Chapter 5: A Heart That Strays

I had been nearly a week since Malach left the palace.

The halls of marble still echoed with the rhythm of courtly life, but something felt colder now—emptier. Eliana could feel it even in the gardens, where laughter no longer rang out the same. The Queen had grown quieter, the servants more watchf, and Prince Alaric… more unpredictable.

Eliana kept to herself. She walked slower. Smiled less. And most of all—spoke only when spoken to. But even in silence, hearts were loud. Hers especially.

In the still of night, beneath a bruised sky,. She sat alone in the garden’s corner. The stars stared down, like they were waiting for her to make a choice she didn’t yet understand.

Then came the sound of footsteps. No rushed. Not heavy. Meansuref. Royal.

...----------------...

– Prince Alaric — You sit alone far too often.

– Eliana — Because I find the night easier to bear than people.

– Prince Alaric — Then I’m intruding.

– Eliana — You always are.

He chuckled, stepping closer.

– Prince Alaric — You would me, Eliana.

– Eliana — You’ll live.

– Prince Alaric — Will he?

She turned her eyes sharply to him.

– Eliana — What?

– Prince Alaric — Malach. Will he live king enough to regret walking away?

– Eliana — He didn’t walk away. He was sent.

– Prince Alaric — He left you.

– Eliana — You ordered it.

– Prince Alaric — I did what was necessary.

– Eliana — You always do. And somehow, it’s always about you.

He crossed his arms, jaw tense.

– Prince Alaric — You think I don’t see it? The way you looked at him. The way he looked at you.

– Eliana — Then why ask questions you already know the answers to?

He stepped closer, his voice lowering.

– Prince Alaric — Because I want to hear you say it. I want to hear you admit that what he had with you… it should’ve been mine.

– Eliana — I’m not something to be had, Prince Alaric.

Her voice didn’t waver.

He stared at her for a moment too long. Then with a stiff exhale, he turned.

– Prince Alaric — We’ll see how brave your heart is when he doesn’t return.

...----------------...

Meanwhile…

The southern borde was dry and bitter. Sand blew through torn tents and scorched armor. Malach hadn’t slept in days. Patrols were brutal. Attacks constant. His men grew thin, his sword heavier. But his mind? It only got louder.

He sat by a fire with Ezra, his most trusted comrade, the smell ti smoke and blood still clinging to his tunic.

– Ezra — Still no word from the palace?

– Malach — Nothing.

– Ezra — Good. Maybe that’s for the best.

– Malach — It’s not.

– Ezra — Then go back.

– Malach — And face what? A throne that wants me and a woman I can never have?

– Ezra — She’s not married.

– Malach — She might as well be.

Ezra leaned forward, voice low.

– Ezra — when I met you, you had nothing but a broken sword and too much pride. Now you have her. That’s not nothing, Malach.

Malach stared into the flames.

– Malach — If I go back… I won’t serve. Not him. Not his crown. Not again.

Ezra stood and dropped something into Malach’s lap.

Hus medallion.

– Ezra — Tejn stop wearing their chains.

...----------------...

Back at the palace, Queen Salome summoned Eliana.

The chamber was dim, filled lavander and incense. The Queen’s expression was unreadable.

– Queen Salome — You’ve grown colder.

– Eliana — I’ve grown cautious.

– Queen Salome — Alaric believes you belong to him.

– Eliana — Then he’s wrong.

– Queen Salome — He rarely tolerates being wrong.

Eliana’s throat tightened.

– Eliana — Is that a warning?

– Queen Salome — it’s a truth. Once you’ll have to navigate carefully, child.

Eliana lowered her eyes.

– Eliana — I didn’t mean to fall in love with a knight.

– Queen Salome — No one ever does.

...----------------...

Latter that night, in her room, a letter was waiting on her bed. The wax seal broke, the parchment worm.

“I can’t forget you.

I’ve tried to bury this, to silence it.

But every time I raise my sword, it’s your voice I hear. If I return, I return as a man—Not a servant. Not a knight.

But a man who chooses you.”

Eliana pressed the letter to her chest, her pulse shaking her ribs. She didn’t know whether to smile.

Or to cry.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***