Chapter 78: chapter 78

Far beyond the snowy edges of Oslo, nestled among the evergreen hills of Oakridge, lived May Authbert—the Duchess of Oakridge, and sister to the late king. Her manor was quiet, surrounded by frost-tipped pines and the kind of silence that echoes with memory. Widowed early in life and never blessed with children, May had poured her heart into her brother’s sons, Caspian and Aron. She loved them not as nephews, but as the sons she never had. And Caspian, especially, had always held a part of her that no one else could reach. He was thoughtful, guarded, and deeply loyal. Of everyone in the family, he trusted only her.When May received his letter—written in Caspian’s familiar neat script—her hands lingered on the seal before opening it. she read it slowly, her eyes catching on one particular line: “I intend to marry a girl named Amelia.” Her breath caught softly in her chest. A smile crept across her lips. She folded the letter and placed it against her heart for a long moment, before rising and calling for her carriage to be prepared.When her black coach, crested with the silver emblem of Oakridge, pulled into the castle courtyard, a hush fell over the halls. Servants exchanged whispers: The Duchess of Oakridge has arrived. Word spread quickly, reaching Amelia even before the castle bells announced the hour. She was in her chamber when she heard. They met that evening, in the golden glow of the dining hall. Candlelight played across the long table, casting soft shadows on the velvet drapes. May entered without announcement, needing none. Her presence alone commanded attention. She was tall, proud, and wore her years like a well-cut cloak. Silver strands threaded through her dark hair, and her eyes, sharp and gentle all at once, swept the room until they found Amelia.Everyone in the hall rose and bowed in respect as the Duchess entered, and Amelia, too, followed suit with a graceful bow of her head.May crossed the room at a deliberate pace and paused before her. “You must be Amelia,” she said, her voice warm and low.“I am, Your Grace,” Amelia replied, with a small nod.May took her hand and smiled. “So you are the young woman who’s finally brought warmth back to my nephew’s voice.”Amelia blushed faintly. She knew all too well that everything people believed they saw between her and Caspian—the affection, the love—was a lie. She had never loved him, nor would she, and he felt the same. But deceiving a woman as wise as the Duchess would not be easy.“He is not easy to reach,” May said. “But when he wrote of you, there was something different in his words. A softness I’ve not seen in him for a long time.”Amelia offered a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She said nothing, letting the silence speak for her.Caspian soon joined them and made a proper introduction. They sat beside each other, and as the meal began, the tension that had hovered between them began to ease.The dinner that followed was filled with light conversation and laughter. Several noble families—longtime allies of the crown and friends of the former king, who also knew May—had been invited to attend. The true purpose of hosting this dinner was to formally introduce Amelia to noble society before the upcoming wedding.After dinner, Caspian rose from his seat and quietly excused himself from the grand hall, citing an urgent matter that demanded his attention. The moment he left, the atmosphere shifted. The low hum of clinking cutlery gave way to louder whispers, conversations blending into gossips as people leaned in and exchanged glances. The air felt thick—heavy with judgment, curiosity, and the unspoken words of the noble lords and ladies attending the dinner. Amelia felt like an outsider, misplaced in their polished world. She was the odd one out.Amelia felt it pressing against her chest like an invisible weight. She couldn't breathe freely anymore.  Without saying a word, she slipped out, her steps swift but graceful, and made her way to the large balcony adjacent to the dining hall.The moment she stepped out into the night air, her chest rose with relief. A cool breeze brushed past her, stirring the curls that framed her face. Before her lay a breathtaking view: the vast valley below bathed in moonlight, embraced by the soft shadows of mountains far away. The stars above looked brighter here—untouched by the noise and pretence behind her. This was the very spot where Ivar had abducted her just a few days ago. Her fingers instinctively clutched the edge of the stone railing, grounding herself.Then, breaking the silence, a voice emerged from behind—smooth and teasing.“Need some company?”She turned sharply.It was Aron—Caspian’s younger brother. His presence was like a sudden gust of wind, unexpected and disarming. His dark eyes held a spark of mischief, and he leaned casually against the stone pillar, as though he’d been watching her for a while.Amelia straightened, her composure faltering.“No, sir. I’m perfectly fine. Thank you,” she said, almost too quickly, her voice sharp with polite dismissal.Aron’s eyebrows lifted, amused by her curt tone. A lopsided smile played on his lips.Realising her slip, her heart stumbled. Oh no, what did I just say? Panic rose within her. How could I speak to him like that? He's the king’s brother.“I—I mean to say, you can stay here if you want to. I won’t mind,” she added hastily, eyes avoiding his.He let out a short laugh, genuinely entertained.“What?” she asked, a little defensively. “Why are you laughing?”“You don’t have to be so formal with me,” Aron said, his voice light, but with an edge of something unreadable beneath. “You can say whatever you really want to say.”She exhaled softly, trying to relax her posture. “I just don’t want to cause any trouble.”Aron stepped forward, close enough for her to feel his presence. He bent slightly, lowering his face to her level, and whispered, “I think troubles follow you, my lady. You don’t have to do anything.”Amelia frowned, taken aback. “What’s that supposed to mean?”He straightened with a smirk. “If you want, I can give you a piece of advice.”She hesitated, unsure of his intentions. “Okay... go on.”His voice dropped, softer now, but his eyes bore into hers. “Don’t try to make friends or allies in here. It won’t do any good to you.”Her breath caught. A chill ran through her veins, from the implications of his words. Her mind raced. Does he know about Rosaline? Was someone watching us?“I… I don’t know what you’re saying,” she stammered, struggling to keep her voice steady. “And I don’t know why you’re saying it. I have no friends. No allies here. If I did… I wouldn’t be standing here alone.”Aron tilted his head, still smirking, though something in his expression had shifted—half amusement, half warning.Then, casually but pointedly, he asked, “Do you love my brother?”Amelia swallowed hard, caught off guard. “Yes… I do love your brother. What kind of question is that?”His smirk deepened. “Since when?”Amelia hesitated, her voice faltering. “I… I don’t know. Maybe since the Grand Ball.”Aron turned his gaze to the distant mountains, his tone thoughtful. “Then it’s been a while, hasn’t it… since you two fell in love.”His eyes returned to hers.Amelia answered quickly, her voice barely above a whisper, “Yes, it has.”“I’ll leave you to your peace. Get some rest—tomorrow shall be a tiresome day for you,” Aron said as he turned to leave.“What’s tomorrow?” Amelia asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.“Enjoy your solitary, lady Amelia.” he said with a slight bow of his head, then turned and walked away without another word.Amelia stood frozen, his words echoing in her mind like ripples across still water. They felt so random, yet heavy with meaning. She couldn’t make sense of his motive. Am I in trouble? she wondered silently.She turned back to the valley, but the view no longer comforted her. The night had grown colder. And lonelier.