CHAPTER 163: A PROMISE?

Draegon

The soft chime above the door rang as I stepped into the shop.

The air inside was warm and scented with something faintly floral—lavender, perhaps, or some rare blossom only nobles bothered to name. The lighting was subtle, woven through enchanted glass globes suspended from the high arched ceiling. Walls of polished wood framed cabinets of velvet-lined shelves, each one cradling finely crafted pieces like relics in a temple. Everything here gleamed. Everything whispered of quiet wealth and long tradition.

I pulled my hood down slowly.

The shopkeeper at the far end glanced up from a ledger, his voice already halfway into a greeting. "Welcome to the House of Tal’rein, where elegance—"

He froze.

His quill slipped from his fingers and landed silently against the desk. His mouth opened slightly, eyes widening as he realized who had entered his quiet, curated sanctuary.

I gave him a calm nod, stepping fully into the light.

He swallowed hard, then hastily bowed. "Your Majesty—f-forgive me, I didn’t—please, welcome! I-I didn’t expect—" He bowed again, this time lower. "It is an honor, truly."

"No need for formality," I said, my voice low but not unkind. "I saw something in your window. A hair ornament. The one with the sapphires. I’d like a closer look."

The shopkeeper straightened, recovering with admirable speed. He turned toward a younger employee and snapped his fingers once. "Fetch the sapphire wingpin, quickly—carefully."

The young assistant nearly tripped over himself hurrying to the window display, fumbling briefly before lifting the piece from its stand and bringing it to me with reverent hands.

I reached out and took it, cradling the ornament in my palm.

It was stunning.

Mithril work shaped into the arc of a wing—elegant and precise, every feather traced with delicate engraving. Small sapphires were set into the pin’s body, their soft blue gleam capturing the light with every slight tilt, like frozen rain caught in flight. There was a pale sheen over the silver—a finish meant to mimic moonlight, smooth and cold to the touch.

It was made to be noticed

by the right eyes. And I could already picture it nestled in Aelin’s golden hair, the sapphires bright against sun-woven strands. A small, shining contrast—elegant and soft, like her.

I found myself smiling, softly.

I was so focused on the pin I didn’t notice many stares I was getting from the people, other customers and employees alike.

"It’s made of mithril," The shopkeeper said, "So it’s quite expensive, n-not that Your HIghness can’t afford it or anything. It’s just mithril is very rare and precious-"

"I’ll buy it." I said calmly

The assistant bowed again, already hurrying to fetch the box. The shopkeeper cleared his throat, hesitant but clearly unable to stop himself.

"If I may ask, Your Majesty... who is the lucky recipient?"

I turned to him, still holding the ornament between two fingers.

A smile pulled at my mouth, this time wider. Unashamed. Proud.

"My wife," I said simply.

The demons around me murmured.

"His wife?"

"The Human?"

"The rumor must be true then, they do get along."

"But a demon and a human?"

"I heard from someone in the king’s council that he adores his wife a lot."

"I can’t believe it’s true."

"Not only that, the Queen is someone really powerful too. She saved the King’s life twice!"

"That was true?"

"It must be!"

"No wonder he adores her."

"Oh MY! I can’t wait to tell my circle of friends this news!"

***

Ariston

The silence lingered after I asked. Long enough that I started to wonder if he’d even heard me.

"What’s your condition?" I said again, quieter this time. "You don’t look right. You haven’t since I walked in."

Rael didn’t look at me. He just leaned back in his chair, eyes drifting toward the window, looking at the Palace not far from this place.

"I want to meet the Queen," he said suddenly.

The words sat in the air like a stone dropped into still water.

I frowned. "Why?"

Rael didn’t answer right away. He just watched the palace like it had spoken first.

"I saw her," he said after a moment. "Saw what she can do. She defeated that spider-nun in a swift move," He turned his head slowly to look at me. "She must be an expert by now."

Something cold settled in my stomach.

"She is," I said cautiously. "More than strong. She possesses power no one else does."

Rael’s eyes narrowed slightly, but not in suspicion. In thought.

"Good," he said. "That’s what I need."

I stared at him. "Need... what? Her strength?"

"Well, it’s good if she’s strong."

"What are you trying to imply?" I asked, "Why do you want to meet her?"

He didn’t look at me. "I won’t tell."

That snapped something in me.

"You keep avoiding every damn question," I snapped. "Every time I ask something real, you dance around it like I’m a stranger. You vanish for years, show up out of nowhere, and expect me to just—what—play courier to the Queen for you?"

Rael chuckled—a low, amused sound like he found me charming instead of furious. "Alright," he said, finally turning his eyes back to me. "How about this: you get me a meeting with her, and I’ll give you every answer you’ve ever wanted. No riddles. No evasions. All of it."

I blinked. "You’re serious?"

"As a fever."

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on my knees, eyes locked on his. "You know I’m the Queen’s protector. Her safety is my duty. I don’t just bring her to people with vague promises and history between them."

He shrugged. "So what’s the problem? You’ll be there with her. If anything happens, you’ll stop it. Isn’t that what you do?"

He made it sound so simple. Like this wasn’t the most reckless, insane request I’d heard in years.

"Where?" I asked, "Where do you want to meet? I can take you to the palace-"

"No," He said, "I want to meet outside."

"You want to meet her outside the palace walls?" I asked, just to be sure, "Here?" I looked around the room in disgust.

Rael nodded, calm as ever. "Outside but not here, I’ll tell you where." I got a bad feeling about this.

"No." I stood. "Absolutely not. I can’t put her in danger—not for this. Not without knowing why you even want to meet her. You can say it’s important, but you won’t say why."

Rael just looked at me, face unreadable. Then he smiled and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head.

"It’s really important," he said quietly. "More than you know."

I shook my head. "Still no. I can’t do it."

Rael gave a small, amused snort and leaned back against his seat putting his feet on the table again, like I’d just declined an offer to go fishing.

"No problem," he said. "I’m not the one who wanted answers."

I stood there for a moment, jaw clenched, fists tightening at my sides.