The Crown's Burden
AURELIA
I felt cramped and heavy in the palace, as if it were reminding me of what was coming. My twentieth birthday was already marked on the calendar, and with it came a law that I could not escape. The law of marriage, my duty, and I could feel its weight in every golden corridor, every shiny surface, and the servants' every whisper who slightly bowed as I passed.
I walked silently down the long corridor, and as always, Kael was there. His presence gave me a strange feeling, even though he wasn't looking at me.
His eyes remained sharp and cold, quiet, unmoving. I wanted to reach out to him, but I was afraid of his reaction. I looked at his hand holding the hilt of his sword. It was tight, as if it didn't hook.
He glanced at me. The glance was without kindness or warmth. But it gave me intense curiosity. I could almost hear the loud beating of my heart in the silent corridor. I approached him. I closed the space between us and let my skin touch his as if I didn't mean to.
It was like an electric shock flowed through my system. I caught a glimpse of him. I wanted to know his reaction, but…. I was disappointed. He didn't move as if he felt anything, or maybe he really didn't.
"You're really numb," I whispered, annoyed.
I hurriedly walked and let him catch up. I couldn't hide my annoyance.
We continued walking until we reached the front door of my room. We stopped walking, and he immediately opened the door. I looked at him again, letting my eyes linger on him for a moment.
Kael didn't smile. "Your Majesty."
I frowned. "Hmp!" I quickly entered my room and let him close the door.
I turned around abruptly and stared at the door that was slowly closing. I threw myself on the bed in annoyance. I couldn't stay still because of his numbness. I felt insulted. I touched my chest, my breast to be exact. My palm grabbed it along with the thick clothing.
"It's not small." I hissed. I took the pillow and threw it at the door in annoyance. It suddenly opened, and the pillow hit one of the servants.
She didn't complain; instead, the two of them walked towards me while holding my clothes. They stood in front of me and bowed slightly; their arms were stretched out where my clothes were.
"Here's your clothes, Your Majesty." One of them said.
One of the servants came out of my bathroom and stood next to the other two. "Your bath is ready, Your Majesty."
I frowned, got out of bed, and walked towards the bathroom, followed by the servant who would assist me with my bath.
***
I caught up with Kael in the hall, just across from the council chamber. Kael's shoulders were stiff, his posture impeccable and elegant, as if even the wind was afraid to touch him. I stopped for a moment and quickly faced the wall where the work was, one of my father's collections. I pretended to observe it, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that he was looking at me. I could feel his gaze too. Cold, deliberate, as if he was silently following me.
I slowly turned around and glanced at him. It was only for a short while, but the sight of him catching my attention sent a shiver down my spine.
When he was gone, I headed straight to the library, where I felt at peace reading. I had finished reading that novel, so I was going to put it back in its proper place. It was high, but I could reach it by squatting. I was surprised when someone took a book from my hand while trying to push it into the shelf.
Our hands touched. I froze in shock, which is why I looked up. Kael was standing next to me. That's why my body reacted so quickly to our skin touching, because it was Kael.
Kael was looking up at the top of the shelf while I was looking at him. He didn't react; he didn't move either. I looked down at his armor.
'What kind of body is that armor hiding?' I thought.
My gaze fell on his one hand, tightly gripping the tip of his sword. His grip was tight as if he was afraid it would be pulled out if he moved.
"Your Majesty."
My gaze shifted to his face when I heard him speak. "Kael."
"We need to go to the council chamber; everyone is waiting." Kael's voice was cold.
I frowned but didn't say anything. Instead, I turned my back on Kael and started walking out of the library.
***
Kael and I walked down the hallway together, heading to the council chamber. We were both silent, but I kept sneaking glances at him while he kept his eyes fixed on the road.
We stopped in front of the room, and he grabbed the lock. I waited for him to turn it and open the door, but his hand stayed there, so I looked at him. When our eyes met, it was like a drum beating so hard in my chest that it almost deafened me, defying the silence of the long hallway. But I heard his voice before I was completely swallowed up by intense anxiety.
"Are you ready, your majesty?" he asked.
He knew what would happen inside the room. He knew. I nodded, then he looked away from me. Before he could fully open the door, I spoke.
"Will you help me?"
He didn't say a word, as if he hadn't heard anything. He opened the council door without answering. I frowned as I went inside. I was annoyed with him again at that moment.
Everyone stood up and greeted me when the council there saw me approaching.
"The Princess has arrived." The oldest councilor spoke coldly.
"Princess," they greeted in unison, their bowing movements weak but in unison.
I nodded slightly. "Continue."
I went straight to the empty seat next to my mother. Kael stood next to my father. The councilors sat quietly in their respective seats.
The conversation began, the whispers. Some of the councilors spoke about the successes that Kael had that I had never witnessed before. Others shared Kael's past but were stopped by some councilors from finally saying and discussing it.
"There's no need to bring that matter up," a councilor spoke coldly.
"Why can't it be?" one of the councilors asked. "Is it because the Princess is here?"
The room fell silent, and I felt like they were all looking at me.
"The Princess is here or gone; there is no need to talk about the past," my father said authoritatively.
The councilors looked at each other and did not bring up Kael's alleged past anymore.
I glanced at Kael. But he did not react, as if he had heard nothing. Curiosity consumed me again. What secret was enveloping him?
I was a little surprised when he suddenly glanced at me. I wanted to look away, avoid our eyes meeting, but my body did not comply as he began to walk towards me. I almost held my breath when he stopped behind me. He stood there.
"Draven," my father's voice was cold. "Sit next to the princess."
"My dear King—" Kael's voice was low.
"This is not a request," Father interrupted him. "This is an order."
A heartbeat before he finally moved. I felt his armor move as he left behind me and sat down next to me.
"You don't have to stand behind me," my mother said softly.
He glanced at my mother. His gaze penetrated as if I wasn't there. "Thank you, your majesty."
I frowned again. I didn't take my eyes off him, as if I was paying attention, but he completely ignored my gaze as if he hadn't really seen me. I don't know if he did all this on purpose.
However, I couldn't deny the warmth of his presence next to me. My chest didn't feel uneasy.
"If you're not comfortable," he said softly. A deliberate whisper just for me. "You can tell me."
I didn't answer. Not because I didn't hear anything or because I didn't want to, but because the truth was—it was more frightening than I didn't want to leave.
The conversation between the council and my parents continued. I, on the other hand, was uneasy because from the corner of my eye I noticed Kael looking back and forth at me. At first, I ignored him, but I wanted to tease him.
"Why do you keep glancing at me?" My voice was low. I meant for him to be the only one who would notice my teasing.
He turned to me, cold and unreadable. "I'm not glancing at you," he said softly. "I'm observing."
I laughed softly, a hint of teasing. "Observing? There's no danger here, Kael."
He didn't move, so I spoke again. "Observing is dangerous."
He turned to me again. He brought his face closer, surprising me, then he whispered. "Curiosity is too."
I swallowed. I felt my cheeks heat up as his face suddenly came closer to mine. I hadn't expected that.
***
Kael and I walked down the long hallway again. He was escorting me to my room. There was no conversation between us until we reached the front of my room. He opened the door.
"Good evening, Your Majesty," he said coldly.
I turned to face him. "I feel like I'm going to have a nightmare," I said. I noticed his frown but didn't ask. "If you want someone to sleep well, put emotion in your words."
I took a step closer to him, causing him to release the lock on the door. He just stood there and didn't back down, as if accepting my approach. Using my palm, I cupped his other cheek and spoke softly.
"Good night, Kael," I said. "I hope you sleep well."
"Your Majesty…"
My smile faded from my lips when I noticed he wasn't reacting anymore. I removed my hand from his cheek and crossed my arms. He opened the door to my room, and I rushed inside.
***
I couldn't sleep that night like the previous nights. My upcoming birthday has bothered me for days now. I needed something to keep me busy. I put on my robe and left my room. I would spend the night in the library.
At night, the palace was not so quiet and dark. The torches shone like gold while the sigils glittered on the stones. I walked straight and without looking back until I reached the library.
Inside, I could smell the burning incense, and there was Kael. His elegant stance and controlled presence made my chest pound as he gently closed the library door. I was about to approach him when I saw the shadow. He was tall and elegant; he was unmistakably one of the powerful aristocrats from the royal court.
They were talking, but stopped when they sensed my presence. They turned to me at the same time. The nobleman bowed once to me, then stared and spoke.
"Some bonds," he said softly, letting the words hang, "cannot be broken, not even by law or desire."
Kael stiffened. Only a little, but enough. His hand touched the hilt of his sword.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
The nobleman stepped closer to me. Kael's gaze shifted to mine just a moment.
The nobleman's voice was low again, almost casual. "Be careful, Your Majesty. There are debts to be paid."
I frowned and glanced at Kael, but I looked back at the nobleman. "I don't understand what you are saying."
"Your Majesty, it is late at night. What are you doing here?" Kael asked.
I was about to answer Kael when the nobleman spoke again. "Good evening, princess."
The nobleman turned and began walking toward the door. I was about to try to stop him from asking questions, but I heard Kael's voice behind me.
"Get some rest, Your Majesty," he said. "I'll take you to your room."
Kael walked towards the door and opened it. "Princess…" he called.
I took a deep breath and followed him.
Kael stayed behind me as we walked down the hallway. I wanted to know more about him, but I could feel his avoidance. When we arrived in front of my room, he opened the door, and I went in. I turned to him from inside my room as he slowly closed the door.
As I watched him, a determination formed in me. I would trace the line of his history until I knew his past. I would find the answers I needed.
I would find out his secret, and I wouldn't stop until I knew it.