[Music Recommendation: Breathe ~ Lee Hi]

Deep in slumber, Rowan’s chest rose and fell with each breath. Even in his sleep, he felt suffocated, trapped inside a box with no escape. It wasn’t the confinement that concerned him; all he desired was for the box to be able to move. He couldn’t bear the thought of keeping Freya waiting, fearing she would see him as irresponsible, and her words that he was incapable of love would cut deep.

Rowan didn’t care what others thought of him, but Freya’s opinion was different. He yearned for her to see beyond his teasing facade and discover the softer side he reserved only for her. With great effort, Rowan pried open his eyes, but an excruciating headache exploded through his skull, making his temples throb in agony.

"R-Rowan?" Lirien’s voice echoed through the room. "Are you awake?" The princess approached him, about to tap his shoulder, when the door burst open.

The Queen strode in, her face etched with a deep frown. "Lirien, what do you think you’re doing here?" she asked in a firm, disapproving tone.

The princess gasped as her mother entered the room, her eyes widening in distress. "Mother, I don’t think I can do this... he’s not in his right mind," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "Mother, please," Lirien begged, taking a step back as if seeking refuge from her mother’s stern gaze.

Rowan strained to listen, but the voices were muffled and indistinct. He couldn’t make out what was being said, and he didn’t care. All he wanted was to shake off the weight that seemed to tie his arms and legs to the bed. But the harder he tried to move, the more crushing the pressure felt, as if an invisible force was pinning him down, refusing to let him rise. Rowan’s instincts recoiled at the sensation, he didn’t like this feeling at all.

"You want your brother to lose his throne?" the Queen snapped, pointing an accusing finger at Conrad, who stood by the door.

The Crown Prince closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He stepped into the room. "Lirien, please... Father needs to trust me. I don’t want to go to war with Avon again. King Adric will destroy us all."

"What makes you think Rowan won’t kill us?" Lirien exclaimed, throwing her hands up in despair. "He’ll kill us all for our foolishness!" She raised her face to the ceiling, as if seeking divine intervention. "I can’t believe I’m part of this family... I’d do anything to escape this madness!"

Conrad nodded, a tired sigh escaping his lips. "Rowan may be crude in his ways, but I’ve observed him. He won’t harm a woman, especially one carrying his seed."

"But I don’t want to!" The princess’s face twisted in anguish as she knelt before her mother, clutching the Queen’s skirts. "Mother, please... look at me!" the girl cried, her voice trembling.

The Queen turned her head aside, dismissing her daughter’s plea as she pushed Lirien’s hand away from her skirt. "I am your mother, and I know what’s best for you. I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure you meet a suitable match and make things right."

"That’s the problem, Mother... there’s no making it right. I don’t... I’m not..." Lirien bit her lip, struggling to confess her true feelings. She had no desire for men.

Lirien took a deep breath, placing her hand on her chest. "Mother... I can’t because I don’t—"

"Freya..." Rowan’s husky voice interrupted before she could finish. Everyone turned to look at him, surprised that he was now awake.

This time, Rowan was struggling to stand, but he couldn’t move his body. He managed to roll off the bed with a loud thud, causing him to groan.

"Freya..." he called out again.

Conrad held his breath. "Is he awake?" the young man asked, afraid of how betrayed and disappointed Rowan would feel if he woke up and realized he had been set up.

"He can’t be awake," the Queen replied. "He drank the wine in one gulp..." she drawled, narrowing her eyes. "What I’m more interested to know is who he’s calling right now."

Lirien gulped, her gaze shifting from Rowan and settling on her mother.

"Freya?" Conrad started, not noticing his sister’s eyes signaling him not to talk. "That should be the girl he came with, the Royal cook’s daughter."

Lirien’s mother hummed, trying to remember. "Oh, the choking girl? And what’s their relationship?"

"I think they’re more like family..." Conrad informed.

"Rubbish. If they’re not blood-related, then they’re not family. He’s even calling her name in his time of trouble." The Queen twitched her lips.

Lirien nodded. "Yes, that’s because she’s the one he wants. The woman Rowan was talking about that day at dinner was Freya. And she’s my friend; I can’t betray them like that!" Thinking her plea would finally reach her mother’s ears, the princess begged.

"I see..." the Queen nodded. "Then we have to erase any potential weakness."

"What?" Lirien shouted.

This time, it was her mother who crouched down, holding her daughter’s face. "If you want to protect your friend, then you know what to do."

"Mother... I don’t like men!" Lirien shouted, closing her eyes.

The Queen chuckled. "I’m sure you will, tonight." Turning to Conrad, she said, "Send a message to the palace; get the girl Freya locked up until my lovely daughter here knows what to do."

"M-Mother?" Conrad called, looking at his sister. "Lirien, please!"

Rowan’s low voice, almost sounding like a growl, was heard again. "Freya..."

"Just be Freya for tonight, Lirien, and who knows? You might enjoy it while you’re at it." The Queen stood up, her voice cold. "Don’t make me come back here, except you want your Freya friend tortured." The woman turned, her footsteps heavy as they banged the door shut.

Lirien slowly turned her head toward Rowan. With shaky legs, she crawled over to where he was lying on the ground.

"Rowan..." Lirien called his name softly, reaching for his shirt.

Rowan’s hand was too quick, catching the princess’s own, and he dragged her to his chest. "Freya..." he murmured.

"Y-yes... I’m Freya..." the princess muttered, her voice breaking with tears. She could feel the hot breath of Rowan on her neck.

Rowan held the princess close, feeling her body against his chest. He closed his eyes. "Freya..." He inhaled deeply, then snapped his eyes open. "You’re not Freya."

"How—" before the princess could say anything, she found herself pushed to the ground as Rowan stood up. She recoiled, hiding herself from him.

Rowan’s eyes, now darker than usual, scanned the room. He tried to stand straight but staggered toward the door before crashing into the table, sending everything to the ground.

"Rowan!" Lirien shouted, rushing to help him. "You’re going to hurt yourself. Stop fighting it."

Rowan ignored the girl. He reached for a shard nearby and pressed his palm into the sharp piece, drawing blood.

"No! What are you doing?" Lirien cried when she saw the blood coming from Rowan’s hand.

Rowan didn’t stop. He hissed, trying to use the pain to wake himself up, but it wasn’t working. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Lirien pushed the shards away, pulling out the piece embedded in Rowan’s hand. "I can’t let you hurt yourself. Freya wouldn’t be happy."

Rowan’s hand shot straight, gripping the princess’s neck. His fingers curled around her throat, almost choking the life out of her.

"R-R..." Princess Lirien tried to free herself, but the hold tightened. Knowing she would lose her life if she did nothing, she inhaled deeply.

"Rowan... stop hurting me... it’s me, Freya," the girl tried to mimic Freya’s voice. To her relief, it worked momentarily as Rowan’s hand slowly eased its grip.

"Freya?" Rowan called, pulling the princess close to his chest. With one move, he carried her to the bed and dropped her on it. "Don’t go near sharp things, you’ll hurt yourself."

For a moment, Lirien thought he was worried about her, and her eyes softened until she heard him say, "Freya..." before slumping onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep beside her.

Lirien chewed her lip, her gaze drifting to the man now sleeping beside her. His rough features were striking, but that didn’t hide that he was masculine and handsome. She gulped, brushing the hair off Rowan’s face.

Lirien sat up on the bed, now facing Rowan. She found her hand tracing his chest, and slowly, she removed his shirt. Her fingers gently traced the muscles on his stomach, feeling the hardness beneath her fingertips.

"I’m sorry, Freya," Lirien muttered, removing her dress and baring her chest. She hovered over Rowan’s body, pressing her body against his chest. She was about to place her lips on his when he snapped his eyes open.

"What are you doing?" Rowan asked, his tone annoyed and his eyes now filled with boredom. His gaze drifted to the princess’s naked body, and he sighed.

Lirien pressed her lips together, tucking her hair behind her ear. "It’s me, Freya."

"You wish."

Rowan’s reply stunned the princess. Before she could say anything, she found herself tossed to the other side of the bed. Rowan sat up, cracking his neck. He raised his hand, seeing the blood that covered his palm.

"Rowan, we have to do this. My mother will hurt Freya," Lirien pleaded, unsure if Rowan was fully awake.

Rowan’s feet touched the ground, and he pushed his hair back. Cracking his knuckles gently, he exhaled. Then he turned to the princess. "Who should I start with, you? Or your mother?"