CHAPTER 5 — The First Shift ⭐
1572 Words
Roselith Kingdom
******************************************************************************************
The Next Morning
King Adrian sat upon his throne, his expression furious and troubled.
His daughter was in Valthera.
A prisoner.
He didn't even want to imagine it.
Just thinking about it made him worried.
What if she is scared there?
What if someone hurts her?
What if something happens to her?
“What are you thinking?”
The voice made King Adrian look up.
It was Queen Elizabeth.
He didn't answer.
She walked toward him and looked at him calmly.
“Don't overthink about Elara. I know our daughter is alright.”
Adrian finally looked at her.
“How can you look so calm?” he asked, his voice filled with worry. “Our daughter is in Valthera... in Valthera, Elizabeth. You know what that means. How can I not think about her? What if they hurt her? What if she's scared?”
“Stop thinking about all those things,” Elizabeth said calmly. “She is the Princess of Roselith. She is our daughter. She is strong and brave. And it's not as if she is going to stay there forever. We already sent an envoy yesterday regarding her release. And if that doesn't work, it doesn't mean we will simply sit here and do nothing.”
“Don't say that,” Adrian replied firmly. “If they reject my message, I will go there myself and bring my daughter back.”
Elizabeth gave him a small, understanding look.
“I know you will. After all, she is your daughter.”
Before Adrian could reply—
Knock. Knock.
His expression immediately hardened.
“Enter.”
The door opened, and a man stepped inside.
It was the same royal envoy who had travelled to Valthera the previous day.
He bowed respectfully.
“Your Majesty.”
“Speak,” Adrian ordered.
The envoy straightened.
“King Alaric has rejected the official message regarding Princess Elara. He said that Valthera cannot simply overlook the situation.”
Adrian's face tightened.
Elizabeth's expression became slightly worried.
“What did the King of Valthera say regarding her?” she asked.
The envoy continued.
“King Alaric said that the princess and her personal guards will remain in Valthera until he is satisfied that they pose no threat to the kingdom.”
Adrian's expression turned even colder.
“How dare he say that?” His voice echoed through the throne room. “They cannot simply keep my daughter there!”
“Calm down,” Elizabeth said gently. “There may be another way. We will bring them back ourselves if necessary.”
“You can go now,” Elizabeth told the envoy.
The man bowed to both of them before quietly leaving the throne room.
As soon as the doors closed, Adrian spoke again.
“How can I calm down when my daughter is there? I don't even know what state she is in. She must be missing us.”
“Then we will find another way,” Elizabeth said calmly. “They cannot keep her there forever. She is a princess, and they know very well what could happen if they continue holding the princess of another kingdom.”
Adrian clenched his fists.
“No. There is no other way.”
He stood from his throne.
“I am going there myself.”
Elizabeth didn't say anything.
She understood him.
After all, she was worried about their daughter too.
*********************************************
Valthera Kingdom
******************************************************************************************
Around Noon
Elara sat beside the window, staring outside.
She was irritated.
Impatient.
And, more than anything, bored.
She had been confined to the same room for two days, and she was beginning to feel like the walls were closing in around her.
Finally, she stood up.
She walked toward the door and opened it.
The two guards stationed outside immediately straightened and stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
Of course.
She was still a prisoner.
Elara looked at them irritably.
“Don't worry. I'm not running away.”
One of the guards shook his head.
“Still, we cannot let you leave the room. Those are our orders. Please, Princess, go back inside.”
Elara crossed her arms.
“I'm bored of staying in this room for two days. I just want some fresh air.”
“I'm sorry, Princess, but we can't—”
“Move.”
A calm voice came from behind them.
The guards immediately stopped.
They turned around.
Caspian.
Both guards quickly bowed.
“Your Majesty.”
Caspian didn't even look at them.
His eyes were fixed on Elara.
“You want some fresh air?” he asked.
Elara didn't answer.
She simply stared at him.
“Come.”
His voice was calm.
She tilted her head slightly, looking surprised.
“Come?”
“Yes.”
Elara narrowed her eyes.
“And where exactly are you taking me?”
“To the gardens.”
She looked at him suspiciously.
“Why?”
Caspian raised an eyebrow.
“You said you wanted fresh air.”
“I did.”
“And the gardens have plenty of it.”
Elara stared at him for another moment.
She wasn't sure whether she should trust him.
Caspian noticed her hesitation.
“What?” he asked. “Don't you want to come anymore?”
Elara sighed.
“I don't trust you.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“I wasn't expecting you to.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Fine.”
She stepped out of the room.
The guards immediately moved to follow them.
Caspian glanced at them.
“They can stay here.”
The guards exchanged a confused look.
“But, Your Majesty—”
“I said they can stay.”
The guards bowed.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Elara looked at Caspian.
“You're letting me walk around without guards?”
“I'll be with you.”
“That doesn't make me feel safer.”
Caspian gave her a brief look.
“I wasn't trying to.”
Elara sighed.
“Of course.”
They began walking down the long corridor.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The silence between them wasn't exactly comfortable.
Elara finally broke it.
“So, what happened yesterday?”
Caspian looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“My father.”
His expression changed slightly.
“You know he sent an envoy.”
“I know.”
“And?”
“And he asked for your release.”
Elara stopped walking.
“He did?”
Caspian stopped as well.
“Yes.”
A small sense of relief appeared in her eyes.
“And what did your father say?”
Caspian looked at her for a moment.
“He hasn't agreed to release you yet.”
Her relief disappeared.
“So I'm still a prisoner.”
“For now.”
Elara looked away, clearly frustrated.
“I knew it.”
Caspian watched her.
“You shouldn't worry.”
She turned toward him.
“You're telling me not to worry while I'm being held inside the enemy kingdom?”
“I said you shouldn't worry. I didn't say you had no reason to.”
Elara stared at him.
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
She almost smiled.
Almost.
But then she remembered her guards.
“And my guards?”
“They're safe.”
She looked at him immediately.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
“Nothing happened to them?”
“No.”
Elara finally relaxed a little.
“Good.”
Caspian noticed the change in her expression.
For the first time that day, she looked less angry.
They continued walking.
Soon, the doors leading to the royal gardens came into view.
Caspian opened them.
Sunlight spilled across the stone pathway.
Elara stepped outside.
She stopped.
The gardens were enormous.
Tall trees surrounded the pathways, flowers bloomed along the edges, and a large fountain stood at the center.
For the first time since arriving in Valthera, Elara felt like she could breathe.
She slowly walked forward.
Caspian remained a few steps behind her.
“You like it?” he asked.
Elara looked around.
“It's beautiful.”
Then she glanced back at him.
“Don't think this changes anything.”
Caspian smiled slightly.
“I didn't.”
Elara rolled her eyes.
“Good.”
She continued walking through the garden.
Caspian followed quietly.
“You know, you shouldn't let your prisoner walk around freely like this,” she said without looking at him.
“Hmm. I know that all too well,” he replied calmly.
“Then why did you bring me here?” she asked.
“Because it's you.”
The words slipped from his mouth before he could stop them.
She looked at him, surprised.
He said nothing.
“What does that mean?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he replied calmly.
There was a long pause between them.
Then she said, “You should be careful. I might be a threat to you.”
She said it with a small smile.
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“Why are you laughing? Don't you think I might actually be a threat to you?” she asked.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Should I?”
She didn't say anything.
“You are impossible,” she said.
He let out a quiet laugh at her words. She didn't ask anything further.
The two of them continued walking through the garden.
To be continued...🖤
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD