Chapter 10: the evil within

The next morning, Maria woke up feeling like a new woman. She was excited to put her plan into action, and she couldn't wait to see Kael's reaction.

As Layla helped her take her bath and served her breakfast, Maria couldn't help but gush about her plan. "Oh, Layla, I'm so excited," she said, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Today's the day I'll finally win Kael's heart."

Layla smiled and nodded, trying to appear enthusiastic. But inside, she was worried. She had a bad feeling about Maria's plan, and she couldn't shake the sense that something was off.

As soon as Layla finished serving breakfast, Maria dismissed her. "You can go now, Layla," she said. "I'll take care of the rest."

As soon as Layla left, Maria locked her door and retrieved the liquid from her dresser. She had been instructed to use it after bathing, and she was eager to see the results.

She poured the liquid into her hands and rubbed it all over her body, feeling a strange, tingling sensation as it absorbed into her skin.

At first, Maria felt a rush of excitement and confidence. She looked in the mirror, and her eyes sparkled with a newfound allure.

But as the minutes ticked by, Maria began to feel a creeping sense of dread. She could feel her mind being taken over by something evil, something that was manipulating her thoughts and desires.

Her body began to emit a dark energy, a malevolent force that seemed to be growing stronger by the minute.

Maria's eyes widened in horror as she realized what was happening. She was no longer in control of her own body and mind.

Maria tried to resist the evil force taking over her, but it was no use. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of darkness, unable to escape.

With a surge of adrenaline, she summoned all her strength and tried to push back against the force. For a moment, she felt like she was succeeding, like she was regaining control of her own body and mind.

But deep down, she knew it was only temporary. The evil force would surface again, and next time, she might not be so lucky.

Meanwhile, Kael was dreaming. He found himself in a dark room, surrounded by seven shadows. Each shadow had eyes that glowed with an eerie green light, eyes that seemed to be staring right through him.

Kael felt a shiver run down his spine as he realized that the shadows' eyes were identical to his own. It was as if they were a part of him, a manifestation of his own dark side.

He tried to move closer to the shadows, but they seemed to move away from him, always staying just out of reach. Kael felt a growing sense of frustration and unease, like he was being taunted by his own subconscious.

The more he tried to reach out to the shadows, the more they seemed to fade away, leaving him alone in the darkness. Kael was left with a haunting sense of disconnection, like he was searching for a part of himself that he couldn't quite find.

Kael woke up with a start, his sheets drenched in sweat. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the vivid dream that had left him feeling unsettled.

He threw off his covers and got out of bed, deciding to take a bath to clear his head. But as he looked around his room, he realized that there was no maid in sight to help him.

He frowned, feeling a twinge of annoyance. Where were they? He needed someone to prepare his bath, to help him wash away the lingering unease from his dream.

Kael decided to go look for them, striding out of his room and into the palace corridors. As he walked, he noticed a figure standing by the secret door of the kingdom.

It was Layla, her eyes fixed intently on the door. Kael felt a jolt of surprise, wondering what she was doing there.

The secret door was forbidden to everyone except the king. It led to a mysterious room that was rumored to hold the kingdom's deepest secrets.

Kael's curiosity was piqued. What was Layla doing by the secret door? Was she trying to uncover a secret, or was she just lost?

He approached her quietly, not wanting to startle her. But as he drew closer, he realized that Layla was completely absorbed in her thoughts, oblivious to his presence

Layla's hands were on the secret door, trying to turn the handle, when a voice startled her.

"Layla, what are you doing?" Maria asked, her voice husky and seductive.

Layla spun around, her eyes wide with surprise. "Princess, I... I was just..." she stuttered.

But before she could finish, Kael appeared beside Maria, his eyes fixed intently on her. Layla felt a pang of unease as she watched Kael's gaze devour Maria's face.

As Kael looked at Maria, he felt a sudden jolt of desire. He wanted to kiss her, to take her to bed and make her his own. The feeling was so strong that he struggled to keep his mind in check.

But he managed to compose himself, his expression neutral. "Maria, I've been looking for you," he said, his voice low and husky.

Maria smiled, her eyes sparkling with seduction. "I've been looking for you too, Kael," she said.

Kael's eyes locked onto Maria's, and he felt himself getting lost in their depths. "Come with me," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I need your help with something."

Maria's smile grew wider, and she nodded. "Of course, Kael," she said.

As they walked away, Layla watched them with a growing sense of unease. What was Maria up to? And why was Kael looking at her like that?

And that would be all of today next chapter would be uploded tomorrow do well to like and rank and drop comment guys it's your love that keeps me going love you guys muah 😚