Seraphina stood at the edge of the balcony, her hands gripping the stone railing. The castle stretched out beneath her, bathed in the soft light of the early morning sun. The kingdom, still draped in the haze of the early hours, seemed peaceful.
But within her, the stillness felt unnatural.
It had been three days since she had last seen Kael, and the unease she had felt upon first meeting him had only grown. She knew she couldn't allow her curiosity to cloud her judgment. He was still a mystery, and mysteries could be dangerous, especially in a time like this.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft creak of the door behind her.
Marielle entered, her usual calm demeanor intact, though there was an unmistakable tension in her eyes.
"Your Highness," she said, her voice respectful. "Kael has been asking for you."
Seraphina turned slowly, her gaze narrowing slightly. "Asking for me?"
Marielle nodded. "Yes, Your Highness. He says he has something to tell you. Something important."
Seraphina's lips pressed together in a thin line. There was something about that response that made her uneasy.
Kael had been quiet for days, submitting to the palace's rules without protest. Now, suddenly, he wanted to speak to her? What could he possibly know that warranted her attention?
"I'll see him," Seraphina said at last, though her voice was clipped. "Prepare him."
Marielle nodded and left the room, and Seraphina followed her to the private chambers where Kael had been staying. As they approached, Seraphina's mind raced. What could he want to say now? Was he finally ready to reveal something? Or was this simply another attempt to manipulate the situation?
Kael was seated in a chair when they entered, his back straight, though there was an evident wariness in his eyes. His bound hands rested on his lap, but he didn't seem to mind the restraint as much as he had the first time they'd met. The room was small but well-lit, and the sparse furniture only added to the starkness of the place.
"Your Highness," Kael said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze met hers, intense and steady, but there was something different in it now—an almost desperate edge, as if he was reaching out for something he couldn't quite touch.
"Why am I here?" His question wasn't directed at her, but at himself, though it was still loud enough for Seraphina to hear. "Why can't I remember anything? Why does it feel like... like I'm being watched, even when no one is around?"
Seraphina stepped into the room, her gaze unwavering. There was no pity in her expression, just the cold detachment she had always used to shield herself from the weakness of others. "You said you didn't remember anything," she said, her voice clipped. "But now, you speak as if you're more aware than you've been before."
Kael's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "I don't know. It's just... sometimes, it feels like there's something there, just out of reach. A memory... a name... something. I can't grasp it."
Seraphina regarded him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "I don't care about your memories," she said, her voice sharp. "What I care about is why you were found at the gates. And why you haven't told me anything useful."
Kael shifted in his chair, his hands gripping the edge of it tightly. "I'm not hiding anything," he said quickly, his voice defensive. "I swear to you. I'm not lying. I don't remember anything. I just know... I know there's something wrong. Something I can't explain."
Seraphina's gaze narrowed. "Then tell me what it is you think you know."
Kael looked away, his eyes flickering toward the window, as if searching for the right words. "It's hard to explain. It's like... like I was never meant to forget. But someone made me. Or someone... erased it from me."
A shiver ran down Seraphina's spine at his words. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what he was saying. A memory erased? That wasn't something anyone could do easily. And if it was true... if someone had gone to such lengths to keep him from remembering, then that meant he was important. Important enough for someone to make sure he stayed in the dark.
"You still haven't told me why you were outside the gates," Seraphina pressed. "What were you doing there? Why were you waiting for someone to find you?"
Kael hesitated for a long moment, his eyes flicking to her face, searching for something. "I wasn't waiting for anyone," he said finally. "I don't know why I was there. All I remember is... is walking. And then... nothing. I don't know."
Seraphina clenched her jaw, the frustration mounting inside her. This was getting them nowhere. He was hiding something—of that, she was certain. But whether it was through his own design or because of something beyond his control, she couldn't yet tell.
"I will give you one more chance to be honest with me," Seraphina said, her voice cold and final. "I don't care if you don't remember. What matters is whether you're a threat to this kingdom. So, think carefully about your next words."
Kael's eyes darkened, his shoulders tensing, but he didn't speak. Instead, he looked at Seraphina, and in that gaze, she saw something she couldn't quite place. Fear? Anger? A mix of both?
"Get him out of here," she ordered, turning toward Marielle, who had been standing silently by the door. "Don't come back until you are of any use to me."
As Kael was escorted from the room, Seraphina felt a strange weight settle in her chest. His confusion, his fear—what was it all about?
And why couldn't she shake the feeling that his presence in the palace was the beginning of something much larger than she could ever have imagined?