CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

Calithar returned to his chambers that night with a heavy heart. He had wanted her so badly it nearly drove him mad when she pushed him away. Sitting on the window ledge, the moonlight spilled across his bare chest and abs beneath his loose robe as he gripped the edges of the frame until his knuckles whitened. A pained groan tore from his throat and he tipped his head back as if the weight of desire itself was crushing him. When his gaze finally lifted again, his eyes glowed pure white, haunted by the memory of the very first moment he had laid eyes on her. That same aching pull now burned fiercer than ever. She was here within his reach at last after years of being apart, he swore to himself that this time, he would never let her go.

The next morning, the throne room was heavy with tension that morning. Ministers and advisors stood in straight lines, facing each other as they presented a case to the king.

"The people are raging, your majesty. We have to do something about this." one of the ministers said with urgency in his voice.

"The blacksmiths have begun to gather in the empire, Your Majesty," one minister reported. "They claim the iron they’ve been given is of poor quality. Their work has suffered, and their clients are threatening to take their trade elsewhere. If this continues, they might protest openly."

Another minister quickly added, "If they do protest, the soldiers and hunters depending on their weapons will join them. It will grow, and soon we may have a full-scale revolt. We must act now, Your Majesty."

Calithar leaned his head against his hand with his elbow resting on the golden armrest of his throne. His eyes were sharp but visibly tired. For weeks, he had been handling the same issue. One of his closet aides had suggested that this was a move by enemy Kingdoms against them and that bothered him the more.

He stayed quiet for a while, listening to the arguments and pleas. The voices of the ministers continued giving advices in but Calithar kept his composure. After a long silence, he finally spoke. His voice was calm and steady, but it carried enough authority that sent the entire room quiet just by the sound of it.

" I have heard your suggestions and supplications. However, this isn’t a matter that can be solved with just words alone.

Send word to our private investigators to look into the borders we share with the neighboring kingdoms. Find out where the poor iron is being smuggled in from and it there are any loose ends. If this is sabotage, we will root it out."

The ministers nodded quickly before bowing. None dared to question his decision especially when he used his ’finality’ tone. Calithar gave one last glance at them before waving his hand, signaling that the meeting was over. As they filed out, he leaned back in his throne again. But deep inside, he was weary.

.........

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Elena had just woken up.

Her room was bathed in soft sunlight streaming through the cream-colored curtains. A group of palace maids entered quietly, carrying bowls of scented water and fresh clothes.

"Good morning, my lady," one of them greeted with a smile.

Still drowsy, Elena forced herself up and allowed them to bathe her, oil her skin with fragrant lotions, and dress her in a light gown of blue silk. The gown flowed around her like water, and her hair was brushed until it shone. She felt pampered but she loved it.

When they were done, the maids guided her downstairs to the breakfast table. The long dining hall smelled of fresh bread, roasted meat, and sweet tea. She sat alone at the long table before picking out the cutlery laid out for her.

As she nibbled on a piece of bread, Elena asked on of the maids that was pouring tea into her cup quietly, "Is the King in this morning?"

She curtsies slightly. "His Majesty is in the throne room, my lady. He is attending to some matters ."

Elena sighed. Calithar would always make sure to see her every morning before heading to the palace but today, he just left.

Was it because of the kiss? Because she had rejected him?

She picked at her food, instantly losing her appetite. "I see..."

The maids glanced at one another but said nothing more. Elena had wanted to ask Calithar something important: if she could be allowed to leave the palace grounds, even for a short while. She had been living here for months, yet she sometimes felt caged.

The throne room was at the farther side of the palace grounds and even if she got there, she wouldn’t be allowed in since non-members of the court we’re not accepted.

After breakfast, she made up her mind. If Calithar was too busy, she would decide for herself. When he returns, she’d tell him.

Elena walked out to the other side of the courtyard where the carriages and horses were kept. A young carriage rider stood there, feeding the horses while a few others brushes them. He looked startled when she approached him.

"My lady," he bowed quickly and the others followed suit.

"I want you to give me a tour of the kingdom," Elena said softly. "Just for a little while."

The young man’s eyes widened. "But... the King has not permitted—"

Elena smiled faintly, cutting him off. "I won’t be long. And you don’t have to worry, I’ll tell him I asked you myself. You’re only following my request."

The rider hesitated, clearly torn between duty and fear of angering the King. But Elena’s gentle tone and her pleading eyes softened him. At last, he gave a small nod. "As you wish, my lady."

He prepared the carriage, and soon Elena was seated inside. With a flick of the reins, the horses carried them out of the palace gates.

......

The kingdom outside was breathtaking as they rode by. Elena pressed her face lightly against the window bubbling with happiness as she watched the people selling their wares and passing by.

The streets were alive with chatter, merchants calling out their goods, and children running between the stalls. Shops lined the cobbled roads with their colorful banners fluttering softly in the breeze. The air was filled with the smell of grilled meat, fresh pastries, and spiced drinks.

She felt a thrill she hadn’t experienced since arriving. It was her first taste of freedom ever. Even back at Zerathane, both as a princess and a ward of Lord Voss and his lady, she was never allowed to freely explore the environment. Always...always locked up.

"Stop here," Elena called gently after a while. The carriage rider slowed, pulling up near a cluster of shops that spread at an intersection.

"I will walk around for a bit," she said.

The rider frowned slightly. " I will accompany you, my lady"

Elena shook her head with a smile. "No need. I’ll only be nearby. Stay here with the carriage."

He hesitated, but when she pressed him for a while, he handed her a pouch of coins into his hands before going out to open the door for her. "As you wish, my lady."

Elena tucked her own smaller pouch at her waist and wandered into the lively street with unrestrained excitement.

She stopped at the food stalls first. The warm smell of freshly baked pastries tempted her, and she bought one dusted with sugar. As she bit into it, she couldn’t help but laugh softly. The taste was sweet and comforting. The lady at the stall who looked like she was in her mid forties, gave her one more for free. She thanked her gratefully before skipping off to her next stop.

Moving on, she bought roasted nuts, a wooden hairpin carved with delicate patterns, and some ribbons dyed in bright colors. At each stall, she chatted briefly with the shopkeepers, who welcomed her warmly, even though they didn’t know her.

God! Everyone was just so friendly.

For the first time in months, she felt like a normal woman who didn’t have to dumbly nod to what she was told.

She even thought about her maids back in the palace. They were always kind to her and kept her company. She wanted to surprise them a little so she bought a few small trinkets and anklets and wrapped them up carefully.

Finally, she saw a small antique shop tucked between two larger stores. Her mind went back to Calithar and she thought it’d be nice to get him something, even if he was the king and already had everything. Just to get rid of the awkwardness between them. She gathered her skirts in her hands and climbed up the small stairs leading to the shop.

The shop smelled of cedarwood and faintly of cloth. Racks of dresses and capes filled the narrow space, and a faint golden light shone from lanterns hanging above.

"Welcome, my lady," the shopkeeper greeted. He was an elderly man with a kind smile.

Elena returned the smile and walked between the racks. Her eyes caught on a cloak with intricate golden embroidery at the hem. She lifted it gently, admiring the way it shimmered under the lantern light.

It was a great cloak with a golden patterned fabric making up the inside and a purple color making up the outside.

’He would love this!’ she thought happily to herself as she approached the counter with it.

"I would like to take this one, kind sir."

"Oh, that’s a fine one you have there milady. Is there anything else?" he asked as he moved to the wall to get a bag.

"I’ll look around for a while." she said before returning to the rows of clothes again.

Elena returned back after a few minutes with a dress the same color as the one she chose for Calithar.

"I’d like to try this one," she told the shopkeeper beaming with a smile.

He nodded and pointed her toward the changing room at the back.

Inside, Elena slipped into the dress. When she stepped out, she went to the tall mirror in the corner to admire herself. The cloak wrapped around her figure elegantly, leaving her shoulders bare. She twirled once, smiling faintly as she admired herself. She thought of how pleased Calithar would be when he saw her dress. They could even match and go out together, just the two of them.

"Elena..." A whisper came, brushing against her ear.

Her smile froze and she turned sharply. The shop was quiet and empty except for the old shopkeeper at the counter.

Frowning, she looked back at the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her but then, slowly, the surface of the mirror rippled like water.

Her breath caught in her throat.

"Elena..." the voice came again, clearer this time.

Before she could step back, a pale hand shot out from the mirror.

Her eyes widened. She tried to scream, but the hand grabbed her arm and yanked her forward with inhuman strength. She stumbled into the mirror and her body passed through the glass as though it were liquid.

The shop, the light, the mirror, everything vanished from her sight.

Darkness swallowed her whole.

She felt like she was falling endlessly into a deep hole and her ears rang with the rushing silence.

And then, with a sharp gasp, she opened her eyes.

The ground beneath her was as cold as an iceberg. She sat up quickly as her heart raced wildly within her chest. Her surroundings were dark and heavy with a different kind of air. Wait, wasn’t it just day a few seconds ago?

When her eyes adjusted, realization hit her hard.

This wasn’t Calithar’s palace anymore.

She stared around her just to be sure she wasn’t just imagining things. The towering palace, the stone walls, the air itself.

This...this was Zerathane. This was Damien’s quarters!

She was back here! But how?

Before she could make sense of what was going on, a sharp pain surged through her head and she fell limp on the ground in the middle of the courtyard...