Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 169

Chapter 169: Secrets in Marriage (Special Chapter)
Dan and Dexivdwyne began their long journey home, their hearts heavy with grief. The remains of Dawrien were little more than a small urn of ash, cradled in Dan’s arms.

The path through the frozen wilderness and twisted woods seemed quieter now, the oppressive presence of the forest lifted.

Yet, silence didn’t bring comfort, it only made the weight of their loss more profound.

They stopped only when necessary, tending to Dexivdwyne’s injured arm and ensuring Dawrien’s remains were kept secure.

The Bloodstone clan would demand answers, and Dan knew the truth would be difficult to swallow.

They had trusted Alexander, believed in his potential, and yet he had fallen, not only to the corruption of the forest but to his own obsession and killed Dawrien.

When they finally arrived home, the castle’s great iron gates opened, and their parents rushed to greet them.

The sight of Dan’s grim expression and Dexivdwyne’s weakened state stole the words from their family’s lips.

Dan knelt before their parents and presented Dawrien’s ashes, voice low and strained as he recounted the truth.

He spoke of the forest, the monstrous creature, and the corruption that consumed their innocent cousin.

He admitted how Alexander’s obsession had spiraled out of control, and how they had no choice but to put an end to his suffering, as he killed his best friend.

King Dan Bloodstone II’s face hardened. “That cursed forest… and the Celestara clan knew nothing?” His gaze was sharp, suspicion flashing in his eyes.

“I don’t believe they knew,” Dan said carefully. “But they need to be held accountable. They allowed Alexander to repeatedly risk his life, sacrifice others, and they failed to stop him.”

The Bloodstone clan demanded an audience with the Celestara elders.

After heated discussions and tense diplomacy, the Celestara clan offered compensation, gold, rare jewels, and rare herbs gathered from the forest.

But it was clear the Celestara elders feared something greater than mere guilt.

Rumors had begun to spread, whispers that the Bloodstone clan might expose the academy’s failures, tarnishing its reputation and shaking the political balance between the two families.

Despite the tension, the Bloodstone family accepted the compensation. Yet peace did not follow.

Dexivdwyne’s condition worsened with alarming speed. The burn on his arm, once a manageable wound, blackened and spread like an infection.

Fever claimed him soon after, and no healer’s touch seemed to break the curse that gnawed at him.

Dan spent many nights by his brother’s side, watching as Dexivdwyne’s strength faded.

“I should’ve been stronger,” Dexivdwyne rasped one evening, his breath shallow. “I should’ve protected Dawrien… or stopped Alexander sooner. I received his message before…”

“You did everything you could,” Dan whispered, gripping his brother’s hand tightly. “You fought bravely. You saved us.”

But Dexivdwyne shook his head weakly. “Look after the family… and don’t let Dawrien’s mistakes haunt you…”

By the next afternoon, Dexivdwyne was gone.

Dan felt as if a part of him had died as well. He stood at his brother’s funeral in silence, his face like stone while his parents wept.

The pain of losing both Dexivdwyne and Dawrien so soon felt unbearable, yet he bore it, standing firm for his grieving family.

Days later, the Celestara clan reached out again, this time with an unexpected proposal.

They offered the hand of Tereza Celestara, one of their most accomplished noblewomen, in marriage to Dan.

The elders claimed it was to solidify the relationship between the clans and to ensure their alliance remained unshaken.

Yet Dan knew better, this was not a gesture of goodwill, it was a desperate attempt to save face.

Marrying Tereza would prevent the Bloodstone family from exposing the academy’s failures. His parents were hesitant.

Tereza’s reputation was well-known, beautiful, intelligent, and deeply skilled in magic, yet whispers followed her name.

Some claimed she was too powerful, a woman with unnatural ties to the cosmos. Others said her abilities bordered on dangerous, a threat even to her own family.

Fearing what her strength could mean for their kingdom, the Celestara clan had forbidden Tereza from practicing magic or even speaking of it.

“She’s unstable,” some warned. “She could ruin the empire.”

Despite the unease surrounding her, Dan accepted the proposal.

The Bloodstone family needed this alliance to avoid political fallout, and Dan knew rejecting it would only worsen tensions.

Their wedding was grand but hollow. The hall was draped in silk and gold, guests dressed in their finest attire, yet no warmth lingered between the newlyweds.

Tereza wore a gown of sapphire blue, her dark hair twisted into elegant coils, her face expressionless beneath her veil.

Dan barely spoke to her that evening, and she seemed content with that silence.

In truth, there was no affection between them. Dan had no interest in romance, not while grief still clung to him like a shadow.

As for Tereza, she seemed distant, as though her thoughts existed in another world. She kept her gaze cold, her words brief.

Neither sought comfort in the other’s presence. They dined in silence, shared the same halls without speaking, and avoided each other whenever possible.

Months passed, and Dan learned little about his new wife. She spent hours reading, often disappearing to secluded parts of the castle where no one else lingered.

Servants whispered that she still practiced magic in secret, despite the elders’ strict orders.

Some claimed she spoke to unseen forces, and others swore her shadow moved when she stood still.

Dan ignored the rumors at first. He was too burdened by his duties as heir and the weight of his family’s grief.

But one evening, as he walked through the halls, he heard Tereza whispering behind a locked door.

The words were unfamiliar, an ancient tongue that made his skin crawl. He froze, hand hovering near his sword.

The door creaked open. Tereza stood on the threshold, her face calm yet sharp as a blade.

“You shouldn’t linger here,” she warned quietly. “Some things are better left undisturbed.”

“What were you doing?” Dan demanded.

Tereza’s expression darkened. “Keeping this family safe.”

Dan wasn’t sure what she meant, but he felt certain of one thing, Tereza knew far more than she was willing to reveal.

And whatever secrets she guarded, they were dangerous enough to keep her standing in the shadows.