chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and the faint aroma of horses. The castle courtyard bustled with activity-knights tightening their saddles, servants loading the last of the supplies onto the carriages, and hushed voices murmuring amongst themselves. The journey to Raventhorn was no small venture, and those who watched the departure knew the dangers that lay ahead.

Prince Alistair stood beside his black stallion, adjusting the straps of his gloves with practiced ease. His armor was more suited for travel than war, though the weight of responsibility pressed just as heavily upon his shoulders. Beside him, Elias finished securing his sword, his expression unreadable. He had always been composed, disciplined-but this morning, there was something else beneath the surface. Something only Alistair might recognize.

A few steps away, King Mathias observed them in silence, his presence alone commanding attention. Though his face betrayed little, there was an unmistakable weight in his stance-the quiet burden of a father sending his son into uncertainty.

Alissa stood beside him, her dark eyes moving between her brother and Elias. Though she had seen Alistair ride off before, this departure felt different. He wasn't just heading into foreign lands-he was taking Jasmine with him.

Lady Jasmine stood beside her horse, wrapped in a dark cloak over her riding attire. Though she was the only woman amongst them, she did not appear uneasy. If anything, she looked almost eager.

Alistair turned to his father, breaking the silence. "We will return soon." His voice was steady, resolute.

Mathias regarded him for a long moment before nodding. "See that you do. And be mindful of the company you keep."

The words were a warning, though whether they were meant for Jasmine or Elias, Alistair did not ask.

Alissa stepped forward next, reaching for Alistair's hand. "Be careful," she said softly. "And don't forget to write."

He squeezed her hand lightly. "I'll be back before you know it."

Jasmine watched the exchange before stepping closer. "Shall we?" she asked, voice light, though her eyes lingered on Alistair for a moment before subtly shifting-to Elias.

She had been watching him more often these past few days. Not openly, but enough to be noticed.

Elias met her gaze briefly before mounting his horse, his face giving nothing away.

With a final nod to Mathias, Alistair swung onto his stallion, gripping the reins firmly.

The gates groaned open, and the riders moved forward.

As Alissa, Mathias, and the others stood watching, Jasmine turned once more, her gaze flickering between the two men-one her betrothed, the other his knight-before facing ahead as they disappeared into the morning light.

The Journey Begins

The road stretched long before them, winding through rolling hills and thick forests that whispered with the rustling of unseen creatures. The party rode in relative silence for the first few miles, the occasional conversation between knights or the sound of hooves against the dirt being the only things breaking the quiet. The air was cool, carrying the scent of damp leaves and the faint promise of rain.

Alistair rode at the front, his expression unreadable as he kept his gaze fixed ahead. He wasn't fond of traveling with an entourage, but he had little choice. The journey to Raventhorn required caution.

Elias rode slightly behind him, his presence a familiar shadow. He was always near but never overbearing. There was an ease to it, a natural understanding between them that had formed over years of loyalty and something unspoken.

Jasmine, however, disrupted the rhythm. She had insisted on riding beside Alistair, keeping pace with him as if she belonged at his side. Occasionally, she would glance at Elias, her gaze lingering a moment too long before shifting back to the road. It wasn't suspicion-no, it was something more like curiosity.

At midday, they stopped near a stream to rest the horses. While the knights busied themselves with checking supplies, Jasmine dismounted gracefully, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face as she stepped toward Alistair.

"You've been quiet," she noted, tilting her head slightly.

"I prefer to focus on the road," he replied without looking at her.

She hummed, glancing toward Elias, who stood a few feet away tending to his horse. "Your knight does too, it seems."

At the mention of him, Elias looked up, his sharp blue eyes meeting Jasmine's for a fraction of a second before flickering away.

"That's because he has sense," Alistair muttered, earning the ghost of a smirk from Elias.

Jasmine let out a soft laugh and stepped closer, lowering her voice just enough for only Alistair to hear. "It must be comforting to have someone so devoted to you."

Alistair stiffened slightly. He turned his head to look at her, but Jasmine only smiled, her expression unreadable.

"We should get moving," Elias interjected suddenly, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp as they flickered between the two.

Jasmine's lips curled slightly, almost as if she were amused by something unspoken. "Yes, we wouldn't want to waste time, would we?"

She turned away, walking back to her horse, but not before her gaze lingered on Elias one last time.

Alistair exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple. He could already tell this journey was going to be a long one.

At Adam's House

The evening air was warm, carrying the distant sounds of the bustling town beyond the fields. The world felt far away as Alissa and Adam stood together, breathless from their stolen moment. Their lips had met with intensity, a silent confession neither had dared to speak aloud. Adam's hands rested on her waist, his grip firm yet hesitant, as if he feared letting go would make this moment slip into nothing more than a dream.

Alissa's fingers still lingered on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath. Her heart pounded, her lips tingling from the fire of his kiss. She hadn't expected this, hadn't expected how natural it felt to be in his arms.

Then-

"Adam."

The deep voice shattered the quiet.

Both of them tensed. Alissa's eyes widened as Adam swiftly pulled away, turning toward the sound.

A silhouette stood at the edge of the house, the last rays of sunlight casting a long shadow across the dirt path. General Grendy.

Adam swallowed hard, his entire body stiffening under his father's unreadable gaze. The man hadn't seen what had happened between them, but the sight of them emerging from the fields together-alone-was enough to spark suspicion.

Alissa recovered quickly. She smoothed down her dress, gathering what remained of her composure as Grendy took a step forward.

His sharp gaze flickered between them, his expression unreadable. Then, with slow precision, he bowed.

"Your Highness."

Alissa, ever the princess, dipped her head with perfect poise.

"Good day, Ser Grendy," she said smoothly, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart.

She turned to Adam then, something unspoken passing between them.

"I shall take my leave."

Adam wanted to stop her. He wanted to say something, anything, to break the growing weight pressing down on his chest. But all he could do was watch as she walked past him, her steps measured, her presence slipping away like sand through his fingers.

The carriage door closed behind her. The driver snapped the reins, and as the wheels began to turn, Adam realized this was the first time he had ever felt the painful distance between them.

He stood frozen until the carriage disappeared down the road.

Then, his father turned to him.

"Inside," Grendy ordered, his voice firm.

Adam hesitated for half a second before obeying, following him through the doorway.

Lady Elena was already seated inside, her keen gaze shifting between father and son as they entered. She immediately sensed the tension in the air.

As the door closed behind them, Grendy finally spoke.

"Be careful around her, Adam."

Adam remained silent, his jaw tightening.

"She is not just your friend," Grendy continued, his voice calm yet unwavering. "She is a Valois princess. And you? You are the son of a general. No matter how you feel, you must understand-"

"Understand what?" Adam cut in, his voice sharp.

Grendy met his gaze evenly.

"That she will never be yours."

The words hit harder than Adam expected. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, but he said nothing.

Lady Elena, sensing her son's turmoil, quickly intervened.

"Grendy, that is enough," she said softly, trying to ease the tension.

But Adam had already stepped away.

"You don't know that," he muttered before disappearing down the hall.

Lady Elena's gaze followed him, her expression filled with quiet concern.

Grendy exhaled, rubbing his temple before sitting down.

"He needs to understand," he muttered.

Lady Elena didn't respond. She only stared at the doorway where her son had vanished, knowing in her heart that it was already too late.

Deep in The Forest

The campfire flickered, its warm glow casting elongated shadows against the trees. The scent of roasted meat mingled with the crisp night air as knights sat around, engaged in quiet conversations.

Alistair and Jasmine sat together,while Elias stood thoughtfully behind them, their proximity almost casual-almost. Jasmine's gaze drifted between the two men, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

She leaned forward slightly, swirling the wine in her cup. "You two always seem to disappear together," she mused, voice light but probing. "It's quite the habit."

Alistair barely reacted, merely sipping his drink. Elias, on the other hand, tilted his head, a smirk playing at his lips. "Do we?"

Jasmine chuckled. "Yes, you do." She tapped a finger against her cup. "It makes one wonder... what could the crown prince and his most trusted knight possibly have to discuss that no one else can hear?"

Alistair met her gaze evenly. "Matters of the kingdom."

Jasmine arched a delicate brow. "Ah, of course. Matters so grave that they must always be spoken of in secret."

Then Alistair excused himself.

Elias chuckled lowly as he sat down across jasmine, leaning back on his hands. "Careful, my lady. You sound jealous."

Jasmine hummed, tapping her lower lip as if in thought. "Jealous? I wouldn't say that." Her gaze flickered toward Alistair. "Just curious."

Alistair returns.

Alistair sighed, setting down his cup. "You should rest, Jasmine. We have a long journey ahead."

She tilted her head, her smirk unwavering. "Perhaps. But humor me-do you ever wonder what people might think?"

Elias's expression remained unreadable, but his fingers curled slightly against his knee.

Alistair remained still, his voice cool. "People think many things. Most of them wrong."

Jasmine smiled, finally leaning back. "Yes, I suppose they do."

Before the conversation could continue, a knight approached and bowed. "Your Highness, may I have a word?"

Alistair stood, nodding. "Elias, stay with Lady Jasmine."

As he walked away, Jasmine turned her attention fully to Elias, studying him with sharp amusement.

"You're loyal to him," she murmured, tracing the rim of her cup.

Elias smirked. "Shouldn't I be? He's my prince."

She exhaled a quiet laugh. "Yes... your prince."

Elias's jaw tensed slightly. "What are you getting at?"

Jasmine smiled, slow and knowing. "Nothing, dear Elias. Just making conversation."

Before he could reply, he caught sight of Alistair in the distance, speaking with the knights. "I should join them."

Jasmine merely waved him off, her smirk deepening as she watched him walk away.

Later That Night

The camp had settled into quiet, most of the knights drifting into sleep. The only sounds were the distant crackle of fire and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Elias moved through the darkness toward Alistair's tent. He didn't have to wait long before the tent flap shifted, and Alistair stepped out, his gaze locking onto Elias's before he motioned for him to follow.

From her own tent, Jasmine's eyes flickered open. She didn't follow. She didn't need to. Instead, she smirked slightly before rolling onto her side, closing her eyes once more.

Deep in the Woods

Alistair and Elias moved through the trees, further from the camp, until the world felt like it belonged to only them. When they reached a secluded clearing, Alistair suddenly turned, pushing Elias against a tree.

Elias barely had time to react before Alistair's lips crashed against his.

The kiss was hungry, desperate-weeks of restraint breaking in an instant. Elias groaned, gripping Alistair's waist and pulling him closer, their bodies pressing together, heat igniting between them.

Alistair's hands roamed over Elias's chest before gripping his jaw, deepening the kiss. Elias exhaled sharply against his lips, fingers threading through Alistair's hair.

They broke apart briefly, breathless.

"She's cunning," Elias murmured, voice rough.

Alistair exhaled heavily, his fingers tightening in Elias's cloak. "What?"

"Jasmine." Elias's hands slid to Alistair's hips, gripping firmly. "She watches too closely. Follows when she shouldn't."

"Then stop provoking her."said Alistair irritatedly

Elias's fingers flexed against him. "I have a bad feeling about her."

Alistair growled lowly, his lips grazing along Elias's jaw. "That's enough about Jasmine."

Alistair's frustration snapped. He grabbed Elias's collar, silencing him with another fevered kiss.

Elias responded instantly, tilting his head to deepen it, hands slipping under Alistair's cloak, fingers pressing against warm skin. The heat between them was unbearable, intoxicating.

Alistair bit Elias's lower lip before pulling away just enough to murmur against his mouth. "You talk too much."

Elias smirked breathlessly. "And you avoid too much."

Alistair didn't answer. Instead, he claimed Elias's lips once more, a silent promise that, at least for tonight, nothing else existed but them.