The days passed slowly in the palace, each one blurring into the next as Seraphina balanced her duties with the growing curiosity and unease surrounding the man they had found at the gates. His name—if he had one—remained unknown, and despite repeated questioning, he still claimed to remember nothing.
Seraphina wasn't one to tolerate ambiguity. She preferred order, control, the certainty of facts. Yet the stranger—Kael, as Marielle had begun calling him—remained a riddle. The healer found nothing physically wrong with him, no sign of injury or trauma that could explain his memory loss.
The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. How could someone simply lose all recollection of their past? There was no reason to believe he was lying, but there was something in his eyes—a flicker of hesitation when he spoke, an unfamiliar wariness—that told Seraphina there was more to his story than he was letting on.
She found herself thinking about him more than she cared to admit. His lost expression, the way his hands trembled slightly when he tried to remember, the way he seemed almost... vulnerable. She had seen many men in her life, some with power, others with ambition, all with secrets—but this one was different. His confusion, his uncertainty—it made him stand out in a way Seraphina couldn't quite explain.
It bothered her, in a way that no one else's presence ever had.
Today, she had ordered Kael to be brought to her chambers. She hadn't yet decided what to do with him. There were far too many uncertainties surrounding him, and while her advisors urged caution, there was something about him that kept her from dismissing him outright. There was a strange pull in the air whenever she thought of him, an inexplicable connection she couldn't ignore.
She sat in front of the large, ornate mirror in her chambers, the soft light of the late afternoon streaming through the high windows. Her reflection stared back at her—calm, composed, as always. She was the future queen of a kingdom on the brink of war, a woman expected to uphold the strength and dignity of her line. Yet, the thoughts of a nameless, memory-less man were gnawing at her.
A soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Enter."
Marielle stepped in, followed by Kael, his hands bound loosely in front of him. He looked the same as he always did—disheveled, uncertain, his eyes flickering with wariness. Seraphina's gaze settled on him immediately, her heart betraying a slight flutter, which she quickly suppressed.
Kael was led into the room, and Marielle gave him a push toward the center, where Seraphina sat.
"Your Highness," Marielle said, her voice respectful but firm. "Kael, as requested."
Seraphina nodded, her gaze never leaving him. She leaned back in her chair, steely composure taking over her features. "Sit," she said coldly, her voice leaving no room for protest.
Kael obeyed, sitting on the chair across from her, his movements slow, cautious, as if he feared any sudden motion might trigger a response he wasn't ready for.
"Tell me," Seraphina began, her tone businesslike, "where you come from. What is your name? And why were you found outside the gates in the dead of night?"
Kael's eyes flickered briefly to the door, then back to her, his face tense with confusion. "I told you," he said softly, his voice low and hoarse. "I don't remember. I don't know who I am or how I ended up here. I don't know anything."
Seraphina leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "You don't remember anything? Not even where you were before you came to the gates? Not even the circumstances surrounding your arrival?"
Kael shook his head slowly, his fingers twitching slightly as if to grasp for a memory just out of reach. "No," he said, the word lingering in the quiet space between them. "I don't."
Seraphina's gaze softened for a moment, but only for a split second, before her mask of composure slipped back into place. "That is... highly convenient," she muttered under her breath, though loud enough for him to hear.
She sat back in her chair, studying him. His unease was palpable, his discomfort almost visible as he shifted in his seat. But there was something about the way he looked at her, something in his eyes—she couldn't place it.
"You must understand," Seraphina said, her voice colder now, "that I cannot simply let you remain here without knowing who you are, or why you've come. My kingdom is on the edge of war, and I cannot afford to be blind to any threats."
Kael's eyes widened, and he looked almost as though he were about to speak, but he hesitated, his lips trembling for just a moment before the words came out. "I'm not a threat. I don't... I don't even know where I am. I don't know why I'm here."
Seraphina watched him, her gaze unwavering. Despite his confusion, despite his uncertainty, there was a fire in his eyes—a spark that couldn't be denied. Whether it was a genuine plea or just part of his game, she couldn't tell. But she was no fool.
"You'll stay here for now," she said, her voice firm. "I'll have a room prepared for you. But remember, Kael, your silence is not helping your cause. If you truly don't know anything, then you must be of no use to anyone."
His gaze dropped to the floor, the defeat in his eyes momentarily breaking through the wall of uncertainty he had built. Seraphina felt a strange pang of something she couldn't name—regret? Pity? She dismissed it quickly. Pity had no place in her world.
Marielle stepped forward, giving a slight bow. "As you wish, Your Highness."
Seraphina stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "Take him away."
As Kael was led out of the room, Seraphina turned back to the window, staring out into the distance. The kingdom was hers to protect, her future was ahead of her, and yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted.
Something was wrong. And she had to find out what.