Seraphina wandered the empty halls of the palace, her footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. The silence was oppressive, a stark contrast to the turmoil churning inside her. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, her nails biting into her palms, as though the physical pain could distract from the ache in her chest.
The conversation with her father had left her drained, as though every ounce of strength had been sapped from her in that brief encounter. He had pushed her, as he always did, with his insistence that she marry, that she find someone to help bear the weight of the kingdom. But how could she? How could she bind herself to someone knowing the truth of her situation. Her thoughts raced as she moved through the palace, her mind unable to settle on anything for long.
She could almost hear her father's voice echoing in her mind, his words heavy with the weight of responsibility, but it wasn't just the kingdom that burdened her. It was her own fragile existence. The knowledge that time was slipping away, that every passing day was one less day she had to make the impossible decision her father demanded. She had barely noticed the cool air brushing against her skin as her thoughts weighed heavily on her heart. Her steps seemed to carry her without direction, the familiar surroundings of the palace slipping past her unnoticed, as though she were walking through a dream.
It wasn't until the garden gate loomed before her that she realized where her feet had taken her. The sight of the sun-dappled paths, the vibrant blooms that managed to flourish despite the winter chill, brought a small sense of calm—an almost fleeting respite from the turmoil that clenched at her chest. The garden had always been her sanctuary, where she could momentarily escape the confines of her royal duties, but today, even the peaceful beauty of the flowers felt distant.
As her gaze wandered over the flowerbeds, she spotted a figure kneeling by the hedgerow. It was Kael, his back bent as he worked diligently, his hands carefully adjusting the frost-bitten plants. The remnants of the morning's cold still clung to the edges of the petals, and the pale light of the late afternoon cast a gentle glow over his form. His dark hair hung loosely around his face, partially obscuring the sharp lines of his features. His brow was furrowed in concentration, the quiet of the garden amplifying the hum of his focused attention. He was a striking contrast to the peaceful surroundings, his presence somehow stirring an unfamiliar tension in the air.
Seraphina paused in her tracks, caught off guard. Lydia had informed her that Kael had returned to work, and she had observed him through her chamber when he'd suddenly looked up at her. But that was hours ago. She hadn't expected to find him still at it now.
Kael, too, seemed to notice her presence. His hand stilled mid-motion, and his posture snapped upright. His eyes widened for a brief moment as if he hadn't expected her, and then his expression shifted instantly into a mask of respect. His gaze lowered, and he quickly bowed, his head dipping in a gesture of deference.
"Your Highness," he greeted, his voice steady but edged with a subtle concern. His eyes flickered briefly to her, as though unsure whether to speak further.
Seraphina regarded him coolly, crossing her arms over her chest as she stood a few steps away. The cool breeze stirred the hem of her gown, but her gaze was sharp, her mind still racing with the weight of her earlier conversations.
"You're still working?" she asked, her tone laced with both surprise and skepticism. "Do you not fear fainting again?" Her words cut through the silence like a blade, sharp and calculating.
Kael stiffened slightly at her words, but he didn't hesitate to respond. His voice remained respectful and calm, though the concern she had detected in his eyes still lingered. "I apologize, Your Highness, if I have caused concern. I am well enough to work."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed as she studied him. His words didn't reassure her, but she held his gaze, her skepticism not easily hidden. "Well enough? You looked on the verge of collapsing not long ago. Yet here you are, in the cold, working as if nothing happened." She took a step closer, her tone skeptical but with a thread of curiosity woven through it. "Are you always this stubborn?"
Kael's gaze dropped, and he bowed again, his posture slightly more rigid than before. His voice softened, though the sincerity in it was clear. "It is not stubbornness, Highness. I... I simply wish to be useful. To serve."
Seraphina's expression softened just slightly at his words, though the sharpness remained in her tone. "You are a servant, Kael. You're here to serve, not to push yourself beyond your limits. If you fall ill again, it will be of no use to anyone." She studied him closely, the faintest glimmer of something unreadable flickering in her eyes. The garden seemed to close in around them as the shadows lengthened, the chill growing heavier. "Why do you continue to push yourself so hard?"
Kael hesitated, his gaze flickering briefly to her before lowering again, unwilling to meet her eyes fully. The air between them grew thick with unspoken tension. "I only... I do not wish to be a burden," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. It was a simple, honest answer, but it was heavier than she had expected. Seraphina blinked, the weight of his words pressing against her chest. She shook her head lightly, as though trying to shake the unexpected shift in her thoughts.
"Very well," she said after a long pause, her voice softening slightly but still carrying the weight of command. "But next time, you will take a proper rest. I will not have you ruining your health over pride."
Kael nodded quickly, his expression grateful, yet still guarded, as though he didn't quite understand the depth of her concern. "Of course, Your Highness. I will heed your words." His tone was polite, but there was an underlying uncertainty that still lingered in the air between them.
Seraphina eyed him for a moment longer, then turned to leave, her mind still preoccupied with the conversation from earlier. The tension in her chest hadn't eased, but there was something about Kael's quiet persistence that lingered in her thoughts. She almost wanted to ask him more, but she knew better than to delve too deeply into the affairs of someone like him.