The night air in Ebonhart was cold, colder than Elena had ever experienced. Lanterns flickered on tall iron posts, and guards stood like silent statues at every corner as their carriage rolled into the vast courtyard. She stepped out slowly, her eyes sweeping over the high stone towers and dark rooftops. This place felt nothing like the bright marble halls of Aurelia; here, shadows seemed to come alive.
Aiden stood close to Elena and turned to a young woman waiting on the steps. The girl bowed low, her curly brown hair neatly tied back into a bun. She appeared to be around Elena's age.
"This is Nyla," Aiden said to Elena, his tone calm and almost gentle. "She will serve you from now on."
Nyla lifted her head and smiled warmly. "Your Majesty, it is an honour to serve you."
Elena nodded shyly. Before she could respond, Aiden gestured to a tall man in dark armour standing just behind Nyla. He had a tiny scar across his brow that was almost invisible, but his eyes were calm and steady.
"This is Damien," Aiden said. "Your bodyguard."
Elena opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. Her heart raced at the way he had said it. She had already imagined that her stay here would not be the fairytale she had hoped for in her marriage, but she still flinched at his words. She wondered what kind of danger Aiden expected to find in his palace.
Aiden turned to her again, his ocean-blue eyes softer than she had ever seen. For some reason, she couldn't quite understand, he always appeared calm and spoke gently when he was with her. She had witnessed him addressing his guards multiple times before they arrived, and his expression was always stern, his aura oppressive.
"You've had a long journey, Princess. Rest tonight. I will see you in the morning."
For a moment, Elena stared at him, her expression filled with questions. So… they wouldn't share a chamber tonight? She had anticipated the worst, fearing he would claim her as soon as they arrived. But instead, he was letting her go? Was he simply being kind? Or, maybe...? No, that seemed impossible, right? She stood there, lost in thought, while a whirlwind of questions filled her mind.
Nyla stepped closer and gently nudged her, bringing her back to reality. "Come, Your Majesty. I'll show you to your room."
Elena followed her inside. The marble floors glowed under the torchlight as they walked past the hallway. Servants lowered their heads, whispering behind her. Her room was at the far end of the quiet corridor. It was a huge, warm space, so richly decorated that it almost made her dizzy.
Nyla curtsied and began unpacking Elena's luggage while she sat on the edge of the massive canopy bed. Damien, her new guard, stood outside her door. She wondered if he would ever get a chance to rest.
When Nyla finally left her alone, Elena sank back into the soft pillows, staring at the carved ceiling. She replayed Aiden's calm voice, his careful distance, the gentleness in his eyes. She wondered if this was the tyrant king everyone feared.
While lost in her thoughts, she suddenly recalled the piece of paper that the masked man had given her earlier. Since she was alone now, she decided to take it out and examine its contents. She had been curious about what was written on it and who it was from, but she didn't want anyone to discover it. That's why she had kept it hidden until she reached this place. She opened the letter with slightly trembling hands, and it was as she had feared. It was from Caspian.
"Elena,
If you're reading this, it means the attempt failed. I asked Prince Alexander to intercept your journey and bring you to safety. I thought it was the only way.
I will not stop. I'll find another way to get you out, no matter what it takes. Stay strong."
– Caspian
Her eyes welled up with tears as she read his words. She didn't know why, but her heart ached for him. She understood that he would try to save her, but she hadn't expected him to spring into action so quickly. She cried for a little while longer before drifting into a restless sleep.
Far across the palace, Aiden's study glowed with the soft crackle of the fire. He stood before it, his cloak draped casually over one broad shoulder and his arms folded. The flames illuminated his sharp features in flickers of gold and crimson. Lucan, Kael, Rowan, and Silas stood in front of him, bowing their heads in respect.
Rowan spoke first, his voice steady yet firm. "Your Majesty, our scouts have confirmed that the attackers were the Valencian army. Crown Prince Alexander led them himself."
"I'm not sure why they wanted to take Her Majesty. Perhaps they believed you would be forced to bend to their will if she were used against you," Kael added.
Aiden's expression darkened, and the blue of his eyes grew stormy and cold. "Bend? That was quite a foolish and reckless thought," he replied, half to himself, a wicked smirk crossing his face. "How did they know my plans? I haven't even announced my marriage yet, or my route."
Silas cleared his throat. "We have yet to find out. It must have been leaked from Aurelia, perhaps by someone close to her family."
Aiden clenched his jaw, feeling heat crawl under his skin. Did his in-laws not understand the consequences of acting recklessly?
"Find out," he ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty." The four men bowed deeply, then vanished into the shadows.
Aiden turned back to the fire. For a brief moment, the memory of Elena's wide, searching eyes softened the anger burning within him. He had initially brought her in for strategic reasons, but now that she was under his roof, he felt a fierce need to protect her with every ounce of power he possessed. No one dares touch what belongs to him.