Sold To The Cruel Pr Chapter 97: Is He There?

Chapter 97: Is He There?

Kael felt trapped between duty and sothing far more human, and far more difficult.

He didn’t know what to do.

Then, as if to make his choice easier...

**Clang**

A sharp tallic sound rang out from outside the tavern wall, faint but unmistakable through the window.

Kael reacted instantly.

He caught Aveline’s hand and pulled her out of the room. Aveline hurriedly gathered her things and followed him, with Hamilton in her pocket, confusion flashing across her face as she was dragged into the corridor.

But as they passed the stairs, she felt it again.

The strange distortion. The sa one she had seen near the window earlier.

Her heart gave a strange, uneasy jolt, as if she were leaving sothing behind even while moving forward.

"Theron?" she called before she could stop herself.

She did not even know why she said it.

And yet the mont her eyes settled on that place, the na slipped from her lips as though her heart had already known the answer. Hamilton too peeked his head out of her pocket and looked in the sa direction.

Kael faltered for only a fraction of a second. He could not sense much, but he knew enough to realize his liege was nearby.

Maybe she was right. Maybe that was where the Prince was. But what could he do now?

He tightened his grip on her wrist to lead her farther down the stairs. But Aveline fixed her feet firm on the floor, not wanting to move.

"Theron is there," Aveline said, trying to pull free. "Wait—stop."

But Kael did not loosen his hold.

If his liege was indeed there and still choosing not to reveal himself, then Kael had no choice but to obey the earlier command without question.

Aveline turned again, her gaze fixed on the distortion.

It seed closer now.

"Theron..." Her voice softened, almost breaking. "Is that you? You are here... aren’t you?"

Behind the Aurelion Veil, Theron reached out.

His hand hovered just an inch from her face.

He clenched it into a fist, fighting the impulse to step forward when he saw how tightly Kael held her wrist. Every muscle in him went rigid, but he forced himself to remain still.

Closing his eyes, he bowed his head, as Kael dragged her down the stairs.

Aveline stumbled once, struggling to keep pace. She looked back—once, twice—and when nothing changed, when the hidden presence stayed silent and unmoving, her resistance slowly gave way.

At last, she stopped fighting.

Her shoulders lowered.

Her head bowed.

And she followed Kael down the stairs, quiet now. Sothing in her chest closed quietly—like a door she hadn’t ant to shut.

-----

From a distance, Aelion watched Kael Vantaris drag a woman out of the tavern.

His brows drew together.

Kael did not move like a man escorting soone—he moved like soone evading notice. Alert. Controlled. Dangerous.

Suspicious.

Kael looked around once, twice, as though making certain no one had seen them. Then, without warning, he vanished from view with the woman at his side.

Aelion’s eyes narrowed.

He followed at once, slipping after them with quiet steps. By the ti he reached the bush where Kael had disappeared, there was nothing.

No Kael. No woman. Only empty air.

He turned sharply to the older servant who had followed him out.

"Find out who that is," he said.

It was not every day that one saw a Vantaris—much less Kael Vantaris—dragging a woman away in such haste. The Vantaris were known throughout the kingdom for their courtesy toward won, for their discipline, for their restraint.

So there had to be more to it.

Aelion’s fingers curled tightly at his side. His gaze remained fixed on the place where they had vanished, his mind already spinning with possibilities, with reasons, with plans.

And yet beneath all of that, sothing else stirred.

That face... Those eyes...

He pressed a hand to his head and bent slightly, as though the mory itself had struck him.

Who was that woman?

Where had he seen her before?

-----

Aveline sat by the carriage window, her fingers resting lightly against the cool glass, her thoughts far away.

She had felt that presence.

That distortion in the air.

She was certain she had seen him.

Theron.

...but what if she was wrong?

Her brows drew together faintly, her reflection staring back at her like it had questions she couldn’t answer.

A small weight suddenly landed on her lap.

Hamilton.

He wriggled into a comfortable spot as if nothing in the world was wrong, his tiny body warm and soft. He looked up at her, blinking those bright, curious eyes, then nudged her hand with his head.

Aveline’s expression softened.

"...You’re not worried at all, are you?" she murmured.

Hamilton puffed his chest a little, as if to say of course not, then curled his small tail around himself and settled in proudly.

A small smile touched her lips despite everything.

The carriage rolled forward, the rhythm of the wheels steady beneath them.

Soon, towering gates ca into view of the capital city of Eryndale.

Aveline leaned closer to the window, her eyes widening just a little.

The gates alone were grand—arched high, carved with intricate patterns that seed to shimr under the sunlight. Guards stood on either side, their armor gleaming, their presence firm and unyielding.

But when their carriage approached, sothing changed. The guards straightened. One look at Kael seated near the driver—and they stepped aside without question without any inspection and delay.

The gates opened.

Aveline blinked.

Just like that...?

The carriage passed through, and the world beyond unfolded before her.

Eryndale was... alive.

People moved everywhere—laughing, talking, rushing, living.

Aveline’s eyes darted from one sight to another, drinking it all in like she was afraid it might disappear if she blinked too long.

"So this is... a city..." she whispered.

Hamilton popped his head up, equally intrigued, his nose twitching as if trying to morize every new scent at once.

The carriage moved deeper, toward the inner districts.

The noise softened.

The buildings grew more refined, more deliberate. Guards appeared more frequently, their armor more intricate. And as they passed, many of them gave Kael a subtle nod—respectful, acknowledging.

Aveline noticed.

He’s... important, she realized quietly.

The sun had climbed high by the ti the carriage slowed again, its light casting sharp gold across the streets.

And then... It stopped.

Aveline looked up.

Before them stood a mansion.

No... an estate.

Tall gates of wrought iron frad the entrance, their design elegant yet imposing. Beyond them, the mansion rose with quiet authority.

Aveline’s fingers curled slightly in her skirt.

"...We’re here?" she asked softly.

Kael opened the door of the carriage, to help her down. And Aveline did, almist hesitantly.

"This door," Kael pointed at a small door, that had runes carved all over it.

Kael wanted to find sothing... if she was a Vantaris by blood. Only those with the Vantaris blood could pass through this door.

Aveline stepped closer, her shoes raising over the threshold.

And then... The runes flickered—once— as if sothing inside had recognized her.