The Baillif walked toward her carefully, his steps slow and deliberate, as if any sudden movent would shatter the fragile girl standing before him. Her shoulders trembled, her hands balled tightly at her sides. "I understand," he said softly, trying to sound reassuring. "We all understand. But you have to co to your senses. You’re asking for the impossible." His voice carried hope that she would calm down, hope that reason would reach her but she wasn’t ready to listen.
"You do not understand anything!" she cried out, the words bursting from her like a wound tearing open. "None of you understand. Do you know how painful it is to lose soone, soone very dear and important to you?" Her voice cracked, raw and heavy with grief. She shifted her gaze to the king seated across the room. "You just sit in your high castle where nothing can touch you and have everything within your reach. You were supposed to protect us but you didn’t! And now my mother is dead!"
A suffocating silence spread throughout the church. The mourners held their breaths, eyes flicking from the distraught child to their ruler. Alexander sat motionless, his expression unreadable. He looked at the scene before him but didn’t speak, didn’t interrupt, didn’t defend himself. He simply watched her the anger, the heartbreak, the helplessness she fought to contain. His silence made everyone in the room tensed as this was the first ti soone was talking to him in such manner.
"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Roselyn choked out, her voice losing its strength. "What am I supposed to do now? I don’t have any other relatives. Not one! And she left with a baby. How am I going to survive this?" Her voice dropped to a soft, trembling whisper. "I need my mother back..."
The mont the last words escaped her, she broke. Tears stread uncontrollably down her cheeks, her body shaking as she cried with a grief far too big for her small fra. Her sobs echoed painfully through the church. Many mourners looked away, unable to bear the sight. She was too young for this burden, too young to have her entire world ripped away overnight.
Alexander blinked slowly. Sothing in him shifted. Her last words seeped into the deepest part of him, one he had spent years burying under. A child left alone in the world with a burden too heavy. A mory he had desperately tried to forget resurfaced, and with it, a wave of emotions he despised feeling. His mood darkened instantly.
He rose from his seat, every eye turning toward him. The Baillif’s eyes widened slightly. He didn’t know what the king intended to do. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it, thinking it wiser not to interfere.
Alexander walked past Roselyn, his steps slow but steady. At the last row of benches, just where the girl had said, he found a small bundle wrapped tightly in a pure white cloth. A baby barely a few months old, slept quietly, unaware of the tragedy surrounding him. The church’s silence felt heavier in that mont.
Alexander ran a hand through his hair, frustration simring beneath his skin. He turned back toward the girl. When he reached her, he knelt down in front of her, lowering himself until he was at her eye level. She flinched at the sight of his shadow, fear flashing across her eyes. In her mind, she knew she had disrespected and she knew how much he hated it.
"What is your na?" he asked calmly, his gaze steady and unreadable.
She sniffed, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Roselyn," she whispered, her voice small and shaky.
"Roselyn," he began, "I may not fully know what you feel, but I understand enough to tell you this—if you do not learn to control your grief and anger, they will consu you." His tone was stern but not unkind. "Life has thrown you into a harsh reality you were not prepared for. It’s painful, and unfair but you must accept it. Not just for yourself, but for your mother and for your little brother."
"Your Majesty... I—" she tried to speak, but he raised a hand gently, stopping her.
"I will relieve so of the burden you carry," he said firmly. "For now, show your last respect to your mother. I will return to you shortly."
He stood before she could utter another word. His eyes swept the room one more ti, lingering on every face. Then, without another sound, he turned and strode out of the church. The cool breeze hit him the mont he stepped outside, brushing against his skin like a reminder. His expression darkened further. Anger swirled within him—heavy, bitter, and violent.
He unbuttoned the top of his shirt, loosening it as if it could ease the rage festering inside him. His jaw tightened. He needed to kill soone to release his anger.
The Baillif hurried after him. "Your Majesty," he said nervously, bowing low. "Forgive her for her manners. Young children lack proper restraint. I apologize on her behalf." Even he felt the suffocating aura emanating from the king.
Alexander didn’t respond.
At that mont, a carriage rolled to a stop in front of them. It was Arthur’s carriage. Behind it, a massive iron cage rattled slightly—the sa one prepared to transport captured rogues. Arthur descended from the carriage and approached them.
"Your Majesty," the Baillif continued, "thank you for taking ti to co. The people are grateful."
Alexander finally turned to him. "Arrange for her a new house," he ordered. "Well furnished. A guard will return later with soone to assist her."
"Yes, Your Majesty. It shall be done imdiately."
Alexander walked toward the royal carriage, Arthur following. Once inside, Arthur hesitated before speaking. He eyed Alexander’s tense posture.
"What happened to you?" he asked quietly.
"Nothing," Alexander replied, eyes fixed on nothing in particular.
Arthur raised a brow. "You look like you want to murder soone."
Alexander scoffed. "I always look like I want to murder soone, Rune."
Arthur wasn’t convinced. Sothing inside that church had clearly provoked the king.
---
Serena stared out the window of her room, watching the cloudy morning sky. The grayness seed to sink into her mood. She stepped into the hallway, planning to head to the dining hall, when she ran into Derick.
"Good morning, Lady Serena," he greeted with a polite bow. "I hope you’re feeling better?"
Serena returned the bow with a soft smile. "Good morning, Derick. I’m feeling much better today."
They walked side by side down the corridor.
"Where are you heading?" she asked.
"I was actually on my way to call you for breakfast," he replied. "The king will not be joining you this morning. He has an urgent situation to attend to."
Serena nodded. "I see."
Before she could say more, another voice chid in from behind them.
"Good morning, you two."
They both turned to see Princess Athyst approaching, her presence brightening the hallway. Derick bowed deeply. "Good morning, Your Highness."
"Morning, Your Highness," Serena echoed with a smile. "I trust you slept well?"
"I did," Athyst said, stepping closer and gently taking Serena’s hand. "And you? Feeling better?"
"Yes, much better."
"Good. Let’s eat in the dining hall today. I’m tired of my room."
The three walked together. When the dining hall doors opened, they paused mid-step.
A young woman was already seated at the table, eating comfortably as though she belonged there. She glanced up at their entrance but continued chewing casually.
Serena leaned closer to Derick. "Who is she?"
Derick stepped forward. "Lady Serena, Your Highness, allow to introduce Faith. She is here to assist us in finding the person who almost drowned you. Faith, this is Princess Athyst of Noct and Lady Serena."
Faith stood and offered a polite smile. "It’s nice to see you well, Lady Serena. Your Highness."
Serena shook her hand warmly. "It’s a pleasure."
Athyst, however, studied her closely. Faith looked nothing like the old, wrinkled witches from the myths. She was young, strikingly beautiful, with sharp features and bright nala eyes that seed to glow faintly.
Faith noticed the princess staring. She lifted a brow. "Do you have a question for , Princess?"
Athyst shrugged. "I do. You’re a real witch?"
Faith sighed. "Why does everyone expect us to look ancient? Do I look too young to be one?"
"I was just curious," Athyst muttered, turning back to her food.
But sothing continued to pull her gaze toward Faith. There was sothing familiar in her aura—sothing Athyst couldn’t place. It made her feel strange as if she has t her before.
Faith broke the silence. "Did you see who pushed you off the cliff?"
"No," Athyst replied. "I didn’t."
"How did you get there so early without seeing anyone?"
Athyst narrowed her eyes. "How do you know about that?"
Faith leaned back. "Because I’m trying to catch the one who spelled Lady Serena. And there’s a strong chance that person also tried to kill you."
Derick added, "Yes. She was the one who cured you."
Serena looked at Faith gratefully. "Thank you for saving ."
Faith waved off the thanks. "It’s fine. Now princess back to my question."
Athyst sighed. "I told you. I just woke up and found myself there."
Faith exhaled slowly. This attacker was far more ticulous than she expected. No traces. No mistakes. No clues.
"May I have your hand?" Faith asked suddenly. "I need to check sothing."
Athyst hesitated... then placed her hand in Faith’s.
The mont their palms touched, a surge of wind exploded through the room like a magnetic blast. Serena gasped. Derick’s eyes widen.
Faith’s red eyes glowed with an intense brightness, brighter than before as she froze, staring into nothingness.
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