I Got Married To My Killer

Chapter 18

The ride back to the kingdom was quiet.

Grace sat still, staring out the window, her mind deep in thought. The conversation with Juliet still lingered, but it was something else that unsettled her, something she couldn't quite place.

Juliet, on the other hand, remained composed. She had said her piece, and whether or not Grace responded didn't seem to matter.

When they arrived, the palace guards opened the carriage doors, and Grace stepped out first, followed by Juliet. Servants greeted them with polite bows, and as they made their way inside, Juliet turned to Grace.

"I'll retire for the night, Your Highness," she said with a soft smile. "It was a lovely day."

Grace only gave a small nod before walking toward her chamber.

She needed rest.

She needed to clear her mind.

But as she entered her chamber, she forgot one thing she didn't close the door.

The moment Grace sat on her bed, a chill ran through her body. The air shifted, becoming thick and heavy. Her chest tightened as if something unseen was pressing down on her.

Then, the voice came again. The forceful and unseen voice came again.

"Grace Johnson."

She gasped, her head snapping up.

"How long will you keep running?

Her breathing became ragged. She clutched the sheets beneath her, trying to steady herself.

"You cannot keep holding on to the past. You must step into who you are meant to be."

Grace shook her head violently. "No",she whispered. "No, i cant."

"You can, and you must."

The pressure increased, pushing her down, suffocating her. She clawed at her throat, gasping for air. Her body felt like it was being torn apart from the inside, her mind spiraling into chaos.

She struggled, fighting against the force, but it was stronger. It always was.

Then, as suddenly as it came, it was gone.

Grace collapsed onto the bed, her body drenched in sweat, her breaths shaky and uneven.

But she didn't know, she wasn't alone.

Commander Robert had been walking past when he heard a noise. He wasn't the type to pry, but something about the sound made him pause. He turned his head slightly and the door to Grace's chamber was wide open.

And then he saw it.

The scene before him, made his heart stop.

There, in the dim candlelight, was Prince Quicke—No, Grace gripping the bed as though she were fighting something invisible. Her body trembled violently, her face twisted in agony. She gasped for air, clawing at her own throat, eyes wild and unfocused.

Commander Robert's blood ran cold.

He had seen many things as the royal guard, wars, betrayals, bloodshed. But this… this was different. This was not normal.

He didn't know whether to step in or call for help. But something in his gut told him not to interfere. So he stayed frozen, watching in silent horror.

And then, just as quickly as it started, it ended.

Grace slumped onto the bed, her breathing ragged, her body still.

Robert took an unconscious step backward.

Whatever just happened… it wasn't natural.

And she had no idea he had seen it.

Robert took one last look at her before turning away.

He moved quickly, making sure his footsteps were light. He didn't want her to know he had been there.

By the time Grace finally sat up, the hallway was empty.

She didn't know that, for the first time, someone else had witnessed her torment.

And for Robert, he didn't know what to do with what he had just seen. He realized that Prince Quicke was no ordinary Prince. And on seeing this, he resolved to look for the strange man at the tea house which he didn't quite know, he doesn't even know his name. But that man could have answers as to why Prince Quicke isn't quite well. So he thought.