Chapter 20: The Wish

SOPHIA'S POV

"R-Raphael?"

His name escaped my lips in a breathless whisper, unbidden yet undeniable. I hadn't meant to call him by his real name, but in the heat of the moment, with the rush of emotions crashing over me, it slipped out before I could stop it.

"Are you alright?" he asked, as if there wasn't blood trickling down his arm.

How could he ask me that so casually—like he wasn't in pain?

"Quickly, tend to the Duke!" Princess Anastasia commanded.

"Stay back."

We all froze at his words.

"But you require treatment! Pray, allow them to tend to your wounds."

I was about to step away, giving the servants space to do their work, when he suddenly seized my hand—his grip ironclad, his pull forceful. In an instant, I was drawn toward him, my breath catching as I found myself far too close.

My chest tightened when the corner of his lips curled into a smirk. "Sophia, have you even the faintest notion of how greatly pleased I am at this very moment?" he murmured, his voice smooth, yet his jaw clenched as if restraining something darker.

"D-Duke… w-what do you mean?"

"For the first time in my existence, I find myself consumed by an irritation so profound—so utterly maddening—that it is, in the most peculiar of ways, rather amusing."

"Duke, I don't understand what you're saying," I stammered, struggling to pull my hand free, but his grip only tightened.

"Do you know how infuriating it was to stand there, watching two men fight over the very woman who confessed her love to me—twice?"

My eyes widened in shock.

How could he say that so openly? In front of all these people? Was he out of his mind?!

"Now, I'm at a loss. I'm not sure what would be enough to rid me of this unbearable irritation. Do you have any suggestions?" he asked, his smirk deepening.

My heart pounded against my ribs. There was something terribly wrong with him.

"Your excellency," he suddenly addressed the Prime minister. "As it stands, it was the prince who caused this commotion. What do you have to say?"

Prime minister visibly paled at Duke's question. 

"Speak your wish, Duke," he finally managed to say, though his voice was strained.

"Have Prince Ludwig executed. Immediately."

Executed?

I felt the blood drain from my face.

The prince? Executed?

I must have misheard him.

Yet his expression was devoid of hesitation, his words delivered without so much as a blink.

How could he declare such a thing so easily?

Even if he was a duke—the head of the royal guard, a war hero—it was still a prince he was talking about. He had no authority to make such a demand. Unless...

Unless the Duke's word held far more power than I had ever realized.

Unless they knew something I didn't.

But the idea is... is ridiculously insane. 

"My Grace, there are countless eyes upon us this day. P-please, grant me the authority to deliberate upon the prince's punishment instead." Princess Anastasia pleaded.

"There is no other punishment fitting enough," the Duke said coolly. "Only death will suffice."

"But, Duke—!"

"Would you rather trade places with your brother, Princess Anastasia?"

I stiffened, eyes darting to the Duke, who still held my wrist in a vice grip.

Is he serious? How could he say something like that so easily? To the princess, no less?

"Princess Anastasia, stay out of this!" the Prime Minister cut in, gritting his teeth before turning to Raphael. "Duke, if that is your decision, then so be it."

Alarm shot through me.

Something was wrong.

Something was terribly wrong.

They were insane.

As the guards stepped forward to seize Prince Ludwig, I wrenched my hand free from the Duke's grasp and ran, throwing myself between them.

"Duke, take back your order this instant!" I shouted.

"And if I refuse?"

"You promised..."

My fingers curled tightly around the fabric of my dress.

"You promised me... that you wouldn't do things like this in front of me ever again."

My voice trembled, and before I could stop myself, the tears came.

Why was he like this?

Why did he make such reckless decisions, as if human lives meant nothing? How many times did he plan to do this—all for my sake?

And regardless of whatever hidden power he held, there were still too many eyes watching us now. He was putting himself in danger!

He let out a slow exhale. "How irritating," he muttered.

I lifted my gaze to him.

"Cease your weeping and come home with me at once."

I stared at him, momentarily frozen.

That was what I wanted—wasn't it? So why... why did it feel so infuriating?

He could so easily order the most severe of punishments, only to rescind it moments later as if it were nothing.

Did he see himself as some kind of god?

Did he truly believe he could do whatever he pleased without consequence?

I remained unmoving, still blocking Prince Ludwig from view. The Duke stepped closer, reaching for my hand once more, but I slapped it away.

"You're a fool, Duke!" I spat before turning on my heel and running.

I didn't know where I was going.

All I knew was that my chest felt tight, and my vision blurred with unshed tears.

I came to an abrupt halt beneath the towering shade of an old tree, my breath ragged.

Another disaster.

Another catastrophe, all because of me.

This is my fault again... isn't it?

Fingers trembling, I grasped at the fabric of my dress, only to flinch as a strong hand suddenly seized my arm.

Before I could react, I was spun around—and a sharp, stinging pain exploded across my cheek.

The slap was so forceful, I staggered back.

"You wretched woman, Lady Sophia!"

"Princess Anastasia?"

I was about to speak when, without warning, she struck me across the cheek.

"Why is it that, from the moment you arrived, naught but disorder has ensued? Why is it that, since you first set foot within these halls, the Duke has altered so? Never before was he a man swayed by sentiment, his concerns ever bound to duty and station—yet in your presence, all has seemingly changed! And above all, why does it feel as though he favors you, even at the peril of his own standing?!"

She raised her hand once more, poised to strike me again, but before she could, someone seized her wrist from behind.

"What is happening here?"

The deep, authoritative voice cut through the tension like a blade. He held Princess Anastasia's wrist firmly, his gaze sharp and demanding.

"Duke," she stammered, the fire in her voice now tinged with unease, "I merely reprimanded her, but to my shock, she slapped me first. I couldn't restrain myself—I simply returned the gesture."

His gaze darkened. "Lady Sophia, what is your problem?"

And just like that, the tide had turned.

How pathetic.

A smirk curled on my lips. Raising my hand in mock surrender, I wordlessly conceded their so-called victory. I turned to walk past them, but before I could take a step, the Duke's grip closed around my arm, halting me in place.

"Princess Anastasia, I beseech you to retire within. I must have a word with my sister in private."

I clenched my fists, watching as Princess Anastasia's lips twisted into a secret, triumphant smile before she turned on her heel and walked away.

"Fine." My voice wavered with frustration. "It's all my fault, isn't it? It's always me. I'm always the one in the wrong! So, if that's the case, can you at least do me a favor and let me go?"

I jerked my arm free from his grasp, but he didn't step aside. His next words cut deeper than I expected.

"Why have you come? None of this misfortune would have occurred had you simply remained at home and not attended."

I snapped my head up, my breath catching.

"And what of it?" My voice trembled, a mix of anger and disbelief swirling within me. "What do you see me as, Duke? A possession to be locked away? A fragile thing you refuse to let anyone else touch? What am I to you?!"

"Sophia, you're misunderstanding—"

"Misunderstanding?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Then explain! Why do you act the way you do around me? Like earlier—why did you shield me from something that was meant for me? Why do you keep saving me? And more than anything, why do you keep putting your position at risk for my sake?! Tell me, Duke! What is the reason?! Do you—" I took a shuddering breath, my pulse hammering in my ears. "Do you have feelings for me?!" it's unbelievable...

For the first time, I saw hesitation in his eyes. It was fleeting, barely there, but I saw it.

His jaw tightened. "It would be better if we spoke about this tomorrow."

He turned away, but I wasn't done.

"I like you, Duke."

He stilled.

"The second time, the third—I've lost count of how many times I've said it." My voice wavered, but I pushed through. "I kept telling myself that maybe it was nothing, that maybe you felt nothing in return. I convinced myself that it was foolish to hope. But every time I try to move on, you do something that contradicts everything I believed! You keep giving me reasons to hold on, even when it ruins me! So tell me now—tell me what I am to you! Because I am so, so tired of trying to figure it out on my own!"

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes as I met his gaze, pleading, demanding—anything but silence.

His lips parted, and for a moment, I held my breath.

"Do you remember what you said back in the town of Krampnitz?"

My brows furrowed. "That I would do anything you asked in exchange for the lives of the people there?"

His voice dropped. "Then listen carefully."

I waited, my entire body tense, my heart hammering so hard it threatened to shatter.

"Sophia, no matter how many times you profess your affection for me, it will alter nothing. So, if it is within reason..."

His gaze lowered, his next words striking harder than any slap ever could.

"Bestow your affection upon another—anyone but me.". Just… not me."

A breathless chuckle escaped my lips, but before I could stop them, tears finally spilled down my cheeks.

How funny.

In my dreams, you told me to stand by my words—to be brave in my feelings for you—because you had finally come to have feelings for me too.

But reality has never been kind.

"Is that your final wish?"

He hesitated, then added, "One more thing."

I let out a shaking breath. "Go on. Just finish it. If you're going to break me, at least do it all at once."

"Starting tomorrow…"

I watched him, my heart pounding, dreading the next words that would leave his lips.

"Sophia, from this moment forth, you shall no longer reside within my estate, under my protection."

The world stilled. I stared past him, my vision blurring. My body felt numb, my thoughts empty.

Without another word, I turned away. And as my tears fell, I uttered the only thing I could manage.

"As you wish, Duke."