Transmigrated as the Crown Prince's Mate
Chapter 94: Mistaken for Someone...

Chapter 94: Mistaken for Someone...

"Are we sure she’s going to come through?" Jasper broke the uneasy silence as he leaned against a crooked tree at the edge of the dense forest. His arms were crossed, his expression somewhere between boredom and mild scepticism.

Damian didn’t respond immediately.

His silver eyes stared intently at the path ahead as if he could summon Lily with sheer determination. The cool evening breeze rustled the leaves above, creating an eerie tension between them.

Evelina rolled her eyes. "She’ll come. There’s too much at stake for her."

"Right," Jasper nodded slowly.

Silence followed for a while.

Evelina, standing a few steps away with her arms folded tightly across her chest, finally turned toward Damian, arching a brow. "Well... While we’re standing here doing nothing, were you able to track the owner of the piece of cloth I gave you? You know, the one from the well?"

Damian’s jaw tightened slightly, and he didn’t bother looking at her when he answered. "No."

Her eyes narrowed. "No?"

Relia’s voice flickered into Evelina’s mind, dripping with curiosity. "Okay, is it just me, or are we all pretending not to notice the unnecessary hostility here?"

"That’s what I said, isn’t it?" He spoke in a clipped, razor-sharp way.

"Something’s off with him."

Storm’s voice stirred in Damian’s mind, low and rumbling. "Why are you snapping at her like that?"

"I’m not," Damian shot back internally, his frustration flaring. "She’s just—"

"She’s just what?" Storm challenged. "Or is it because she’s under your skin, and you don’t know what to do with that? Maybe it’s the part where someone else kept her safe."

Damian clenched his jaw harder, refusing to answer.

Meanwhile, Evelina moved in closer, feeling her irritation rise. "Let me get this straight. You’ve got an entire palace full of trackers, soldiers, and gods-know-what-else, but none of them could figure out where a single piece of cloth came from?"

Damian finally turned his gaze to her. "If it were that simple, don’t you think I would’ve already done it?"

"Oh, forgive me," Evelina shot back, sarcasm dripping from her words. "I must’ve mistaken you for someone competent."

Jasper coughed, poorly disguising his laughter, but Damian didn’t even flinch.

Instead, he stepped closer. "And I must’ve mistaken you for someone with patience."

"Patience is a luxury I don’t have," she snapped, her heart racing. "Not when the council gave me a freaking deadline."

"Is there a reason you’re picking a fight with our mate, Damian, instead of focusing? Or is this just how you flirt now?"

Damian clenched his jaw tighter, refusing to acknowledge his wolf’s teasing remark.

"One you wouldn’t be getting if not for me. I’ve been busy trying to keep you alive, Evelina. Forgive me if I didn’t get around to solving every mystery in the kingdom."

Evelina didn’t flinch. "I’m perfectly capable of keeping myself alive."

"Really? Because last I checked, you’ve been attacked—what is it now? Three times in one week?"

"Oh, I’m sorry. Would you prefer I start a collection of near-death experiences to impress you?"

Jasper snorted, nearly choking on his laughter.

Damian clenched his jaw, suppressing a retort. Instead, he exhaled sharply and focused on the dark path ahead, tension radiating from his hands like heat from a fire.

Relia’s voice hummed with amusement. "I’m starting to think he’s mad because you told him someone rescued you. Maybe he’s jealous."

"Jealous?" Evelina scoffed inwardly but found herself glancing at Damian’s tense figure and reasoning with her wolf’s words. "...Maybe... He’s been acting distant ever since I told him about the assassins and well... blue-eyes," Evelina thought bitterly.

"Exactly," Relia chimed in smugly. "He’s waiting for you to bring it up again. Bet he’s dying to ask who ’rescued’ you."

"Then why doesn’t he just ask?" Evelina grumbled inwardly.

"Pride, probably. Or stubbornness. Both, actually."

Jasper, oblivious—or perhaps perfectly aware—but needing to break the tension, cleared his throat, grinning. "You know, for people who claim they don’t like each other, you sure argue like an old married couple."

Both Damian and Evelina turned to glare at him simultaneously.

"What?" Jasper raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning. "Just an observation."

Before either of them could respond, the faint sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the trees. The trio tensed instantly, hands drifting toward their weapons out of instinct.

A shadow emerged from the path—Lily.

She was breathless, her eyes wide with fear as she clutched something tightly wrapped in cloth against her chest.

Lily rushed toward them, out of breath and holding a small bundle wrapped tightly in cloth. Her wide eyes moved quickly between Damian, Evelina, and Jasper, showing both fear and urgency.

"I have it," she whispered, her voice trembling as she approached them.

Evelina’s heart leapt. "The pearl?"

Without saying anything more, Lily held out the bundle. Damian stepped forward, his silver eyes narrowing slightly as he reached for it.

He opened the cloth to reveal the dragon pearl, which glimmered softly in the pale moonlight, shifting between deep blue and gold like captured starlight.

Evelina didn’t need to touch the pearl to know it was it. "Yes," she confirmed softly, her voice filled with relief. "That’s the one."

Damian nodded, carefully wrapping the pearl back up and handing it to Evelina.

His expression shifted from sharp focus to cool detachment. "A promise is a promise," he said steadily. "You’ve been cooperative so far. You can see your sister now."

Lily’s breath hitched, her shoulders sagging in visible relief. She nodded quickly, murmuring, "Thank you, Your Highness."

They didn’t linger.

Damian led them further into the woods towards the cabin, and soon, they reached the wooden structure where Sofia was held.

Damian gave a short nod to the guard he had placed for security, and the four of them entered the cabin.

Sofia sat comfortably, lounging with an air of nonchalance. Her face was bright and surprisingly cheerful, considering her situation.

At the sight of her sister, Lily rushed forward, dropping to her knees beside Sofia. "Sofia!"

Sofia’s face lit up with surprise, followed by an annoyed scowl. "Lily? Why are you here?"