A Woman Jealousy

Liliana's delicate fingers traced the gemstone at her throat, a golden-hued jewel that shone under the candlelight.

She smiled sweetly, eyes filled with warmth as she looked up at Cassian.

"This is beautiful," she whispered, stepping closer, resting her hands gently on his chest. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Cassian gazed down at her, his expression softening.

Liliana leaned up and pressed a light kiss to his lips, her movements graceful and tender.

"I'm happy," she murmured against his lips. "You're always so kind to me."

Cassian exhaled, brushing a strand of golden hair from her face.

Yes.

Liliana was the right choice.

She was everything Diana wasn't—soft, gentle, innocent.

She never demanded anything. Never spoke arrogantly.

She needed him.

Unlike Diana, who seemed to grow more and more distant each day.

Cassian sighed and cupped Liliana's cheek. "I'm glad you like it."

Liliana nodded eagerly. "Of course, I do. You always choose the best gifts, Your Majesty."

Her words were warm, her touch light.

Cassian smiled faintly.

But duty called.

"I have to return to work," he said, stepping back. "I'll see you later."

Liliana pouted slightly but nodded. "Of course. I'll be waiting."

Cassian gave her one last lingering look before turning and leaving the chamber.

The moment his footsteps faded down the corridor—

The warmth on Liliana's face disappeared.

The sweet smile vanished.

Her fingers curled around the necklace.

With a sharp intake of breath, she ripped it from her throat and threw it across the room.

The golden gemstone clattered against the floor.

"Where did this come from?" she snapped, eyes flashing with something dark.

Her personal maid hesitated. "...His Majesty brought it from the Empress's Palace."

Liliana's eyes twitched.

"...The Empress?"

The maid swallowed.

"Yes, Lady Diana refused the gift. So His Majesty—"

A loud crack echoed in the chamber.

Liliana had slapped the maid.

The woman gasped, stumbling back, her cheek burning red.

Liliana ignored her, storming forward and snatching the discarded necklace from the ground.

The golden gemstone gleamed in the dim light.

A color—rich, deep, warm—

A color that looked exactly like her eyes.

Liliana's grip tightened.

Since when?

Since when does the Emperor care about Lucien?!

That weak little brat!

That sickly, useless thing!

Lucien could never compare to Roan or sweet, beautiful Elysian!

Lucien was nothing!

Liliana's nails dug into her palms.

Again.

Again and again.

Diana!

It was always Diana!

Even after everything, that woman still stood in her way!

Still took what should have been hers!

Liliana's breathing grew heavy.

She couldn't take it anymore.

She needed to end this.

She needed to make sure Diana would never rise again.

Never stand beside Cassian.

Never be seen as anything more than a fallen woman.

Never—

A sinister thought bloomed in her mind.

Liliana turned sharply, walking toward the bookshelf.

She reached between the rows of neatly arranged books and pulled out a small, unassuming wooden box.

Inside was a single black coin.

A mark of the underground.

An assassin's token.

Liliana's lips curled.

She picked it up and turned to her maid.

"Prepare a message," she said coldly. "I want a meeting with the guild."

The maid hesitated, her voice trembling. "...What shall I tell them, my lady?"

Liliana smirked.

"No need to kill," she murmured, tilting her head.

"But make sure she can never appear in high society again."

She twirled the golden gemstone between her fingers.

"...Destroy her face if you must."

Her blue eyes gleamed with twisted satisfaction.

"Do whatever it takes."

*****

The dim glow of a bedside lamp bathed the room in a warm light as Diana leaned against the bedframe, a thick book in her hands. Beside her, Lucien sat quietly, his small fingers clutching the blanket as he waited for her to read.

She turned to him, smiling faintly. "Impatient?"

Lucien nodded. His gray eyes, wide and eager, locked onto the book. "You promised, Mother."

Diana chuckled softly and ruffled his dark hair. "Alright, alright. Let's continue from where we left off."

Yet, just as she opened the book, an uneasy feeling settled deep in her chest.

Something was wrong.

She flicked her gaze toward the room. The candle flickered normally, the curtains remained undisturbed, and everything appeared just as it should be. But—

Where is Elise?

Her maid had excused herself earlier to fetch something, but she should have returned by now.

Diana exhaled slowly. Maybe I'm overthinking.

Lucien shifted closer, his small hands grabbing onto the sleeve of her nightgown.

"Mother?" he whispered.

Diana looked at him, immediately noticing the way he leaned against her, his tiny body tense.

He senses it too.

And then—

A sharp clang echoed from the hallway.

The sound of metal striking metal.

Lucien stiffened. His breath hitched, and his grip on her tightened.

Diana's gaze sharpened. An attack?

Before she could react further, a heavy presence filled the air—dangerous, suffocating.

Lucien trembled violently against her, his small hands gripping her tightly. Though he didn't cry out, his entire body screamed fear.

Diana moved without hesitation.

She wrapped her arms around Lucien and pulled him against her chest just as—

Sssssss!

A hissing sound erupted.

The bed—where Lucien had just been sitting—began to melt.

The fabric burned away, revealing a bubbling, green acid eating through the mattress. The stench of poison filled the air.

Diana's eyes narrowed.

Liliana, that dumb bitch.

Only that woman would go through so much effort to make her suffer rather than simply kill her outright.

Lucien clutched her tightly, his breathing erratic, his face buried against her chest.

Tears pricked his eyes, but he didn't sob. He knew. He understood.

Diana gently pressed a hand to his head. "It's alright," she whispered. "Stay with me, Lucien."

Her son nodded quickly, though his hands remained tightly balled into her nightgown.

The sound of fighting grew louder.

Diana reached for the sword resting by her bedside.

The door burst open.

Three masked figures rushed in, their movements swift but not silent.

Assassins.

Diana immediately lunged, slashing at the first intruder.

The man barely had time to react before her blade tore through his throat. Blood splattered across the floor as his body collapsed.

The second assassin struck at her side, but Diana twisted, her movements fluid. She parried his sword and slammed the hilt of her weapon into his gut, making him double over.

With a sharp kick, she sent him crashing into the wall.

He groaned in pain, trying to push himself up, but Diana was faster.

She grabbed the back of his head and slammed it into the floor.

Unconscious.

Lucien was still trembling in the corner, but his gray eyes remained locked onto her, wide with shock.

His small hands were clenched into fists.

He's scared, but he's quiet.

One of Lucius's or Raizel's lessons, no doubt.

Diana turned just as the third assassin lunged at her.

His movements were quicker, more refined—a higher-ranked swordsman.

She barely dodged in time, his blade grazing her shoulder, slicing through the thin fabric of her nightgown.

Blood dripped onto the floor.

Diana exhaled, ignoring the sting.

She tightened her grip on her sword.

He's at least a fourth or fifth-circle swordsman.

But that wasn't enough.

Not against her.

The assassin lunged again, his blade aiming for her throat.

Diana met his strike, steel clashing against steel, sparks flying.

She twisted, using his momentum against him, and slammed her elbow into his ribs.

The man staggered.

That was all she needed.

In one smooth motion, Diana brought her sword down—

Slash!

A clean strike through the chest.

The assassin's eyes widened in shock before his body collapsed.

Silence filled the room, save for Lucien's shaky breaths.

Diana exhaled.

Blood dripped from her sword, her nightgown now stained in crimson.

She turned toward Lucien, who was still curled in the corner. His small body trembled, but he remained silent.

Diana knelt beside him and gently pulled him into her arms.

Lucien didn't hesitate.

He threw his arms around her neck and clung to her tightly, burying his face against her.

"...Mother," he whimpered, his voice muffled.

Diana's heart ached.

She stroked his back soothingly. "It's alright," she whispered. "It's over."

Lucien sniffled but nodded, his grip on her not loosening.

A new presence entered the room.

Diana's sharp gaze flickered to the door.

Yulian stood there, his sword dripping with blood.

He took one look at the scene and sighed. "We've cleared the rest."

Diana nodded. "Good."

Yulian's gaze lowered to the assassins' corpses.

"...Amateurs," he muttered. "They weren't expecting you to fight back."

Diana hummed, gently stroking Lucien's hair. "They were distractions," she murmured.

Yulian frowned. "Distractions for what?"

Diana's golden eyes darkened.

"Liliana didn't send them to kill me."

Yulian stiffened. "...Then—?"

Diana's lips curled into a cold smile.

"She wanted to ruin me."

Yulian clenched his jaw, rage flashing in his eyes.

Diana exhaled and finally stood, cradling Lucien in her arms. The boy still clung to her, his small hands fisted in her nightgown.

"Clean the bodies," she ordered.

Yulian nodded. "And the unconscious one?"

Diana's eyes gleamed dangerously.

"Call Lucius."