The steward led Valeria to the drawing room, where she sank into the armchair, her body sagging with relief. "I will bring you tea and some cake shortly. Lady Katherine will join you soon," the steward said politely.
"Thank you," Valeria murmured, her voice softer than she intended.
The steward bowed and excused himself, leaving her alone in the room. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Valeria allowed herself to relax. The plush armchair cradled her weary body, and the familiar warmth of Katherine's home wrapped around her like a protective cocoon. Here, she felt safe, a sensation she hadn't experienced in weeks. As her body slackened, the exhaustion of the past months hit her all at once. Her eyelids grew heavy, and before she knew it, sleep claimed her.
It was short-lived.
A sudden thud against her face startled her awake. "Valeria! How dare you just fall asleep!" A high-pitched voice squealed.
Disoriented, Valeria blinked her eyes open, only to find Katherine standing over her, a mischievous grin on her face. "Did you just throw a pillow at me?" Valeria grumbled, though she couldn't suppress a small smile.
"Yes, I did, and you deserved it!" Katherine exclaimed before launching herself onto Valeria and pulling her into a tight hug. "Do you know how worried I've been? I'm practically turning gray from stress because of you!"
Valeria hugged her childhood friend back, the familiar warmth of Katherine's embrace soothing her frayed nerves. "I'm sorry," she muttered, though her voice carried a teasing lilt.
Katherine pulled back, holding Valeria's face in her hands as she inspected her with the scrutiny of a concerned mother. "Oh god, you look awful. Did you lose weight? You're so pale, and those under-eye bags! What have you been doing to yourself?"
Valeria swatted her friend's hands away, exasperated but touched by her concern. "Calm down. I'm fine now that I'm here."
Katherine crossed her arms and gave her a skeptical look but finally sat in the armchair across from Valeria. "Can you blame me for worrying? One moment we hear you're marrying the king, and the next—nothing. No letters, no word. Did that madman hurt you?"
Before Valeria could answer, a maid entered with tea and snacks. The sight of a stranger made Valeria tense, her hands clutching the armrests of her chair. Trusting people had become impossible after her time in the palace.
Sensing her discomfort, Katherine quickly waved the maid away. "You're safe here," she said softly, taking Valeria's hand. "You can tell me anything."
Tears welled in Valeria's eyes, the dam of her emotions breaking. For weeks, she had bottled everything inside, but now, in the presence of her dearest friend, she could finally let go. "It was horrible," she sobbed. "I hated every second. The king is… sick. He killed a maid right in front of me—because she helped me. He married her daughter off to some old lord to punish me. He tied me to a bed and—" Her voice broke as the weight of the memories crushed her.
"You don't have to say it," Katherine said gently, pulling Valeria into a hug. Tears glistened in Katherine's own eyes as she held her friend tightly, her heart breaking for the suffering Valeria had endured.
"It was so awful, Katherine," Valeria whispered between sobs. "He said he wanted me as his queen… the mother of his heirs…"
Katherine stroked her hair, her touch steady and comforting. "Shh… it's over now. You're safe here."
Valeria cried in Katherine's arms for what felt like hours, pouring out every ounce of pain and despair she had carried. By the time her sobs subsided, her throat was raw, and her eyes were swollen and red.
"Thank you for listening," Valeria said hoarsely, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"Always," Katherine replied with a soft smile. "But you need rest now. We can talk more tomorrow."
Valeria hesitated. "Can I… sleep with you tonight? I don't want to be alone."
"Of course," Katherine said without hesitation. She took Valeria's hand and led her to her chambers.
The bath Katherine prepared felt like heaven. For the first time in weeks, Valeria allowed herself to relax completely as the warm water soothed her aching body. Afterward, Katherine lent her a soft nightgown, and the two of them climbed into Katherine's bed.
"I wish we could go back to when we were kids," Valeria murmured, turning on her side to face her friend. "When our biggest worry was deciding which dessert to eat during sleepovers."
Katherine smiled and turned to face her. "Who says we can't? Right now, we're just two girls again, and that's our biggest problem."
Valeria chuckled softly. "In that case, I want chocolate cake tomorrow. Or maybe ice cream?"
"Strawberry cake is much better," Katherine teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
Valeria scrunched her nose in mock dismay. "You've always had terrible taste."
The two laughed quietly, and for a brief moment, it was as though the horrors of the past months had never happened. But the moment didn't last. Katherine's expression grew serious.
"There's something I need to ask," she said gently.
Valeria's smile faded. "What is it?"
"Is there a chance you're… pregnant?"
The question hit Valeria like a punch to the gut. She swallowed hard, her thoughts racing. That night when the king had tied her to the bed… had he done something to her? She remembered his cryptic words, his twisted promises, and that he somehow touched her but not much else. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she replied. "I don't know. He… he did something, but I don't know if that would make me pregnant. No one ever explained what consummating a marriage really means."
Katherine's brows furrowed as she thought. "I don't know much either," she admitted, "but I overheard something at a ball once. Apparently, there's… a part of the man that goes inside the woman. Did the king…?"
Valeria's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she recalled Athea's similar words. "No. He didn't… put anything inside me. He just… rubbed me with his hand." Her voice trailed off, her cheeks burning with shame.
Katherine let out a relieved breath and hugged her. "That's good. That means you're probably not pregnant. It would have been harder to keep you hidden if you were. The king would search for you more desperately."
The mention of the king made Valeria's stomach churn. "Do you think he's looking for me now?" she asked quietly.
Katherine saw the worry etched on Valeria's face and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Enough talk for tonight. You're safe here. Let's rest."
Valeria nodded. She didn't want to think about the king right nowt. She was just exhausted and wanted to sleep. "Goodnight, Katherine."
"Goodnight."
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Valeria slept soundly, the nightmares that had plagued her finally at bay.