Pov ~ Reve
"So from which world do I hail, if not from this one?" My voice trembled slightly as I trailed behind Cyrus, descending the narrow, spiraling stairway. The darkness closed in around us, thick and suffocating, broken only by the faint, flickering glow of lanterns clinging to the cold, damp stone walls. The air grew colder as we ventured deeper, a chill seeping into my bones. I hadn't bathed since the previous night, and fatigue clung to me like a second skin. Every step felt heavier than the last. Could I truly trust Cyrus? The man who stood before me now, his words laced with mystery, was a stranger in my fragmented memories. He had shared only the barest threads of my past, yet when he spoke of his mother's death, the sorrow in his voice was palpable, undeniable. But if I had stumbled into a place where I was not meant to be, should I not flee?
"You will learn in due time, my lady. It is not my place to reveal such truths," Cyrus answered, his tone formal, distant, yet not unkind.
"Do not be so formal with me, Your Majesty," I countered, a forced smile curling my lips. "Why does Nyx seek my death?"
He hesitated, glancing back at me briefly before continuing down the stairway. "And you mustn't call me 'Your Majesty.' We are of an age, you and I. As for Nyx, I cannot say for certain. Perhaps it is hatred, or perhaps it is because you were present on that fateful night. But the truth of it eludes me."
"How did I end up here, then?"
"That is another mystery beyond my knowing, though I suspect my father holds the answers I could not uncover. When one ascends to the throne, one becomes privy to secrets, knowledge that others can only dream of."
I frowned, my mind racing. "I do not believe Nyx truly intends to murder me." My words brought him to a sudden halt. He turned, his eyes searching mine.
"And why would you think that? Do you recall something?" His face was a mask, his emotions carefully concealed.
"No, nothing like that," I admitted. "But when he appeared at the bakery, he had ample opportunity to end my life. Yet he chose not to."
"You've crossed paths with him?" Cyrus's voice was edged with a mixture of alarm and anger.
"Not directly. But our eyes met, briefly."
A shadow passed over his features, his expression hardening as if he wrestled with a private fear. "He was unaware you were under my protection. I must send you back to your world before he discovers the truth. If he does, you know the consequences." He sighed, the brief flash of charm returning to his voice. "And if he didn't kill you outright, it was sheer fortune that spared you."
"Then why help me, Cyrus?" My question hung in the cold air between us, heavy with doubt.
He hesitated, turning away before answering softly, "Because if my brother takes your life, I will lose the last chance to save him from himself."