CHAPTER 13
898 Words
The waters outside the palace gates had grown strangely cold.
The royal guards surrounding the entrance exchanged uneasy glances as the pale stranger remained standing motionless before them.
Everything about him felt wrong.
From his unnaturally white skin to the ancient dark markings curling across his neck and arms.
Even the ocean currents around him moved differently—
As though the sea itself recognized him.
One guard tightened his grip on his spear.
“You need to leave,” he ordered firmly.
The stranger did not move.
Another guard stepped forward.
“You are trespassing on royal grounds.”
Still—
No reaction.
The pale man simply kept his cold eyes fixed on the palace towering above them.
Then quietly, he spoke again.
“I came for the poisoned royal.”
The guards immediately stiffened.
“How do you know about the princess?” one demanded.
The stranger tilted his head slightly.
“That information does not concern you.”
The tension around the gates thickened instantly.
One of the guards raised his weapon fully now.
“You will leave immediately or be forced out.”
For the first time—
The stranger smiled faintly.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
But almost mockingly.
“You cannot force me anywhere.”
The confidence in his voice unsettled every guard present.
Before anyone could respond, louder voices began rising around the gates as more guards arrived after hearing the commotion.
“What’s happening here?”
“Who is this man?”
“Why is he here?”
The noise quickly spread through the nearby palace corridors.
And not far away—
Ella overheard everything.
Curiosity immediately pulled her toward the entrance halls.
She moved quietly through the palace shadows until she reached an area overlooking the gates from above.
The moment Ella saw the stranger—
She froze slightly.
There was something unsettling about him.
Something ancient.
Dangerous.
But before she could think further, voices behind her caused her to look away briefly.
Meanwhile, inside the royal chambers, King Thalor sat resting near the balcony while Queen Queen Seraphine carefully arranged healing herbs nearby.
Neither of them had properly rested since Pearl’s poisoning.
Then suddenly—
The distant noise from outside reached them.
King Thalor frowned immediately.
“What is happening out there?”
The sounds grew louder.
Guards shouting.
Weapons moving.
The king instantly stood up.
“I’ll check it myself.”
But Queen Seraphine quickly touched his arm gently.
“You need rest.”
King Thalor looked frustrated.
“And if there’s danger at the palace gates?”
“I’ll handle it,” the queen said softly.
The king hesitated.
But exhaustion was already heavy on him.
Finally, he nodded reluctantly.
“Take guards with you.”
Queen Seraphine gave a faint smile before leaving the chambers quietly.
As she moved through the palace corridors, the strange tension in the water became stronger.
By the time she reached the entrance halls, several guards had already surrounded the pale stranger completely.
“Leave now!” one guard shouted.
The stranger remained calm despite the weapons pointed toward him.
Then suddenly—
Queen Seraphine stepped forward.
“Enough.”
The guards immediately lowered their voices.
“Your Majesty,” they greeted quickly.
The queen lifted her gaze toward the stranger.
And the moment their eyes met—
Shock flashed across her face instantly.
The stranger looked equally stunned.
Silence spread heavily through the entrance hall.
The guards exchanged confused glances.
Because the way the queen stared at him—
It was not the look of someone seeing a stranger.
It was recognition.
Deep recognition.
The pale man slowly straightened.
And for the first time since arriving—
Real emotion crossed his face.
Queen Seraphine’s lips parted slightly.
“You…”
Her voice almost failed completely.
The stranger’s cold expression softened faintly.
“It’s been a long time, Seraphine.”
The guards froze instantly.
Ella’s eyes widened from where she secretly watched above.
The queen knew him.
Queen Seraphine quickly glanced toward the guards around them.
“Leave us.”
The guards hesitated.
“Your Majesty—”
“That was an order.”
Reluctantly, the guards obeyed and slowly backed away.
Soon only the queen and the stranger remained near the gates.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
The ocean currents moved strangely around them while tension filled the silence.
Finally, Queen Seraphine whispered shakily—
“What are you doing here?”
The pale man’s eyes darkened slightly.
“I heard royal blood was poisoned.”
The queen’s expression immediately tightened.
“That is none of your concern.”
“It becomes my concern when the sea begins whispering your family’s name again.”
A chill passed through the queen instantly.
From above, Ella listened carefully, confusion growing inside her.
Who was this man?
And why did the queen look afraid of him?
The stranger slowly stepped closer.
“You should have called for me sooner.”
Queen Seraphine shook her head immediately.
“No.”
Her voice came out sharper now.
“You shouldn’t even be here.”
But the pale man’s gaze remained fixed on her.
“You know why I came.”
The queen fell silent.
And suddenly—
Ella realized something terrifying.
Whatever connection existed between Queen Seraphine and the mysterious man…
It was a secret the queen had been hiding alone for many years.
- Writer
