Chapter 77: chapter 77

Amelia was running through the corridor, wiping her tears with the back of her palm. Her heart was pounding, and her breaths came in shallow bursts. She just wanted to get away—from everything, from everyone. But before she could turn the corner, she heard footsteps. Slow. Confident. Dangerous.Rosaline stood at the end of the corridor, her eyes fixed on Amelia. A cruel smile curved her lips as if she had been waiting for this moment. She took a step forward. And then another.Amelia saw her coming. She quickly steadied herself, straightened her back, and lowered her head to hide her tear-streaked face. She didn’t want Rosaline to see her like this—broken.Rosaline stopped in front of her. "Running away, are we?" Rosaline's voice was like velvet—soft, yet threaded with malice. “Or were you just taking a stroll with your sorrow?”Her voice was sweet, but there was poison behind every word.“What happened, love?” she asked softly. “Did my son say something to you that made you upset?”Amelia shook her head. Her voice came out small, but steady.“No, Your Grace. It’s not like that. Something got into my eyes. It’s just the burning sensation. Please don’t concern yourself about me.”Rosaline didn’t believe a word of it.Rosaline tilted her head, amused by the obvious lie. She stepped closer until only a breath of space stood between them. Then, with a deceptive gentleness, she reached out and lifted Amelia’s chin with two gloved fingers, forcing the girl to meet her gaze.“Sweet love,” she whispered, “you are so naive. Too fragile for a place like this. You need someone to survive. You may have noticed that already.” Her hand dropped from Amelia’s chin and slid to her arm, gripping it with quiet authority. "That someone... could be me, if you want.”Before Amelia could respond, Rosaline grabbed her arm. Her hold was gentle, yet there was something about it that made Amelia’s heart race.Rosaline started to walk, and Amelia had no choice but to follow.Still, something in her voice trembled as she asked, “Where... where are we going?”Rosaline glanced over her shoulder, her smile still painted delicately on her lips. “To talk. That’s all. Somewhere quieter, where no one will disturb us.” Her grip tightened ever so slightly. “You said I shouldn’t concern myself, but I think you need someone to look after you."She didn’t want to go, but saying no to the former queen  would be disrespectful. And more than that—it could cause trouble. Big trouble.So she followed her. Unwillingly. Quietly. And with a heavy heart.Rosaline walked slowly, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She didn’t speak at first, letting the silence settle like a thick fog between them. It wasn’t just silence—it was power, deliberate and heavy. Amelia kept her gaze lowered, her arm still in the Former Queen’s grip. Her fingers had gone numb—not from the chill in the air, but from the quiet fear curling in her chest.They stopped outside a chamber Amelia had never seen before. It was secluded, tucked away in one of the deeper wings of the estate. Rosaline pushed open the heavy wooden door, its hinges groaning softly, and motioned for Amelia to enter.Amelia hesitated for just a breath, then stepped inside.The room was dimly lit. Tall windows stood half-veiled by thick velvet drapes, and a small fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickers of gold and shadow across the stone walls. It wasn’t a sitting room, nor a parlour meant for guests. It was too quiet. Too hidden. A room meant for secrets.Rosaline closed the door behind them with a soft click.“You may sit,” she said, gesturing to a cushioned chair near the fire. Then she added with a faint smile, “Last time we were speaking, my son interrupted us.”Amelia lowered herself onto the chair without a word, folding her hands in her lap. The firelight danced on her skin, but she felt no warmth. She didn’t know what this meeting meant, but something inside warned her to tread carefully.Rosaline moved to the fireplace, standing before it with her back turned. The flames lit the edges of her figure in amber, giving her the appearance of something untouchable—almost regal.“You are not like the other noble girls,” she said at last, her voice measured, thoughtful. “You’re going to be queen—but you don’t carry your pride like a sword. You don’t preen. You don’t gossip. You watch. You listen.”Rosaline turned slightly, enough for Amelia to see her profile.“And that,” she said, her gaze sharp as glass, “makes you far more dangerous than you realize.”Amelia’s brows furrowed at Rosaline’s words, confusion flashing across her face. Her back straightened, and she spoke quickly, her voice barely above a whisper.“Your Grace, I meant no harm to the King. I assure you of that.”There was a trace of desperation in her tone—not from guilt, but from fear. Fear that Rosaline might twist something she didn’t understand into something dangerous.Rosaline slowly turned to face her, a smile playing on her lips—calm, measured, and far too knowing.“I know that you are held in this castle... against your will.”Amelia’s heart skipped a beat. Her breath caught in her throat.She stared at the Former Queen, unsure of what she had just heard. How could she know?More importantly—why was she saying this now?“I...” Amelia struggled to form words. “I’m not... I mean, it’s not like that.Rosaline stepped forward, cutting her off without raising her voice.“You came because you had no choice. Let us not play pretend, dear. Not here. Not with me.” Her eyes locked onto Amelia’s.Amelia opened her mouth, then closed it. She looked down, her hands tightening in her lap. There was a truth in Rosaline’s words that she hadn’t dared admit even to herself.Rosaline’s voice dropped, soft as silk, but edged with iron.“I can help you, Amelia,” she said, her gaze fixed and unblinking. “I can free you from this torment. And I am the only one who can do that. I have the power to make it so.”Amelia’s eyes flickered upward, startled by the boldness of the promise. Her voice trembled, but the question came clear.“And why would you do that? Why would you go against your own son?”For the first time, Rosaline’s smile faded. The lightness in her eyes vanished, replaced by something far more serious—cold, calculating.“Because,” she said, “I believe your goal and mine... may be the same.”The room fell silent. The offer hung in the air—dangerous, tempting, too well-timed.Amelia lowered her gaze. Her heart beat faster, but she said nothing.She didn’t trust Rosaline—not her words, not her intentions. The woman was clever, too clever.Rosaline studied her carefully. She could see the doubt in Amelia’s silence. A small smile returned to her lips.“I understand your concern,” she said lightly, folding her hands in her lap. “I am not doing this out of charity. Nothing in this place is ever free. We will help each other, Amelia.”She leaned forward, her voice sharper now, almost whispering.“You are his weakness. I can use that. Use you. To bring him down.”Amelia’s breath hitched, her fingers tightening in her lap.“And in return,” Rosaline added, “you will be free. From him.”The words struck deep. Amelia had dreamed of freedom from Caspian, but not like this—this wasn't the way.Rosaline tilted her head, her eyes trying to read Amelia’s face.“Will you help me, Amelia?”The room was heavy with stillness. Amelia parted her lips, ready to speak, to respond—but Rosaline raised a hand gently.“Take your time, love,” she said with a faint smile. “There’s no need to rush. Think carefully before you answer.”Amelia gave a small nod, her thoughts spinning like leaves in a storm.Rosaline leaned back, exhaling deeply.“You may leave now, sweet girl. And do keep our little conversation... just between us.”Amelia stood slowly, legs a little unsteady. She bowed her head with quiet respect, then turned and walked out of the chamber, her footsteps silent against the cold stone floor.As the door shut behind her and Rosaline sat alone, her eyes fixed on the fire, lips curling ever so slightly.She had planted the seed.Now she would wait for it to grow.