CHAPTER THREE: A WITCH CAN NOT LOVE A KING
1317 Words
CHAPTER THREE: A Witch Cannot Love a King
POV: Mark Garrett
For the next three weeks, I lied to my kingdom.
Every morning, I attended royal meetings beside my father as though nothing had changed. I listened to nobles argue over taxes, border disputes, and military alliances while pretending my thoughts were not somewhere far beyond the palace walls.
At night, I returned to her.
To the witch hidden within the eastern forest.
And with every passing day, I became more dangerous to both of us.
“You’re distracted again.”
My younger brother’s voice pulled me back to reality.
I looked up sharply across the training grounds.
Prince Edwin Garrett stood several feet away with a sword resting lazily against his shoulder, amusement clear in his expression.
“You’ve barely landed a proper strike all morning,” he continued.
I tightened my grip around my blade.
“You talk too much.”
Edwin laughed. “And you look exhausted.”
The soldiers surrounding the arena chuckled nervously before quickly falling silent when I glanced toward them.
Being crown prince had its advantages.
Fear was one of them.
But fear had begun exhausting me lately.
Everything had.
The palace suddenly felt suffocating.
Every hallway.
Every royal banquet.
Every noble pretending loyalty while secretly craving power.
And worst of all,
The constant expectations.
I was expected to marry a noblewoman soon. Expected to produce heirs. Expected to continue the Garrett bloodline without question.
A perfect future king.
A perfect royal life.
Yet every night, I found myself sitting beside a woman the kingdom would execute if they discovered her existence.
And I could not stop returning to her.
Edwin narrowed his eyes slightly.
“This is about a woman.”
I nearly dropped my sword.
He burst into laughter immediately.
“Gods, I knew it.”
“Keep your voice down.”
That only made him laugh harder.
“The cold-hearted Mark Garrett finally falls in love and suddenly forgets how to hold a sword properly.”
“I am not in love.”
Even I did not believe the lie.
Edwin smirked knowingly. “Who is she?”
“No one.”
“That serious, huh?”
I turned away before he could read the truth on my face.
Because if anyone discovered Seraphina,
No.
I refused to think about it.
The Garrett royal family had hunted witches for generations. Even rumors of witchcraft were enough to burn entire villages.
If they learned I had been secretly meeting one?
Seraphina would die.
Painfully.
“Be careful, brother,” Edwin said quietly behind me.
Something about his tone made me pause.
When I looked back at him, the amusement was gone.
“You’re the future king,” he continued carefully. “People watch everything you do.”
For the first time all morning, fear settled heavily in my chest.
Because Edwin was right.
The palace noticed everything.
And recently, servants had begun whispering whenever I disappeared at night.
I sheathed my sword immediately.
“I need fresh air.”
Edwin sighed dramatically. “Meaning you’re running off to see her again.”
I froze.
His expression softened slightly.
“So there really is someone.”
Neither of us spoke for several moments.
Then quietly, he asked:
“Does Father know?”
“No.”
“Good.”
I frowned slightly. “You’re not going to ask who she is?”
Edwin looked strangely serious.
“If she makes you look at the world like this” He shook his head slowly. “Then I don’t think I want to know.”
Before I could respond, palace bells suddenly echoed across the courtyard.
A royal summons.
I cursed quietly under my breath.
Edwin immediately looked sympathetic. “Father?”
“Unfortunately.”
King Aldric Garrett never summoned his sons unless something important or terrible had happened.
And judging by the sharp ringing of the bells,
This was not good.
The throne room felt colder than usual.
Massive windows overlooked the storm clouds gathering above Velmora while royal advisors lined both sides of the hall with tense expressions.
My father sat upon the throne wearing full ceremonial robes.
That alone unsettled me.
Kings only dressed formally when discussing war, succession,
Or executions.
“You summoned me?”
King Aldric’s sharp gaze lifted toward me.
“I did.”
His voice carried the same commanding force that had terrified kingdoms for decades.
Even now, standing before him as crown prince, I still felt like a child beneath that stare.
“Come closer.”
I obeyed immediately.
The throne room doors shut heavily behind me.
A terrible feeling settled inside my stomach.
My father studied me carefully for several moments before speaking.
“There have been reports from the eastern forest.”
Ice slid through my veins instantly.
I forced my expression to remain calm.
“What kind of reports?”
“Magic.”
My heartbeat stopped.
Several advisors began whispering among themselves.
“A patrol disappeared near the border three nights ago,” one of them explained nervously. “The survivors claim unnatural shadows attacked them.”
Shadows.
My mind immediately thought of Seraphina.
No.
She would never hurt innocent people.
Would she?
King Aldric rose slowly from the throne.
“The people are beginning to panic.”
“Perhaps the soldiers imagined it,” I said carefully.
My father’s eyes sharpened immediately.
“You sound defensive.”
Damn it.
I lowered my gaze slightly. “I only meant that fear spreads quickly among common soldiers.”
Silence followed.
Then finally, my father spoke again.
“If witches truly exist near Velmora”
His voice became colder.
“then they will be hunted.”
My chest tightened painfully.
“There has not been a confirmed witch sighting in years.”
“Which is exactly why I will not allow one to rise again.”
The advisors nodded in agreement.
I suddenly felt sick.
Because they were discussing Seraphina as though she were an animal.
Not someone capable of kindness.
My father stepped closer toward me.
“You will lead the search.”
Everything inside me froze.
“What?”
“You are crown prince,” he said firmly. “The people must see strength from their future king.”
No.
No, no, no,
If I led the soldiers into the forest,
If they found her,
“I cannot.”
The words escaped before I could stop them.
The throne room fell silent instantly.
King Aldric’s expression darkened dangerously.
“Explain.”
Think.
Think quickly.
“I mean” I forced myself to breathe evenly. “The northern trade routes are already unstable. If I leave the capital now”
“Do not insult my intelligence, Mark.”
Fear crawled slowly up my spine.
My father rarely used my name in that tone.
And when he did,
People suffered.
“You have changed recently,” he continued slowly. “You disappear at night. You avoid court gatherings. Your attention drifts during meetings.”
Each word felt like a blade pressing closer against my throat.
The king’s eyes narrowed.
“What are you hiding from me?”
For the first time in my life…
I lied directly to my father.
“Nothing.”
A long silence followed.
Then finally, King Aldric stepped away.
“Good.”
I nearly collapsed from relief.
“Because if I discover that my own son is protecting witch blood”
His voice turned deadly.
“I will personally remove that weakness from this family.”
The room suddenly felt impossible to breathe in.
I bowed immediately before he could see the horror on my face.
“As you command, Your Majesty.”
But inside my mind, only one thought remained,
Seraphina was no longer safe.
And for the first time since meeting her,
I realized loving her might not only destroy my future.
It might destroy hers too.
- Writer
