Aurelia stood by the window, gazing out at the grounds where the first traces of dawn painted the sky with pale gold. The wind was soft against her skin, carrying the scent of roses and the faint, haunting promise of an impending storm. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady the turmoil inside her. Her chest felt tight, a thousand conflicting thoughts flooding her mind, each one sharp and heavy.
She hadn't slept. She couldn't. The truth Lucien had shared with her weighed too heavily on her heart, dragging her in every direction. Her mother's necklace—an heirloom that now seemed to hold more than just sentimental value. The key to a kingdom, to a people she didn't know existed. To a man she didn't want to trust but found herself needing in a way she couldn't explain.
What was she supposed to do now?
The wedding was still days away. The thought of walking down that aisle felt like a betrayal to herself, to her very being. But what other choice did she have? Could she really run away, leave everything behind to follow Lucien—someone who had been sent to deceive her? The same man who had just revealed he was not just her protector, but someone with a hidden agenda, a mission to steal away the very thing that had been passed down through generations in her family?
Her fingers brushed lightly against her mother's journal, lying forgotten on her desk. A part of her wanted to push it away, to pretend it didn't exist, but that part of her was growing smaller with each passing hour.
A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts.
"Aurelia?" It was her brother, Terrence, his voice soft and tentative. "Are you awake?"
She turned sharply, forcing a smile as she walked to the door. "Yes, come in."
Terrence entered, his brow furrowed in concern. His eyes, always so observant, immediately went to the desk where her mother's journal lay. He didn't comment on it but stepped closer to her.
"You've been distant, Aurelia," he said gently. "Is everything alright?"
She stared at him, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine," he insisted. "You've been like this for days. Ever since the engagement was announced…"
"I'm just… adjusting," she replied, trying to keep the tremor in her voice at bay. Her brother was always perceptive, and she hated how easily he could read her.
He raised an eyebrow. "Adjusting? Is that what you call it?"
Aurelia glanced away, unwilling to meet his gaze. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest, each beat echoing the doubts swirling in her mind. She wasn't sure if she could lie to him. But for now, she had to.
"I'm just overwhelmed, Terrence. That's all."
Her brother studied her for a long moment before his face softened. "If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. You know that, right?"
She nodded, grateful for his concern, but she couldn't help the feeling of isolation creeping in. Even in a room full of people, even with those who loved her, she was more alone now than she had ever been. There was no one who truly understood what she was going through, no one who could help her make sense of everything.
"I know," she whispered, her eyes downcast. "Thank you, Terrence."
He gave her one last worried look before leaving her room, the door clicking softly behind him.
Aurelia exhaled sharply, the weight of the silence filling the room like a suffocating fog. She walked back to the window, her gaze drifting to the distant horizon, where dark clouds were beginning to gather, threatening to obscure the fragile peace of the morning. The storm was coming—and with it, the storm of her life.
Lucien sat alone in his small quarters, the quiet of the night stretching endlessly around him. The shadows felt oppressive tonight. His mind was a whirlwind of fragmented thoughts—thoughts of Aurelia, of his mission, of the growing fear that the plan they had set into motion was already too dangerous to complete.
He had to act soon. The wedding was drawing nearer, and with it, the threat of Aurelia's marriage to another. A marriage that would not only bind her to someone else, but would also put the kingdom in peril. Without the necklace, everything Lucien had fought for, everything his mother had sacrificed for, would crumble.
He had to keep his distance. He had to remain cold, calculating. But each time he saw her, each time their eyes met, it became harder to ignore the emotions that stirred within him. How could he be so foolish? He had promised himself he wouldn't get attached. He had promised himself that his duty came first.
And yet, every time he thought of her, he felt his resolve slipping.
There was a knock at the door, and Lucien stiffened. His hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword, but he knew it wouldn't be necessary. It was her.
He opened the door to find Aurelia standing there, her eyes troubled and her posture tense. She had come again.
"I need to talk," she said softly, stepping into the room without waiting for him to speak.
Lucien's chest tightened, but he held his ground. "About what?"
Her eyes flickered, but she didn't immediately answer. Instead, she walked across the room and stood by the window, looking out into the night. The moonlight cast a soft glow over her features, making her seem even more ethereal.
"About everything," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucien's heart skipped a beat. There was no turning back now. He moved to stand beside her, his gaze never leaving her. "What do you want to know?"
She didn't answer immediately, but the silence between them was heavy, filled with the unspoken truth that had been lingering between them since the day they met. Aurelia turned to face him, her eyes searching his with a mix of fear, sadness, and something he couldn't quite place.
"I want to know if you ever meant anything you said," she asked, her voice shaking. "Or if it was all just part of your mission."
Lucien's throat tightened. He couldn't look away from her. "Aurelia…"
"I need to know," she insisted, stepping closer to him. "Because right now, I don't even know what's real anymore."
The question hung in the air like a blade, sharp and deadly. Lucien's mind raced as he fought to find the right words. But there was only one thing he could say, one thing that was true above all else.
"You're real, Aurelia. You always have been."