A Legacy of Shadows

Elara's Plight

Elara’s POV

Who was that? I saw someone in the dark watching the king and me. I quickened my pace, scanning corners to see if they were hiding somewhere. “Do you feel better now?” A calm voice asked, behind me. I turned, and it was the serving girl who was with me at the event. “Yes,” I responded, still nervous and worried. “I came looking for you, I was worried you missed your way.” “ No I didn’t.” I said quickly while we walked back to the event.

I was uneasy, so I asked. “Did you see anyone else on your way?” “No, why?” She responded. “Oh I… I thought I saw someone.” I replied stuttering. “Is the king and queen still seated?” I asked again this time giving reasons why I was asking. “Em… I didn't really get the chance to see them, I will really love to see them again." “That’s unfortunate because they have already left the event. The king left earlier, perhaps to attend to state matters. She responded.

We got into the hall and it was almost empty. All the guests had gone except the musicians and the king’s court men still enjoying themselves. I had no idea how much time had passed since I left the hall. The serving girl's words about the king and queen's departure lingered in my mind. I glanced around the nearly empty hall, feeling a mix of relief and unease. The musicians continued to play softly, their music a gentle hum in the background. The king's court men laughed and chatted, oblivious to the strange encounter I'd just had.

I turned to the serving girl, my voice barely above a whisper. "What time is it?" I asked, realizing I had lost track of time. She glanced at a nearby clock, her eyes squinting slightly. "It's almost midnight," she replied. Midnight? I'd been gone for hours. The hall was quieting down, and I knew it was time for me to retire. But my mind was still racing with questions. Who was watching us? And why? As I pondered these questions, the serving girl touched my arm, her grip gentle. "Elara, I think it's time for us to leave." "The night is getting late." "The cleaners will take care of the rest." I nodded, still lost in thought.

As I lay in bed, my mind replayed all the events that took place earlier. I replayed every single touch and each scene came with new strings of butterflies in my belly.

His smile, his young and chiseled face and when he touched my jaw. I smiled in bed, tossing from side to side, giggling at the memory of the king's touch.

The butterflies in my belly fluttered wildly, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't shake off the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn't even imagine. The king's smile and touch lingered in my mind, leaving me with a sense of wonder and anticipation. But amidst the excitement, a nagging question still lingered. Will I see King Alexander again? Who was the watcher? How do I tell my mum that I used magic during the event?

“Wake up!” “Hey.” I opened my eyes to the words that sounded like a voice from my dream. “Morning," the serving girl said in a cracked voice. “Morning," I replied. “Lady Victoria has asked to see all the workers." "Get dressed, we need to assemble at the open field before her.”

I dragged myself out of bed and lazily went into the bathroom to have my bathe. The entrance door creaked open, and I heard “Elara!” “Mum!” I exclaimed. I rushed my bathing process and went out to give my mum a big hug. “Easy, don’t push me to the ground, “she said tiredly. “Hurry up!" "We need to join them on the field," she said, handing me a dress I had placed on the bed.

I quickly got dressed and followed my mom out the door. As we walked to the field, I noticed she looked even more tired than usual. "Mom, are you okay?" "You look really exhausted," I asked, concern etched on my face.

"I'm fine, dear. Just a bit worn out," she replied, her voice weak. I nodded, but I couldn't help but feel worried.

When we arrived on the field, I scanned the crowd and my eyes landed on Lady Victoria, who was about to give a speech. But what caught my attention was the queen standing not too far from Lady Victoria, her eyes fixed intently on me. I felt a shiver run down my spine as our gazes met. This look wasn’t because we were late to the field. This look was evil, and I immediately knew I was in a deep mess. Is she the watcher from last night? My conscience kept pricking me.

My mom seemed oblivious to the queen's stare and stood beside me, her eyes fixed on Lady Victoria.

Lady Victoria began her speech, thanking all the workers for their hard work and dedication. I tried to focus on her words, but my mind kept wandering back to the queen's piercing gaze. Her gaze was sucking the air out of my lungs, making my heart pound in my chest. What did she know? And what could be going through her mind?

As Lady Victoria's speech continued, I felt like I was standing on eggshells, unsure of what would happen next. The queen's stare seemed to be burning a hole in my skin, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

“Thank you once again and have a safe trip back to your various homes," Lady Victoria concluded. The queen stepped forward, her presence commanding attention. At this point, I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. With a voice that sent a jolt of electricity run through my body.

She spoke: “Elara, step forward.”

The field fell silent, and all eyes turned to me. My heart raced, I felt an increase in my temperature. What did the queen want from me?

I took a deep breath, my legs trembling beneath me and stepped forward…