The next few days passed in a blur. Alina's wound was tended to by the palace's best healers, and while she recovered, she was kept under close watch. Kael's soldiers guarded her chambers day and night, and she was forbidden from receiving visitors.
Liora, however, managed to slip in one evening. The young servant's face was pale with worry as she sat by Alina's side. "Your Highness, the court is in turmoil," she whispered. "Lady Vivienne's allies are claiming you staged the assassination attempt to gain the king's favor. They are demanding your exile."
Alina's heart sank. Even after risking her life, her enemies were still relentless. "And what of the king?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Liora hesitated, her eyes darting to the door. "The king... he is furious, but not with you," she said. "He has been interrogating every suspect in the palace. Some say he hasn't slept since the night you were attacked."
Alina's breath hitched. Kael's behavior was confusing, contradictory. One moment, he was cold and distant; the next, he seemed almost protective. But she could not afford to dwell on his shifting moods. She needed to regain her strength and face the court again.
As she lay awake that night, Alina came to a realization. Kael's anger was not only about the attack—it was about something deeper, something that had taken root between them, despite both of their best efforts to resist it.