Chapter 4 THE PRINCE'S SUSPICION

Kael could not erase the image of Elara’s face from his mind.

Throughout his life, he had witnessed fear in countless forms. He knew the stiff, guarded look servants wore around the king. He had seen strong soldiers tremble when faced with brutal military punishment, and he knew how desperate nobles became whenever their wealth or titles were threatened.

Yet, Elara’s expression in the hall had been entirely different. She had not looked like a guilty thief caught in a lie, nor like a spy horrified of being unmasked. She had looked utterly terrified of something inside her own body—something she clearly did not comprehend herself.

Long after the guards had marched her down into the darkness, Kael remained standing in the middle of the grand eastern hall. The royal necklace lay still where it had fallen on the cold flagstones. Its vibrant blue stone had ceased its unnatural glow, fading back into a dull, opaque glass.

Kael knelt, his dark coat brushing the floor, and picked the piece of jewelry up.

It was freezing to the touch—almost artificially cold, as though it had just been pulled from winter ice. He flipped the delicate silver chain over in his palm, studying it closely.

He had seen this piece of jewelry many times throughout his youth. His late mother had given it to Lord Cedric decades ago as a diplomatic gesture, and Lord Cedric had eventually passed it down to his daughter, Liora. It was undoubtedly rare and expensive, crafted with exquisite skill, yet there was nothing in its outward design that should have allowed it to channel light.

And yet, it had flared to life the very second Elara had been forced near it.

Kael turned his gaze toward the heavy oak doors leading to the dungeons. His chest tightened with an unfamiliar, heavy weight. He could not rationalize why he was so deeply shaken by the fate of a quiet kitchen girl. She was simply one of hundreds of unnamed servants who kept the castle running. He had never spoken a word to her before today.

Yet, when the guard had seized her arm and her wide, panicked eyes had met his, an instinct had flared up inside him—a overwhelming urge to shield her from the entire room. He had never experienced such a strong protective drive for a stranger before.

“Kael.”

He turned around smoothly. Lady Liora stood a few paces behind him, her hands folded tightly over her fine silk dress. The frightened expression she had worn earlier was entirely gone, replaced by a sharp, bitter anger that stiffened her posture.

“Are you coming?” she asked, her voice tight.

Kael stared at her calmly. “Where?”

“To see your father. The council is meeting in the upper chambers.”

“I will join them later,” Kael replied, slipping the cold necklace into his deep coat pocket.

Liora took a sharp step forward, her eyes narrowing. “You are hovering here because of her.”

Kael’s brow furrowed slightly. “Who?”

“You know precisely who I mean,” Liora spat, her usual polite tone slipping away. “The servant girl.”

Kael sighed and looked away toward the high arched windows. “Liora, this is neither the time nor the place for this.”

“It is the only time!” she insisted, her voice rising as she closed the distance between them. “You stood there in front of the entire court and defended her when everyone else clearly saw what she did!”

“She did not attack the guard on purpose,” Kael said firmly, turning back to face her.

“Her magic threw a fully armored man across the room!”

“She did not control it, Liora. It was a reaction. She was terrified.”

Liora let out a harsh, disbelieving laugh. “And you think that makes it better? An unstable mage in the heart of the palace?”

“No,” Kael said, his voice dropping into a dangerous, steady register. “It makes it different. It means we do not know the full truth.”

Liora’s face paled with anger. “You keep searching for excuses for a girl who should be executed for high treason!”

“I am trying to understand what actually occurred today before an innocent person is killed,” Kael retorted coldly.

“We do not need to understand anything more! She possesses forbidden magic. That alone makes her an enemy of the crown.”

Kael shook his head, his jaw tightening. “No, Liora. We know almost nothing.”

Liora stared at him, her dark eyes scanning his face with intense scrutiny. She was far from stupid; she had noticed the subtle shifts in him the moment the servant had entered the room. She had seen the way Kael’s eyes had tracked Elara’s movements, the sudden softness in his tone when he questioned her, and the instinctual, reckless way he had drawn his own steel to protect her from the guards.

Now, he was standing alone in an empty hall, holding a dark artifact and obsessing over her safety.

A cruel, burning jealousy took root in Liora's chest. “You care about her,” she whispered, the words dripping with poison.

Kael’s posture went rigid. “Do not say ridiculous things.”

“Why shouldn't I say it?”

“Because it is not true.”

“Then why are you standing here arguing with me instead of helping your father secure the castle?” Liora demanded, her voice trembling with emotion. “Why are you treating a common kitchen maid like a visiting noble?”

“Because she was accused of theft without a shred of proof, and then hunted like a beast!” Kael said sharply.

“You didn't raise your voice to defend me when the servants claimed I was cruel to them last month!” Liora snapped, her cheeks flushing red.

Kael let out a weary breath. “That was a petty household dispute over broken tea sets, Liora. This is a girl’s life.”

“It is all the same to me!” Liora stepped even closer, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears of rage. “You look at her differently, Kael. I have known you since we were children, and I have never seen you look at anyone the way you looked at her today.”

Kael remained entirely silent. He did not confirm her accusation, but he did not deny it either.

That heavy silence was all the proof Liora needed. She swallowed hard, her mouth forming a cold, bitter line. “I knew it.”