Chapter 9
750 Words
Serena no longer looked at him .
She didn’t seek Toren’s gaze . Didn’t expect him to come . Didn’t try to understand why his words had hurt so deeply .
She had put an end to it . And returned to what she came to the palace for .
To find the truth .
Who killed her father ? And why did his death lead to war ?
The dusty archives beneath the library became her refuge . No one looked for her here , no one asked questions . Only the rustle of pages , the smell of parchment , and time finally working in her favor .
She flipped through reports of battles eight years ago , records of troop movements , orders , dispatches - all related to the battles in the south , on the border with Elvenya . Everything that had anything to do with Marshal Kaldor Frostvale .
She didn’t expect anyone to enter . So she startled when she heard footsteps behind her .
-“I didn’t think maids would be interested in siege tactics .” Said the king’s voice .
Serena jumped , clutching the folder of reports to her chest . He stood in the doorway , dressed simply , without robes or guards .
- “Forgive me .. I .. I was just cleaning ,” she stammered .
He stepped closer silently . His gaze dropped to the papers in her hands .
“Report on the death of the Marshal of Elvenya , year 1008 .”
The king froze . His eyes - darker than usual - lingered on the title . For a moment , something flickered in them . Recognition ?
But he quickly composed himself .
- “An odd choice of reading for cleaning ,” he said with a faint smile . “The Marshal .. was an exceptional man .”
Serena nodded , heart pounding .
-“I just .. heard that his death started the war . I wanted to understand why .”
He looked at her intently . For a long time . As if trying to remember .. or compare her to someone . Then he nodded .
-“Be careful with old wounds , girl . Some still bleed .”
He turned and left .
She remained standing , the report in her hands and her heart pounding in her ears . He didn’t ask who she was . Didn’t order her to leave . But in his voice ..
There was something more .
As if he knew more than he let himself show .
At the other end of the castle , Toren sat by the window with Maretta in the small garden behind the western tower . She laughed softly , twirling a flower petal in her fingers , telling a story about how she used to hide here from her tutors as a child . Her voice was gentle , sweet - almost perfect .
He listened , nodded , even smiled when expected . From the outside , everything looked as it should .
But inside - nothing felt right .
He looked at her - those delicate features , the familiar crest hanging from her neck , the very same locket the king once clutched in his hand when speaking of his lost niece .
Everything pointed to her .
She was supposed to be the one .
But more and more often , he found himself searching for Serena in her .
Expecting a different tone , a sharper gaze .
He longed for that spark of defiance , that quiet fire that used to irritate him .. and yet , somehow , always intrigued him .
And with Maretta , all he got was gentleness - smooth , soft and safe .
She kept talking , but somewhere along the way , he realized .. he hadn’t remembered a single word .
Why don’t you set anything alight in me ?
He lowered his gaze .
-“Is everything all right ? “ she asked softly , noticing his distant expression .
Toren nodded .
-“Yes . Just tired .”
He tried to smile again .
But the shadow behind his eyes didn’t fade .
Because he wasn’t tired from his duties .
He was tired of pretending - even if the lie was beautiful .
- Writer
