Elara
The kingdom of Valdoria stretched as far as the eye could see, a vast territory with towering mountains and dense forests, crossed by tumultuous rivers and lush plains. The royal castle, an imposing stone fortress, loomed over the capital, a city bustling with activity, yet marked by an atmosphere of fear and respect intertwined. The streets were lined with merchants, soldiers, and peasants, yet everyone seemed to walk with their heads lowered, as though an invisible cloud hung over their daily lives. For at the heart of this magnificent kingdom reigned a king whose reputation was well-known: Aldric, a powerful man whose cruelty was as legendary as his empire.
I had heard of King Aldric, of his rise to power and how he had crushed all revolts in blood. It was said of him that he showed no mercy, that his decisions were swift and brutal, and that the slightest mistake could cost a life. He ruled over Valdoria with an iron fist, and even the nobles, while respecting his power, feared his wrath. There was no place for weakness in his kingdom, and everyone lived in the shadow of his terrifying reputation.
I was just a humble servant, sent here by my family in hopes of a better future. Like all the other servants, I was but a shadow in the vastness of the palace. Yet, despite my modest position, I was not entirely ignorant of what was happening in this place. King Aldric, one rarely encountered him, and his appearances were always charged with palpable tension. Everyone in the castle seemed to live in a quiet fear, but to me, he was nothing more than a distant king, an imposing and inaccessible figure.
That morning, I approached the throne to bring the king a cup of wine. The hall was silent, the murmurs of the courtiers and the Minister of Finance had stopped, and the atmosphere felt heavy. The king, seated on his throne, looked at the minister, whose trembling was visible. He seemed so detached, almost implacable. Then, as I placed the cup on the edge of the throne, our gazes met.
It was a fleeting moment, almost imperceptible, but something struck me. It wasn't fear, as I had been told, but a strange mixture of curiosity and understanding. His eyes were dark and penetrating, as though he were trying to pierce something within me. A shiver ran down my spine, but I quickly looked away. I was just a servant, and there was no room for curiosity in a palace where everyone knew their role and their place.
Yet, that moment marked me. Something in his gaze, perhaps a glimmer of... I didn't know what, remained etched in me. He had seen me, not just as a mere servant, but as a person. A simple exchange of looks, and yet, I knew that something had changed within me. That single moment, though brief, would mark the beginning of something I could not yet understand.
And in that grand hall, as silent as a tomb, I did not know that that look, as brief as it was, would mark the start of a complex and forbidden relationship. A relationship that would echo throughout the entire kingdom of Valdoria.