CHAPTER 39: THE BOLD MISTRESS

Lorraine watched as Zara strolled into the prince’s chambers like she owned them. There was no hesitation in her step, no flicker of doubt in her eyes; only a bold familiarity, as if she had walked these halls many times before. As if she belonged here.

Lorraine’s throat tightened.

Zara didn’t glance around for permission. She didn’t worry about being turned away. And worse, she didn’t look like a guest. She looked like a habit.

Lorraine’s gaze darted to Leroy.

His expression shifted in an instant. That crooked smile that oh-so smug, oh-so teasing smile vanished the moment he saw Zara. His fingers dropped from Lorraine’s hand. The warmth left her skin so fast, it felt like a slap.

The silence was deafening.

Lorraine stared at her empty hand. Her chest ached in the worst kind of way. It was the ache of being reminded, yet again, of where she truly stood.

Why did he look... guilty?

Why did it feel like he had just been caught cheating?

She was his wife.

She was the one in his bed.

If anyone should look like an intrusion, it should be Zara. So why did Lorraine feel like the outsider in her own marriage?

A bitter taste coated her tongue. She didn’t need to stay and see what came next. She already knew. Even if she waited, she would always be the one left behind. Always watching his back as he walked away. She became the one who knew when to leave first.

She rose. She didn’t look at him; she couldn’t. She didn’t want to see his expression turn soft for another woman. Didn’t want to see him explain anything

to Zara. That silence he gave her moments ago was already too loud.

Just then, Sylvia stepped in. Zara turned her nose up at the sight of her, her eyes catching the blood stains on Lorraine’s robe. Her face twisted in open disgust.

Disgust.

Disgust that Leroy hadn’t shown. Disgust that Zara wore like a badge. As if she had never bled. As if the natural workings of a woman’s body made Lorraine dirty.

Zara opened her mouth to speak, probably to make some snide comment, but Lorraine turned her head and walked out before a word could be said.

Behind her, Leroy called out, but his voice didn’t matter. She couldn’t hear it. Even if she could... she wouldn’t have turned around.

Sylvia followed with a bow, her loyalty clear.

Inside, Leroy threw on his robe and stepped toward the divider. Zara moved to follow him inside.

"She’s one disrespectful woman, isn’t—"

She didn’t finish her sentence.

She had reached for the fabric of his robe, maybe to fix it, maybe to touch the bloodstain peeking through... but Leroy stepped past her without a glance.

"That woman did this to you?" she asked, her voice pitching high. "I’ve heard it brings bad luck—Leroy!"

She chased after him.

"Let me help you change," she pleaded. "That woman’s so cruel to you."

Leroy reached for the door instead. He held it open.

His voice dropped low. Not harsh, but firm, like a parent scolding a child who’d gone too far.

"That woman is my wife."

Zara froze.

Her breath hitched. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Leroy..." she whispered, heart cracking from the change in his tone.

He didn’t look back.

Outside, Aldric paused, his ears catching the sharp finality in Leroy’s words.

Finally, he thought. He’s drawn the line.

Zara blinked fast, trying to chase away the tears. "You’re acting strange," she murmured. "You’re not like this..."

Cedric arrived just in time to see her break. Her face crumbled. She clutched at her chest and let the sobs shake through her body. Cedric gently ushered her out, shielding her from the rest of the world.

Leroy’s fingers trembled seeing the shaking woman, but he shut the door behind them.

-----

Back in Lorraine’s chambers, Sylvia helped her clean and dress, but nothing lifted the heaviness pressing down on her chest. Emma, the ever-curious maid, came bursting in with her usual flair for drama.

"You won’t believe what happened!" she gasped. "The prince snapped at Lady Zara in front of everyone. Told her to leave his room. She even ran to her room crying! Finally, the mistress was put in her place! Oh, the scandal!"

She clasped her hands as if the heavens themselves had delivered justice.

Sylvia forced a smile, her eyes shifting to Lorraine, who sat quietly by the window, staring at her hands.

Emma may have seen a victory.

But Sylvia understood the truth.

The princess wasn’t hoping to win over the mistress. She didn’t want to be treated as the wife. That title was already hers. What she wanted... was for him to not have a mistress... to be loved by him.

Sylvia’s heart clenched. That was the one thing Leroy hadn’t given her.

Later that day, a message arrived: the prince had requested that the princess not attend the funeral of the Viscount’s daughter and rest for the day.

Lorraine wasn’t surprised. Not anymore.

-----

After the funeral, Cedric headed to Zara’s chambers. She was still inside, still crying. He stood by the door, helpless. His fists clenched. He hated seeing her like this... but what could he do?

Then footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Leroy.

He walked straight to the door and knocked.

"Zara."

That was all it took. The door opened. He stepped in. Cedric remained outside, heart pounding.

Minutes passed. Not many, but enough to make Cedric feel like an eternity had come and gone.

Then the door opened.

Zara emerged, her eyes red... but her smile dazzling. She clung to Leroy’s arm like nothing had happened. She fixed his coat, murmured sweet nothings, her eyes never leaving his face.

Cedric looked down. His chest ached. No matter how much he cared, she’d never look at him that way.

-----

From across the courtyard, Lorraine watched.

She had come out to visit the garden, but instead found the prince with his mistress. Again.

Of course.

He didn’t visit her at night, because he saved his mornings for Zara. Out in the open, under the sun. Unashamed.

How bold.

But should she have expected anything else from a man who kept his mistress under the same roof as his wife?

Zara clung to him. He didn’t shrug her off. Lorraine’s lips twisted into a cold smirk.

Then Zara spotted her.

Their eyes met, and Zara’s mouth curled into a triumphant smile.

Lorraine’s stomach twisted. It wasn’t the look of someone happy. It was the look of someone who believed they’d won.

Zara made a beeline for Lorraine the moment Leroy walked away.