Married To Darkness-Chapter 366: All The Abuse And Hate

"There’s no much harm in it, Alaric. We should go."

He turned to her with a frown. "You can’t be serious."

She met his gaze, her expression unreadable but firm. "I am. If they’ve summoned us, ignoring it would only cause more trouble. We’re leaving the capital soon anyway. Let’s not add unnecessary tension before we go."

Alaric clenched his jaw, clearly reluctant. "And if it’s another opportunity for them to throw veiled insults at you? If Lilian opens her mouth again—"

Salviana sighed. "Then we handle it as we always do. With grace."

Jean snorted. "You mean, Salviana handles it with grace while Alaric makes threats?"

Lucius smirked again. "Sounds about right."

Alaric crossed his arms but didn’t argue further. "Fine. But if one of them so much as breathes the wrong way, I am leaving."

Salviana rolled her eyes. "Duly noted, my love."

With that, they returned to their rooms to change, the air thick with anticipation. Though it was just a simple dinner invitation, everyone knew that in royal courts, nothing was ever truly simple.

As they made their way toward the dining hall, the air in the corridor grew heavier—not from the evening chill, but from the presence of two familiar figures standing in their path.

Audrey and Lucille.

The king’s concubines. ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Audrey, with her sharp eyes and even sharper tongue, stood poised like a predator ready to pounce. Beside her, Lucille—always the quieter one—shifted uneasily, as if debating whether she truly wanted to be a part of whatever venomous display Audrey had planned.

Salviana barely had time to brace herself before Audrey sneered, her voice dripping with poison.

"Well, if it isn’t the demon prince and his witch of a wife."

Jean sucked in a sharp breath. Lucius raised a brow, unimpressed. Alaric, predictably, tensed beside Salviana, but she placed a hand on his arm before he could react.

Audrey smirked at that. "Look at her, controlling you like a trained hound. No wonder she has no problem keeping my son locked away like an animal." Her voice turned venomous. "You are a vile, cruel woman, Salviana. A snake. And I promise you, you will burn for it."

Lucille shifted beside her, her fingers twitching at her sleeves. "Audrey, perhaps—"

"Silence, Lucille," Audrey snapped before narrowing her gaze back at Salviana. "You’re a miserable little thing. A wretched bitch who thinks wearing a crown makes her untouchable. But people like you always fall."

For a long moment, silence stretched between them.

Then Salviana smiled. It wasn’t kind, but it wasn’t cruel either. Just... calm.

"Are you finished?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Audrey’s nostrils flared. "Did you even hear a word I just said?"

"Oh, I heard you," Salviana said lightly, adjusting the fabric of her gown. "I just don’t make it a habit to entertain the words of desperate, bitter women."

Audrey’s face went red with fury. "You—"

Alaric took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. "I advise you to watch your tongue, Audrey. I have tolerated your existence because you are nothing more than a whisper in this court. Do not make the mistake of thinking you have power over us."

Lucius, ever the amused observer, smirked. "You should also remind yourself that throwing threats in the halls of the castle isn’t very wise. Words tend to find their way back to the king."

Audrey looked between them, seething. "You’ll regret this."

"Unlikely," Salviana murmured before stepping past her.

The others followed, walking ahead with unwavering composure, leaving a fuming Audrey behind.

Lucille, still standing beside her, looked visibly uncomfortable. She hesitated, as if debating whether to speak, but in the end, she simply sighed.

"You push too far, Audrey," she muttered before turning on her heel and hurrying after the group.

Audrey, now alone, let out a choked breath, her hands trembling.

They would all regret this.

She would make sure of it.

The moment Alaric and Salviana stepped into the grand dining hall, they were met with a ridiculous, off-key melody.

"Oh, the fiery redhead shall perish, oh woe!

For the witch has no mercy, no heart, only woe!"

Lucas, the ever-childish fifth prince, swayed dramatically as he sang, lifting his goblet like a bard in a tavern. Beside him, Irene, Jaron’s wife, clapped her hands mockingly, her laughter high and grating.

"Injustice! Injustice!" Lucas sang louder, nudging Irene, who picked up the tune with a smirk.

"Oh, the demon prince, her wretched mate,

Will watch as she meets a terrible fate!"

The laughter that followed was scattered, some nobles awkwardly shifting in their seats while others chuckled behind their hands.

Alaric’s patience snapped. His jaw tightened, hands curling into fists at his sides.

"You miserable little worms—"

But before he could lunge, a sharp voice cut through the air like a blade.

"SILENCE!"

The hall went dead still.

Diana Reed, the king’s sister, sat forward, her piercing gaze sweeping over the offenders like they were disobedient children.

She narrowed her eyes at Lucas and Irene, her lips curling in disdain. "You both sound like drunk jesters at a fool’s festival. Have you lost all sense of dignity?"

Lucas cleared his throat, suddenly finding his cup very interesting. Irene crossed her arms but looked away.

Diana exhaled sharply before turning her attention to the couple standing at the entrance. "My dearest prince," she addressed Alaric, her voice firm but carrying an odd note of warmth, "Come, sit here. You have gone through a lot."

The invitation was pointed, and Alaric gave her a tight nod before placing his hand at the small of Salviana’s back. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and walked toward her seat with him right behind her.

At the head of the table, the king scowled but said nothing. He was no better than his idiotic children, but at least he had the sense to keep his mouth shut—at least for now.

The tension lingered, thick as the feast laid before them. But Salviana kept her head high, ignoring the murmurs, ignoring the eyes watching her every move.

She had survived far worse.

And she would survive this too.