Chapter 72: chapter 72

Ivar stood at the edge of the hill, his sharp eyes fixed on the capital below. From where he stood, the castle loomed in the distance—tall, formidable, proud. Its towers pierced the sky like spears, and its stone walls glistened faintly under the dying light of day.He knew what he was about to do could jeopardize many lives—innocent ones. But no matter how much he tried to convince himself to wait, to think, to be rational… his heart wouldn’t let him.He loved Amelia.And love had made him reckless.He had to get her out. Away from the cold walls, away from the gilded cage she was trapped in. He would burn this place to the ground if it meant keeping her safe. But brute force wasn’t the answer—not here, not now.He needed a plan. A grand one. One that would get him inside those castle walls without raising alarm. So he waited. Waited for nightfall—when the shadows would become his allies and the guards would grow weary.Back inside the castle, Amelia was pacing her chamber like a bird trapped in a golden cage. Her footsteps echoed softly against the marble floors, and her hands twisted the edge of her sleeves.Her mind was a storm.Elise, her maid, watched her with quiet concern. “My Lady… please, calm yourself. You’re making yourself ill. What troubles you?”Amelia paused mid-step, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s nothing, Elise. Truly.”But it was not nothing.She hadn’t told her maids what happened in the garden. How she had shouted at the king—called him names that no one had ever dared to even whisper. If word of it leaked… she didn’t want to imagine what Caspian’s men might do.Her chest tightened with dread.She sat at the edge of her bed, burying her face in her hands. “How could I say those things?” she thought bitterly. “What if he punishes my family to teach me a lesson? What if I’ve ruined everything?”In a fit of frustration, she pulled at her hair, eyes wide with panic. “No, no—I have to apologize. I have to show him I wasn’t in my right mind. That I regret everything.”Her sudden mood swings left Elise and the other maids baffled. They exchanged worried glances but remained silent.Amelia’s only hope now was dinner. That was when she would see him again. That was when she would fall to her knees if she had to, just to make it right.Evening arrived.Amelia stepped into the grand dining hall with careful poise, her hands trembling slightly at her sides. The long table stretched before her, polished and set with fine silverware and golden plates.But something was wrong.The chairs were empty. The room was silent.She looked around, confused. “Where is everyone?” she asked a nearby maid.The maid bowed slightly. “His Majesty has left the capital, my Lady. There was an urgent matter that required his presence. Queen Rosaline has also departed to visit her brother in her hometown.”Amelia stood frozen for a moment, her mind racing.Why now? Where did he go?Her thoughts turned dark. What if he went to my village? What if he’s trying to hurt my family because of me?Panic surged in her chest. She forced herself to stay composed and nodded. “I see. I… I don’t have an appetite tonight. I’ll take my leave.”Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked swiftly down the corridor, her destination already in mind.The courtroom was filled with ministers and noble advisors, all deep in discussion over scrolls and maps.When Amelia pushed open the doors, the room fell into stunned silence. Heads turned. Eyes widened.She had never entered this space before—not uninvited, and never alone.Felix, Caspian’s most trusted advisor, quickly rose from his seat and approached her. “My Lady,” he said gently, his voice carrying both surprise and concern. “What are you doing here?”Amelia looked around, suddenly aware of how out of place she was. Her courage wavered. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”Felix motioned toward the hall and guided her outside with a soft hand on her back.Once the doors closed behind them, he looked at her kindly. “Is something wrong, Lady Amelia?”She hesitated, then looked him straight in the eyes. “Where is His Majesty, Felix? Did he… did he go to my village?”Her voice trembled slightly, and her eyes shimmered with fear and worry.Felix’s expression softened with understanding. He offered a reassuring smile. “No, my Lady. I promise—it’s nothing like that. His Majesty has traveled west to attend to a diplomatic matter. He left me in charge until his return.”A soft breath of relief escaped her lips. Her shoulders sagged as the tension drained from her body.“I… thank you, Sir Felix,” she said with a quiet bow.Felix inclined his head. “Would you like me to escort you back to your chamber?”Amelia gave a small smile and gently declined. “No, sir. That won’t be necessary.” She glanced back toward the courtroom. “Please—return to your duties. I didn’t mean to disrupt anything.”He nodded respectfully, then watched as she turned and walked down the corridor alone.Her steps echoed softly in the empty hall, her mind no longer racing with panic, but with a quieter, heavier thought.He wasn’t out to hurt her family.Amelia felt a heavy breath of relief ease from her chest. At least Caspian hadn’t gone to harm her family—Felix had assured her of that, and somehow, she trusted him. She didn’t know why.Perhaps it was the gentleness in his voice, or the way his eyes, warm and sincere, seemed incapable of cruelty. He carried an almost angelic smile—soft, pure, untouched by the hardness that was so rare within the castle walls.The hours dragged on. Amelia had skipped her dinner, and now, as midnight deepened and the castle lay in slumber, her stomach growled in quiet protest. Sleep would not come to her.She turned her head and glanced toward her two maids, Elise and Andrea, both curled up on the floor by her bed, fast asleep. Amelia bit her lip, not wanting to disturb them. Quietly, she slipped from her chamber, careful to make no noise.The halls were eerily silent, bathed in the silver glow of the moonlight spilling through the tall, narrow windows. She knew the way to the kitchens.When she reached the kitchen door, she pushed it open gently. The room was empty, its great hearth cold and dark, with only a few faint candles still flickering.Good. No one was there to see her.Amelia moved swiftly, her eyes scanning the room. Her gaze landed on a basket filled with fruit sitting atop a counter. She smiled faintly and reached out to pluck a ripe apple from the pile.But just as her fingers brushed the fruit, a soft sound behind her made her freeze.The kitchen door creaked as it swung shut.Amelia slowly turned—and her heart nearly stopped.In the dim candlelight, she saw a man.He was cloaked in black from head to toe—his face hidden beneath dark fabric. He closed the door with deliberate care, as if trying not to make a sound.Fear surged up Amelia’s spine.Before he could see her, she slipped a small knife from the nearby counter, clutching it tightly in her hand. Moving quickly but silently, she ducked behind a large shelf stacked with pots and sacks of flour.Her heart pounded so loudly she feared he might hear it.The man began to move around the kitchen, searching for something. His movements were slow, calculated. Amelia watched, barely daring to breathe.Maybe he just came for food, she thought desperately. Like me.Still, she knew it would be disastrous if anyone caught her here alone with a stranger. Her reputation would be shattered beyond repair.The man turned, and to her horror, started walking straight toward the shelf where she was hiding.Panic seized her.He must have seen me.She knew she had to act. She gripped the knife tighter and, with a burst of adrenaline, darted out from her hiding place, sprinting toward the door.But the man was faster.He lunged toward her, his gloved hand reaching for her shoulder.Amelia twisted violently, instinct taking over. She slashed blindly with the knife.The blade caught his arm.A grunt escaped him as blood splattered across the floor, dark and sticky in the candlelight.The man recoiled, clutching his wounded arm.Amelia wasted no time. She threw open the kitchen door and fled into the hall, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.She ran, her only thought: escape.