Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 53: Called Off...

Chapter 53: Called Off...

Eve’s mouth opened, but no words came out as his statement sank in. "You... you what?" she finally managed to whisper.

"I called it off," Damian repeated in a calm tone, his silver eyes fixed on her. "Selene and I are no longer engaged. I made it very clear to my father that I won’t marry her."

Evelina’s breath hitched, her lips parting in disbelief. "You can’t just... call off an engagement like that," she said, shaking her head. "What about the alliances? The kingdom?"

Damian stepped closer, bridging the space between them. "The kingdom will survive," he said firmly. "Marriages built on manipulation and lies are not the foundation of a strong rule. I won’t let anyone—including my father—force me into a life I don’t want."

Relia’s voice returned, full of playful smugness. "Oh, this life he doesn’t want? It has Selene written all over it. Translation: he’s choosing us, Eve."

Evelina’s jaw clenched.

She tightened her grip on the hem of her tunic, her emotions warring within her. "Damian, this isn’t just about you," her voice trembled with restrained emotion. "It’s about your people. Your responsibility."

"I know my responsibilities," Damian countered. "And I know that sacrificing my happiness—and the truth—isn’t the way to fulfill them."

Evelina’s heart pounded as she met his gaze.

His conviction was almost overwhelming, but doubt clawed at her. She wanted to argue, to tell him he was being reckless, but the intensity in his silver eyes made the words stick in her throat.

Instead, she whispered, "Why are you telling me this?"

Damian hesitated, his hands flexing at his sides before he reached out gently, almost hesitantly. "Because you need to know... that you’re the reason I couldn’t go through with it."

Her breath caught, and for a moment, the bond between them flared like a live wire. The air seemed charged, wrapping them in the undeniable pull that neither could ignore.

But she forced herself to step back, keeping the distance between them. "This doesn’t change anything. You still have your duties, Damian. And I..." She averted his gaze. "I’m not going to be the reason you abandon them."

Without waiting for his response, Evelina turned and walked briskly toward the palace gates. Her thoughts were chaotic, feelings overwhelming her as she walked away from Damian, leaving him by himself.

Damian stood there long after Evelina had gone, his wolf rumbling in frustration. "Why didn’t you push harder? She’s yours—our mate."

"She’s scared," Damian replied inwardly, clenching his fists. "I can’t force her to see what I already know."

"Scared or not," Storm growled, "the bond is there. You felt it. She felt it."

Damian exhaled sharply, his gaze shifting to the horizon. "She needs time."

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

Elsewhere, Evelina wandered through the palace grounds without any direction in mind. Relia’s voice filled in her thoughts, blending a playful attitude with a comforting warmth. "You know he’s serious, right?"

"That doesn’t make it any easier," Evelina murmured aloud.

"Of course it does," Relia teased. "He called off the engagement. Selene’s out of the picture. Now it’s just you, him, and this whole assassin-poison-revenge mess."

Evelina groaned, rubbing her temples. "Relia, please."

Relia chuckled. "Fine, fine. But don’t pretend you don’t feel it. The pull, the connection. You can’t keep running forever."

Evelina sighed as she continued on her way. As she turned a corner near the western courtyard, with sunlight streaming through the arches, an all-too-familiar voice abruptly stopped her.

"You." The single word dripped with venom.

Evelina’s head snapped up, her gaze landing on Selene, who stood a few feet away. Her usual poise was gone, in its place was a mask of anger, with her hands clenched together at her sides.

"Lady Selene," Evelina said coolly, refusing to let the anger directed at her penetrate her composure. "Is there something you need?"

Selene strode forward. "What I need is for you to stay away from Prince Damian," she spat. "You’ve bewitched him. Manipulated him. And now, because of you, he’s calling off the engagement!"

Evelina held her ground, her expression remaining impassive despite the heat of Selene’s words. "If that’s how you feel, perhaps you should be talking to him," she replied evenly. "I don’t make his decisions for him."

Selene’s eyes narrowed, her anger bubbling over. "Don’t act innocent, you conniving witch. You’ve been playing him from the start, haven’t you? Seducing him with your tricks and lies!"

Evelina crossed her arms. "If you’re so convinced of that, maybe you should try convincing Damian instead of wasting your energy attacking me."

Selene’s lips twisted into a sneer as she lifted her hand, ready to slap Evelina across the face. She had done this before and Eve let her go scot-free. Not this time.

Eve’s hand shot up, catching Selene’s wrist mid-swing. "Not this time, Selene," Evelina said, tightening her grip on Selene’s hand.

Selene tried to break free but Eve didn’t yield for a few moments before pushing her back. The movement forced Selene to take a step back, her balance momentarily faltering.

The shock in Selene’s eyes was almost satisfying as Evelina dropped her hand and stood tall. Selene opened her mouth to retort but hesitated, her fury momentarily outweighed by the authority in Evelina’s stance.

"You might want to think twice before trying that again," Evelina warned in a calm voice.

Selene’s face twisted with indignation. "You’ll regret this," she hissed.

But without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed away, her footsteps echoing against the stone pathway.

Evelina exhaled slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. "About damn time you put her in her place. Did you see her face? Priceless."

Evelina couldn’t help the faint smirk that tugged at her lips. "Let’s hope that’s the last time we have to deal with her like this."

"Doubt it," Relia chuckled. "But at least now she knows you’re not to be messed with."

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

Evelina spent the rest of the day avoiding paths where she might encounter Damian. When the sky darkened, she returned to the palace, exhaustion pulling at her limbs.

Her plan was simple: bathe, eat, and spend some time in the library to distract herself before heading to bed.

Closing her chamber door behind her, Evelina let out a weary sigh. She turned to head toward her bathing room, but a sudden, icy sensation prickled at the back of her neck.

Relia’s voice snapped to life in her mind. "Evie, watch out!"

Before she could react, a dull ache suddenly hit the back of her head, followed by sharp, spreading pain. Darkness started to fill her vision as she staggered, her hand reaching for the wall for support.

She barely managed to gasp, "Who—" before the pain consumed her, and her world faded into nothingness.