—About the king… —I muttered—. It's something I'm interested in, but…
I paused slightly.
—Before we start, can you do me another favor?
Aria raised an eyebrow.
—What?
—Could you bring me some water… and food?
I only noticed how dry my throat was just by saying it.
—Oh, of course —she replied, smiling—. I'll be right back.
She quickly stood up and left the room, closing the door behind her.
I stayed sitting on the bed.
Silent.
Waiting.
I rested my elbows on my knees, letting my body sink slightly.
Aria was being… different.
The last time I saw her she was also kind, but this was different.
Closer.
Less… distant.
Maybe before she was just acting like a servant.
And now… she was being herself.
Or at least that's what I wanted to believe.
I shook my head slightly.
It didn't matter.
What mattered was something else.
The king.
What did she want to tell me?
What had really happened?
Why did everything feel… off?
I sighed.
I had no choice but to wait.
Minutes passed.
I didn't know how many exactly.
Time inside there felt strange.
Then…
Knock, knock.
The sound made me snap my head up.
—Aria? —I muttered, sitting up.
I instinctively stood from the bed.
But something didn't feel right.
Why would she knock on her own door?
I froze.
The handle started to move.
My body reacted before my mind did.
I stepped back.
Then another step.
Who was it?
The handle turned more forcefully now.
The door wasn't opening, but whoever was outside was really trying.
My pulse quickened.
If it was a guard…
If they found me here…
Shit.
I looked around quickly.
No place to hide.
Nothing.
Only the bed.
Without thinking, I dropped to the floor and slid underneath it.
Dust scraped against my face.
I held my breath.
The handle kept moving.
More insistently now.
The silence in the room made everything feel twice as loud.
My heartbeat. My movements. Everything.
I clenched my teeth.
I couldn't do anything.
Only wait.
Then…
A voice on the other side.
I couldn't understand the words clearly.
But… it didn't sound like a guard.
A few seconds passed.
And then the door…
began to open.
Very slowly.
I held my breath even tighter.
From the floor, the first thing I saw were feet.
Smaller.
Lighter.
Not guard boots.
Shoes… finer.
A girl?
I blinked, confused.
The door closed again.
A small silence followed.
And then…
—Ren?
That voice.
—You can come out now.
It was Aria.
I slowly crawled out from under the bed and stood up.
My pulse was still racing.
I looked at her.
Aria was standing there holding a tray. A glass of water… and some cookies.
She looked slightly tense.
—Sorry for the delay —she said— I found this as quickly as I could.
She stepped closer.
—The one at the door… was that you? —I asked, still tense.
Aria shook her head.
—Not at first. It was a guard.
My stomach tightened slightly.
—I told him this was my room, that there was nothing here —she continued— But…
She paused.
—They've already realized your escape, Ren.
I froze.
—They're looking for you.
I swallowed.
Great.
—I didn't tell you before, but… —she added— it's likely you'll have to stay here for a while.
—What? —I frowned— Why?
—Because if you go back home, for example, they'll find you. That'll be the first place they check.
I nodded slowly.
It made sense.
—Although… —she added— you could always flee the city.
—No! —I answered almost instantly— Why would I leave my own home?
I stared at her.
—I want to stay here.
Aria held my gaze for a few seconds.
Then she nodded.
—Mmm… alright.
She placed the tray on my lap.
—Then for now you'll stay here… until things calm down.
I looked at the water.
I didn't hesitate.
I drank it all in one go.
My throat burned slightly as it went down.
Then I started on the cookies.
One.
Then another.
And another.
—Will I stay in this room all the time? —I asked with my mouth half full.
Aria shook her head.
—Better not. It's too risky.
She crossed her arms.
—You can stay here when I'm here. But the rest of the time…
She gestured toward the wall.
—you'll stay in the passages.
—In the wall passages? —I grimaced— Creepy.
Aria let out a small laugh.
—Do you prefer getting caught?
I shook my head quickly.
—They're passages only I know —she continued— You don't have to worry.
I frowned.
—And why only you? Shouldn't the king know about them or something?
Aria shook her head slowly.
—They were built a long time ago. As escape routes.
She leaned slightly on the table.
—But they were never used for that.
Her tone became more distant.
—Over time, some servants… like my mother, started using them.
I lifted my gaze slightly.
—Your mother?
—Yes. She worked here for years —she nodded— Since they connect almost every room, they were very useful.
She paused.
—But eventually they fell out of use.
—They're not even on the blueprints anymore.
I stayed silent, processing.
—When I was little, my mother showed them to me —she added— Like a curiosity of the palace.
She smiled faintly.
—Though I… have used them for a lot more.
I raised an eyebrow.
—A lot more?
—Let's just say… —she shrugged— I know quite a few things thanks to those corridors.
I couldn't help but smile slightly.
—So you spy on people. You're a gossip.
—Hey! —she hit my shoulder lightly— That sounds terrible when you say it like that.
But she was smiling.
—Besides… it's been useful for you, hasn't it?
I looked down at the sword beside me.
—Guess so…
—Thanks to them I was able to recover your weapon…
Her voice lowered slightly.
More serious.
—and discover things.
I looked up.
—What things?
Aria met my gaze.
No smile this time.
—The king's secrets.
—Just tell me already —I said, leaning forward slightly— You're building too much suspense.
Aria let out a small laugh.
—Yeah… I know.
She settled more comfortably on the bed before continuing.
—But first, you need to understand something.
Her tone changed.
More serious.
—It's a reality people outside the palace don't know.
She paused.
—My mother always talked about this. So I'm pretty clear on it.
I nodded without speaking.
—Pay attention.
—I am.
I looked at her intently.
Aria took a breath.
—In the past, the king had absolute power.
She made a small gesture with her hand.
—He ruled everything. Everyone.
—But that changed with the current king's father.
I frowned slightly.
—Because of the war against demons?
Aria nodded.
—Exactly.
—There had always been tension, small attacks… but nothing serious —she continued— Until the first major attack happened.
—On one of our cities —I added.
—Yes.
She leaned forward slightly.
—With the war starting… and a huge territory to control… the king couldn't handle everything alone.
She paused briefly.
—So he created the court mages.
I crossed my arms, listening.
—Very powerful mages —she continued— Selected through exams. They were given authority. They could lead armies… advise the king… make important decisions.
I nodded slowly.
—But the king was still in charge, right?
—At first, yes.
Her expression tightened slightly.
—But over time… that changed.
A small silence.
—Those mages started gaining more and more power.
—Until now… —she lowered her voice— they're practically the ones ruling the country.
I blinked.
—What?
—Many disobey the king —she continued— Some even act against him.
—And the king does nothing?
Aria shook her head.
—He can't.
That answer hit me cold.
—Right now… the king is more of a figure than real authority.
I stayed silent for a few seconds.
Processing.
—Although… —she added— there are still some mages loyal to him.
I swallowed.
—So…
I looked at her.
—What is the king trying to do?
Aria held my gaze.
—Recover the power his father had.
A chill ran through me.
—And for that…
She paused.
—He doesn't want more court mages.
I widened my eyes slightly.
—Wait…
—If there are already ten —she continued— and many cause him problems… adding another would only make things worse.
My mind started connecting pieces.
Slowly.
But clearly.
—So that's why…
I looked at her.
—That's why the exams…
Aria nodded.
—Have been impossible lately.
Another pause.
—Direct orders from the king.
The silence that followed… was heavy.
—…And that's why he sent me to kill Aether… —I muttered to myself— So there wouldn't be another court mage…
Aria nodded without speaking.
Something inside me tightened.
—Wait… —I frowned— Then why me?
I looked straight at her.
—If there are still mages loyal to him… he could've sent one of them.
Aria didn't answer immediately.
—You're right —she said finally— But if that happened… people would start asking questions.
—What questions?
—Who killed the new court mage? Why? For what reason?
She leaned forward slightly.
—It would be suspicious.
I thought for a second.
—…And with me it isn't?
Aria shook her head.
—No.
She paused.
—The king planned to frame you, Ren.
The world froze for a moment.
—What…?
—It was perfect —she continued— The vengeful brother kills the future court mage.
Her voice was cold now.
—You get executed… and the problem disappears.
I clenched my teeth.
—So…
I lowered my gaze for a moment.
—It was never an opportunity…
I looked back at her.
—It was a death sentence from the start.
Aria said nothing.
She didn't need to.
—That's why so many guards entered the room… —I added slowly—
Everything clicked.
—They weren't there for security… They were waiting to capture me.
—Exactly —Aria replied quietly.
An uncomfortable silence followed.
Heavy.
But my mind didn't stop.
—Still… something doesn't add up.
Aria lifted her head slightly.
—Like what?
—Aether.
I clenched my fist slightly.
—He knew I was coming for him.
—Are you sure?
—Completely.
I took a deep breath.
—It wasn't a coincidence.
Aria frowned.
—Did you tell anyone?
—A… couple of friends.
I shook my head immediately.
—But it doesn't matter. There's no way they said anything.
Or at least I wanted to believe that.
Aria didn't respond directly.
—Maybe someone in the palace found out —she said— and told Aether.
—Maybe…
It didn't fully convince me.
But I had no better explanation.
—Are all your doubts cleared? —she asked.
I shook my head slowly.
—One remains.
Aria waited.
—When I was locked up…
I remembered the moment.
—The king… almost hit me.
—Almost?
—Yeah.
I raised my hand, recreating the distance.
—He stopped inches from my face. As if… something had stopped him.
Aria narrowed her eyes.
—Are you sure?
—Completely.
She stayed silent for a few seconds.
Thinking.
—That's… strange —she murmured.
—If the king wanted to hit you… he would have.
I nodded.
—That's why I think something stopped him.
Aria looked at me.
—Then there's something else. Something we're not seeing.
—Like what?
She shook her head.
—I don't know.
She paused.
And then she smiled slightly.
—But we can find out.
I frowned.
—How?
Aria looked directly at me.
Without hesitation.
—By sneaking into the king's room.
I froze.
—What?