The curse between us

Chapter 2 : Secrets in silver

Morning arrived in Elyndor beneath a pale golden sky.

Sunlight spilled through the tall windows of the royal palace, illuminating the cream-coloured walls and the delicate gold patterns carved into the pillars. Servants hurried through the corridors carrying fresh flowers and silver trays, while guards stood at their usual posts.

Everything appeared peaceful.

Yet Princess Aurelia had barely slept.

She sat before the tall mirror in her bedroom, slowly brushing her hair while staring at her reflection.

Her long chestnut brown hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, catching the morning light whenever she moved. Her emerald green eyes stood out against her fair skin, though faint shadows beneath them revealed how little sleep she had managed.

Aurelia had always been told that she resembled her mother.

The same eyes, her father often said. The same gentle expression. The same stubbornness, too, although he usually added that last part with an affectionate sigh.

She wondered what her mother would say if she could see her now.

Probably that sneaking into a forbidden forest was a terrible idea.

Aurelia smiled faintly.

Then her smile faded.

Her fingers moved to the delicate silver necklace resting against her collarbone.

The pendant was small and ordinary-looking, with a tiny engraved symbol at its centre. She had worn it for so many years that she barely noticed it anymore.

Her mother had given it to her when she was young.

Keep it close, my darling. Whatever happens, never lose it.

Those words had stayed with Aurelia for as long as she could remember.

She had always assumed the necklace was simply a precious keepsake. But last night, the stranger in the forest had looked at it as though he recognised something.

Valen.

Even thinking his name irritated her.

He had been arrogant, mysterious, and entirely too pleased with himself.

Yet she couldn't forget the moment his expression changed when she introduced herself.

He had known something.

She was certain of it.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Your Highness?"

Aurelia turned.

"Come in."

Her personal maid, Elara, entered carrying a folded ivory dress.

"Good morning, Princess. His Majesty requests your presence at breakfast."

Aurelia sighed.

"Of course he does."

Elara placed the dress on the bed and studied her.

"Did you sleep well?"

"Perfectly."

The answer came too quickly.

Elara raised an eyebrow.

Aurelia returned her attention to the mirror.

"I simply had a lot on my mind."

"Perhaps you should spend less time reading by candlelight."

"Perhaps."

She certainly wasn't going to explain that she'd spent half the night thinking about a mysterious stranger with storm-grey eyes.

That would only invite questions she wasn't prepared to answer.

And she didn't even understand why she was thinking about him.

---

The royal breakfast chamber was filled with the quiet clinking of silverware when Aurelia arrived.

King Aldric sat at the head of the long table, dressed in a deep-blue tunic embroidered with gold. His dark hair had begun to grey at the temples, and the lines around his eyes seemed more noticeable whenever he was worried.

He looked up as Aurelia entered.

"There you are."

"Good morning, Father."

She kissed his cheek before taking the seat beside him.

"You look tired," he observed.

"I didn't sleep well."

"Is something troubling you?"

For a moment, Aurelia considered telling him about the forest.

Then she imagined the guards being doubled, the palace gates being watched, and a lengthy lecture about the dangers of wandering alone after dark.

She reached for her glass.

"Nothing important."

Her father studied her but didn't press the matter.

Instead, he spoke about her lessons and reminded her that several noble families would be visiting the palace soon.

Aurelia listened politely, although her thoughts kept drifting back to the previous night.

She was just finishing breakfast when her father spoke again.

"I expect you to remain within the palace grounds for the next few evenings."

She paused.

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

Aurelia gave him a look.

"That's not an explanation."

King Aldric sighed.

"And there is the stubbornness your mother passed on to you."

Aurelia simply smiled.

"She must have had excellent judgment."

"She certainly did."

For a brief moment, something softened in her father's expression.

Then he looked away and reached for his cup.

Aurelia noticed.

She always noticed whenever her mother's name changed the atmosphere between them.

"Father?"

"Yes?"

"Do you ever think about Mother?"

His hand stopped around the cup.

"What makes you ask that?"

"I was just wondering what she would think of me now."

King Aldric put the cup down and regarded his daughter.

"She would be proud of you."

"Even if she knew I'd sneaked into the forest last night?"

Silence.

Aurelia immediately regretted speaking.

Her father's expression changed.

"You went where?"

She closed her eyes briefly.

There goes her peaceful morning.

---

By the time Aurelia left the breakfast chamber, she had received a lecture about forbidden forests, dangerous creatures, and the importance of informing someone before leaving the palace grounds.

She had also been ordered not to repeat the adventure.

Naturally, she agreed.

Whether she would obey was another matter.

She escaped to the palace gardens later that morning, hoping the fresh air might clear her thoughts.

The gardens were her favourite place in Elyndor. Rose bushes lined the winding paths, fountains sparkled beneath the sunlight, and the scent of lavender drifted through the air.

For a little while, she managed to forget about the previous night.

Then she saw him.

Valen stood near the stone fountain, dressed in a black coat with silver details along the collar and sleeves. His jet-black hair was slightly untidy, and he appeared entirely unconcerned by the fact that two palace guards were watching him from a distance.

Aurelia stopped walking.

What was he doing here?

Valen turned, almost as though he had sensed her presence.

Their eyes met.

His expression remained calm.

"Good morning, Princess."

Aurelia approached him, trying not to show how surprised she was.

"What are you doing in my palace?"

"Visiting."

"How informative."

"I try."

She folded her arms.

"You could have mentioned that you were a guest of Elyndor."

"You could have mentioned that you were its princess."

"I never said I wasn't."

"You didn't exactly volunteer the information."

Aurelia opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Unfortunately, he had a point.

She changed the subject.

"Why are you here, Valen?"

"Does there have to be a reason?"

"Considering you appeared in a forbidden forest last night, followed by something that sounded like a monster, yes. I think there should be a reason."

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"You heard it too, then."

"Of course I heard it!"

"Good. I was beginning to think the forest had frightened you into imagining things."

Aurelia stared at him.

"Do you enjoy being unbearable?"

"Only when it produces such entertaining reactions."

She wanted to throw a rose at him.

Instead, she adopted her most dignified princess-like expression.

Valen glanced at her.

"That look doesn't suit you."

Her eyebrows rose.

"Excuse me?"

"You look as though you're trying very hard not to say something insulting."

"Perhaps I'm practising royal manners."

"Then I admire your restraint."

Aurelia hated the fact that she nearly smiled.

Nearly.

Then she remembered something.

"Last night, when I told you my name, you looked surprised."

Valen's amusement faded a little.

"Did I?"

"Yes."

"You must have been mistaken."

"And you looked at my necklace."

His gaze moved briefly to the silver pendant at her throat.

This time, he didn't look away immediately.

"Where did you get it?"

Aurelia touched the pendant.

"My mother gave it to me when I was young."

"Do you know what the symbol means?"

"No. Why?"

Valen studied the necklace for a moment.

"I thought I'd seen something similar before."

"Where?"

"Somewhere."

"Somewhere?"

"Your talent for repeating my words is remarkable."

"Your talent for avoiding questions is remarkable."

His mouth twitched as though he was fighting a smile.

Aurelia stepped closer.

"Valen, I'm serious."

"So am I."

"Then tell me what you know."

He looked directly at her.

"I don't know anything about your mother, Aurelia."

She searched his face.

"That isn't what I asked."

"No," he said. "It isn't."

The answer frustrated her more than a denial would have.

"Why won't you just tell me?"

"Because I don't have an answer for you."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Aurelia wanted to believe him. There was no obvious sign that he was lying, but she had the uncomfortable feeling that he was choosing his words very carefully.

Finally, Valen stepped away from the fountain.

"Whatever that necklace means, perhaps it's best not to discuss it with everyone you meet."

"Why?"

"Not everyone deserves your trust."

The words were quiet, and for once, he wasn't teasing her.

Aurelia studied him.

"Should I trust you?"

Valen's eyes met hers.

"No."

His answer surprised her.

He could have lied. He could have smiled and pretended to be trustworthy.

Instead, he had given her the truth—or at least, a version of it.

"At least you're honest," she murmured.

"Occasionally."

Before she could reply, a servant approached and bowed.

"Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence."

Aurelia sighed.

"Of course he does."

The servant departed.

She turned back to Valen.

"We're not finished talking about this."

"I wouldn't dream of suggesting otherwise."

"And don't disappear into any forests."

"I'll do my best."

"That wasn't a request."

"As you wish princess."

Aurelia shook her head and started toward the palace.

After a few steps, she glanced over her shoulder.

Valen was still standing beside the fountain, watching her.

When he noticed her looking, he raised an eyebrow.

"Something wrong, Princess?"

She immediately faced forward.

"No."

"Then why are you staring?"

"I'm checking that you're still there."

"How thoughtful."

Aurelia hurried away before he could see her smile.

She refused to admit that their arguments were becoming strangely enjoyable.

She refused to admit that she was curious about him for reasons beyond the necklace.

And she certainly refused to admit that she had been relieved to find him safely in the palace gardens that morning.

She had more important things to worry about.

Her mother's memories.

Her father's strange protectiveness.

And the feeling that something about her past was missing.

That evening, Aurelia stood by her bedroom window, watching the last light fade from the sky.

Her fingers brushed the silver pendant once more.

For the first time, she wondered whether her mother had given it to her for a reason she had never understood.

She wanted answers.

But she was beginning to suspect that finding them would be much more difficult than she had imagined.

And somewhere within the palace, a young man with storm-grey eyes was keeping his own secrets.

Neither of them knew how closely their lives were already beginning to intertwine.