The Alpha King's Mind Reading Maid (Cecilia) novel Chapter 160

Chapter 160

Cecilia’s POV

My hurried steps echoed my inner turmoil-an ache of anxiety and longing-as I rushed down the hallway, my heart lodged somewhere in my throat, struggling to contain the storm inside.

It shouldn’t have surprised me to see them like that, But a part of me still wasn’t prepared.

His arm had been wrapped around her tightly, like he never wanted to let go, and her arms were looped around his neck. They had been staring at one another as if nothing else existed, as if they never intended to part.

I blinked proudly, trying to keep the tears at bay.

It didn’t work.

The final selection ball is tomorrow. And it already felt like he had made his choice. His choice is Sophia.

My stomach knotted at the thought, twisting painfully, and I felt a deep ache of loneliness, pushing me to suppress it. This wasn’t unexpected. I had known what this was from the very beginning. I would be leaving soon… going home and starting over. A life without the palace… without the tension… without him.

I needed to start thinking about what came next.

“Cecilia”

My steps faltered at the sound of my name.

I turned to find Cora and Claira walking toward me. Cora’s expression was lined with concern, while Claira offered me a soft, reassuring smile. They knew something was wrong, but I also knew neither of them would say anything.

“We were about to meet Jasmine in the courtyard,” Cora said. “Do you want to join us?”

My first instinct was to refuse. I didn’t feel like pretending. Didn’t feel like talking. Didn’t feel like being seen.

But then I hesitated. Maybe a distraction was exactly what I needed.

“That’d be great,” I said.

Relief crossed both their faces, and we continued toward the courtyard together. Jasmine was already there when we arrived, and the moment she spotted me, her expression brightened.

“Oh, you found her. Good,” she said, walking toward us. “The ball is tomorrow, and we need to get fitted for our gowns. Madam Isa wants to see us in the lounge this afternoon.”

I nodded, though my thoughts were still tangled somewhere else-stuck on something that was trying very hard not to revisit.

“That makes sense,” I said, forcing a small smile. “W shouldn’t keep her waiting.

Jasmine immediately linked her arm through mine, her warmth a stark contrast to the heaviness sitting in my chest.

‘You’ll feel better once we get you into something beautiful,” she said lightly. “Trust me, it fixes everything.”

I almost laughed.

“Am I being that obvious?” I asked.

“Only a little,” Claria admitted gently. “It’s clear something’s bothering you.”

“But you don’t have to tell us,” Cora added quickly. “We’d never push. … know you can trust us.”

I smiled at them, genuinely grateful.

+15 Bonus

If there were une good thing I would take from this place, it was them. And that made everything feel just a little less lonely.

My gaze drifted across the courtyard. Gartimas were training in the distance. Cade was among them. And as if sensing my attention, he turned to look at me, The corner of his lips lifted into something that almost resembled a smile… but it didn’t reach his eyes.

A chill crept up my spine.

There was something about him that unsettled me.

I couldn’t place what it was.

And then… something else caught my attention, causing my breath to catch in my throat.

At the edge of the courtyard, where the grass met the white stone patio, a table had been set.

It was elegant and clearly intentional for something important. A bouquet at the center, fresh berries arranged neatly beside glasses of wine.

And beyond it… Leopold and Sophia were walking toward it together.

His hand rested at the small of her back, guiding her with quiet ease, while she looked up at him like he held the stars themselves. Her voice was soft, her expression glowing as if they shared something private. Something intimate.

His head dipped slightly as he listened. And something inside me cracked.

“What are they doing?” Jasmine asked, her brows pulled together.

“It looks like another date,” Cora said, folding her arms. “Maybe a redo after everything that happened.”

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