A Restless Night
1458 Words
In the heart of the royal palace of Alderys, the grand hall was drowned in a heavy silence, broken only by the hesitant footsteps of the soldiers standing before the throne.
High above them, King Rainer sat upon his seat of dark wood, its edges adorned with intricate golden carvings. His face bore that same calm, lethal stillness that made even silence feel dangerous.
The entire scene resembled a frozen painting the soldiers bowing their heads in dread, not one daring to meet the king’s eyes. They all knew that a single mistake, no matter how small, could cost them their lives.
At last, the commander took a step forward, trying to appear composed despite the fear flickering in his eyes. He bowed slightly and spoke in a low but steady voice:
“Your Majesty… she has escaped.”
Silence fell like a blade. Even the air seemed to stop moving.
The king did not answer immediately he merely traced the rim of his silver goblet with one finger before setting it down beside him, his eyes cold and unreadable.
“So… that’s how it is.”
The words were soft, but the danger hidden within them was enough to make the commander’s stomach twist.
“A young girl,” the king continued quietly, “without strength, without a weapon… managed to escape from all of you armed soldiers?”
A shiver ran down one of the men’s spines. The commander said nothing; there was no excuse that could save him from the weight of such failure.
Rainer stroked his chin thoughtfully, tilting his head slightly as he observed them. He never needed to shout his very presence was enough to make their blood run cold.
“Tell me,” he said finally, voice low but sharp, “how many times have I warned you never to underestimate anyone, no matter how weak they may seem?”
No one dared respond.
After a tense pause, Rainer exhaled softly and turned his gaze toward the commander, who struggled to keep his breathing steady.
“Find her.”
The command was clear and final.
The commander bent at once, ready to obey, but before he could turn away, a hesitant voice broke the silence:
“Your Majesty… there is something else.”
Rainer raised an eyebrow, gesturing for the soldier to speak. The man swallowed hard.
“She has been captured but not by us. The royal guards of Asteria caught her near their borders.”
For a long moment, the entire hall froze.
The firelight flickered across the king’s eyes as he stared at the soldier. Then, slowly, a faint smile curved his lips not one of relief, but of predatory amusement.
He drummed his fingers against the armrest, thinking, before murmuring in a tone that carried quiet menace:
“Send our eyes there.”
The words were few, but they carried the weight of an unspoken order.
The commander bowed deeply. “As you command, Your Majesty!”
The soldiers rushed out to carry out his will, leaving Rainer alone in the great hall, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the throne’s arm.
His eyes narrowed, as though he could already see across the distance between kingdoms.
“You won’t run far… little one,” he whispered under his breath.
---
Meanwhile, in the royal palace of Asteria, Tiana sat on the edge of her bed, staring silently out the window. Her eyes reflected a storm of fear and unease. She hadn’t closed her eyes all night.
Her thoughts spun endlessly
her mother, left behind; the uncertainty of where she was now; the gnawing guilt that wouldn’t let her rest. Was her mother safe? Had the soldiers of Alderis caught her?
Her hands clenched tightly around her cloak as she stood abruptly. She couldn’t just stay here and do nothing.
Opening the door carefully, she stepped into the corridor. The palace was quiet, save for a few guards stationed at the ends of the hall, watching her cautiously.
She approached one of them, her voice trembling:
“I wish to speak with the king.”
The guard frowned. “His Majesty is occupied.”
Tiana’s voice steadied, though it carried desperation.
“Please… tell him it’s important.”
The guard hesitated, exchanged a glance with his companion, then nodded and disappeared down the hall.
Tiana waited, heart pounding, fighting the rising tide of dread.
Minutes later, the guard returned, motioning for her to follow.
He led her into a vast chamber where King John sat on an elevated seat, his arms crossed, dark eyes studying her carefully.
Tiana bowed slightly before speaking, her voice unsteady.
“Your Majesty… I wish to ask you for something.”
John gestured lightly for her to continue.
“Please…” she said, lifting her gaze to meet his. “I need to know if my mother is safe.”
He regarded her in silence, unreadable.
“And where is your mother?”
“She was home when I escaped…” she said quickly, voice trembling. “I don’t know if they caught her, but… I can’t stay here not knowing. Please, I just need to know she’s alive.”
John’s expression remained calm.
“And how do I know this isn’t a trick? A ruse to lure my men into danger?”
Her breath hitched. She shook her head rapidly.
“I’m not lying! I don’t care what you do to me, just… please find out if she’s safe…”
Her voice broke, Her eyes glistened as tears welled up despite her efforts to hold them back.
“Please…”
Something in her tone fragile, sincere made John hesitate.
He studied her face, the exhaustion, the fear, the faint stubborn light in her eyes.
After a long silence, he finally said quietly:
“I’ll think about it.”
It wasn’t a promise, but for Tiana, it was enough to keep her hope alive.
---
That night, the palace lay wrapped in stillness, disturbed only by the soft rustle of the wind through the silken drapes.
Everyone was asleep except her.
In the guest chamber, Tiana lay awake, the moonlight spilling over her bed. Despite the comfort of the room, her heart was heavy, her thoughts circling endlessly around her mother and the uncertain mercy of the king.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, she rose and slipped quietly into the corridor. Her bare feet made no sound on the thick carpet as she wandered through the dimly lit halls until she found a grand balcony overlooking the royal gardens.
She stepped outside, inhaling deeply as the cool night air brushed her face.
But she wasn’t alone.
A small figure moved through the corridor behind her Princess Sera, the king’s younger sister, returning from her brother’s chamber. She had a habit of sneaking out late at night for bedtime stories, though tonight, John had seemed distracted.
As she walked, she noticed a stranger stepping toward the balcony. Curious, she followed her or rather, her silently, like a little cat.
When Tiana leaned on the railing, lost in thought, a soft voice suddenly called out:
“Hey! Who are you?”
Tiana turned sharply, startled. A young girl stood at the balcony’s entrance, her hands clasped behind her back, eyes wide with curiosity.
“What?” Tiana muttered, confused.
“I haven’t seen you here before,” the girl said seriously. “Who are you?”
Tiana hesitated, unsure how to respond.
“I’m Sera,” the little girl added cheerfully. “And you?”
“Tiana,” she replied softly.
Sera tilted her head, thoughtful.
“Tiana? That’s a strange name… but pretty!”
Tiana blinked, unsure whether to smile or stay silent.
The princess crossed her arms and looked at her with childlike boldness.
“You’re not from the palace, are you? Why are you here?”
Tiana’s lips parted slightly how could such a small child be so sharp?
Before she could answer, Sera’s eyes sparkled with sudden excitement.
“Wait! Are you a knight? Or… a thief?”
Tiana gasped.
“What? Of course not!”
Sera giggled softly, clearly amused by the reaction. She moved to stand beside Tiana, resting her elbows on the railing.
“Sometimes I come here when I can’t sleep,” she said quietly, gazing at the gardens below. Then, after a pause, she turned toward her.
“But I’ve never seen you here before. So… are you a guest?”
Tiana hesitated. A guest? That wasn’t exactly true. Not yet.
Sera studied her face for a moment, then said suddenly:
“You know… your face looks sad.”
Tiana froze, caught off guard. She turned her gaze away, staring silently into the moonlit gardens.
- Writer
