?Chapter 457:


    “I’m fine now. Thank you for your help, Your Highness.” Even though my heart hammered with unease, I forced a casual smile, trying to mask my anxiety. My voice sounded steady enough, but inside, everything felt off-kilter.


    Dominic, however, didn’t bother acknowledging my words. Instead, he strolled over to the chair beside my bed, sitting down with deliberate calm. His eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, fixed on me, unblinking. The weight of his gaze sent a chill down my spine, making it impossible to rx.


    I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stayposed. Desperate for a distraction, I changed the subject. “By the way, Your Highness, why did youe to the Royal Animal Farm so suddenly?”


    Dominic leaned back slightly, his expression still stone-faced. “One of my servants saw you heading there. I was concerned for your safety, so I followed.”


    “Thank you, Your Highness,” I murmured, grateful but still wary.


    He waved off my thanks with an indifferent shrug. “No need to thank me. I didn’t do much.” His brow lifted slightly as he added, “But I do have a few questions for you.”


    My heart skipped, tension coiling in my chest. The sudden shift in his tone sent a ripple of panic through me. I cleared my throat, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m not feeling well,” I said, forcing a weak smile. “Maybe we could discuss thister?”


    Dominic didn’t even flinch. In a slow, deliberate move, he reached out and lightly gripped my chin. It wasn’t painful, but it was firm enough to keep me from pulling away.


    “I had a doctor check on you.” His eyes bored into mine, leaving no room for escape. “You’re fine. Or… is there something you’re trying to hide from me?”


    A chill ran through me. There was no avoiding this now.


    “Hide something?” I managed augh, though it came out strained. “What could I possibly hide? Ask whatever you want.”


    Dominic released my chin, but his piercing gaze remained locked on me, scrutinizing every flicker of emotion. “Why did you go to the Royal Animal Farm?”


    gα?ησν????s??om has it all


    I sighed, resigned. “Hayley punished Alice by sending her to clean the animal farm. I was worried about her, so I went to check on her.”


    He frowned, his sharp features darkening as he leaned forward slightly. “The Royal Animal Farm is heavily guarded. The beasts are always caged. This shouldn’t have happened. What exactly is going on?”


    His words made something click in my mind. The unease I had been feeling now had a name. I bit my lip, ncing away for a moment before confessing, “I suspect Hayley had something to do with it. She’s the one who sent Alice there, and right after that, this whole mess happened.”


    Dominic squinted hard, his lips pursed in thought. “I’ll look into it. But first, was it you who killed the golden lion?”


    My stomach twisted into knots. “It wasn’t just me,” I said, coughing lightly to steady my nerves. “The three of us worked together.”


    “The three of you?” His eyes shed with skepticism, a mocking smile tugging at his lips. “You really expect me to believe that?”


    “Evie is strong,” I countered quickly. “With her help, we managed to bring it down.”


    Even as I spoke, my hands clenched into tight fists beneath the nket. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Dominic wasn’t buying it.


    He let out a low, sardonicugh, shaking his head. “No matter how it was done, I find it curious that you walked away without a scratch. After all…” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “That golden lion was no ordinary beast. It was one of the fiercest creatures in the kingdom. Even we wouldn’t dare challenge it and expect to escape unscathed.”


    .


    .


    .