CHAPTER ELEVEN - SECRETS BETWEEN THE SHELVES
916 Words
Becca stared at him in disbelief.
"So he gets to decide whether you're allowed to love someone?"
Omar laughed bitterly.
"When you're born to inherit a kingdom..."
"...your life stops belonging to you."
Silence settled between them.
"I didn't choose this life, Becca."
"But I can't disobey him."
"Not yet."
She looked down at the ground, blinking back tears.
"So what are we supposed to do?"
"Keep pretending?"
"Watch everyone think you're available while I stand there smiling?"
Omar stepped closer.
He gently lifted her chin until she met his eyes.
"I know it's unfair."
"I know it hurts."
"But I'm asking you to trust me."
His voice became firmer.
"One day, I'll wear the crown."
"And when that day comes..."
"...no one will tell me who I can love."
A tear escaped down Becca's cheek.
"You promise?"
Omar smiled—the rare, genuine smile only she ever saw.
"I promise."
She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his chest.
For a brief moment, the weight of kingdoms, expectations, and secrets disappeared.
Neither of them noticed the shadow standing behind a nearby hedge.
A figure watched silently before slipping back into the darkness.
The secret they had protected for so long...
...might not be a secret much longer.
The academy library was almost deserted.
Golden afternoon light streamed through the towering stained-glass windows, painting the polished floor in shades of blue and gold. The only sounds were the occasional turning of pages and the ticking of an ancient clock mounted high on the wall.
Olivia wandered between the endless shelves, running her fingers across faded book spines.
"History of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Elemental Combat."
"Ancient Bloodlines."
There were so many books that she almost forgot she had come to borrow one.
She reached for a thick leather-bound volume.
Another hand reached for it at the exact same time.
Their fingers brushed.
"Oh—"
Olivia looked up.
The quiet boy from class.
Owen.
He immediately pulled his hand back.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"No, it's okay."
Neither of them moved.
"You can take it," Olivia offered with an awkward smile.
Owen shook his head.
"You reached it first."
A small silence settled between them.
Finally Olivia laughed softly.
"Are you always this quiet?"
His eyes widened slightly.
"Mostly."
"That's... not a real answer."
"It is."
She smiled.
For some reason, talking to Owen felt easier than talking to anyone else.
He wasn't trying to impress her.
He wasn't judging her.
He simply... listened.
"So," Olivia asked, sliding the book from the shelf, "what do you usually read?"
"History."
She blinked.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"The academy's history."
"I didn't even know this school had history."
"It has more history than most kingdoms."
That caught her attention.
"What do you mean?"
Owen glanced around the library.
There was no one nearby.
He lowered his voice.
"Have you noticed something strange?"
"Like what?"
"Everyone acts as if Omar and Wyatt simply don't like each other."
Olivia nodded.
"Yeah..."
"That's only half the story."
She leaned against the bookshelf.
"So what's the other half?"
Owen hesitated.
"Their fathers were brothers."
Olivia frowned.
"Wait... they're cousins?"
"They grew up together."
"And now they hate each other?"
"They didn't always."
"What happened?"
Owen looked toward one of the stained-glass windows depicting two ancient warriors standing back-to-back.
"My grandfather used to say there was once only one royal family."
"The Valorian royal family."
"They ruled all seven kingdoms."
Olivia listened carefully.
"But power changes people."
"The family split."
"The throne was divided."
"One branch kept the crown."
"The other never accepted losing it."
"And Wyatt's family..."
"...believes the throne should have been theirs."
Olivia slowly connected the pieces.
"So this isn't just a school rivalry."
Owen shook his head.
"No."
"It's a political war that's lasted generations."
She swallowed.
"Then why are they both studying here?"
"Because Valoria Academy trains future leaders."
"Kings."
"Queens."
"Generals."
"The strongest graduates usually inherit power."
Olivia stared at him.
"So whoever becomes the academy's strongest student..."
"...could influence the future of every kingdom."
"Exactly."
A chill ran down her spine.
Suddenly Omar's confidence...
Wyatt's cold determination...
Their constant competition...
It all made sense.
"So everyone chooses a side?"
Owen looked down.
"Eventually."
"And you?"
He was silent.
After a long moment he answered quietly.
"I don't think either side is completely right."
Before Olivia could respond—
SLAM!
The library doors burst open.
Asher walked in, laughing with Liam, their voices echoing across the silent room.
Asher spotted Olivia.
"There you are!"
He smiled and walked toward her.
Owen quietly closed his book.
"I should go."
Without another word, he disappeared
- Writer
