A Principessa's Funeral Pyre

He made no effort to restrain his menacing presence, as if he wanted everyone in the room to know exactly who he was protecting.

He reached out, roughly pulling off his suit jacket and draping it over her nearly bare shoulders.

"Amber, didn't I tell you? You're not allowed to perform in places like this anymore."

Amber nodded obediently, again and again.

Then her eyes reddened again, and she whispered timidly, "I just… I don't want to be a burden."

"You and Sebastian have already done more than enough for me."

"If I work, I can earn my own living expenses…"

"But… I'd be worried."

Ronan wrapped her tightly in his jacket.

"You're coming back with me now. If I see you in this kind of place again…"

"You set foot in a place, and I'll have it burned to the ground."

Then he turned his head and looked at me.

"If anyone thinks they can pull rank and bully her, don't blame me for what happens next."

I clutched my bleeding arm.

Amidst the chaos and the mess, I met his gaze with a blank expression.

This club was one of our Griffin family's properties.

This was my territory. As the family's Principessa, I had surveyed this territory with my father countless times since childhood.

Ronan thought I had deliberately humiliated Amber by having her perform here.

The tragic irony was that Amber, nestled under his and my brother's protection, was already being treated like a true princess.

She had endless money to spend.

Why would she deliberately put herself through this, just to earn a meager performance fee?

But I knew.

Even if I shouted it out loud, even if I dragged a Capo over to swear it was all a coincidence—

Ronan wouldn't believe me.

In his eyes, I was the malicious, heartless Principessa.

A Griffin family heiress who used her status to do whatever she pleased.

And Amber was the innocent, powerless girl being "bullied" by me.

"Cassandra."

Ronan pulled Amber into his arms, shielding her.

"A Principessa like you? You're out of my league."

"As for that damn family marriage contract, forget it."

The moment he finished speaking, the room fell silent again.

I felt as if a cold hand had seized my heart. My fingertips ached with a numbing pain.

Amber's face turned deathly pale. She trembled, burying herself deeper into Ronan's embrace.

The men from our Family eyed me as if I were a threat.

For a moment, I almost laughed out loud.

Because yes, ever since Amber's mother forced her way into our family…

Ever since Amber came between me and Ronan…

I had thrown tantrums. I had argued. I had made scenes.

The devotion that was once exclusively mine was now being unconditionally redirected to Amber and her mother.

How could a spoiled Principessa like me swallow that?

But the only result of all my crying and fighting was this:

I had pushed everyone closer to Amber.

And now… I was tired.

I didn't even have the strength to fight back.

"Fine."

I nodded, my calmness unnerving.

I took a few steps forward.

Ronan instinctively shielded Amber behind him.

"Cassandra. If you're going to do something, come at me."

I released my arm and held out my hand.

On my pale palm, the blood smeared, stark and red.

Ronan's lips pressed into a thin line. A tiny crack seemed to appear in the iciness of his eyes.

But then Amber suddenly broke free from his embrace.

"Cassandra, please don't make things difficult for Ronan."