The Castle

A gentle autumn breeze rustled through the trees, weaving between the chirping birds that flitted from branch to branch. The rhythmic clip-clop of hooves against the dirt road created a steady lullaby, pulling me into a drowsy haze.

When was the last time I felt this at peace? It almost felt unreal—like a dream. Yet, the distant bickering of the two princes felt too familiar, too tangible. The rustling leaves reminded me of laughter—my laughter. This wasn’t a dream.

“We’re here.”

A soldier’s voice jolted me awake. My stiff muscles protested as I shifted, forcing my heavy eyes open. In the distance, the silhouette of a grand structure loomed against the sky.

“Enjoyed your nap?”

A voice behind me made me turn. Prince Adrian sat there, looking exhausted but still managing a lazy grin.

“Prince Adrian…” I blinked, my mind sluggish.

“What? For a second, I thought you’d forgotten me again.” His smirk widened, but my thoughts were still tangled in the remnants of sleep.

Forgotten? I didn’t even remember him in the first place.

“Still sleepy?” he teased. “You cried about not wanting to come earlier, but you seem pretty comfortable now.”

I barely registered his chuckle. The dream still clung to me, like a whisper at the back of my mind.

“Well, it would’ve been better if he slept a little longer.”

The deep voice pulled me from my thoughts. I turned to see the prince on his black horse, his gaze unreadable.

“Yes, his welcome won’t be pleasant,” Prince Adrian added.

Their words drifted past me. My mind was too fogged to grasp their meaning. All I knew was that exhaustion weighed on me like chains. I just desired a place to rest anywhere was fine, even the floor anywhere except for a cage, thinking back to when I got locked in a dog's enclosure for a month for not obeying one of Lady’s orders. The mere thought sent a shudder through me.

As we entered the castle grounds, murmurs rippled through the gathered crowd. Their admiration for the prince was obvious, but I tried to make myself invisible, hoping they wouldn’t notice a mere servant sitting beside royalty. Yet, amidst the whispers, a name caught my ear.

“Za… Zay…”

It hovered on my tongue, painfully familiar yet just out of reach.

“Zayden,” Prince Adrian supplied, making me flinch.

I turned to him, startled. “How… do you know that name?”

He gave me a knowing look. “Well, even though we argue constantly, I can’t exactly forget my own brother’s name.”

His brother?

I stared at him, the name echoing in my mind. It felt significant—like a thread to something I’d lost.

“So you really don’t remember?” Prince Adrian’s smile faltered as if the realization stung.

Before I could respond, Prince Adrian forced a smirk. “Phew! Finally, can we move on? Or does Mr. Handsome need more time with his admirers?”

Prince Zayden, unfazed, turned to me instead. “Are you alright?”

His voice carried a warmth that felt… familiar. I managed a small nod.

“I’m fine,” I murmured.

A gentle smile tugged at his lips.

“We’re back,” Prince Adrian sighed, his voice tinged with something unreadable.

“We are,” Prince Zayden agreed. “But we still need to pass through the palace gates.”

I glanced between them, confused.

Soon, the towering metal gates loomed before us, larger than anything I’d ever seen. Beyond them, the castle stood like something out of a storybook—grand, imposing, breathtaking.

As the horses slowed, the guards bowed in greeting, but I was too preoccupied with Prince Adrian’s earlier words, a gnawing sense of unease settling in my gut.

Then, without warning—

“You! Get down. Now.”

A harsh voice cut through the air.

Before I could react, rough hands yanked me from the horse. I hit the ground hard, pain flaring through my body.

“Riley—!!”

Prince Adrian’s voice rang out, thick with alarm. My vision blurred as I clenched my jaw against the throbbing ache. Someone grabbed me, hauling me up. Through my hazy sight, I saw Prince Adrian’s horrified expression.

He turned on the soldier who had thrown me down. “Emil, explain yourself!”

The man—Emil—stared at me with cold, burning hatred.

“Your Highness, step aside. Have you forgotten the disaster this person brought upon us last time?”

A shiver ran through me. My hands tightened around my bruised knees, nails digging into my skin.

I shouldn’t have come here.

Maybe if I shut my eyes, I’d wake up somewhere else—back in the darkness, where I knew nothing of my past.

A firm hand gripped my shoulder. Prince Adrian. His touch was grounding, but the tears came anyway, slipping down my cheeks in silence.

Then, the sound of hooves. A black horse stepped between me and the guard.

Through my blurred vision, I looked up—and met Prince Zayden’s gaze. He reached down. Without thinking, I took his hand. Prince Adrian helped steady me, and before I could process it, I was lifted onto the horse.

Every movement hurt, but I still tried to shift away. Prince Zayden held me in place, his grip secure, pulling me just close enough.

Tears continued falling as I bit my lip, trying to muffle my sobs.

“Your Highness, are you really taking this person—”

Emil’s words died under Prince Zayden’s sharp glare.

“But, Prince, because of him—”

“Step down, Emil!” Prince Adrian’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

Silence.

As the castle loomed closer, I rested against Prince Zayden’s chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was comforting, lulling me away from the panic clawing at my mind.

Somewhere along the way, I realized he was still holding my hand.

When we reached another grand entrance, the horses came to a stop. I tried to move so Prince Zayden could dismount, but he didn’t let me go.

Then, to my utter disbelief—he scooped me into his arms.

A startled squeak escaped me, my face instantly heating up.

“I-I can walk…” I mumbled weakly.

His expression didn’t waver. Anger still lingered in his eyes, but beneath it, there was something else—something softer.

I swallowed my words. My body was too drained to argue. Instead, I gave in, burying my face against his chest, letting the steady rise and fall of his breathing soothe me.

And as he carried me forward, the world finally faded into a quiet blur.

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