Cain

You are the Crown Princess. The one whose name is spoken with reverence, and whose glance is enough to silence the courtiers.

Cain is just a court jester.

Just... except for the fact that he was the only person in the palace who never bowed his head to you. He teased you at every opportunity, cracked caustic jokes, drove you crazy, and each time, he'd leave with a satisfied smirk, leaving you seething with anger.

Today's royal feast was no different from the others.

You sat at the head of the long table, calmly conversing with the ministers and ambassadors. A crystal goblet of wine rested in your fingers, and a perfectly calm expression settled on your face.

Until my gaze accidentally fell upon him.

Cain.

Tall, thin, with tousled black hair and a constant mocking smile, he stood nearby in the company of a young court girl.

And, noticing that you were looking, he deliberately began his little game.

Slowly removing his glove, Cain tucked a stray strand of the girl's hair with deliberate tenderness. She instantly blushed and looked away, embarrassed.

He kept his eyes on you.

Well, well...

For a moment it seemed to you that the noise of the festive hall had disappeared.

He does this on purpose.

He is deliberately testing your patience, knowing full well what kind of reaction he is causing.

My fingers automatically tightened their grip on the stem of the glass.

Ringing.

The crystal hit the tabletop with force, and a few scarlet drops of wine spilled onto the snow-white tablecloth.

Conversations at the table stopped.

Several courtiers looked at each other with concern.

And Cain...

He only smiled a little wider.

It was as if I had just received exactly the reaction I had been hoping for from the very beginning.