Page 117 of The Slave in A Princess Disguise

Well, if it keeps him busy enough to stay away from my Daemon, I'm all for it.Sinai’s lips twisted into a wry smile.

Emerging from the garden, Sinai spotted a group of Greyrock soldiers in formation ahead of her. At their center, she caught sight of Grand Lord Zaiper.

She approached him, a demure smile gracing her features.

"Ah, our lovely mistress, Sinai." Zaiper greeted, his own smile slow and deliberate. "A pleasure to see you."

She curtseyed gracefully. "Welcome back, My Lord. How was your trip?"

"It went well enough. Refreshing, even. But I’m glad to be home. I have missed the fortress."

She fell into step beside him as they walked. "The fortress has missed you as well, My Lord."

"What have I missed in my absence?" Zaiper chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Though why do I ask? It’s not as if you know much about court matters."

Sinai gave a small snort. "No, they do not interest me much, Your Highness." She lowered her voice, leaning closer. "Although, I did hear that your immediate is... battling the feral madness."

Zaiper waved a dismissive hand. “That rumor has been circulating for months. It’s nothing more than idle talk."

"Not this time," Sinai said. "These past few days, he’s locked himself away in his domain. No one has seen him. And there are whispers that just before this isolation, he was roaming the woods... even disappearing into caves."

Zaiper stopped walking, a new glint of interest lighting his eyes.

"I think it’s more than just rumors this time, My Lord. It seems your immediate trulyisgoing feral."

Emeriel slipped into the last of her clothes, catching sight of her reflection in the tall, elegant wooden frame mirror.

A sad, almost bittersweet smile tugged at her lips as she stared at the girl looking back at her. It wasn’t Princess Galilea in the reflection, but Emeriel.

"Thank you," she murmured, sincerely.

The household slaves bowed deeply before filing silently out of the bedchamber. Emeriel sighed.

The servants had drawn her a bath, helped her dress, and assisted with her ablutions. No matter how she hinted or outrightly stated her ability to take care of herself, Lord Herod either ignored her or deflected easily. They even tied her chest bindings.

Emeriel glanced at her chest. The binds were looser than normal, her breasts still tender and swollen from her recent heat. For that, she wore three layers of shirts.

Taking a breath, Emeriel let the moment sink in.Finally. It’s all over.

"Are you ready to go, little one?" Lord Herod’s voice broke the quietness. He stood by the open door, waiting patiently.

She nodded, turning to him. "Thank you for everything."

He leaned against the doorframe. "How does it feel to be going back to the real world?"

Emeriel stared at her reflection once more. She felt... different.

It was hard to put into words, but she didn’t feel like the girl she was before her heat. Usually, she was burdened by the weight of her secrets, by the deceit and guilt. Her every moment was filled with anxiety and fear of being discovered.

But this Emeriel, the one staring back at her in the mirror, simply looked… resigned. Sad and resigned.Guess the sadness never changes.

Perhaps it was because she had finally experienced a taste of what could have been, what she was missing. What was meant to be hers but would never truly belong to her.

It had felt like touching the clouds, reaching for the heavens, only to be reminded that it would never be hers.

It didn't hurt, not the way she expected. For once, pain wasn’t the defining emotion. Maybe because she had been in so much pain these past few days, she had gone numb.

There was this bone-deep sadness. And resignation.

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