Flower in the Trap - Chapter 5

The early morning light streamed obliquely through the mottled windows, casting a soft, golden glow over the scattered clothes on the floor.

Linaelina’s eyelashes fluttered. Her body ached as if it had been crushed, every inch of her skin still tingling with the lingering heat of the night before. She tried to roll over in a daze, but a gentle, unyielding grip held her in place.

“Linaelina, wake up.” Kaellian’s voice rang in her ears, like a stream of clear water pouring into the haze of her consciousness.

Linaelina opened her eyes in a daze, only to see Kaellian already dressed in a simple shirt. His jet-black hair looked iron gray under the morning light, and faint red marks from last night’s scratches peeked out from beneath his collar.

Her head was still foggy, her throat hoarse, and her voice barely more than a whisper.
“…Kaellian…?”

Kaellian leaned over, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered quickly in a low, urgent voice, “Listen, the Empress has likely already gone to ask the Emperor to come.”

“We’re running out of time. You need to get up and prepare now.”

He draped a light robe over her shoulders with practiced ease, then ran his fingers gently through her tousled hair, smoothing it into place.

“You need to cry,” he said quietly. “The more pitiful, the better. Let them see fear, pain, resignation. Turn every grievance into tears they can’t ignore. Understand?”

The thrill of his lips and fingers on her skin from the night before still lingered in Linaelina’s mind, clashing with the calm, sober tone of his voice now. The shock of falling from the clouds to the ground was so jarring, she couldn’t tell for a moment whether it had all been a dream or reality.

Kaellian cupped her slightly fevered cheeks, guiding her gaze to meet his as he coaxed her in a soft, steady voice.

“Remember, you’ve been wronged. It’s okay to be afraid, but not resentful. You can cry, but don’t get angry. Everything else… leave it to me.”

Linaelina blinked. Kaellian’s eyes were far too serious and calm, like those of a sailor who had weathered countless storms yet could still steer the ship with unwavering control.

An indescribable emotion welled up in her chest, one she couldn’t quite name. How long had it been… since she had someone she could rely on?

Facing this strange man in front of her, saying the words ‘leave it to me,’ Linaelina nodded inexplicably. “…… Mmm.”

Kaellian allowed himself the faintest trace of a smile before swiftly straightening her robes and tidying her appearance.

Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open with a deafening bang, and even the crumbling ceiling seemed to tremble. The atmosphere turned razor-sharp in an instant.

Kaellian’s expression darkened. He stepped back swiftly and dropped to one knee in a respectful posture.

“You…you actually dared to commit such a shameless act!” The Emperor’s furious roar thundered through the chamber, its echoes shaking the walls.

The Empress stood off to the side, eyes cold and glinting with satisfaction. A mocking smile curved the corner of her lips as she watched the scene unfold.

“You destroyed your own chastity for selfish reasons and brought disgrace upon Sovaine!” The Emperor’s fury was thunderous. “Not only was the engagement broken off, but you’ve also shattered the nation’s credibility! Do you understand? This is a capital offense!”

Linaelina bit down hard on her lip, shrinking into a small, trembling ball as she knelt on the bed, so fragile she felt she might break at the slightest touch.

Tears had never been hard for her to summon. But this time, it wasn’t an act. She was truly afraid.

“Father…” she cried in a thin, trembling voice. “When I was a little girl, I lost my mother. I had no brothers or sisters…”

“In this vast palace where my father resides… this is the only place that’s ever felt like home to me.”

She lifted her tear-streaked face, her voice catching with just the right mixture of sorrow and barely restrained defiance.

“Marriage… I had hoped it might give me a new home. A family of my own. But I heard… the King of Aistre already has… a daughter. A daughter…”

Her tears fell in heavy drops, her narrow shoulders shaking as she wept.

The Emperor had intended to reprimand her, but the words caught in his throat and refused to come out. His eyes wavered slightly as his gaze passed over Linaelina’s helpless figure. For a brief moment, it was as if he were looking into the past, seeing the gentle concubine once again. Every time she cried, her voice had been so soft it could break a man’s heart.

At that moment, Kaellian spoke in a low voice.

“Forgive me if I have overstepped my bounds.” His tone remained respectful yet carried a steady and composed strength. “But the actions of the princess may not necessarily result in any loss.”

The Emperor glared at him coldly, “Hmph. I nearly forgot about you, Prince of Tanova. What excuse do you have for engaging in such disgraceful behavior with my daughter?”

Kaellian neither lowered himself nor acted with arrogance. He bowed his head slightly and replied in a clear, calm voice, “I have long intended to establish trade between Tanova and Aistre. I have studied the situation carefully. Though Aistre boasts of its wealth in rare minerals, in truth, the region has suffered from excessive mining over the last fifty years. Few high-quality veins remain.”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Back then, Tanova nearly signed a major contract with Aistre involving a large sum of money. Fortunately, we discovered the truth just in time—otherwise, the losses would have been beyond measure,” Kaellian said steadily. “If Your Majesty is willing to send someone to investigate the current state of Aistre’s mineral veins, the truth will soon come to light. When that happens, not only can the marriage be dissolved with honor, but reparations can also be demanded, restoring the dignity of the kingdom.”

A heavy silence settled over the hall. Even the Empress’s expression shifted slightly.

The Emperor’s brows drew together as he stared at the young man kneeling before him, his gaze filled with complexity. “You are certain this information is accurate?”

“I am not foolish enough to speak a lie that can be easily uncovered,” Kaellian replied calmly, his voice unhurried and composed.

Linaelina stared blankly at Kaellian’s back, her mind reeling.

After a long pause, the emperor finally let out a cold grunt. “Very well. I will dispatch an envoy at once to verify your claims. If what you say proves true, your transgression will be balanced by your merit. But if it turns out to be a lie, the punishment will be twice as severe.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Kaellian lowered his head in a respectful bow.

The Emperor swept out with a flick of his sleeve, the Empress following behind, her expression tight with frustration. The attendants withdrew in silence, leaving behind a rare moment of calm.

Only then did Kaellian turn to her. He placed a steady hand on her shoulder, giving it a light, reassuring pat.

“It’s over,” he murmured by her ear, his voice as soft as the evening breeze rippling across a still lake.

Linaelina looked up at him “You ……”

Kaellian smiled faintly, “From now on, as long as you are in this palace, you have me. There’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“Then, he raised his hand and gently brushed away the tears clinging to the corners of her eyes. ‘Well done, Princess.’”