chapter 40

Chapter 40

The heavy doors creaked open with an echo that stilled every voice in the chamber. Esmeralda swept in like a storm in silk, her emerald gown trailing behind her like coiled venom.

At the head of the room, King Tommen sat with his usual icy composure, fingers curled loosely around the armrest of his chair. To his right, Prince Hosea lounged, half-interested, listening to the royal herald-a lean, gray-robed man with scrolls in hand, reading dispatches from the northern borders.

As the queen's sharp steps pierced the quiet, all eyes turned.

"Leave us," Esmeralda commanded, her voice laced with fury.

But Tommen, without even glancing at her, raised a hand calmly. "No one leaves."

The herald paused awkwardly. Hosea, lounging with one leg crossed over the other, tilted his head slightly and observed his stepmother with a faint, mocking smile. The flicker in his eyes did not escape Esmeralda.

She stepped closer, her gaze burning holes through both men. "Here you are, having your little family reunion-after banishing my father. Your father-in-law."

Tommen laughed-cold, careless, cruel. "What did you expect, Esmeralda? That I'd let him keep poisoning the court? Stirring shadows behind my back?" He turned his head now, eyes sharp as frost. "You're a fool if you ever thought I'd allow that."

A faint, amused exhale escaped Hosea. Esmeralda's jaw tightened at the sound.

Her rage surged. "You humiliated him before the realm!"

Tommen shrugged. "He made his bed. And soon, you'll have your sweet family reunion. You'll join him."

Esmeralda smirked, stepping closer still, chin held high. "You could never afford that. Not while Raymar breathes."

That made Tommen's smirk fade-just slightly. Then, his voice dropped an octave, dark and deep like the depths of winter.

"You overestimate yourself, Esmeralda."

She glanced between him and Hosea-his face still painted in that infuriating smirk. She hated them both in that moment.

Then she turned for the door-but paused.

And with a slow, deliberate look over her shoulder, she said, "You may be able to get rid of me, Tommen. But don't think you'll be able to erase me like you erased Celine."

The air in the room stilled. Hosea's expression faltered-just briefly. A shadow passed through his eyes.

Esmeralda saw it. She smiled.

Then she left.

Silence lingered behind her like a scream waiting to burst.

The herald coughed awkwardly and bowed. "Your Majesties." He excused himself quickly, leaving the king and prince alone.

They said nothing for a moment.

Then Hosea rose. "I shall take my leave, Father."

He reached the doors.

Tommen's voice stopped him. "I loved your mother. I would never have hurt her."

Hosea stood still for a moment, his back to him. Then, without turning, he answered.

"And yet you took another wife only few days after her death."

He left without waiting for a reply.

Tommen remained seated in the great chamber, surrounded by silence, his thoughts darker than the shadowed hall.

------

Citadel - Midday Gardens

The midday sun filtered through the tall glass windows of the Citadel's inner garden, painting soft golden patterns on the marble benches. Alissa sat beneath the shade of a flowering tree, a book half-open on her lap, her eyes more on the drifting clouds than the page. Beside her, Mara was humming softly, twisting her braid between her fingers, while Rihannon munched on dried apple slices, legs crossed elegantly.

"I think we'll be tested on magical roots again," Rihannon said, offering the plate to the others.

Before Alissa could answer, a sudden wave of hushed whispers and soft giggles rippled through the courtyard.

Mara tilted her head. "What's going on now?"

They followed the trail of stares from the surrounding girls. A group had gone still, some blushing furiously, others adjusting their hair or giggling behind hands. The cause became clear when the girls' eyes led to a small group of boys walking through the far archway-Ronan and his companions, laughing among themselves, books slung lazily under their arms.

Alissa shook her head.

"Isn't he handsome?" Mara sighed dramatically, a dreamy look settling over her face as she stared at Ronan, who casually brushed his golden-brown hair from his face and smiled at something one of his friends said.

Alissa rolled her eyes.

Mara caught it instantly. "Wait-don't tell me you don't think he's handsome?"

"I don't," Alissa replied plainly, not even looking up from her book.

Rihannon grinned. "That's what happens when you're in love. Every other man just looks... ordinary."

Mara laughed. "I want to be in love too."

Rihannon raised a brow. "Or you could just invest that energy into studying."

They all burst into laughter, their carefree joy echoing lightly through the quiet garden. And though Alissa said nothing more, her eyes briefly flicked toward the north tower where she knew Adam would be reading in solitude.

Her smile was quiet-but real.

Just as their laughter faded into the warm afternoon air, a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite roommate," said Ronan, his tone playfully arrogant as he strolled toward them, hands tucked into his dark cloak.

Alissa didn't even look up.

Mara, on the other hand, looked like she forgot how to breathe. Even Rihannon-always the composed one-sat up a little straighter, a flush rising in her cheeks as Ronan came to a stop before them.

He swept a casual glance over the group and grinned. "And who might these lovely ladies be?"

Mara opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Ronan chuckled, clearly used to the effect. He stepped forward and, in true courtly fashion, took Rihannon's hand first, brushing a kiss against her knuckles. "Rihannon, right?"

She nodded, too stunned to speak.

Then he turned to Mara, who still hadn't recovered. "And you must be Mara."

Another kiss to her hand, slower this time, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as her face turned bright pink.

"I'll leave you and your friends alone, sir Alissa," he added with a dramatic bow and a teasing wink.

Alissa finally looked up, unimpressed. "Delightful. Please do."

Ronan just laughed and strolled off, whistling to himself as he disappeared through the ivy-covered arch.

The moment he was out of sight, Rihannon turned to Alissa. "You didn't tell us Ronan was your roommate."

"It's not exactly something I consider a blessing," Alissa replied dryly. "More like a mild torment. So, no-I didn't think it was necessary."

"What do you mean, 'not important'?" Mara asked, finally regaining her voice.

Alissa sighed. "Can we please go back to things that actually matter?"

"Fine, fine," Rihannon murmured, though her eyes were still on the path Ronan had taken.

Mara, however, made no attempt to hide the fact that she was still staring. "Back to reality,"said Rihannon, Mara muttered wistfully, clutching her notebook like it could somehow bring her back to earth.

Alissa rolled her eyes. This was going to be a long afternoon.