Chapter 74: chapter 74

Inside the castle, silence blanketed the stone corridors like a heavy shroud. Amelia tiptoed through the hallway, the hem of her gown brushing against the polished floors, the only sound accompanying her being the faint rustle of fabric. Everyone must have gone to sleep, she thought, glancing around nervously.She had almost reached the last section of the long corridor near her chamber when a sudden movement caught her eye. A figure detached itself from the shadows—tall, broad-shouldered, and standing as still as the stone pillars around him.Her heart leapt painfully against her ribs. Felix.Panic surged in her chest. Why is he here? Was he waiting for me? Her mind raced. That means… he saw us. If that’s the case, I’m finished.As she drew closer, she quickly composed herself and bowed with a faint, practiced smile. “Sir Felix.”There was a pause—long enough to make her nervous. Then she added awkwardly, “You stayed up late.”Felix did not return her smile. The usual gentleness in his face had vanished. His expression was unreadable, his jaw tight. He regarded her in silence for a moment before speaking, his voice low, controlled.“Where have you been, my lady?”Amelia lowered her eyes, willing herself to stay calm. “I stepped out to the balcony... I just needed some air.”“Isn’t it a little too late for that?” he said quietly, almost accusingly.She hesitated. Her throat felt dry. She wanted to explain, but feared that too many words might unravel her. She simply looked away, unable to meet his gaze.Felix took a step forward, his expression darkening. “You weren’t on the balcony, my lady.”Her breath caught. So he had seen her. Or perhaps he was bluffing. She couldn’t be sure.Seeing her silence, he let out a slow breath. “Go to your chamber, my lady. Don’t wander the halls at night. It’s not safe.”There was something in his tone—neither gentle nor cruel—that made her feel like a child caught in the act. She bowed her head.“Yes, Sir Felix,” she whispered, then turned and walked swiftly to her room, her footsteps light, but her heart heavy.Once inside, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, exhaling shakily. The room was dark and still. Her maids were still asleep.If Felix doesn’t know what happened, she thought, then perhaps Caspian wouldn’t know either. But if Felix knows the truth... then it’s only a matter of time before Caspian does. And then—She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the thought away. She didn’t want to imagine what might come next.Quietly, she crossed the room and slipped into bed. The sheets were cool, but her body was warm with anxiety. As she lay still, eyes fixed on the shadows above her, she tried to calm the storm in her heart.Sleep came slowly—restless and filled with uncertainty.When Amelia opened her eyes, morning light streamed through the tall windows, bathing the room in a soft golden hue. The sheer curtains danced gently in the breeze, carrying with it the scent of distant flowers. For a moment, she lay still, trying to remember where she was—what had happened.The voices of her maids broke the quiet.“Good morning, my lady,” came the chorus in cheerful tones.Andrea, practically bounced as she added, “His Majesty has returned—just at dawn!”She said it as though she were delivering joyous news. But the smile that had begun to form on Amelia’s lips faded instantly. Her body tensed under the covers, her heart dropping like a stone in her chest.Before she could respond, the door swung open with no warning. Violet strode in briskly, her expression unreadable but her tone sharp.“A lady shouldn’t be lying in bed when the sun is nearly at its peak,” she declared, walking straight to the window to pull the curtains wide open. “It’s time for your bath. And after that, we have a full day of lessons. You have much to learn, and little time to waste.”Amelia groaned under her breath, “Another headache.”But she knew better than to argue with Violet. With a resigned sigh, she sat up and allowed herself to be led into her morning routine. Later, dressed in a soft lavender gown with her hair loosely braided behind her, Amelia made her way to the dining hall. The vast chamber was mostly empty—save for one figure seated at the far end of the long table.Caspian.He was alone, his posture relaxed, his eyes fixed on the plate before him as he cut into his food with steady precision. Her heart skipped, then quickened. She hesitated at the threshold before stepping in, forcing a small, nervous smile onto her lips.“Your Majesty,” she said gently. “Good morning. How have you been? I haven’t seen you since yesterday.”Caspian didn’t look up. He took another bite, chewing slowly, and finally said, “Why? Do you have something to tell me?”His voice was calm, but there was a sharp undertone that made her palms sweat. And then, he looked at her—his eyes like twin blades, cutting through her thoughts, reading the things she tried so hard to hide.Amelia swallowed hard, her voice faltering. “It was about... last time we spoke. I—I said something I shouldn’t have, and I regret it.”Still not looking at her, Caspian said evenly, “Don’t regret it. You spoke from your heart. I know you meant every word.”Her mouth parted in shock. “No, Your Majesty. I do regret it. I was angry. I shouldn’t have said those terrible things to you. I didn’t mean them... not a single word.”Finally, he looked at her—but his gaze was unreadable.“Eat your food,” he said, “before you choke on your guilt.”That silenced her.Amelia lowered her eyes and took her seat quietly. She didn’t speak again, and neither did he. The only sounds were the soft clinking of cutlery and the echo of unspoken truths between them.