Alessia's footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor as she made her way down the narrow corridor leading to the east wing. Her mind raced with the king's cryptic words—the castle is never as safe as it seems. What had he meant? She knew the royal family had enemies, but this felt different. The unease she'd felt in the banquet hall had only deepened since Lord Thorne's silent conversation with the nobleman. There was something amiss, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
The east wing was rarely used during the night, especially after the last of the court had retreated to their chambers. A few servants remained in the area, cleaning and preparing for the morning, but the hallways were otherwise quiet. Alessia's hand rested lightly on the hilt of her sword as she continued down the hall, her senses alert.
A faint sound caught her attention—footsteps. Slow and measured. She instinctively flattened herself against the stone wall, her breath steady, listening.
The figure emerged from the shadows ahead—an older man, dressed in the drab, functional clothing of a low-ranking servant. He carried a bundle of linens under his arm, his pace leisurely. Alessia tensed but quickly relaxed, noting that his face was one she recognized. He was one of the servants who worked in the kitchens, harmless enough.
But the unease lingered.
As the servant passed, Alessia's eyes darted to the door behind him—just slightly ajar, as though someone had left it in haste. The draft from the crack between the door and the frame stirred the faint scent of old parchment and dust. She couldn't help but notice how the door seemed out of place—slightly off, as though it had been disturbed recently.
She stepped closer, her heart pounding in her chest. This wasn't just a random occurrence. The door had been deliberately left open.
Glancing over her shoulder, she ensured the hallway remained empty before slipping inside. The room beyond was dimly lit, filled with shelves of dusty books and a long wooden table covered in papers. An office, of sorts. This wasn't a room she was meant to be in. It belonged to the kingdom's steward, a man named Gorlan, who kept records of trade and tax agreements, but no one had reason to enter it after hours.
As Alessia's eyes scanned the room, she felt something shift in the air—an unsettling stillness. There, atop the desk, lay a single piece of parchment, half-hidden beneath a pile of ledgers. Its edges were curled, and something about it stood out—its wax seal was broken.
Her instincts screamed at her to leave, but she could not resist the pull of curiosity. She moved toward the desk, her hand brushing the papers aside. The parchment beneath was scrawled with a single line of text, written in a hurried hand:
"The king's decree must be altered. Prepare for the meeting at dawn."
Her fingers trembled as she held the paper, her mind racing. Who would send such a message? And more importantly—who had it been meant for? The king's decrees were not something to be tampered with, especially not in secrecy. This was something far more dangerous than a simple courtly misunderstanding.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing louder. Someone was coming.
Alessia quickly stuffed the paper into her tunic, her heart racing. She couldn't afford to be seen here. She turned, making her way toward the door, but as she reached the handle, it creaked open.
She froze.
Standing in the doorway, bathed in the dim light from the hall, was a familiar face: Captain Daren, the head of the royal guard. His expression was unreadable, his eyes narrowing as they met hers.
"What are you doing here, Alessia?" His voice was low, steady, with a hint of suspicion.
Alessia's throat went dry. She could feel the weight of the moment. She had been caught—though not yet exposed.
"I—" Her mind raced for an explanation. "I heard something. Thought I'd check it out."
Daren didn't speak immediately. He simply studied her for a moment, his gaze flickering toward the desk where she had been standing.
"Anything of interest?" he asked, his tone cold.
Alessia hesitated. She knew the captain well—he was loyal, trustworthy, but he was also part of the kingdom's inner circle. He had connections to the higher powers, those who pulled the strings behind the scenes. And that made him dangerous.
She forced herself to meet his gaze. "No. I was just checking the room. Nothing unusual."
Captain Daren didn't seem convinced, but he didn't press further. "I suggest you return to your post. We can't have distractions tonight."
Alessia nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't afford to stay here any longer. As she stepped past Daren, she felt his eyes on her, cold and calculating.
The hallway felt colder as she exited the room, her mind racing. She had uncovered something dangerous tonight, but now, more than ever, she knew that the castle's walls hid more than just secrets—they concealed threats that could tear the kingdom apart.
As she returned to her station, her thoughts drifted back to the note. "Prepare for the meeting at dawn." It was clear now—there was something happening in the kingdom, something beneath the surface. The king, his advisors, and the nobles—they were all playing a dangerous game. And Alessia was caught in the middle of it.
The next morning came quickly, the sun barely rising over the horizon. Alessia had barely slept, her mind replaying the events of the night. She couldn't shake the feeling that something larger was at play—a conspiracy, perhaps, or a hidden faction within the kingdom working in the shadows.
Her duties were routine in the early hours. She stood in the courtyard, overseeing the training of the guards. But her thoughts were elsewhere. Every clink of metal, every shouted command, felt distant as she kept one eye on the palace.
As the sun climbed higher, the royal bell rang, signaling the start of the day's proceedings. Alessia moved quickly, taking her place in the hall just outside the royal chambers. She had a role to play, one that required her to stay invisible—until the moment came when she could strike.
The time for waiting was over.
A meeting was set to take place at dawn—one that would determine the fate of the kingdom.