Chapter 2

The celebration continued late into the night, but Seraphina found herself retreating to the palace gardens, the scent of jasmine and night-blooming lilies a welcome contrast to the suffocating perfume of the ballroom. The cool night air kissed her skin as she exhaled, finally free from the watchful eyes of the court.

Footsteps behind her made her tense.

"You should not be alone out here."

She turned swiftly, her heart pounding, only to find Elias standing a few steps away. His expression was unreadable, but the way his hand hovered near the hilt of his sword told her he was alert. Always protecting her, even from unseen dangers.

"I needed air," she murmured. "And solitude."

He hesitated before stepping closer. "You will find neither for long, Princess. Not with the path that has been chosen for you."

She looked up at him then, the weight of his words sinking in. "Do you think I do not know that?"

His jaw tightened, his gaze searching hers. "Then you also know that Lord Aldric is not the man he pretends to be."

Her breath hitched. "What do you mean?"

Elias glanced around, as if ensuring they were truly alone, before lowering his voice. "I have heard whispers—rumors of his dealings, of alliances forged in shadows. There are those who claim he seeks power not just through you, but through means far darker than marriage."

Seraphina's pulse quickened. "Why are you telling me this?"

For the first time, something unguarded flickered in his eyes. "Because I swore to protect you."

A chill ran down her spine—not from fear, but from the realization that the man standing before her might be the only one in the entire kingdom who truly had her best interests at heart.

The silence stretched between them, heavy with words left unsaid.

Finally, Elias took a step back, his expression hardening once more. "Be careful, Princess. There are dangers even within these palace walls."

And with that, he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving her alone with a storm of questions and a growing sense of unease.

That night, sleep evaded Seraphina. Elias's warning echoed in her mind, each word a thread unraveling the fragile tapestry of certainty she had woven for herself. Lord Aldric—her future husband—was not what he seemed. But what did that mean? What power did he seek beyond the crown?

Determined to uncover the truth, she slipped from her chambers, the moon casting silvered light along the empty corridors. She moved with careful steps, her pulse quickening as she approached the royal archives. If there were secrets to be found, they would be hidden within the palace walls.

The heavy oak door of the archives creaked softly as she pushed it open, the scent of aged parchment filling the air. Inside, rows upon rows of ancient books and scrolls lined the walls, their fragile spines and worn edges holding centuries of history. The palace had kept its secrets for generations, and tonight, Seraphina would pry open the ones buried the deepest.

As she made her way between the towering shelves, her thoughts turned to Elias. His words had planted a seed of doubt, one that was now growing with every passing moment. Was it truly power Aldric sought, or something darker? She knew that the marriage was not one born of love, but of political necessity. Yet, there was something about the way Aldric had smiled at her earlier—his eyes glinting with a cold, calculating edge—that made her skin crawl.

She pulled a dusty tome from a high shelf and flipped through its pages, scanning the old texts for any mention of House Dunmere or its alliances. It was slow work, but she was persistent. Time seemed to stretch as she pored over one volume after another, the hours slipping by unnoticed.

But it was then that she heard it—soft footsteps echoing through the hall.

Seraphina froze, her heart skipping a beat. The sound was faint, but unmistakable. Someone was approaching. Her first instinct was to hide, but there was nowhere to go. The room was open, with no place to conceal herself.

The footsteps grew louder, closer.

Just as panic threatened to rise, the door to the archives creaked open, and a shadow stepped into the dim light. Seraphina's breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively took a step back, her hand hovering near her side as if to protect herself. The figure in the doorway was cloaked in a dark robe, their face hidden beneath the hood.

"Who goes there?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the racing of her pulse.

The figure did not answer immediately. Instead, they stepped further into the room, their movements silent and deliberate. Then, as if sensing her unease, they lowered their hood.

Seraphina's breath caught in her throat. It was Elias.

His face was taut with concentration, his eyes scanning the room with a mixture of suspicion and concern.

"Princess," he said quietly, his voice low and guarded. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you," Seraphina replied, her brow furrowing. "I am investigating. You should know better than anyone that this palace hides more than just its history. There are things I need to uncover. Things about Aldric."

Elias took a step closer, his gaze softening, but his tone remained firm. "I warned you not to go looking for things that could get you into trouble. There are some truths that are best left uncovered."

Seraphina felt the weight of his words. She had expected him to be the one to encourage her quest for answers, but instead, he seemed more concerned than ever. It was as if he wanted her to stay in the dark, protected from whatever danger lurked in the shadows.

"Why are you so intent on protecting me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elias hesitated, his storm-gray eyes flickering with an emotion she couldn't quite place. "Because," he said slowly, "I have sworn to keep you safe. From everything... including your own curiosity."

Before she could respond, the sound of another set of footsteps reached their ears—heavier, more deliberate. Seraphina tensed, instinctively pulling away from Elias.

A figure emerged from the shadows, and this time, Seraphina's blood ran cold.

It was Lord Aldric.

His eyes gleamed in the dim light as he approached them, his smile a mixture of amusement and something darker. The tension in the room thickened, and for a moment, Seraphina wondered if this was the moment when everything she had feared would come to light.

"Princess," Aldric said with a smooth, mocking bow, "I must admit, I didn't expect to find you here... with him."

Seraphina's throat tightened. "What is this about, Aldric?" she asked, trying to keep the tremor from her voice.

Lord Aldric's eyes flickered between her and Elias. "I could ask the same of you. But perhaps some secrets are best left hidden, yes?"

Elias stepped forward, his posture rigid. "You have no business here, Aldric."

Aldric's smile deepened, his gaze now locked on Elias with a quiet challenge. "Oh, but I believe I do. This is my kingdom as much as it is hers, after all."

Seraphina's heart raced, her thoughts spinning. She had stepped into something far more dangerous than she had anticipated. Was Aldric aware of her search? Or was this just the beginning of something darker that she couldn't yet understand?

The tension between the three of them was palpable, as if the very air around them had thickened with unspoken threats.

"Leave us," Aldric said suddenly, his voice cold and commanding. "This is between the princess and me."

Elias's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. With a final, lingering glance at Seraphina, he turned and left the archives without another word.

Seraphina's eyes followed him, a pang of regret tightening her chest. But she couldn't let that distract her now. Aldric was here, and she needed answers.

"I know what you're doing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aldric raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what might that be, my dear princess?"

"Whatever it is you're hiding," Seraphina said, stepping closer, her heart pounding. "I will find out. And when I do, you will regret ever making me your enemy."

For the first time, the smile faded from Aldric's lips. His eyes darkened, and for a moment, Seraphina saw a flicker of something dangerous in them.

"You think you're in control here, Princess," he said, his voice low and venomous. "But you're not. You never were."

And with that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Seraphina alone with the weight of his words—and the gnawing certainty that she had just uncovered a far darker truth than she could have imagined.

The secrets of Velandria's royal palace were only just beginning to unfold.