CHAPTER 200: BLOOD FOR BLOOD

[Imperial Palace—Lavinia’s Pov—continuation]

My heart skipped a beat.

"W-what do you mean Osric is injured?!" The words flew from my lips before I could stop them. My feet were already moving, skirts tangling around me as I rushed to the training field.

The sight that greeted me froze my blood.

Osric lay on the ground, clutching his right arm. His palm was smeared with blood, dripping steadily through his fingers. His face twisted in pain as he still stared bravely up at Caelum.

And Caelum—he stood over him. Sword in hand. The blade was still wet, a crimson bead sliding down its edge. His expression was unreadable. Cold. Too cold.

I forced myself to walk forward, spine rigid, chin high—definitely not panicking (I was panicking)—but I was a princess. I had to maintain my composure and could not show weakness.

"What," I demanded, my voice sharper than steel, "is going on here?"

At once, the knights bowed, as though the weight of my words pressed them down. I stood beside Osric, my eyes narrowing at the wound. His left arm bore a deep gash, blood seeping faster than it should.

Sera gasped beside me, covering her mouth. "Your Highness... he’s bleeding too much!"

I clenched my fists so tight my nails bit into my palms. Sera didn’t wait for an order—she dashed off, shouting, "I’ll bring the physician immediately!"

I, however, stayed rooted to the ground. My gaze locked onto the blood. Onto Osric’s pale face. And then—onto Caelum.

Heat rose inside me—not fear, but fury.

"Sir Aldric," I said slowly, my tone deadly calm, "explain."

He bowed low, sweat beading on his brow. "Your Highness... Lord Caelum and Lord Osric were engaged in a duel. During the exchange... Lord Caelum’s sword struck too hard."

I turned my head toward Caelum, my eyes narrowing. Both he and Osric wore safety armor. There was no reason for blood. No reason for this wound to be so severe.

And yet... here he stood, sword dripping, gaze dark as a storm.

"Was it," I asked, each word laced with ice, "an accident?"

For a moment, silence. The entire field held its breath. Then Caelum’s lips curved—not kindly, but sharply, like a wolf baring teeth.

"Of course, Princess," he drawled. "Do you think I would do such a thing... deliberately?"

The mocking lilt in his voice was worse than a confession. His eyes flickered to my face, and I saw it—his mask cracking, his facade slipping. Since yesterday, he hadn’t been able to keep it up.

And there, on his neck, faint but visible, were the crescent marks of my nails.

But my blood boiled hotter.

I took one step forward, my red eyes blazing like molten fire. The entire training field seemed to fall silent, every soldier holding their breath as my voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Curious..." I said, each word dripping with venom. "Many accidents seem to surround you, Caelum. Almost as if fate itself bends to your recklessness. Tell me—how does Osric bleed through armor meant to protect him? Should I... investigate?"

A smirk tugged at his lips, his head tilting ever so slightly, wolfish and unrepentant. "Are you accusing me, Princess?" His tone was mocking, velvet over steel. "Did you forget? I’m your friend too." His eyes flicked briefly to Osric, sharp as a blade. "Or... is Lord Osric far more special to you these days?"

The insulted silence that followed stoked the fire in my chest until it roared.

I stepped closer, my presence pressing down on everyone like a storm. "Special?" I repeated coldly, my voice carrying the weight of command. "You mistake me, Caelum. I don’t play favorites—I demand loyalty. And when I see blood spilled where there should be none..." My gaze sharpened, a cruel edge to my smile. "...I ensure it doesn’t happen again."

His smirk faltered for half a second.

"But just as you said," I continued, my voice crisp and decisive. "Let us call this an accident. But accidents... require proof."

My lips curved in a wicked smile as I raised my chin. "Why not prove yourself, Caelum? Duel with me. Here. Now."

The crowd gasped, shocked whispers crackling like fire through the soldiers.

"Princess Lavinia!" Osric’s strained voice cut through, his face pale with worry. "This is reckless—the armor here isn’t safe. It could—"

"Silence." My words lashed out like a whip as my crimson gaze sliced into him. "I did not grant you permission to speak, Osric."

He froze, lips pressed shut, his protest dying in his throat.

I turned back to Caelum, unyielding. "You’ve always longed for a duel with me. Then let’s make it worth something. No armor. No restraint. Just steel, skill, and truth."

The entire field seemed to tremble with the weight of my decree.

For a heartbeat, he stared at me in silence—then his lips curved into a wicked grin, his eyes glinting with dark amusement.

"I would love to."

***

[Imperial Palace—Training Ground—Later]

I changed into black trousers, a sleeveless tunic, and light leather boots. The fabric hugged me close, made for movement, not display. My golden hair was tied high, strands glinting like fire under the sun.

I didn’t need armor. I wanted him to see every strike, every scar I was willing to bear.

Meanwhile, Osric’s face was drawn tight as physicians bound his bleeding arm. He didn’t flinch at the sting of the bandages, his entire attention fixed on me. His lips pressed thin, his jaw clenched—worry carved into his every feature.

But I couldn’t look at him. Not now. My blood was boiling, rage flooding every vein. How could I possibly stay silent after watching someone lay a hand on my man?

They would learn.

They would all learn what it means to harm a Crown princess’s man—what it means to cross Lavinia Devreux.

Caelum, on the other hand, stripped out of his outer layers with deliberate slowness, leaving only a dark shirt clinging to his frame, sleeves rolled to his elbows. He stretched his arms lazily, a predator limbering before the hunt, his smirk never fading.

The training ground cleared. A circle was drawn. Every soldier held their breath, watching, waiting.

We stepped into the ring, eyes locked.

The moment the signal was given, steel sang.

Our blades clashed with a force that reverberated through the ground, sparks flashing as metal ground against metal.

I struck first, swift and merciless, my blade slashing with precision. Caelum parried with a laugh, his counter quick and sharp, aimed at my side. I twisted, my hair whipping as I narrowly evaded, striking back with a flurry of blows that rattled against his guard.

"You’ve grown ruthless, Princess," he taunted, grinning even as my blade forced him back. "How... intoxicating."

I drove forward, red eyes blazing. "And you’ve grown arrogant."

He spun, his sword sweeping low, fast as a viper. I jumped back, my boots skidding against the dirt, and lunged forward again—our blades colliding in the center, locked together, our faces mere inches apart.

"Tell me," he whispered, his breath brushing my cheek, voice edged with madness, "if I cut you here... what will happen, princess?"

I bared my teeth, eyes blazing. "Try it—and you’ll find out what it means to bleed."

With a sharp twist, I shoved his blade off mine and swung with brutal force. He parried, the clang ringing out like thunder, but I was relentless. My strikes rained down, each one faster, heavier, sharper—driven by the fury burning in my chest.

Caelum grinned, even as sweat dripped down his brow. "So fierce. Do you fight for honor or for him?" His eyes flicked toward Osric.

That single glance was his mistake.

"Don’t you dare look at him," I snarled, slamming my sword down with such strength that the ground itself seemed to quake. His knees buckled under the pressure, arms trembling as he struggled to hold me back.

I twisted my blade, angling it down—then struck. My sword sliced across his forearm, the exact place where Osric had been wounded. His hiss of pain was sharp, but I didn’t stop. My blade spun, biting into his other arm, carving another line of blood into his flesh.

Gasps erupted around us.

Caelum staggered, his sword falling loose as both his arms bled, his grip failing. He laughed—mad, breathless, yet trembling. "You... really would have killed me, wouldn’t you?"

I stood over him, my blade pressed to his throat, chest rising and falling with the heat of battle. My lips curved into a cold smirk.

"Papa taught me one thing, Caelum—always return what people give you... with interest. If I truly wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be breathing right now. What I’ve given you today is mercy. Cruelty... I save for those who deserve it."

A muscle twitched in his jaw, rage flaring in his eyes. With a sharp snarl, he pushed himself back and staggered to his feet, blood dripping from both arms. He didn’t look at me again—only turned and stormed away, his figure vanishing into the shadows, fury in every step.

I lowered my blade slowly, watching his retreat. My smirk faded into a thoughtful frown.

"Caelum..." I muttered under my breath, eyes narrowing. "You’re hiding something. And I’ll find out what it is. Before it’s too late."

The clash was over, but a darker battle had just begun.