said, his voice carrying authority. "Fetch them."

Minutes later, the maids were gathered in the kitchen, their expressions ranging from nervous to confused. Evelina’s eyes scanned the group, her heart pounding as she searched for the face she’d seen in her vision.

"There," she murmured, her gaze locking onto a young maid standing near the back. The girl’s eyes darted nervously around the room, her hands twisting the edge of her apron.

Evelina stepped forward. "You. What’s your name?"

The maid flinched but managed to answer. "Marianne, milady."

Evelina’s eyes narrowed. "You were there the night Prince Damian was poisoned, weren’t you?"

Marianne hesitated, her gaze flicking to Damian and Luther before nodding quickly. "Y-yes, milady. I-I brought the wine to His Highness."

"And where did you get it?" Evelina demanded.

Marianne’s hands trembled as she wrung them together. "From the kitchen, milady. It was... it was handed to me by another servant."

"Who?" Evelina’s voice rose slightly, her frustration mounting. "Who handed it to you?"

Marianne’s eyes filled with tears as she stammered, "I-I don’t know her name. She... she said it was ready and to deliver it quickly."

Evelina stepped closer, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. "Think, Marianne. Who was she? What did she look like?"

Marianne’s gaze dropped to the floor, her shoulders shaking. "I don’t know," she whispered. "I swear, milady. I was only doing as I was told."

Evelina’s jaw tightened, her fists clenching at her sides. Her one lead had slipped through her fingers again. She turned to Damian, her voice cold. "If she didn’t prepare it, then who did?"