The dinner ended in disappointment. Isabelle's plan to corner Colden had failed, broken by Carmine's presence. The brothers left the hall with smirks fading into silence, their arrogance bruised. Isabelle herself retreated to her chambers, her mind restless.
She paced the floor, her thoughts circling like vultures. How can I change his mind? she wondered. Colden's defiance was dangerous, and she knew she needed a new plan. By midnight, a devious idea had begun to take shape.
Meanwhile, in the staff dorms, Carmine lay on her narrow bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep would not come easily. Her thoughts drifted to Elaine, wondering if she should go to her, offer comfort, or simply listen. But exhaustion held her back. Instead, her mind wandered to darker possibilities.
What will happen when Colden is forced to become king? she thought. He will spend less time with me. He will distance himself from Marco.
They will drift apart, unable to survive the weight of the crown. Elaine will repent everyone, shutting herself away like her mother. And I… I will be replaced by Glinda.
The thought gnawed at her, bitter and relentless. She turned on her side, clutching the blanket, and finally drifted into uneasy sleep.
At the same time, far from the palace, Marco lay awake in the inn. The silence of the empty rooms pressed against him, broken only by the faint sounds of the town outside. He thought of something he had heard at the market earlier that day — a carriage had arrived, and the people were cheering. They said some great royalty had come to "cleanse" their king.
The words unsettled him. He buried his face in the pillow, his heart heavy. How many days will we still be apart? Is there any hope left? His mind swirled with worry for Colden. Was he safe? Was he strong enough to resist Isabelle and the brothers?
A small reassurance lingered — Carmine was with him, Francis too, and Elaine, though fragile, was still there. Yet the loneliness in Marco's heart was undeniable. He was not by Colden's side, and the distance felt unbearable.
Eventually, exhaustion overcame him, and he slept, his dreams clouded with fear and longing.
To be continued…