Chapter 170: What If
Hours Earlier
Pandora walked through the corridor of the castle toward another quarter, rolling the food cart. She had developed a habit of dropping it off herself; she didn’t like eating and then leaving the cart outside for the royal maids to take.
Besides, it was the best time to walk. She was at the last Chapter of her book, done with editing, and now what was left was to write and edit the final Chapter. Then she would be finished—maybe even publish it—though she was still uncertain about that part.
She finally reached the royal kitchen quarters, specifically for the people who cooked for the guards the maids were cleaning.
As usual, she walked in and dropped the rolling cart. She noticed a few stares, but she was already used to them. If you asked her, she would say it had become normal—every time she passed there, all they did was give her those dirty looks.
She didn’t mind. Those looks couldn’t do anything to her anyway. Just as she turned to leave, one of the maids finally spoke up, surprising Pandora.
She was used to the silent treatment these past months, so it felt unusual when it didn’t happen. Even though the maids were busy with cleaning and whispering, it seemed they always had time for gossips.
"Where do you think you’re going?" one of the maids said. Other maids turned to look. The reason they don’t talke out was because they knew how close she was with Raven, and no one wanted to get on Raven’s bad side. That’s why it was shocking that this not-so-brave maid had spoken up at all.
Pandora raised a brow. This was the first time in months anyone had dared say something to her here. Usually, they treated her like she was untouchable—like she carried something no one wanted to be near.
Not that she cared. She wasn’t the kind to want friends anyway. Being around people who spoke badly of her was nothing new.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked softly.
The kitchen broke into laughter. She wondered what she had said that made them laugh. It didn’t even feel genuine..it was forced...mocking , if you asked her. Still, she managed to maintain a calm expression.
She was used to whispers and glares, but this was different. More than ten of them laughed this time, far louder than usual. It made her self-aware, even though her outward appearance stayed calm. Inside, she was not calm at all. All she wanted was to leave and return to her writing.
"Everything is wrong with you standing here," said the maid. Her brown hair was tied up,she was in her maid uniform, she looked like their leader.
She seemed to grow more confident the quieter Pandora became.
"Who told you to come here and drop your plate? Were you not taught to wash it after use?" she spat, her eyes scanning Pandora up and down like she was dirt.
Pandora stayed silent as she walked toward the plate. The maids were surprised. They had expected her to protest, but she said nothing. Her silence gave courage to the others. They had been scared to face consequences before, but it seemed there never were any. The whispers that Pandora usually caught faintly—never clearly—now became louder, unmistakable.
"I heard she’s sleeping with the King’s most trusted guard for position," one maid whispered.
Pandora’s body stiffened. She hadn’t expected such rumors. The thought had never even crossed her mind, yet here it was, spoken aloud. Knowing how powerful rumors could be, she stood frozen in shock.
Another maid quickly added, "Oh, did you hear? She’s not only his mistress..he has other mistresses. But she’s his favorite. I heard it from the lady who serves in the guard quarters. She said with her own lips that they slept together."
More whispers flew, piling on one another. Pandora’s body refused to move. She was shocked—not because insults were new to her, but because now the rumors weren’t just about her.
They involved Raven too, and she hated that. She realized that if she hadn’t stepped on his path that day, their lives would never have crossed, and he wouldn’t now be caught up in believable lies.
The leader maid grew annoyed that Pandora still stood there quietly.
A particular whisper snapped her composure.
"Did you see her hair? So silky, more perfect than all of ours. Don’t you think she’s royal?"
Those words only deepened the maid’s anger. Before Pandora knew it, the woman walked up to her.
"Don’t you understand simple words?" the maid sneered.
Pandora’s eyes turned cold, so cold that the maid was taken aback. She hadn’t expected such a piercing gaze. The coldness wasn’t because of what the maid had just said—it came from the weight of all the rumors, each one hitting harder than the last.
What hurt most was that these lies were so believable. The kind that made even you question yourself, wondering if it really happened when it hadn’t.
Pandora turned to leave. It was better to go. Whatever had caused this, it had never happened before..had caught her completely off guard.
"I said, where do you think you’re going?"
Before she knew it, she was yanked harshly by her gown collar area. Her body staggered backward, losing balance. A gasp echoed through the kitchen as Pandora fell to the floor.
Her arm scraped against the stone tile, pain shooting through her body.
Her throat tightened as her vision blurred. She hated this, being treated like she was nothing—just because they knew she wouldn’t fight back.
Biting back the pain, she raised her head. But the maid grew angrier.
What hurt her was that she had developed deep feelings for Raven for nearly three years, and he had never noticed her. Yet this lady, who must have been brought from the royal village..had caught his eye, and he had stayed with her.
She wanted Pandora in pain, but instead, the others seemed more worried about the woman on the ground than about her. The maid raised her hand to slap hers...
But her wrist was caught in an iron grip.
Her eyes widened. Pain shot through her bones, deep to her spine. The grip was so strong she winced, her face scrunching in agony. Who knew a single hand on her wrist could bring such pain?
The maid gasped as her body trembled, finally realizing who it was.
Raven.
His eyes blazed red as he stared at her. The atmosphere grew cold, deadly.
Pandora managed to stand, her body weak but intact. Raven’s eyes softened slightly when he saw she was okay. He watched her leave, then moved to turn back to the maid but his gaze landed on Pandora’s scratched hand.
His expression darkened as his grip on the maid tightened. Her tears fell as the pain became unbearable.
The hall went silent. No one dared move or speak. Only her sobs and pleading filled the room.
"I...I apologize...please..." she begged.
CRACK
.A scream tore through the kitchen. Gasps followed. Raven hadn’t moved except to hold her wrist—but it was as if her bone had broken under his grip...yes he had Raven broke her wrist.
He released her, his eyes still blood-red.
"Never, ever lay your hands on my woman." His firm voice echoed through the silent room.
Shocking silence fell. And in the next moment—Raven was gone. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air.
Pandora stood outside the quarters, in a garden area with benches where no one usually came. Everyone was always too busy with work to bother with such places.
The wind blew through her red hair as she stared into the thin air. Suddenly, arms wrapped around her from behind. Her heart melted, and the walls she had been holding up finally began to fall apart.
"Oh, Dora...I’m here. That will never happen again I promise," Raven whispered softly.
The anger that had surged through him earlier had been unmistakable. He had tried his very best to keep himself in check, but seeing her on the floor—and the pained look on her face..had made his heart tighten in frustration.
Earlier he wondered where she would have been if not writing, because when he arrived, the typewriter and her book were still sitting on the table. That meant she was not yet done.
And knowing Pandora, when she was done, the typewriter would be dropped in the corner and her papers would be in the drawer. He had observed just how organized she was. Not seeing her there, he decided to check the kitchen, guessing she would be dropping her plate, just like she always did.
From the beginning, he had never supported this he did not like the fact that she went there, she had said she didn’t like people picking up her food after she was done eating. The only thing she could do was drop the plate in the kitchen, and he had finally agreed. But at night, he usually didn’t allow her to do it.
After seeing what had happened, he knew he would make sure she never did it again.
Her lips curled upward, though they trembled downward at the same time. One more word from him, and she would break down into tears.
"R...Raven, what if..." she paused as he rested his face in the crook of her neck.
"What if I’m using you?"
There was a long silence as Pandora waited for Raven’s answer, but he remained silent. She wondered if she had asked the wrong question, but she was just curious. Still, he didn’t say a word.
"You can use me all you want, Dora."
Pandora’s body stiffened.
"That would never stop the love I have for you."
She shook her head, unable to believe what she had just heard. A slow smirk moved across Raven’s lips as he gently tilted his face more to her sweet-scented neck. He straightened, his hands now resting lightly on her neck as he lifted it.
Pandora gasped softly, her eyes locking onto Raven’s, whose expression was serious.
"I give you permission, love," he muttered in a deep tone. Then, in a husky whisper, he finished,
"Use me."