14 – The King’s Claim
806 Words
The palace was no longer calm.
News of the poisoning attempt spread through the halls like wildfire.
Servants whispered in corners.
Guards doubled their patrols.
And the royal court buzzed with tension.
Someone inside the palace had tried to kill the healer.
That meant one thing.
The enemy was closer than anyone had imagined.
⸻
Inside the royal council chamber, King Alaric stood at the head of the long stone table.
His advisors sat around him in uneasy silence.
Marcus placed the poisoned cup carefully on the table.
“The poison is rare,” he explained.
“Nightshade mixed with black root extract.”
One of the older advisors frowned.
“That combination isn’t common.”
Marcus nodded.
“Exactly.”
He looked around the room slowly.
“Which means whoever prepared it knew what they were doing.”
Another advisor spoke quietly.
“You think someone inside the palace helped the assassin?”
Marcus didn’t answer immediately.
But the silence itself was enough.
Alaric’s voice cut through the room like steel.
“Find them.”
Every person in the chamber straightened.
“I want every servant questioned,” the king continued coldly.
“Every guard examined.”
He leaned slightly forward.
“And every noble guest watched.”
No one dared argue.
Because everyone could see the fury in the king’s eyes.
This was no longer just palace politics.
This had become personal.
⸻
Meanwhile, Elara sat quietly in the palace garden again.
But this time, she wasn’t alone.
Two royal guards stood nearby.
After the poisoning attempt, Alaric had ordered protection around her at all times.
Which made the whispers even louder.
Elara could feel the stares whenever she walked through the halls.
Curiosity.
Suspicion.
Jealousy.
She sighed softly.
“I didn’t ask for any of this,” she murmured.
Just then, a group of noble ladies passed by the garden.
Their voices were soft—but not soft enough.
“That’s her.”
“The healer.”
“The one the king protects.”
Another woman scoffed quietly.
“A commoner capturing the king’s attention.”
“Disgraceful.”
Elara pretended not to hear them.
But the words still stung.
⸻
Later that evening, the palace held a formal gathering.
The nobles had been invited to calm the rumors spreading throughout the kingdom.
Music filled the great hall.
Servants carried trays of food and wine.
But beneath the elegant atmosphere…
Tension simmered.
Elara stood near one of the tall windows, feeling slightly out of place in the beautiful gown the palace staff had provided.
She wasn’t used to royal parties.
And she could feel the stares again.
Some curious.
Some hostile.
Marcus appeared beside her with a small smile.
“You look like someone who wishes she were anywhere else.”
Elara laughed softly.
“Is it that obvious?”
“A little.”
He glanced around the hall.
“You should get used to it.”
“To what?”
“Being the center of attention.”
Elara frowned.
“That’s the last thing I want.”
Marcus’s smile faded slightly.
“Unfortunately, it may not be your choice.”
Before she could ask what he meant—
The music suddenly stopped.
The entire hall fell silent.
Because the massive doors had opened.
And King Alaric had entered.
His presence immediately commanded the entire room.
Tall.
Powerful.
Dominant.
Every noble bowed respectfully as he walked into the hall.
But Alaric’s eyes were not on the nobles.
They were searching.
Scanning the room.
Until—
They found her.
Elara.
The bond between them surged instantly.
Stronger than ever.
Elara felt it like electricity in her chest.
Her breath caught.
Marcus quietly stepped away.
“Good luck,” he muttered.
Alaric began walking toward her.
Slowly.
Purposefully.
Every noble in the room noticed.
Whispers started immediately.
“Why is the king walking toward the healer?”
“What is he doing?”
Elara’s heart pounded.
When Alaric finally stopped in front of her, the entire hall was watching.
His golden eyes studied her carefully.
Then he did something no one expected.
He reached for her hand.
Gasps echoed across the room.
Because a king touching someone publicly like this meant something powerful.
Something serious.
Alaric’s voice carried clearly through the silent hall.
“No one in this palace will harm her.”
The words were calm.
But absolute.
Then he added the words that shocked everyone.
“She is under my protection.”
The entire court erupted into whispers.
Because everyone understood what this meant.
The king had just publicly chosen a side.
And from this moment forward…
Elara was no longer just a healer.
She had become someone far more dangerous.
Someone tied to the king himself.
Which meant the enemies watching from the shadows…
Would now see her as their greatest target.
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