The next morning, Valeria woke up feeling fully rested, though the sun was already high in the sky. Thankfully, the knights were still asleep. She quickly and quietly got up from her spot between them, tiptoeing back to her bedroom. The thought of them realizing she'd crept out in the night to sleep beside them because of her fear was mortifying. Asher, in particular, would tease her mercilessly for it. What she didn't know was that the knights had been awake all night, keeping watch over her to ensure her safety.
If it were up to them, they would stay with her indefinitely. But they had other duties to attend to for Lord Lohra, and living with Valeria in such a tiny cottage would raise suspicions. For now, this arrangement, however imperfect, would have to suffice.
When Valeria heard a knock at her bedroom door, she quickly slipped a robe over her nightgown.
"My Lady, we're leaving now," Asher's deep voice called from the other side.
She opened the door, her expression as neutral as she could manage. "Before you leave, tell me about the king. Does he… does he still search for me?"
Asher's face darkened, his hand running anxiously through his black hair. "Saying he's searching for you is an understatement. He's hunting for you. Just on our way here, we encountered royal knights ten different times, asking around and flashing your portrait. It's a miracle he hasn't found you yet. That's why you can't leave this cottage, My Lady. Don't even get too close to the windows."
Valeria's face paled, and she clenched the fabric of her robe. "You'll be back next week, won't you?" she asked, her tone as casual as she could muster. She didn't want to sound as desperate as she felt.
"Yes," Asher replied, his sharp gaze softening slightly. "But… will you be all right on your own? Last week seemed… challenging for you." His tone was blunt, making her bristle. Behind him, Elias rolled his eyes at how badly Asher was handling this.
"O-Of course I'll be fine!" she snapped, her pride stinging. "Last week, I just needed time to adjust, that's all. Now leave so I can enjoy my peace and quiet."
Her words were confident, but her heart twisted painfully in her chest. It wasn't the chores or the isolation that scared her—it was the lingering fear that, at any moment, the king would find her. She could still picture his cold eyes and cruel smile as he dragged her back to the palace. No amount of reassurance could erase that terror.
Asher didn't look convinced. "The king has bigger problems right now," he said after a moment. "The rebels took control of a key trade city, and he's focusing his forces on reclaiming it. So, for now, his search for you isn't as aggressive as it could be. But once the rebels are defeated, he will probably leave no stone unturned to find you…"
"Ow!" Elias smacked Asher on the back of the head before he could finish, glaring at him for his tactless remark. Valeria's hands trembled as she stared at the two knights, her fear evident despite her attempts to mask it.
Elias stepped forward and gently ruffled her hair with a small reassuring smile to calm her nerves, pulling a bundle of books and a new letter from Katherine out of his bag. "Th-thank you," she whispered, clutching the items tightly. Forcing a weak smile, she added, "You should probably leave now."
They obeyed without another word before Asher could say anymore that would terrify Valeria, though he cast one last glance at her before stepping out the door. The moment they were gone, Valeria locked the door, shoved the table in front of it, and drew all the curtains. Her heart pounded as she crouched beneath her blanket, pulling out Katherine's letter to distract herself.
Katherine's letter was full of mundane details, news of her daily life and yet another gentleman she'd fallen for. The words were a comfort, a small dose of normalcy that Valeria desperately needed. She read the letter again and again, trying to drown out every creak and groan of the cottage. Every sound from outside sent a spike of fear through her chest.
At first, Valeria told herself she was safe. But as the weeks dragged on, the isolation began to eat away at her. The walls of the cottage felt closer every day, and the paranoia that the king's men could find her at any moment never faded.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Valeria's life took on a monotonous rhythm. The knights came every two weeks, bringing supplies and Katherine's letters while she gave them letters of her own to get delivered to Katherine. They helped her with chores, stocked her firewood, and ensured she had everything she needed before leaving again.
She'd exchanged one prison for another, and it was slowly driving her mad. It felt like she was only waiting to be found.