THE KING'S CHAMBER
"My king, Lord Garius is here!" the royal announcer called out.
The words sent a cold shiver down King Letuka's spine. His body tensed, and his heart pounded loudly in his chest. His hands, resting on the arms of his golden throne, suddenly felt sweaty. A wave of fear washed over him, making him uneasy.
"Lord Garius? Now?" the king thought. "Why is he here at this hour?"
From the corner of the room, Lady Larisa observed the king's reaction. A small, knowing smile played on her lips. She had been expecting this moment. She had planned for it. Watching the king's nervousness filled her with a strange satisfaction.
King Letuka adjusted his royal robes, forcing himself to maintain composure. He couldn't let anyone see his fear. He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and signaled for the doors to be opened.
The large doors creaked as they swung open, revealing Lord Garius. The man stepped in with steady, confident strides. His presence was strong, and his gaze was piercing. There was something about him that demanded attention. A silence fell over the room as he approached.
Lady Larisa bowed slightly and gracefully excused herself, leaving the two men alone. She didn't need to be there to know what would happen next.
Lord Garius bowed briefly. "Your Majesty," he greeted, his deep voice carrying a hint of impatience.
King Letuka swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Lord Garius, I—"
Garius cut him off sharply. "I heard about what happened," he said, his eyes darkening. "And yet, you did not send for me?"
The king's fingers clenched around the golden armrest of his throne. He struggled to find the right words.
"N-Nothing serious happened," King Letuka stammered. "It's just... the queen… she lost her pregnancy and—"
Garius's eyes flashed with anger. "And what does that have to do with my daughter?" he demanded.
The king felt trapped. He knew this confrontation was inevitable, but he had hoped to delay it.
"Lord Garius, please. I will handle this matter myself. Leave it to me. I know what I am doing."
A low chuckle escaped from Garius, but there was no humor in it. His expression grew darker.
"Do you?" he sneered. "Since when have you ever handled anything without my help?"
King Letuka clenched his jaw but remained silent. He couldn't deny the truth in those words. Garius had always been the one cleaning up his messes.
Lord Garius took a step closer. "What about our last agreement, my king?" he asked coldly.
A heavy silence filled the room.
King Letuka inhaled sharply. "I did my part," he muttered. "Your daughter refuses to cooperate."
Garius's hands balled into fists. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the chamber.
---
THE CELL
The cell was dark, damp, and cold. The air smelled of mold, rusted chains, and unwashed bodies. Kaira sat against the rough stone wall, wrapping her arms around her knees, trying to keep warm. Her dress was dirty, and her hair was disheveled, but her spirit remained strong.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor, making her heart pound. She quickly stood up, her body tense with anticipation. The iron door creaked open, and her breath hitched when she saw who had entered.
Lord Garius.
His sharp, calculating eyes met hers, and a chill ran down her spine.
He stepped into the dimly lit cell, his posture straight and commanding.
"My lady," he greeted, bowing slightly. But his voice lacked warmth. It was cold and filled with something unsettling.
Kaira lifted her chin, refusing to show fear. "Have you seen the king?" she asked.
Garius ignored her question and stepped closer. "Why are you not keeping our agreement?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.
Kaira took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I will fulfill our agreement," she said, her tone firm but controlled. "But first, get me out of this place. And…" she hesitated, her voice softening. "How is my mother? Has she asked about me?"
Garius's face remained emotionless. He ignored her question completely.
"You must sleep with the king as soon as possible," he said instead. "You need to bear the next heir to the throne. We must not waste time."
Kaira felt her body go stiff. She had expected this, but hearing it so bluntly made her stomach twist. A wave of nausea washed over her, but she masked it well.
She clenched her fists. "I will do as you wish," she said slowly, carefully choosing her words. "But get me out of here first."
Lord Garius studied her face for a moment, then gave her a single nod. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked out of the cell, leaving her standing there alone.
Kaira let out a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Her thoughts drifted to Gilas—the only person in the palace she trusted.
"Did he deliver my message to Garius?" she wondered. "If so, I owe him more than I can repay."
---
As Lord Garius was leaving the palace, a familiar figure appeared before him.
Lady Larisa.
Their eyes met, and a cold tension filled the air. They exchanged forced smiles.
"My lady," Garius greeted, bowing slightly. "I was told you sent your maid to deliver my daughter's message. How do I repay this great kindness?"
Larisa chuckled softly, tilting her head. "Lord Garius, why would I ask for anything in return for such a small favor?" she said lightly. Then, after a brief pause, she added, "Although… there is something I would like to ask you."
Garius narrowed his eyes. "I expected as much," he muttered under his breath.
Larisa took a step closer. "It's about your late best friend's family," she said slowly. "Lord Zenya. I heard his wife and daughter fled to another kingdom. Is that true?"
Garius's body stiffened slightly.
His mind raced. "Why is she asking about them now?"
He forced a smile. "They are doing well," he said cautiously. "Settled in their new country. No need to worry about them, my lady."
But Larisa saw the flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
Something was off.
She studied him carefully, sensing there was more to the story than he was letting on.
"Hmm," she mused, pretending to accept his answer. "I was just curious. What happened two years ago… still doesn't make sense to me. I find it hard to believe Lord Zenya met such a tragic fate."
Garius didn't respond. He simply bowed. "If you will excuse me, my lady. And thank you again for your kindness."
Without waiting for a reply, he walked away.
Lady Larisa smirked. "So, he's hiding something after all," she thought to herself.
The Cell
Gilas walked toward the cold, damp cell, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. He carried the weight of uncertainty in his heart, knowing he was about to release Lady Kaira on the king's orders. He wasn't sure why, but something about it made him uneasy. His heart beat faster as he reached the heavy iron gate.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled out the key and inserted it into the lock. With a loud creak, the door swung open.
Kaira sat against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees. The moment she saw the door open, she jumped to her feet, her eyes filled with hope and desperation.
Without thinking, she rushed forward and threw her arms around Gilas in relief.
Gilas froze, his body stiffening. He wasn't expecting this. He felt the warmth of her body against his chest, her breath shaky, as if she had been holding it in for too long. His heartbeat quickened, and for a brief moment, the world around them disappeared.
Then, suddenly realizing what she had done, Kaira pulled away. Her face turned red with embarrassment as she looked away, fidgeting with the hem of her tattered dress.
"I… I'm sorry," she muttered. "I lost myself for a moment."
Gilas swallowed hard, composing himself. "My lady," he said softly, "the king has summoned you to the palace."
Kaira's expression changed instantly. Her relief turned to confusion. "The palace?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "Not his private chamber? Why? What happened?"
Gilas hesitated before answering. "I do not know, my lady."
Her mind raced. "Did he call for the ministers? Are they going to strip me of my title? No… this isn't what Garius promised me."
Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. "Very well," she said. "Take me to the king."
---
The Grand Hall
The grand hall of the palace was eerily silent. The only sound was the steady tapping of King Letuka's fingers against the armrest of his golden throne. His sharp gaze fixed upon Lady Kaira as she stood before him, her head held high despite the uncertainty brewing inside her.
Guards lined the walls, standing as still as statues. The air felt heavy, thick with tension. Kaira forced herself to remain calm, but her heart pounded in her chest.
The king finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Lady Kaira, I want to ask you something. And I expect an honest answer."
Kaira swallowed hard. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
King Letuka leaned forward slightly. "Since you are Lord Garius's daughter, you must know where his best friend's family is. Tell me where they are, and I will reward you handsomely."
Kaira's breath caught in her throat. Her mind spun with questions. "Why was the king asking about them? Did he already know something? Or worse—was he planning to do what he had done to her father?"
She took a careful step forward, choosing her words wisely. "Your Majesty, I… I do not know their whereabouts," she lied, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.
The king studied her closely, his expression unreadable. A long silence followed, making her uneasy.
Then, he smirked. "Is that so?"
Kaira nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."
King Letuka leaned back in his throne, tapping his fingers once more. "Very well. You may leave."
Kaira hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply before turning on her heels. As she walked out of the hall, she could feel the king's eyes on her back, watching her every move.
She knew one thing for certain—this was far from over.