The Princess Knight

Trapped

"Your Grace," I said with a small bow before turning back toward the courtyard.

"You must be very conflicted by the present situation," he said after a brief glance at my face.

"It would be strange if I weren't," I replied, my gaze fixed on the knights. "I just woke after two days of unconsciousness due to an attack, only to learn that my kingdom, and the other two as well, were under siege. I don't even know what to make of it all… especially when I can tell I'm not being told everything."

I turned to face him as I said the last words. For a moment, Bishop Caelum simply watched me, his expression unreadable, then a faint, knowing smile curved his lips.

"And what is it, that you believe you are not being told?"He asked softly

The question struck me silent. I looked away. Now that I thought about it… what was I accusing them of hiding? I had no proof, just a feeling. Fether Amos had never once hesitated to tell me anything, yet today… today, he had. The old man, blunt and fearless as ever, had avoided my eyes. And that alone was enough to make me worry, maybe that is where my doubt was coming from.

"Are you afraid they're sparing you from something painful," Bishop Caelum asked again, his tone gentle yet probing. "Or do you simply sense that darker news still lingers beyond what you've heard?"

Of course__Bishop Caelum. Always with his quiet riddles disguised as questions. The kind that left me fumbling for words. I turned to him at last, half frustrated, half thoughtful, uncertain whether to answer or to demand one from him instead, i exhaled deeply as a wave of exhaustion washed over me. I didn't want to be here anymore, i could feel my patience thinning. Every answer led to another question, every look from him felt like a test, At this point i just want to go home, I wanted the familiar silence of my chambers, the scent of lilac from the garden outside my window, a moment of peace where i can just pretend everything is absolutly fine

I hesitated for a moment, then drew a quiet breath.

"If it's all right, Your Grace," I began, gathering what remained of my composure, "I would like to return to the castle later in the day."

"I'm afraid that cannot happen just yet, Your Highness," he replied calmly. His tone was gentle but the type that allowed no argument. I arched a brow, waiting for an explanation. He turned slightly, placing a steady hand on my shoulder.

"I heard you faced a Nharoth that night," he said.

My gaze dropped instantly. I wasn't sure if I should confirm it. Everything still felt like a dream, a haunting blur of darkness and pain. And truthfully, I wasn't ready to admit what I'd seen. I had doubted such things my entire life. How could one encounter change that overnight?

Bishop Caelum seemed to sense my hesitation. He exhaled softly and nodded, as though understanding more than I said.

"You needn't worry about the attack anymore, Princess Elowen," he continued, his voice calm and reassuring. "It has ended. The kingdom and the king are safe. The castle is under restoration due to the damage sustained during the attack. For now, you must remain here, to rest, and to recover fully."

His eyes dropped to my wrist. The demon's poison had left a dark greenish mark where its hand had gripped me, They had rubbed it with all sorts of oils and blessed herbs, murmuring prayers over it until the pain dulled. Yet the mark remained ugly and defiant, a reminder that I wasn't entirely free of that night.

"I'm told you still have twenty-eight days before the poison leaves your body," he said quietly. I instinctively tried to hide the mark with my other hand, but my fingers were too small to cover it completely.

"Until then," he added, "you must stay within the cathedral. Not only to heal, but to be cleansed, to purge yourself of the evil's trace."

There we go again, the cleansing. I rolled my eyes inwardly. When would I ever be free from this? How could I tell them that I don't believe in all they have been teaching me? Even my own father__whom I'm closest to, doesn't know, because I've learned to play along too well.

Now I am trapped here for the next twenty-eight days, forced to do the one thing I disliked most. It wasn't that I hated the Church, nor was I an unbeliever. I loved the gospel, the hymns, the serenity of Mass, just like everyone else in the kingdom.

But I never believed in the exaggerated tales of my ancestors, or in these ceremonies they claim will cleanse me.

And yet, here I am, forced to take part in them once again.