The next morning, I woke to find Alaric wasn't beside me. I reached out instinctively, searching for the warmth of his body, but the space was empty. My chest tightened, a dull ache settling deep in my heart.
He wouldn't just leave us, would he? Arrie's voice trembled in my mind, sharp with worry. I sighed and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, feeling the cool floor beneath my feet. I realized I was still in a simple tank top and panties from the night before, the fabric soft against my skin.
I tied my hair up hastily, pulled on a pair of loose pants, and stepped out of the room.
The palace hallway was alive with activity—maids carrying trays of food, guards marching in formation, and servants bustling to and fro. My eyes immediately found the guard from yesterday. He was talking quietly with a fellow guard, but as soon as he noticed me, our gazes met.
He excused himself politely, leaving his companion, and walked toward me.
"Lady Aurelia, can I help you with something?" His voice was polite, respectful, and professional, carrying a weight of deference that made me feel slightly out of place.
I forced a small smile. "Yes, I would like to know where Alaric is."
He blinked at my calm tone, slightly surprised, then nodded. "I'll show you to his study. He is currently in a meeting, but I can guide you there."
I followed him down the hall, my gaze drinking in the palace around me. The walls were marble, white and polished, with fine cracks filled with gold that caught the sunlight streaming through the tall windows. The floors were smooth and cool under my feet, and tapestries hung from the walls depicting battles, ceremonies, and celebrations of the kingdom's long history. Everything about it was fascinating, awe-inspiring.
We passed a series of paintings, each more intricate than the last. One stopped me entirely. It was a portrait of a magnificent woman. Golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes were a piercing purple, almost otherworldly in their intensity. She looked regal, powerful, and kind all at once. I found myself frozen in admiration.
The guard's voice broke the silence. "That was our Queen. She died twenty years ago. She kept the prince safe. He was only five at the time… and her death was brutal."
I swallowed hard, compelled to ask, even as dread curled in my stomach. "What… what happened?"
He sighed deeply, the weight of the memory heavy in his voice. "Rogues attacked the palace. The King was away on business, and most of the guards, including myself, had been drugged. I snapped out of it when I heard her cries for help. But by the time I reached her… her head was gone, and the room… it was unrecognizable. The prince was curled against a pillar, knees pulled to his chest, crying, completely alone."
I felt the sting of tears in my eyes before I realized I was crying. My hand went to my mouth as I tasted the salt on my lips. I glanced at the guard, noticing the glint of moisture in his eyes, the faint trembling of his jaw as he continued.
"I took the prince and we fled," he said softly. "We stayed in hiding until the King returned. The entire kingdom mourned the loss of the Queen. She was the anchor for everyone, the light in all of our lives. Her funeral… we made sure it honored her properly, as she would have wanted. But the prince… he changed that day. Walls went up around his heart, and he didn't let anyone through… until he found you."
He turned to me, his expression earnest and gentle. "He started smiling again. He started living again. So, thank you, Lady Aurelia."
I blinked, startled, trying to steady my voice. "For what?"
"For not giving up on him. For being there when he needed you most. We all hope… that you'll continue to stay by his side."
My throat tightened. I nodded, brushing tears from my cheeks, swallowing the lump that formed. "Can you… take me to see him?"
He inclined his head and led me down a narrow corridor to Alaric's study. The door opened silently under his touch, and I stepped inside. The room was empty, just as the guard had said it would be. A large desk sat by the window, papers and ledgers stacked neatly, and sunlight spilled across the polished wood floor. A couch rested against the far wall, plush and inviting.
I sank onto it, the quiet hum of the palace around me comforting in its own way. The guard gave me a respectful nod. "I'll leave you here, Lady Aurelia. He has duties to attend to, and I will ensure you are undisturbed."
"Thank you," I murmured, watching him leave. The click of the door behind him echoed faintly, leaving me alone with the stillness—and the faint, lingering anticipation of Alaric's return.
I settled back into the couch, my fingers brushing against the soft fabric as I tried to calm the rapid beating of my heart. My mind drifted over the stories I had just heard—the Queen, the attack, the young prince hiding in terror—and I felt a deeper, almost protective warmth for Alaric. For the man he had become. For the bond we shared.
The sun rose higher outside the tall windows, spilling gold light across the room, and I closed my eyes for a moment, letting myself imagine him walking through the door at any second, and the world seemed a little quieter, a little safer, and entirely his.