Jasper left the palace before dawn. The last glance he gave her before stepping into the carriage still lingered in Tessa's heart. His eyes carried something unspoken—an apology, a promise, and that quiet weight he never let anyone else see. She stood at the window ledge of her room , hands clasped together, watching until the carriage wheels disappeared down the stone road.
" Stay safe Tessa. " She heard a voice inside of her mind.
" You too please. " She prayed again.
The world around her felt quieter without him. Even in a palace buzzing with life, it was strange how his absence carved a hollow inside her.
"Lady Tessa," Jasper's trusted knight bowed respectfully, his tone firm but not unfriendly. "His Highness has asked me to remain by your side until he returns. I am Alexander Syd , commander of the Blackthorn Guard. You may call me Alex." His armor gleamed faintly under the rising sun, and his voice carried the weight of years of loyalty. Tessa managed a small smile.
"Then I suppose you'll be stuck with me for a while, Alex."
A faint curve touched his lips. "It would be my honor."
The days stretched slowly in Jasper's absence.
In the mornings, she had breakfast with the empress while she talked about her days before becoming an empress. After that , Tessa threw herself into etiquette classes with Duchess hun, who insisted on correcting every detail—from how she held her fork to the angle of her curtsy. Tessa stumbled, sighed, and occasionally laughed at her own clumsiness. She had never imagined herself practicing royal courtesies, but she pushed through, thinking how Jasper might smirk or tease if he saw her struggling like this.
" Now I understand why ladies in fantasy or historical novels used to hate etiquette classes. " She thought and continued.
Afternoons drew her often to the training grounds. Rows of knights sparred beneath the sunlight, swords clashing in sharp harmony. Tessa sat on the stone steps, eyes bright with curiosity. Since childhood, the thought of wielding a sword had stirred her heart, though in her world, it had only been a distant dream.
" Wow 😮. How professional they are . " She wondered. One afternoon, she said to Alex, "They make it look so easy."
Alex crossed his arms, watching his men with the calm eye of a hawk. "It isn't. Every swing carries years of discipline. The knights usually had to do intense training during their academic years while learning different strocks and attacking patterns. But…" he glanced at her, "those who desire it can learn."
Her lips curved. "Do you think I could?"
His expression softened, just slightly. "You have the eyes of someone who would not give up easily, Lady Tessa. That is the first step."
" Then can I start learning? "
" I can't allow you without his highness 's order. "
" That's not fair . I'm a strong, independent and capable woman , you see. "
" Still you are under the care of my master. So I can't allow. "
" Fine . Once he returned I will talk with him myself about it . "
That day, for the first time, she felt like she wasn't just a guest in Jasper's world. She was becoming part of it.
Evenings found her in the palace garden. Lanterns swayed among flowering vines, and the air smelled faintly of lilacs. She would sit on a marble bench beside Alex, the silence between them comfortable. Over time, they spoke—not about duty, nor royalty, but about themselves.She told him about her life back home, her fractured family, the weight of expectations she had never wanted. He listened quietly, the shadows of his face softened by the glow of fireflies.
Then, one evening, he surprised her by speaking of his own past.
"My father was a businessman," Alex said, his voice low. "He prioritized everyone else except me and my mother . I always saw her suffering in silence due to his undignified behavior . Since childhood, I decided to become a knight who can protect his mother. When I joined the Guard, first time I saw the actual reality behind those shining Armor."
Tessa's chest tightened. She knew that pain too well.
" Then? "
" I was in berge of giving up when I met his highness. His determination, kindness , purity somehow inspired me to become a better person. I still remember the day when he appointed me as his personal knight and the commander of the Blackthorn guards. With his help I bought a different house and took my mother there. Now she is atleast in a peace ...."
"I think…" she whispered, "sometimes blood doesn't define family.. It's who stays beside you when you are about to collapse. "
" Lady Tessa , you? "
" I have the same father wound , Alex. I know the pain, suffering, suffocation, struggle you have felt or still feeling . You know people say the comrades of the same battle only understands each other the best."
They smiled . For a moment, their eyes met, and she knew—this bond wasn't romance, nor duty. It was something deeper. A fragile yet strong thread of friendship, born of understanding wounds they both carried. On the fourth night, their conversation was shattered by the sharp crack of a twig.
Tessa froze on the bench, half-turned toward Alex. His hand went instantly to the hilt of his sword. The garden was still, save for the rustle of leaves.Then a figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked and silent. But it wasn't the silence that chilled her blood. It was the glint of a blade—the same sickly black glow that had once pierced her flesh. She felt eerie as soon as she saw the man .
Her breath hitched, she felt confused but that became clear instantly.
"That knife… Alex, it's a hunter."
The intruder lunged, swift as a serpent, but Alex was faster. Steel met black flame with a harsh clash, sparks scattering into the dark. The duel was brutal yet brief; Alex's skill overwhelmed the intruder. With a final thrust, the knight's blade struck true. The hunter fell, cloak spreading like spilled ink over the grass. Black blood was dropping from Alex's sword. Tessa stared, her chest rising and falling. She had thought the palace untouchable, yet danger had crept even here.
Alex wiped his blade clean, eyes hard. "This was no coincidence. He was planted here again."
" Again? "
" Yes , before him 2 more was caught but they killed themselves before any interrogation could take place."
She clenched her fists, her mind reeling. "Then the hunters… they're moving faster than we thought."
" True "
She thought of Jasper. He was out there, walking straight into their shadows. She bit her lip, whispering, "I'll tell him. Once he returns, I'll tell him everything."
But Jasper did not return.One day became two. Then three. Four. Each sunrise weighed heavier than the last. She searched the hallways for his familiar silhouette, listened for his footsteps, but the silence stretched on. On the fifth day, she could no longer endure it.That night, under the glow of the waning cresent 🌘, Tessa packed a small satchel.
She looked at the moon which showed her a glimpse of Jasper. She remembered how beautifully he glows whenever moonlight fell on him . She also reminded Jasper's silent face while he looked at the moon each time.
Her hands trembled as she placed parchment and ink on the desk, leaving behind a letter for the Empress.
Your Majesty,
Forgive my boldness. I cannot sit idly while he faces danger. Please do not tell Jasper of this until he returns safely. I'll go and check his well beings from distance and come back.This is my choice alone. I beg your understanding.
She sealed it with trembling fingers.
When Alex saw her by the gates, cloak drawn tight around her shoulders, his jaw tightened.
"You cannot be serious....I can't let you do this at all. You have to pass my dead body before you leave this palace. ," he said flatly.
"I am. Moreover..... Jasper needs more protection than me right now , don't you think? You are his personal knight before I came. " She met his eyes, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "Five days, Alex. Not a word from him. What if something has happened? I know Seron is his brother's kingdom but hunters can't be trusted."
"His Highness ordered me to protect you. Not escort you into danger."
"And what kind of protection is it," she whispered, "if I sit safe while he…" Her voice broke. "While he may be bleeding out there?Alex.... We both care for the same person . He saved your live and also mine. He is the only person I trusted on that deeply before coming here... I guess we both can't afford to lose him."
Silence stretched. His denial was strong but then he looked at the moon like Jasper. He thought something for a moment and looked at Tessa . Alex's eyes softened, the battle between duty and loyalty flickering in their depths. At last, he sighed heavily.
"You are stubborn, lady Tessa.. His highness told me you are different.. but .. anyways I'm agreeing with you for some different reason ."
A small smile curved her lips. "thanks Alex. Whatever the reason is I'm glad you agreed. "
He sheathed his sword. "Then I will come with you. But remember this, Lady Tessa… once we step beyond these walls, you are no longer just a guest. You are a target."
"I know," she whispered. "But I'd rather face the danger than sitting like a petite victim in the silence."
" I can't teleport us ... I don't have that ability so we'll be traveling through horse. It will take 3 days before we reach Seron. But don't worry until I'm dead I will protect you , just like his highness ordered me. "
" I'm ready."
At midnight, beneath the dim glow of moon , they slipped through the palace gates. The world outside was darker, the roads stretching endlessly ahead. The garden's safety was left behind; ahead lay only uncertainty.
And yet, as the chill night air brushed her skin, Tessa felt a spark of resolve. For the first time, she wasn't just following Jasper's shadow. She was walking her own path—straight into the heart of the unknown.