Page 45 of Alpha's Exiled Mate
“Long time no see, Lilia,” Viossi said, her voice dripping with condescension, each word laced with the same cruelty I’d known at Thornfield House.
“What do you want?” I asked, my tone guarded, my body tensing as if preparing for a blow.
“No need to be so tense,” Viossi replied with a mocking smile, her eyes glinting with malice. “I’m just here to give you something.”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. One glance, and my breath caught in my throat—it was Martha’s, her personal keepsake, embroidered with the tiny flowers she loved. My heart pounded, a mix of fear and fury rising within me.
“How do you have this? What did you do to Martha?” I demanded, my voice trembling with barely restrained panic.
“Shh,” Viossi hushed me, shaking her head with feigned exasperation, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum. “No need to shout. I’m here to offer you a deal.”
“What kind of deal?” I asked, my heart racing, my hands trembling at my sides.
“Martha’s safety and your freedom,” she said, her smile widening, revealing a predatory glint in her eyes, “in exchange for your place as a princess.”
I stared at her, stunned into silence. Suddenly, thunder rumbled faintly in the distance.
“What, you’re not willing?” Seeing that I didn’t respond right away, Violet’s bright smile vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by a cold, cutting sneer. She rolled her eyes mockingly. “Martha’s been so good to you, and that still can’t outweigh your vanity?”
I shot her a disgusted look. “Don’t assume everyone thinks like you. I just find it ridiculous. Back then, you’d rather die thanget married, and now look at you, singing a completely different tune.”
“You know nothing!” Viossi snapped, her voice low but seething with anger as she stepped closer, her presence invasive. “Locked in a shack in the backwoods, forbidden to leave, to see anyone, like a prisoner! Do you have any idea what that’s like?”
Her eyes burned with resentment, a malice I knew all too well from our days at Thornfield House. “I risked everything to come here because I can’t stand that life anymore,” she continued, pacing the room, her gaze greedily taking in the opulent decor.
“Trapped, forgotten, stripped of freedom. And you, a filthy slave, live in a palace, draped in silk, adorned with jewels, playing princess!”
Her words sparked a bitter laugh from me, sharp and humorless. “Princess? You think this is some fairy tale? That this title means anything?”
“It’s better than being caged in the wilderness,” she shot back, her voice dripping with scorn. “Look at you—fine dresses, a palace, servants at your beck and call. While I hide in a rotting shed, jumping at every shadow, terrified of being found.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice heavy with bitterness as I turned to the window, staring out at the gathering storm clouds. “This place is more of a prison than that shed ever was. At least there, I knew my place. Here, I’m a pawn in a game I never chose.”
“Oh, spare me the self-pity,” Viossi scoffed, waving a dismissive hand, her manicured nails catching the candlelight. “Father told me you and the prince are getting along splendidly. He’s pleased with you. You’re living the dream, Lilia.”
I spun to face her, my eyes narrowing, a spark of anger igniting within me. “Your father? Lord Thornfield’s been to the palace recently?”
“Of course,” Viossi said smugly, her lips curling in satisfaction. “He’s Lord Thornfield; he has every right to come. Every time he returns, he tells me how cozy you and Perock are, how you’ve settled into your role as his devoted wife.”
Lord Thornfield’s lies fueled the anger simmering in my chest. He saw only the polished surface—the banquets, the gowns, the title—blind to the pain beneath, the way Perock’s indifference cut deeper than any whip. He fed Viossi tales of my “happy” marriage to keep her compliant, to protect their secret and ensure she stayed hidden.
But maybe this was my chance. To get out of here.
“You’re right,” I said slowly, choosing my words carefully, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Life here is better than being a slave at Thornfield House. Prince Perock is a considerate husband, and the palace is far more comfortable than that estate ever was. The gardens, the feasts, the respect—it’s more than I ever had.”
Viossi’s eyes flashed with envy and resentment, her jaw tightening as she absorbed my words. “Enough games, Lilia. Choose—Martha or your precious title.”
I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms. “What did you do to Martha?”
“Nothing much, just locked her away,” Viossi said coldly, her voice devoid of remorse. “She knew too much—about your substitute identity, the curse, everything. Father wanted to dispose of her, like he did the witch, Greta, and the others who knew. But I saw how much she meant to you, so I kept her alive as leverage.”
Locked away?
The thought of Martha imprisoned, alone and frightened, crushed my heart, squeezing the air from my lungs. She was too old to endure any kind of punishment.
“You’re despicable!” I spat, my voice shaking with fury. "She has dedicated her almost entire life to the Thornfield family!"
“So what? You’re just our slaves, our servants!” Viossi retorted, her eyes flashing with contempt. Then she forced a smile, her expression calculated. “Make your choice, Your Highness.”