Chapter 26 – The Silent Rift
The grand corridors of the royal palace echoed with the rhythm of hurried footsteps and muffled whispers. Aelion had not spoken to Kealen in two days, and the silence between them weighed heavier than any blade. It was not anger alone that kept his lips sealed—it was hurt, confusion, and the sting of betrayal. Kealen, ever dutiful, walked three paces behind him as they moved through the halls, but he could feel the prince’s resentment like a cold wind on his skin. His hand hovered near his sword, not from fear of danger, but from the need to cling to something steady while the distance between them grew. --- The Rift Between Them “Aelion…” Kealen’s voice was quiet, as if testing whether the silence would crack. The prince stopped in his tracks but did not turn. His golden hair caught
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