Beneath the Mask

Chapter 7

Beneath the Mask

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The music reverberated through the grand hall, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses filling the air as the wedding festivities continued. Guests danced, drank, and reveled in the joy of the occasion, completely unaware of the danger lurking beneath the surface.

Cater stood in the shadows, his gaze fixed on his aunt, who wore Princess Ava's face like a mask. She was radiant, every smile and gesture perfectly rehearsed, her charm drawing admiration from everyone in the room. But Cater knew the truth. Beneath the facade was a demon, and she was moments away from binding herself to Alric in marriage.

His mind raced, desperate for a plan. How could he stop this without revealing himself? How could he protect Alric from her?

"Cater, are you alright?"

Jane's voice pulled him from his spiraling thoughts. She stood beside him, her expression a mix of concern and exasperation.

Cater glanced at her briefly before returning his gaze to the scene before him. "I'm fine," he whispered, though the tension in his voice betrayed him.

Jane crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. "You don't look fine," she said softly. "You look like you're about to throw yourself into a fight you can't win."

When Cater didn't respond, she sighed and stepped closer. "You could just walk away, you know," she said gently. "Forget all of this. Leave the castle, leave Alric, leave this mess behind. No one would blame you. This isn't your fight, Cater."

Cater turned to her, his expression blank but his jaw tight.

Jane pressed on, her tone firmer now. "If you try to tell anyone the truth, they'll think you're insane. She's your aunt, and now she's pretending to be Princess Ava. What do you expect people to do? Believe you? You'll ruin yourself, Cater. Just leave. It's not too late."

Her words barely left her mouth before Cater grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the cold stone wall. His eyes darkened, turning an inky black as his voice dropped to a dangerous growl.

"No one tells me what to do. Got it?"

Jane gasped, her hands clawing at his wrist, but he released her just as quickly, stepping back as though snapping out of a trance.

Her wide eyes stared at him, her hand instinctively going to her throat. "Cater…" she whispered, her voice trembling with both fear and disbelief.

But he didn't look at her. Instead, he clenched his fists and stormed away, vanishing into the shadows.

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Cater slammed the door to his small room, leaning heavily against it as his chest heaved with barely contained anger. The muffled music and laughter from the party outside only stoked the fire burning in his veins.

He moved to the edge of his bed and sat down, burying his face in his hands. The image of his aunt standing beside Alric burned in his mind. Her fake smile, her deceitful words—they taunted him, mocking his helplessness.

His hands trembled as the demon within him clawed at his control. He wanted to storm into the hall, expose her for what she was, and tear her apart. But he couldn't. If he revealed his true nature, he would lose everything.

A knock at the door jolted him out of his thoughts. Cater didn't move.

"Go away, Jane," he growled, his voice muffled by his hands. "I'm not in the mood."

But the voice on the other side wasn't Jane's.

"Cater."

He froze, his breath catching in his throat. Slowly, he stood and walked to the door, opening it cautiously. Standing there was Alric, his expression a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Your Highness," Cater said quietly, his usual composure faltering.

Alric stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, closing the door behind him. "Why are you here?" he asked, his brow furrowed. "I saw you leave the party. You didn't look… happy. Is something wrong?"

Cater avoided his gaze, his heart racing. He didn't know how to respond. Every time he looked at Alric, he felt exposed, as though the prince could see through the layers of secrecy he'd spent years building.

"Cater? Hello?" Alric's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Sorry, Your Highness," Cater said quickly. "I was just… busy. Do you need something?"

Alric studied him for a moment before sitting down on the bed. He patted the space beside him. "Come on, sit. I want to talk."

Cater hesitated but egventually sat down, his hands resting awkwardly on his knees. The silence between them stretched uncomfortably.

Finally, Alric broke it. "I don't want to marry her."

Cater turned to him, his expression unreadable.

"My father thinks marrying a princess is the right choice," Alric continued, his voice quiet. "He wants me to uphold tradition, to keep the legacy alive. But I don't want that. I don't want her."

He paused, his hands gripping the edge of the bed. "I'm more than just a prince, Cater. I'm a knight, a warrior who fights for this kingdom. Soon, I'll be king. And when that happens, I want to spend my life with someone who truly understands me—not someone chosen for me."

Cater's chest tightened. For a brief moment, hope flickered within him. Alric didn't want to marry his aunt. But that hope was quickly overshadowed by the reality of his own situation.

"Then why don't you talk to your father?" Cater whispered.

Alric turned to him, confused. "What?"

Cater met his gaze, his voice firmer this time. "Talk to him. Tell him how you feel. Maybe he'll understand. I know I'm just a servant, and I have no right to give advice, but… take me as a friend for a moment and listen. People can't know what you want unless you tell them."

His voice softened as he added, almost too quietly, "I wish I could do the same with my father."

Alric stared at him, the weight of his words settling between them. Slowly, a small smile spread across his face.

"You're right," Alric said finally. "I've been so caught up in thinking of ways to stop this wedding that I forgot the simplest solution. I just need to talk to him."

He stood, a newfound determination lighting his eyes. "Thank you, Cater. I mean it."

Cater stood as well, watching as Alric made his way to the door.

"Thanks again, friend," Alric said, pausing to look back at him. "And… I'm sorry if I've ever treated you like just a servant. You've always been more than that to me."

Cater chuckled lightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I'm glad you're finally realizing that," he teased.

Alric grinned and, to Cater's surprise, pulled him into a brief hug before leaving the room.

As the door clicked shut, Cater stood frozen, staring after him. Slowly, he sat back down, his emotions swirling.

"One day," he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. "One day, I'll tell you everything, Alric. And I'll prove my feelings to you."

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