The castle corridors were quiet, a soft echo of Seris's footsteps as she moved swiftly but cautiously, the crimson hem of her gown lifted slightly in her hand to avoid catching on the floors. Each step sent her heart pounding, her pulse quickening with the weight of her daring plan.
Valric was supposed to be in the war chambers, deep in discussions with his army colonel—a fact she'd overheard earlier that morning. It was a rare chance to slip into his chambers unnoticed and search for anything that could provide answers.
Ascending the grand staircase to the east wing, where his private quarters lay, Seris rehearsed the excuse she'd planned should anyone stop her. Her nerves were frayed, but she pushed herself forward, determined to uncover the truth.
As she approached his chamber, she spotted a guard stationed near the far end of the hallway. She straightened her shoulders, feigning a confidence that she didn't entirely feel.
"I need to retrieve something for Prince Valric," she said, her tone firm with the authority of royalty.
The guard hesitated, his brow furrowing slightly. "The prince is not here, Your Highness. He is in a meeting—"
"I am aware," she interrupted with an icy tone. "He has asked me to collect something for him. Surely you won't make me repeat myself?"
The guard stiffened before bowing slightly and stepping aside. "Of course, Princess."
Seris gave a curt nod and slipped past him, closing the door quietly behind her.
The room was exactly as she imagined—pristine, organized, and devoid of warmth. Unlike her chambers, which were adorned with tapestries and lush furnishings, Valric's quarters were stark, functional, and cold. Shelves lined with books on warfare and strategy dominated one wall, while a gleaming suit of armor stood sentinel in the corner. A large desk near the window was immaculate, its surface arranged with documents.
Locking the door behind her, Seris exhaled, her gaze darting across the room. She had to move quickly.
She approached the desk first, her hands hovering over a stack of documents. Most appeared unremarkable—maps, reports, and correspondences. But as she shifted a leather-bound journal, her fingers brushed against a folded piece of parchment hidden beneath.
Unfolding it, her eyes scanned the hurried scrawl.
"…Betrayal from Selvaris is inevitable. Act swiftly before they strike first."
Her breath hitched. The words sank in like a cold dagger. Who had written this? Was Valric already plotting against her kingdom?
The faint echo of footsteps in the corridor sent a jolt through her. No. He wasn't supposed to be back yet.
Panicked, Seris stuffed the note into her pocket and turned toward the door. But before she could think of an escape, the door swung open.
Valric stood in the doorway, his dark eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him. The tension in the air was palpable as his gaze fell on her, lingering on the desk she had so clearly been searching.
"What," he said, his voice low and edged with warning, "are you doing in my chambers?"
Seris froze, her mind racing for an explanation. Summoning every ounce of composure, she straightened and met his glare. "I needed to speak with you," she said evenly, though her heart threatened to betray her calm facade.
"By rummaging through my belongings?" Valric stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with deliberate finality. The sharp click of the lock made her stomach twist.
"I wasn't rummaging," she countered, lifting her chin defiantly. "I was... curious."
"Curious," he echoed, his tone laced with skepticism. He closed the distance between them, his towering frame making the space feel stifling. "You thought invading my privacy was the best way to satisfy that curiosity?"
"I wasn't invading anything!" she snapped, her frustration bubbling over. "If you have nothing to hide, then why does it matter?"
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, the silence between them was deafening. "You're walking a dangerous line, Princess," he said, his voice soft but no less threatening.
"Am I?" she retorted, her temper flaring. From her pocket, she pulled out the letter, holding it up for him to see. "Is this your idea of diplomacy? Planning to betray my kingdom under the guise of an alliance?"
His expression shifted ever so slightly—a flicker of surprise before his features calmed again.
"You have no idea what you're meddling in," he said, his voice sharp as a blade. "This isn't a game."
"Oh, it is a game," she shot back, her eyes blazing with defiance. "One you're clearly playing to win. Are you planning to conquer Selvaris? To destroy my people while hiding behind this farce of a marriage?"
In an instant, Valric closed the distance between them, his hand gripping her chin—not painfully, but firmly enough to hold her gaze. "Be careful, Princess," he warned, his voice a dangerous whisper. "Words like that could cost you your life in this castle. You are not in Selvaris anymore."
Seris yanked her face free, her heart pounding in her chest. "And you're a coward," she hissed, her voice trembling with anger. "If you think I'll stand by and let you and your council conspire behind my back, you're sorely mistaken."
For a moment, he said nothing, his dark eyes scanning her face. She could feel the tension radiating off him, the weight of unspoken thoughts hanging in the air.
Then, his expression softened—just slightly, but enough to catch her off guard. "Stay out of this," he said quietly, his tone almost... pleading.
"You expect me to betray my people?" Seris hissed, her voice sharp as steel, her eyes narrowing with fury. "To stand by your side while you weave whatever schemes you're hiding?"
Valric's jaw clenched, his composure visibly strained. "I don't expect anything from you," he said, his tone cold. "But I will tell you this—meddling in matters you don't understand will do nothing but bring harm to both of us."
"Don't patronize me," she snapped, stepping closer, her defiance burning brighter. "You think I don't see what you're doing? You're trying to trap me—manipulate me into playing your game."
"And you think storming into my chambers and throwing baseless accusations makes you clever?" His voice was low, but the bite in his words was unmistakable. "You're playing with fire. Keep pushing, and you'll find yourself burned."
Her hands clenched at her sides, her voice trembling with anger. "If there's fire, it's because you lit it, Valric. You and your damn secrecy. If you weren't hiding something, there'd be no need for games."
His expression darkened, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension. "This isn't a game," he said through gritted teeth. "Do you think I want this war? That I'd sacrifice lives for some petty power play? You don't know me, Princess. And you sure as hell don't understand the stakes."
"Then enlighten me!" she demanded, her voice rising, her fiery gaze locked on his. "If I don't understand, it's because you keep me in the dark. You treat me like some pawn to be moved at your will, but I'm not yours to command."
"And yet here you are," he said, his voice dangerously calm as he leaned in, resting his hands on the edge of the table, trapping her. "Rifling through my things. Invading my space. Acting as though you have the right to demand answers. Tell me, Seris, what exactly do you hope to achieve with this little rebellion of yours?"
Her breath hitched as the desk pressed against her back, the weight of his words settling heavily on her chest. "The truth," she said, her voice quieter now but no less determined. "I want the truth."
Valric's gaze bore into hers, his expression unreadable. For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick enough to suffocate.
"You wouldn't believe the truth if I gave it to you," he said finally, his voice a low whisper. "And even if you did, it wouldn't change anything. The world doesn't bend to your will. You can't fix this with stubbornness and fire."
"Maybe not," she said, lifting her chin defiantly. "But I won't stand by while you and your council decide the fate of my kingdom."
"you should remember this—you may hate me, but I'm not your enemy. The real threat isn't me. It's the people you trust." He said, his tone clipped, his patience visibly fraying.
Her breath caught at his words, the weight of them sinking in. "And why should I trust you?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound strong.
"Because whether you believe it or not," he said, his voice dark but steady, "I'll protect what's mine. And whether you like it or not, that includes you."
She glared at him, her fury undimmed even as her heart raced. "I am not yours," she spat, her voice trembling with both anger and something she couldn't quite name. "And I never will be."
Valric stepped back, his expression cold and unyielding. "Then stay out of my way," he said, his tone sharp as a blade. "Because if you don't, you might not live long enough to see which side you're truly fighting for."
Before turning away, he reached out, brushing a strand of her hair between his fingers, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "I heard you were waiting for me in my chamber. I couldn't resist coming to see for myself..."
Seris froze, her breath hitching as his gaze lingered, sending an involuntary shiver through her.
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Seris standing there, her hands shaking as the door slammed shut behind him.