CHAPTER 43: THE QUEEN'S SECRET.
1253 Words
The servant disappeared into the darkness before anyone noticed.
By morning, the palace was peaceful again.
Almost suspiciously peaceful.
Caelan woke early and went straight to the nursery.
His son was sleeping soundly.
Elara stood beside the window, watching the sunrise.
She didn't turn when Caelan entered.
But she didn't leave either.
That alone was enough to make him smile.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
It was the first time she had greeted him without hesitation in weeks.
Caelan approached the cradle.
“Our little troublemaker is sleeping.”
Elara smiled faintly.
“He looks innocent when he's asleep.”
“He gets that from you.”
She turned toward him.
“Are you calling me troublesome?”
“I wouldn't dare.”
For a moment, they laughed.
It felt almost like before.
Almost.
Then a knock came.
“Your Majesty.”
Caelan turned.
A guard stood outside.
“The council requests your presence immediately.”
Caelan's expression changed.
“What happened?”
“We don't know, Your Majesty. They said it concerns the succession.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Tell them I'll come.”
The guard bowed and left.
Elara looked at him.
“The succession?”
Caelan nodded.
“I'll return soon.”
She hesitated.
“Caelan.”
He looked back.
“Be careful.”
His expression softened.
“I will.”
---
The council chamber was already full when Caelan arrived.
Seraphine was there.
Several nobles stood around the table.
“What is this about?”
Lord Harren stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, we received information concerning the prince.”
Caelan's expression hardened.
“What information?”
“The kingdom needs to know who will inherit the throne.”
Caelan stared at him.
“My son is the firstborn.”
“Yes.”
“Then why are we discussing this?”
The noble exchanged a glance with another.
“Because the queen has also given you a child.”
Caelan's jaw tightened.
“My daughter is not a threat to my son.”
“No one said she was.”
“You're implying it.”
Silence.
Seraphine finally spoke.
“My daughter will not be used to create division.”
Caelan looked at her.
She continued.
“The prince is the firstborn. His position is clear.”
One of the nobles frowned.
“Your Majesty, the laws of succession—”
“I know the laws.”
Seraphine's voice was firm.
“And I also know that a kingdom divided over two children will eventually destroy both.”
Caelan looked at her with quiet gratitude.
“Enough,” he said.
“The succession will not be discussed again.”
The council bowed reluctantly.
But as Caelan left, he knew the matter wasn't finished.
Someone was deliberately trying to create a rivalry between his children.
And he intended to find out who.
---
Meanwhile, Elara sat in the nursery.
Her son was awake now.
She smiled as he reached for her.
“Good morning, little prince.”
She lifted him.
Then she noticed something.
A small mark on his wrist.
Elara frowned.
She examined it carefully.
It looked like a tiny black serpent.
Her blood ran cold.
She immediately called the nanny.
“Where did this come from?”
The woman looked terrified.
“I don't know, Your Majesty.”
“You were with him all morning.”
“Yes.”
“Did anyone else touch him?”
The nanny hesitated.
“No.”
Elara's eyes narrowed.
“Think carefully.”
The woman swallowed.
“There was one person.”
“Who?”
“The new nurse.”
Elara froze.
“What new nurse?”
“She was assigned three days ago.”
Elara stared at her.
“I never approved a new nurse.”
The nanny's face went pale.
Neither woman spoke.
Then suddenly—
The nursery doors slammed shut.
---
Caelan was halfway back to the eastern wing when he heard shouting.
He turned.
A guard came running.
“Your Majesty!”
“What?”
“It's the nursery!”
Caelan's blood ran cold.
He ran.
When he reached the corridor, several guards were already surrounding the door.
“Elara!”
No answer.
He grabbed the handle.
Locked.
“Break it!”
The soldiers struck the door.
Once.
Twice.
On the third blow, it opened.
Caelan rushed inside.
Elara stood near the cradle, holding their son.
A strange woman stood opposite her.
Caelan drew his sword.
“Put the child down.”
The woman smiled.
“You came quickly.”
“Who are you?”
She laughed.
“You've forgotten me.”
Caelan's eyes narrowed.
“I don't forget faces.”
“You should.”
The woman pulled a small blade from beneath her clothing.
Elara tightened her hold on the baby.
Caelan stepped between them.
“Touch them and you die.”
The woman smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“What?”
She looked at Elara.
Then at the child.
“The prince was never the real target.”
Caelan's blood ran cold.
“Then who?”
Her smile widened.
“The queen.”
Everyone froze.
Elara's eyes widened.
“Me?”
The woman nodded.
“You.”
Caelan immediately moved closer to Elara.
“Why?”
The woman's expression became sinister.
“Because your enemies have finally discovered what you refuse to admit.”
“What?”
“That Elara is more important to you than the crown.”
Before Caelan could react, the woman threw a small object onto the floor.
Smoke filled the room.
“Get down!”
Caelan grabbed Elara and shielded her.
The guards rushed forward.
When the smoke cleared...
The woman was gone.
Only a black serpent emblem remained on the floor.
---
Later that evening, Caelan sat in his study with Elara.
Their son slept nearby.
“You're certain you didn't recognize her?”
“No.”
Caelan frowned.
“She knew you.”
Elara nodded.
“I don't understand.”
“Neither do I.”
He took her hand.
“But I'm going to find out.”
Elara looked at him.
“Caelan…”
“Yes?”
“She said I'm more important to you than the crown.”
He was silent.
“Is that true?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“Yes.”
Elara's breath caught.
“I thought the crown was everything.”
“It was.”
“And now?”
Caelan squeezed her hand.
“Now I know better.”
---
That night, Seraphine stood alone in her chambers.
She held a letter.
Her hands trembled.
She had received it hours earlier.
There were only three words written inside.
They know everything.
She read them again.
Then again.
Her face drained of color.
Because she knew exactly what they meant.
There was a secret she had kept from Caelan.
A secret from before their marriage.
A secret involving the Serpent.
And if Caelan discovered the truth...
He might never forgive her.
Seraphine slowly folded the letter.
Then whispered,
“Please…”
She looked toward the door.
“Don't make me tell him.”
Outside her chambers, footsteps stopped.
Seraphine looked up.
Someone was standing on the other side.
A voice whispered through the door.
“Your Majesty.”
She froze.
“We need to talk.”
Seraphine's heart stopped.
Because she recognized that voice.
Lord Adrian Vale.
The man Caelan believed they had captured.
The man who had supposedly been locked away.
But somehow...
He was standing outside her door.
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