Elara
The next morning, the castle seemed plunged into an eerie calm, almost surreal. The banquet from the night before was but a distant memory, the nobles had returned to their lands, and the court had resumed its usual rhythm. But for me, nothing was as it had been. The walk from the previous night had marked a point of no return. The king's words still echoed in my mind, and more than ever, I felt that there was something unspoken between us. Something that went beyond social order, beyond my status as a servant, and beyond my role as a mere observer in the shadows of the court.
As I went about my usual tasks, I couldn't help but think of the conversation I had had with Aldric. I remembered his words, the pain that had shown through in his voice, the vulnerability he had let slip. The king, in all his glory and power, was a broken man, haunted by his choices, and I wondered if I could truly help him, or if I was only making things worse by getting closer to him. After all, my role was to remain distant, invisible, and serve without asking questions.
But how could I stay away from this man whose torments I was beginning to understand?
I didn't have much time to dwell on my thoughts, as the sound of the heavy castle doors echoed. A messenger entered, running, a scroll in hand. The servants' gazes turned immediately to him, and I approached discreetly. The messenger, breathless, bowed before one of the king's advisors and handed over the letter, a quick, professional gesture, though his nervousness was palpable.
"What's going on?" I murmured to another servant, an old friend who stood nearby.
"A new report from the south," the servant replied in a worried tone. "The Duke of Darven, a powerful lord, has raised an army. It seems he intends to march on the kingdom."
A shiver ran down my spine. A war? The Duke of Darven was an ambitious man, known for his attempts to increase his power at the expense of other lords in the kingdom. If the rumors were true, this meant imminent war. A war that would change everything.
The messenger, still trembling, left after saluting the advisor, and the tension in the castle escalated. The news spread quickly, even reaching the ears of the servants. Everyone knew that if this conflict became a reality, the entire kingdom would be shaken.
Still, I couldn't focus on it. My encounter with the king weighed heavily on my heart. I couldn't shake this growing bond between us, a bond that seemed to defy all the rules. Everything in my life had taught me to keep my distance, never crossing the invisible lines between the classes. But every time I saw Aldric, every time I thought of him, those lines seemed to grow blurrier.
I made my way to the kitchens to prepare some food for the members of the court. At that moment, another messenger arrived, this time more urgently. His gaze fell on me.
"The king asks to see you," he said simply, before hurrying off toward the royal apartments.
My heart raced. The king… had asked to see me? I took a deep breath, trying to hide my unease. It wasn't the first time he'd summoned me, but each call seemed more significant than the last. I hurried to his apartments, my mind in turmoil.
When the doors to the royal chambers opened, I entered. Aldric stood there, by a large map of the kingdom, hands clasped behind his back, his features tense. He was no longer the thoughtful man I had met the night before, but a sovereign with a firmer appearance, as if the political and military concerns had taken over.
He turned his gaze to me as I entered, and his eyes hardened slightly. "Elara," he said, his voice marked by urgency. "It seems the situation with Darven is much more serious than we thought. The duke has gathered a sizable army and is heading straight for our borders. I need you."
I bowed, though surprised. "Your Majesty, what can I do?"
"I must go to war," he said, his eyes briefly drifting to the map. "But before that, there is a task that falls to me. You saw the go