Chapter 34: Chapter 34

KAMORA

As instructed, Greyson arranged a meeting with the former maid. She returned to Maroke Manor three days later.

Lord Maroke entered the guest room where she waited, his posture regal and his expression calm. It helped that he had taken the white powdery substance a few hours earlier.

He still didn’t know its name—an oversight he mentally noted to correct by asking Greyson. The maid stood as he walked in and bowed.

“Good day, my lord.”

She was petite, barely reaching his chest, with fine wrinkles etched across her face. Despite her composed stance, she glanced around the room anxiously, as though expecting something to leap from the shadows.

Lord Maroke approached with deliberate, measured steps, hands clasped behind his back. He came to stand before her.

“Look up,” he ordered.

She obeyed instantly, raising her gaze.

He studied her for a moment, then moved past her and gestured to the chair opposite his. She sat without question.

Lord Maroke waited until she was seated. “Greyson mentioned you had something to say,” he began. “He’s told you why you’re here, yes?”

“Yes, my lord,” she replied with a quick nod.

“I want to hear it from you directly. Tell me everything you saw.”

The maid swallowed hard and lowered her eyes to her clasped hands. “It was an ordinary day,” she began quietly. “You and Lord Greyson were out on official business. Lady Kamora was in her chambers, caring for the newborn—your son, just a few hours old then. I was bringing her some wet clothes for the child when Head Maid Claudia announced that the princess had arrived at the manor.”

She paused, her voice tightening slightly. “We were all confused. It was rare for you to receive any visitors, let alone someone of royal blood. The princess asked for you but was told you weren’t around. Then she asked to see your lady. Head maid told her she was tending to the baby. Still, the princess insisted.”

Lord Maroke remained still, absorbing every word.

“I was told to escort her. First, I led her to the guest room, but she didn’t want to wait. She demanded to be taken directly to Lady Kamora. So, I brought her to Lady Kamora.”

Her eyes darkened with guilt. “I left them alone for a little over an hour in the birth room. When the Princess came out, she looked…satisfied. Pleased with herself.”

She paused again, twisting her fingers in her lap. “I escorted her out, then returned to assist your lady. But something about her had changed. She was distracted—so unlike her. From the moment she gave birth, she had always been focused, nurturing. That day, I called out to her several times before she even noticed I was there. Once, I thought I heard her sniffle, but when I looked, her face was dry. I thought I’d imagined it.”

Lord Maroke’s mind reeled. If what the maid said was true, Kamora hadn’t left by choice.

Something—or someone—had driven her away.

“I left the manor that evening for an errand outside town,” the maid continued, “By the time I returned the next day, she was gone. No one would tell me anything. The entire manor felt…strange. Everyone acted differently. Looked at me differently. I couldn’t stay. I quit soon after.”

Lord Maroke leaned forward slightly. “Why do you keep calling her my lady?”

The maid blinked. “Habit, I suppose. That’s what we called her before your marriage.”

“What was she like, after the princess left?”

“As I said, distracted. Like her mind had gone elsewhere. I couldn’t reach her, no matter how I tried.”

Lord Maroke stood slowly, the gravity of the situation settling heavily in his chest. If this was true, then Kamora didn’t abandon him—she was manipulated.

And not just that… The memory loss, the confusion—it was all too orchestrated to be a coincidence. The princess had planned this.

“Thank you for your help,” he said, rising. “You’ll be rewarded generously.”

“Thank you, my lord,” she said, bowing low. “Thank you.”

He turned toward the door. But just as his hand touched the handle, her voice called out behind him.

“My lord—has she been found?”

He paused. Without turning, he gave a single nod.

Behind him, he heard her exhale deeply. “Thank the heavens,” she whispered.

Lord Maroke opened the door and stepped outside. Greyson stood waiting near the entrance.

“Give her a generous reward,” Maroke said without preamble. “Then meet me in my study. We have work to do.”

“Work, my lord?” Greyson asked.

But Lord Maroke didn’t respond. His face remained calm, but his entire body radiated tension.

It was time to investigate the princess—and uncover who she ~really~ was.

***

Just as Kamora had feared, the young lord had been avoiding her for nearly two weeks—and she could no longer take it.

It was evening, and Jarosh had gone to bed early, declaring that he was not to be disturbed. But Kamora knew him too well. When he made such announcements, it usually meant he was busy with something he didn’t want others to see.

So, she waited an hour, then made her way quietly to his room. She eased the door open and stepped inside.

Jarosh, seated on the floor, was playing with a set of wooden toys his father had gifted him the day before. He scrunched his face in irritation. “I thought I said no disturbances,” he grumbled.

Kamora smiled softly and shut the door behind her. “Not even for me?”

“Especially you,” he huffed, refusing to look at her.

She walked over and sat down across from him. “Why are you avoiding me, Jarosh?”

He said nothing, his eyes shifting away. Kamora stayed silent, watching him patiently until he grew visibly irritated.

“What? Why are you just staring at me? Can’t you see I’m busy?”

Her gaze drifted to the toys, and her heart warmed. He was slowly embracing childhood.

When they’d first met, he would have tossed the toys aside, claiming they were beneath him. Almost as if reading her mind, Jarosh abruptly pushed the toys away.

He avoided her eyes. “I was just studying how they were made,” he muttered.

“So now you’re interested in woodworking?” she teased. “What happened to your love for food?”

“I can like more than one thing,” he shot back quickly.

“That’s a shame,” Kamora said playfully. “I bought a new snack for us to try, but since you’ve been avoiding me, I wasn’t sure you’d want it. And now, woodworking seems to have taken over.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Can’t a person have two interests?”

“Of course,” she said, smiling. “I’ll give it to you—but only if you tell me why you’re avoiding me.”

Jarosh looked away again, silent for a moment. Then finally, he spoke.

“I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”

Kamora’s smile faded. She waited.

“Father says you’re my mother. But you don’t believe it,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “What if it’s all wrong? What if this is just one big trick from the universe?”

Kamora took a deep breath. “You’re not the only one who’s scared, Jarosh. I’m afraid too. I was found in a forest, nearly dead, saved only by a group of hunters.”

“I didn’t want to remember anything—because I was terrified that whatever had left me in that condition might come back.”

Jarosh turned to face her now, his eyes softer.

“And now,” she continued, “when I discovered you might be my child, I became even more afraid. What if the thing I tried so hard to forget comes for you, too?”

“Is that why you keep pulling away?” he asked, his voice low.

She nodded. “You’ve become my favorite person, Jarosh. If forgetting everything again is what it takes to keep you safe, I would.”

“Don’t say that,” he said quickly. “Father’s here now. He’ll make sure nothing happens to us.”

Kamora didn’t reply to that.

Lord Maroke had been affected too—perhaps more than either of them knew. She wasn’t sure he could protect them from what had already happened once.

“So…” she began carefully. “Do you forgive me?”

Jarosh sighed and shuffled closer before wrapping his small arms around her. “I hate to admit it, but I missed you too.”

Kamora chuckled and hugged him back tightly, breathing in the comforting scent of milk and woodsmoke clinging to him. She had missed this—missed him.

He pulled away first. “We’ll talk more later. But right now, you mentioned a snack… What is it?”

She stood, holding his hand. “Why don’t you come and see for yourself?”

They walked out of the room together, just as Claudia and another maid came around the corner.

The maid, holding a tray of sweets, bowed as soon as she spotted the young lord.

Kamora gave Claudia a polite nod. Claudia stared at Kamora for an uncomfortably long moment before finally addressing Jarosh.

“My lord, I was told you hadn’t eaten your evening snack.”

“And you were planning to wake me for it?” He frowned. “I said I didn’t want to be disturbed.”

Claudia’s eyes flicked back to Kamora.

“We saw light coming from under your door and assumed you were still awake.”

Jarosh looked slightly abashed. “Oh. Well, there’s no need now. Kamora already brought something for me.”

The look Claudia gave Kamora was tight with restrained disapproval. For a moment, it looked like she wanted to say something more—but instead, she offered a brittle smile.

“No problem then. I’ll take this back,” she said. She bowed and left with the maid trailing behind.

“So…where are we going?” Jarosh asked, excitement creeping back into his voice.

Kamora smiled, her heart lighter.

“To the kitchen. There’s a lot waiting for you there.”