Burk was sent away after his actions against Noori, though he wanted to explain, his pleas were not heard. Azorius was looking for a way to get Noori back into the palace, and while he searched for solutions, he was surprised to find Noori herself seeking him out. In the audience hall, she appeared dressed as a princess of Solyria, adorned in a rich velvet gown and fur shawl wrapped around her, a stark contrast to the typical attire of the Solyrian people. Despite this, her effort to assimilate impressed Azorius. Standing before his throne, she spoke with immense respect.
"Your Majesty the King, I wish to ask for your permission," she began.
"What is it?" he inquired.
"Your Majesty, I wish to rebuild the palace that was destroyed because of me. The guilt of ruining one of the places that my husband cherished so much is consuming me. I hope you understand."
For a moment, Azorius and those near him were taken aback, unsure of what she meant. "Rebuild? You don't have to do such a thing," Azorius responded, his tone a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"I feel like most of it is my fault, and I want to fix the problem that was caused by me. Please accept my request so that I feel like I have been forgiven for my part in the action," Noori pleaded earnestly. The hall fell into a stunned silence, her words echoing off the grandeur of the chamber. Just as everyone anticipated Azorius would reject the idea, he surprised them all with a question. "How are you going to do it? You have no idea how things around Solyria work. Are you sure you can do it?"
The audience hall was stunned by the king's unexpected agreement to Noori's request, rather than rejecting it outright. "I will not disappoint you, but I will need your help as the work starts. I hope the King is generous enough to do so for me," she responded, her tone resolute despite the uncertainty in the air. Azorius nodded in acknowledgment. "Well enough, I grant you the permission," he said, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity. Noori's soft smile conveyed her gratitude. "Thank you, Your Majesty. You are truly generous," she expressed before turning to leave. However, Azorius halted her departure with a firm statement. "But you will need to return to the palace instantly. The crown princess of the Solyrian nation can't stay in some barracks alongside the men," he asserted, his tone stern. Noori paused, meeting his gaze with a mixture of emotions, before finally nodding. "Yes, Your Majesty. I understand." She spoke.
"Noori," he said, rising slowly from his seat, descending the steps one by one until he stood within arm's reach of her. He reached out, gently patting her shoulder. "Thank you for finding Dastan and aiding him," Azorius spoke softly. Noori simply nodded, withdrawing from his touch and making her way to the door. Bishop stood waiting, attentive as ever.
"Princess, what did he say?" he inquired eagerly.
"He agreed," Noori affirmed, a victorious smile gracing her lips. Before Bishop could speak further, she shook her head, indicating the presence of too many guards. "We'll talk outside," she added, and the two exited the main doors of the palace.
The snow fell heavier as they stepped out of the palace, enveloping everything in its icy embrace. Bishop and Noori were the only warmth amid the chill, the cold penetrating everything around them.
"Princess, now that the King of Solyria has agreed, I believe we can dispatch our people to search the cities for the Whisperer. I'm very hopeful," Bishop remarked, his breath visible in the frosty air.
Noori nodded in agreement. "Yes, I share your optimism. But it won't be easy. We lack crucial information about what we're up against. Is the Whisperer a person or an animal? We need to scour the royal libraries for any clues," she said, her gaze fixed on the falling snow. She bit her lip nervously, feeling a sense of urgency creeping over her.
"I sense that I am running out of time. The feeling grows stronger with each passing moment, I am Afraid-" she added, her hand instinctively reaching for her chest before coming to a stop just over her heart.
Bishop's expression stiffened, his pain evident in his gaze. "I promise upon my life, Princess," he declared solemnly, throwing himself backward in a dramatic gesture, landing on his knees. He bowed his head and reached out, taking Noori's hand and pressing his forehead against it. "I vow upon my very life that I will find a cure for you. I will not hesitate, even if it means risking my own life in the process."
Noori inhaled the frigid air, its chill calming the fiery turmoil within her lungs. With a serene smile, she spoke, "Even if we do not succeed, I will be grateful for people like you who truly respect and love me." Bishop, though burdened with unwarranted guilt, felt a surge of hatred bubbling within him. "Princess, if I could, I would erase the Solyrians from the map," he confessed, his gaze now filled with intense animosity. "It's not just me; it's the sentiment shared by every soldier who has ever served under your command."
Noori acknowledged his sentiment with a nod. "Now rise," she commanded, and Bishop obeyed, standing tall. "Ensure that the work on the palace commences swiftly. Keep me updated on every development. I will remain here," she instructed.
"Yes, Princess," Bishop replied respectfully before bowing and departing with haste.
As Bishop's footsteps faded into the distance, Noori's gaze remained fixed on the descending snowflakes, her expression serious and determined. "The demise of the Solyrian kingdom is inevitable," she declared, her voice carrying a weight of conviction. "And it will be at my hands. But not yet. First, they must repay the debt they owe me. Only then will I grant them a merciful end." Her voice, laden with hate and contempt, resonated in the quietness of the snowy night. Her fists clenched tightly, her emotions swirling like a tempest within. As she closed her eyes, allowing the cold to seep into her skin, the gentle whisper of the falling snow merged with the murmur of her memories.
"You are the one I cherish the most in the world, you should know that, Noori."
The voice echoed in her mind, clear and poignant. It felt as though the memory was unfolding before her eyes, sending shivers down her spine. A tear escaped her closed lids, tracing a silent path down her cheek, as the weight of the past bore down upon her.
"You lied," Noori whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the quiet of the day. The crack in her tone betrayed the turmoil within, and she felt the burning sensation in her chest intensify, as if the fire within her veins had turned into molten lava coursing through her bloodstream. The pain in her chest intensified, a sharp ache throbbing with each heartbeat as her eyes snapped open once more. Before her stood Farris, his figure looming a few steps away, his gaze probing, questioning. Their eyes briefly locked, but Noori looked away abruptly, unable to bear the intensity of his scrutiny.
"Why did you look away?" Farris's voice cut through the air, drawing closer to her.
"I can't stand the sight of you. Isn't that clear enough?" Noori's response was sharp, laced with bitterness, but Farris's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "I BELIEVE IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE, Especially seeing those tears in your eyes," he asserted boldly.
Noori took a deep, shuddering breath, attempting to suppress the storm of emotions raging within her, her teeth clenched tightly together. Farris approached, his hand extending towards her, gently wiping away the tear that had escaped her eye. His touch almost forced her to meet his dark gaze. "You are feared by many. These tears could tarnish that formidable image of yours, do you realize?" His words were calm, yet they pierced through her like daggers.
Noori felt a knot tightening in her chest, warmth flooding her eyes as despair engulfed her. She was shattered, consumed by a seething rage that threatened to consume her. Yet, amidst the hatred burning within her, there lingered something else, something she couldn't quite define. With a trembling voice and a heart heavy with anguish, she spoke. "I despise your gaze, I despise you—I despise every single one of you." Her chest heaved with the weight of her emotions, her words dripping with venomous loathing. Farris nodded in silent acknowledgment, his expression betraying no hint of rebuttal. "I understand," he murmured softly.
Noori took a faltering step back, her head shaking in disbelief and sorrow. "You understand nothing of my suffering," she whispered, her nose reddened and eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"Please, Noori, just stop. You can't win this fight. You'll only destroy yourself," Farris pleaded, genuine concern etched in his voice as he reached out to her.
"I can't, I can't stop now. There's too much at stake," Noori responded, her voice trembling with emotion. "If you had stopped it in the beginning, I might not even be here. I might have had a better life! You ruined it for me! Don't tell me to stop now." Her words were laced with bitterness and regret, the weight of her past burdens heavy upon her shoulders.