Chapter 80
The girl hesitated, glancing down the hallway before leaning in just slightly. “Orders. Said you’re to be moved closer to the east wing. Somewhere quieter.
My heart stuttered.
“Who gave the order?”
She shook her head quickly. “Didn’t say. Just that it came from someone above the Mistress. And when that happens, we don’t ask questions.”
They wanted a place quieter, closer to the east wing-
Where Harden’s quarters were.
My throat went dry. “Did Amira—?”
She shook her head again. “Lady Amira’s been in her chamber for hours. This came down while you were still in the ballroom.
I didn’t move.
Why?
Why would they move me now?
The only people with that authority, were either Mistress Yelna herself or Harden.
Was at care or just to watch me?
And Mistress Yelna didn’t care where I slept, as long as I cleaned her floors and didn’t complain.
“Would you show me where?” I finally asked.
She nodded. “Yes, of course. Bring your things. Or I can get s
so
someone to bring them.”
“I’ll carry them myself,” I said quietly.
She gave me a look that said she didn’t get why I’d bother, but she turned and began walking
I followed in silence, the tray heavy in my hands. My legs were screaming, but my thoughts screamed louder.
Why wa
was I being moved?
Had someone discovered something?
Was this a trap?
Or something else entirely?
We reached a smaller corridor, dimmer than the others, with only two lanterns on either side of a heavy oak door.
The maid stopped and gestured. “That’s the one.”
She didn’t knock. She didn’t open it or gave me a key. Though a key was at the door. The maid nodded once then simply turned and
Jeft
I stood there, staring at the door for a long tune.
li looked normal.
Just a wooden door with no plaque, no golden trim. No hint of
of what lay behind it
But something about it made my y stomach twist
Still holding the tray. I knocked once
No answer I wanted to slap my forehead, of course there was no one
Chapter 80
I pushed the door open
Inside was a modest room, much nicer than the one I shared with the other maids. It had a small fireplace, a rug that didn’t smell like damp wool, a wardrobe, and a proper bed. A real bed. With a mattress that looked soft enough to eat.
There was also a fresh robe hanging from the hook on the wall, and a new pair of shoes beside the bed. Slippers.
This wasn’t a punishment. This was an upgrade.
A confusing, terrifying upgrade.
I stepped in slowly, letting the door close behind me.
What the hell is going on?
I set the tray down and crossed to the bed, my legs finally giving in. I collapsed onto the edge, pressing my fingers to my temples.
Alaric had warned me. Get close. Be smart. Stay hidden.
But I wasn’t hidden anymore.
Whoever arranged this w
whoever gave
ve that on
order they didn’t want me hidden.
They wanted me here.
Right here.
In the east wing.
In the belly of the damn beast.
I swallowed hard
And then I heard it.
Footsteps outside the door.
Light. Careful but did not retreat.
Someone was still standing there. Listening. Waiting.
I turned my head slowly toward the door and narrowed my eyes.
But I didn’t move
Not right away.
If they wanted me to know they were there, they’d knock. If they wanted to spy, they’d be subtler.
Eventually, the footsteps faded. I waited a little longer before I pushed off the bed and walked over, opening the door just a crack.
The hallway was empty and quiet Only the faint crackle of distant lanterns echoed back.
I closed the door again, locking it this time. Whatever that was–it could wait.
Except… it didn’t have to
Because when I turned around, I saw it.
A slip of parchment on the f
Boor near the rug. “Tucked like someone had slid it under the moment I wasn’t looking.
I packed it up slowly My lingers already knew it wasn’t official–no seal, no crest, nothing elegant. Just a single line of ink, handwritten in rushed strokes:
“Meet me Midnight. By the east garden”
No name. No signature.
Chapter 50
But I didn’t need one
I knew exactly who it was.
The note crinkled softly in my hand as 1 stared at it. The garden was too exposed. Too risky. Why would he-
A knock çame again, this time loud, and I spun toward the door, half–expecting it to be him. My heart raced.
It was one of the house servants. A young man, holding a bundle of cloth. This came for you,” he said politely, passing me what looked like Laundry.
I thanked him and shut the door again quickly.
Inside the bundle, tucked between a folded apron and blouse, was another slip of parchment. This one had been sealed barely. The wax had cracked, and the crest was faint.
Cecelia’s mark.
I sat on the edge of the bed and unfolded the page, frowning.
It was written in code.
Of course it was
She wouldn’t risk sending anything in plain text. Not with everything going on.
1 reached for the small knife on the tray table and sliced the edges open more carefully. Then I squinted at the page.
Lanes. Symbols. Repeated numbers.
I remembered the system she once explained back when I was still “just the omega” and curious enough to ask a lot of questions.
The third letter of every fifth word. Subtract two letters from every capital. Every vowel meant a skip.
It took me nearly twenty minutes to sort through the mess, and by then I was sweating, the fire in the room too warm for concentration.
But I had it
“Unrest in the South. The petals are wilting. The King… changing. Keep safe. You’re needed. Be wary of who you trust. Be fast. The time is nigh. And be careful of the man you kissed. He may be charming but he is the most dangerous and feared man of the North for a
reason
I stared at that last line.
My mouth
went dry.
Cecelia knew?
How the hell-
I pressed a hand to my forehead, willing myself to breathe. Alaric hadn’t written. Not once. He hadn’t sent a raven. Not even Knox. But Cecelia she’d reached me. In a secret letter with a message I didn’t want to understand
The petals are wilting-
That meant the curse was weakening. The curse was dying. And with it–Alaric’s control
A strange pain filled my chest. I could almost see him now, pacing in the throne room with that clenched jaw and cold stare. How long had it been since he slept properly
If he was slipping-
I folded the parchment and tucked it beneath the mattress. My thoughts kept swirling, torn between Cecelia’s warning, the mysterious note on the flour, and the look in Harden’s eyes the last time 1
3 00 PM
Chapter 50
I wanted rest. I needed it.
But there was none.
I sat in the
je room’s quiet glow and tried not to wonder how many petals were left. Tried not to wonder if, when I saw Alaric again, there’d be anything left of the man Lonce knew.
When the moon hit its highest point, I finally stood and pulled on my cloak. I didn’t bother with the boots. I’d move faster in silence.
The castle was still, and the east garden was too far from the servants wing to cross unnoticed, but I managed.
i shouldn’t have gone but I did not have time. From the letter it was clearly harden, only him says things even in writing in such authorative tone. I shou
Id stop playing with Amira, she is useless for now.
I needed to get close to Harden, learn enough secret and leave.
Alaric please hold on. I would be back soon and I hope we take care of the curse.
E
