Chapter 3 – Political Pressure
I stood before the Midnight Court. Its high arch is illuminated by the flames of torches attached to the wall. My chest tightened. At the end, Prince Darius waited, a motionless figure in the pale light. The curve of his smile was perfect, as if practiced. His bearing was regal yet comfortable, as if accustomed to seduction.
Even across the hall, I could feel Kael's presence beside me. I didn't have to look at him to know.
"You seem… restless," Kael whispered, close enough that the words touched my ear.
I let my head tilt slightly. "Restless? Maybe. Or maybe I'm just enjoying the view."
His eyes narrowed, following my gaze, Prince Darius. I felt the quiet warmth of his awareness flow across my skin.
"You are a woman," he said softly, "attracted by a pretentious smile and a beautiful face."
"Prince Darius' smile is indeed attractive," I replied lightly, though the truth was that I was more amused than attracted. I turned to him. One eyebrow rose. "And what do you mean by 'I am a woman'? Do I look like a man to you?"
"No," he said, his voice lower. "You look like a woman who knows exactly how men look at her—and even seems to enjoy it."
I blinked, and I was slightly silent. I didn't immediately catch what he said. 'What does he mean? Could it be that he's… jealous?'
It was as if he read my thoughts. His jaw tightened, then he moved away slightly, just enough to break the heat between us.
"Don't think about anything," he said coldly. "I'm not jealous."
He paused for a moment, then added, his voice lower.
"It's my job to watch over you. Nothing else."
But he didn't look at me as he said it. And that was precisely why I didn't fully believe him. 'Liar!'
The faint sound of my heels on the hall floor could be heard. I walked boldly, letting my gaze shift from one noble to the next.
Kael stayed a step behind, silent. My pulse quickened at the gentle heat of his attention.
The nobles' voices were scrutinized. Every syllable carried weight.
My fingers itched at my side, an uneasy, dangerous energy that Kael felt too—though he masked it perfectly, he became more alert, his eyes tracking every movement in the room.
Prince Darius's every step in the court was slow and careful, his presence circling me with a seductive warmth. His gaze on me was slow and precise. I smiled just enough. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kael's jaw tense next to me. I felt his hand touch the hilt of his sword.
'Why does she seem to get hotter when another man comes near?' I thought
"Your Majesty," Darius whispered faintly, "you have made us proud with your presence tonight."
I tilted my chin, letting a smile curl my lips. "I won't let this pass," I said softly, letting my tone carry a playful note, the slightest hint of seduction. "And I'll admit, I want to see how much fun I have being entertained by the court."
I deliberately shifted my gaze to Kael. Kael glanced at me. "Be careful," he whispered. Lips barely moving. "This is not a game."
I grinned in response. I let the teasing linger. I was pleased to see the tension playing out in his expression.
Darius approached, his smile still intact but his eyes cold as he spoke softly, "It seems that there is something else that pleases you more than my presence, Your Majesty."
"Your presence is pleasant," I replied softly. "But tonight, it seems that more people want my attention."
I let my fingers brush the back of my hand against his arm, just enough to make the touch brief but deliberate, letting Kael witness every small, heavy movement. I pulled back slightly. Letting the slightest disobedience prevail. I was testing Kael. My lips curved, and I gave a teasing smile. I could see that he was affected by what I had done.
The candlelight illuminated the golden walls, meeting the sparkle of magic floating in the air, serving as decoration in the room. The smell of incense swirls, enveloping my senses and becoming the room's fragrance.
"Don't play with fire, Aurelia."
He hardly speaks for others, but I can feel the weight of each word in the air.
"Why not?" I reply childishly, with a smile. "Sometimes it's nice to test how close the danger is before it burns."
"You don't know how close you are to the fire," he says softly, every syllable carrying a heavy weight.
"It's nice sometimes, to test the limits," I whisper. My gaze almost touches his.
I can feel Kael's silent restraint, a rope tied too tightly, and I want to pull, even just a little, to see how far I can stretch it before he snaps.
Every step Darius takes sends a shiver down my spine. Every half-smile, every tilt of the head, every silent movement signals something dangerous. Kael's eyes never leave his.
A servant approached and served me a glass of wine. I immediately accepted it and glanced at Kael. I noticed Kael's glance at me. I smiled and slightly raised the goblet to show him.
The room did not fall silent; the nobles themselves had their own opinions.
"She looks tonight… more like a princess," one whispered, barely audible.
"Her eyes are so beautiful… and every movement seems controlled. Elegant and dignified, befitting the next Queen," another replied, watching my every move.
"But… it seems like a man is watching her," one added, looking at Kael. "Her silence… is strange. It seems like she is not happy with what she sees."
I secretly laughed. I wanted to interrupt their whispers and say that it was normal for Kael to be happy. I had not seen him smile since then, which is why I would do anything to see that important thing.
"Kael Draven… what is his role? He is only a Royal Protector. He has no royal blood running through him," one asked.
"Your Majesty's every move was filled with tension. And every glance he took at Kael—their connection was so clear," the elder said, with a slight smile, speaking to himself.
"If he kisses danger, who will stop him?" one whispered, a mixture of worry and admiration.
I slowly raised my glass; I deliberately caught their attention. They didn't need to talk about Kael like that. Even though he wasn't of royal blood, my father was proud of him above all, a rare perfection in the palace.
Kael was beside me, and the warmth of his protection was riveting. The coolness of the glass touched my skin, and in an instant, I felt the world spin. I was surprised when I noticed his hand and grabbed the glass before I could take a sip. I felt an electric shock in my palm as I felt his caress, straight to my chest.
I was stunned. His eyes were dark and unreadable. "Don't show them all your moves," he whispered, low enough for only me to hear, sending a shiver down my spine.
I smiled slightly, teasingly, his concern making me more excited than I should have been.
"They don't need to see everything," I said calmly, preventing any overreaction.
"No—" he tried again, too late.
As that was happening, Darius stood in a corner, his smile intact, but I could feel the tension around him. Before he could intervene, he bowed—slightly, formally. Not just to me, a reminder to himself and everyone that he understood the limits of the space between Kael and me. He didn't approach the mirror or my movements—instead, he crouched down to maintain distance, watching our every move.
I sensed a subtle fault in the wine. Kael remained firmly by my side, silently watching, and with my every move, Darius frowned briefly at his perfect mask.
Kael whispered again, low and rough, almost in my ear, "Your partner seems to be getting jealous, your majesty." His voice was barely audible.
"You haven't?" a faint but teasing smile, as if inviting him to join in the game.
"Have you had much to drink, your majesty?" Kael asked me, clearly changing the subject.
I tilted my head, meeting his gaze, letting a hint of daring slip from my grin. "Are you kidding? I haven't had anything to drink," I whispered back, just loud enough for him to hear.
His eyes darkened, unreadable, and I felt his restraint tighten. I kept my expression calm, teasing.
The court around us was noisy, but I could see no one but Kael. My lips curved into a defiant little smile, teasing him back, testing the fragile balance of desire and danger.
I picked up the goblet again and was about to drink it, but Kael took it and quickly pushed it away from me. I looked at him in shock, and I stood up from my seat. I stared at Kael.
"Is there a problem, your majesty?" Darius asked who was looking at me.
I turned around, and everyone was looking at us. I slowly sat down again after giving Kael an annoyed glance.
"Sorry about what happened," I apologized to everyone.
Darius noticed that my goblet was missing, so he asked for a servant for me again, but Kael stopped him.
"Excuse me, Prince Darius, but the princess is not used to alcohol," Kael said, which I didn't expect.
"She won't get drunk in just one drink, will she?" Darius said.
"Not drunk, possible, but she will die, yes," Kael said seriously.
Everyone in the room fell silent. Everyone's eyes were focused on Kael, and even I was looking at him in surprise.
"What are you saying?" Darius asked with annoyance and surprise.
Instead of answering Darius, Kael raised his hand, "Block the door to the Midnight Courtroom; no one will leave this room."
The nobles' eyes looked at each other, unable to understand Kael's sudden change in tone.