✦𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗬𝗥𝗜𝗔✦
The corridor felt colder as I slipped away from the strategy hall.
My heart still pounded from what I had heard.
War.
The word echoed through my mind like a distant drumbeat.
I had always known wars existed somewhere beyond the kingdom's borders. The princes trained for them. The generals spoke of them.
But hearing it myself…
Hearing the fear in those men's voices…
That was different.
Footsteps approached down the corridor.
Many of them.
The council meeting must have ended.
Panic fluttered in my chest.
Quickly, I slipped behind one of the tall marble pillars near the strategy hall doors.
The heavy doors opened.
Men poured into the corridor.
Generals in armor.
Nobles in long cloaks.
Advisors whispering urgently.
"The eastern border will not hold if they advance quickly," one man muttered.
"They always advance quickly," another replied grimly. "Not with Kael leading them."
The name sent a chill down my spine.
General Kael.
"They say he burned three cities in the last campaign," someone whispered. "And left nothing standing."
Their voices faded as they walked away.
When the corridor finally emptied, I stepped out from behind the pillar.
And immediately froze.
"Well," a cold voice said behind me.
"How interesting."
I turned slowly.
The queen stood only a few steps away.
Her dark gown swept the marble floor like a shadow, and the silver crown upon her head caught the morning light.
Her eyes locked onto me with icy precision.
"My husband's little secret."
I lowered my gaze.
"Your Majesty."
Her eyes traveled slowly over my clothes.
Trousers.
A loose shirt.
Her expression hardened.
"Tell me," she said softly, "why a bastard child is wandering the royal corridors dressed like a stable boy.
My stomach tightened.
"I was only walking through the palace," I said carefully.
"Through the strategy hall?"
Her voice sharpened.
"You were listening."
I remained silent.
The queen stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper meant only for me.
"You forget yourself, girl."
Her eyes burned with quiet fury.
"You are not a princess of this kingdom."
"You are the result of a mistake my husband was foolish enough to make."
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Three figures approached from the courtyard.
My half-brothers.
The princes.
They stopped when they saw us.
The Crown Prince, tall and composed, wiped sweat from his brow before bowing slightly to the queen.
"Mother."
His eyes shifted toward me.
Cold.
Disinterested.
"Still here?" he said flatly.
The second prince laughed quietly.
"I thought she was supposed to stay in the west wing."
His gaze ran over me with open disdain.
"You look like one of the stable boys."
The queen did not look pleased.
"She was lurking outside the strategy hall," she said sharply.
The Crown Prince's brows lifted slightly.
"Listening?"
"Trying to," the queen replied.
The second prince scoffed.
"That is bold for someone who should not even be in the palace."
My jaw tightened.
The Crown Prince studied me for a moment.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Mother, perhaps it is time we addressed the problem."
The queen tilted her head.
"What problem?"
He gestured toward me without looking.
"This one."
The second prince smirked.
"The court whispers about her."
"They always will," the queen said coldly.
"Then perhaps she should not remain here," the Crown Prince said evenly.
The words settled heavily in the air.
"Send her to a distant estate," he continued. "Or a convent."
"She serves no purpose in the palace."
The second prince nodded.
"I agree."
His smile was cruel.
"She embarrasses the royal family."
I stared at the floor, forcing myself not to react.
The queen seemed to consider the idea.
Her gaze slid toward me slowly.
"You may be right," she said softly.
"Keeping her here was never my decision."
Before the conversation could continue, a deep voice echoed through the corridor.
"What is happening here?"
Everyone straightened instantly.
The king approached, his heavy cloak trailing behind him.
The princes bowed.
"Father."
The queen's expression smoothed instantly.
"Your Majesty."
The king's eyes moved across the group.
They paused briefly on me.
Then moved on.
"The council has ended," he said.
His voice carried authority, but there was a weight behind it.
"The eastern border may soon face invasion."
The princes exchanged glances.
"Prepare yourselves," the king continued.
"You may soon see real battle."
He turned and continued down the corridor without another word.The queen followed the king shortly after.
The princes remained behind for a moment.
The Crown Prince adjusted the strap on his training sword, his expression already distant again.
"We should return to the courtyard," he said.
"If war truly comes, Father will expect us to be ready."
The second prince stretched lazily.
"Finally," he said with a grin. "Real battle instead of endless drills."
His eyes flicked toward me one last time.
"Try not to wander into places you do not belong again," he added mockingly
Then he turned and followed the Crown Prince down the corridor.
Their footsteps echoed loudly against the marble floor.
Only one of them remained.
The youngest prince.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
He shifted slightly where he stood, his training sword hanging loosely at his side. A faint bruise colored his cheek from practice.
Unlike his brothers, he did not look at me with disdain.
Instead, there was something softer in his expression.
Something almost apologetic.
He glanced down the corridor where the others had disappeared.
Then back at me.
Very quickly, almost too quickly to notice, he gave the smallest nod.
It was not much.
Not a smile.
Not a word.
Just a quiet acknowledgment.
As if to say he had heard everything… and he was sorry.
Before I could react, he turned and hurried after his brothers.
His footsteps faded into the distance.
And the corridor fell silent once more.
I stood alone in the empty hall.
Somewhere beyond the kingdom's borders, an army was marching
toward us.
Led by a man whose name made generals uneasy.
General Kael.
And somehow, I could not shake the feeling that my quiet little life inside these palace walls was about to change forever.