Byanka then looked at him with a faintly confused expression.
"Is my name Vyenka?"
Aamon froze.
It was the first time he had heard her speak in such a gentle, almost angelic voice. It sounded nothing like the woman he had met in the past. Back then, her voice had carried a certain roughness, especially whenever she spoke to him. Now, there was a softness to it that made him momentarily forget what he was supposed to say.
He quickly composed himself.
"My trusted Fire Guard," Aamon called, turning toward the door. "Stand watch outside. Do not allow anyone to enter unless I give you permission."
The guard bowed before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
The moment they were alone, Aamon approached Byanka and pulled her into his arms.
She stiffened at first, clearly startled by the sudden embrace, but she soon relaxed. Her hands slowly settled against his back.
"What is our relationship?" she asked quietly.
Aamon hesitated for only a moment.
"We are lovers," he answered.
Byanka blinked. She stared at him as though trying to search through the empty spaces in her mind for something familiar. Finding nothing, she eventually wrapped her arms around him and returned the embrace.
"But I don't remember you," she whispered. "I don't remember anything."
Aamon's expression softened.
He had prepared himself for this question.
"We met at the marketplace," he explained. "You were wandering around alone when you fell and struck your head against a rock. You survived, but the injury caused you to lose your memories."
Byanka listened without suspicion.
The Orb of Lost Memories had taken more from her than her memories alone. It had stripped away much of her wisdom and judgment, leaving her unable to recognize the inconsistencies in Aamon's story.
Before she could ask anything else, a hurried voice came from outside.
"Your Majesty!"
Aamon immediately turned toward the door.
His Fire Guard spoke from the other side.
"Someone is approaching!"
Aamon's expression changed.
He quickly reached into his robes and retrieved the Amulet of Night, the artifact Cierra had entrusted to him. It was meant to conceal Byanka's true identity, allowing her to disguise herself as a Firelander or assume whatever appearance she desired.
"Quickly," he whispered.
He placed the amulet around Byanka's neck.
Before he could explain further, a loud yell echoed from beyond the door.
Byanka flinched.
Her eyes widened with fear as she instinctively moved closer to Aamon.
"Don't worry," he reassured her. "They're only curious."
Aamon looked into her eyes and saw the fear gradually disappear. Relief replaced it, followed by a quiet trust that made him smile.
He turned toward the door and opened it.
Standing outside was Anala, his suitor.
Aamon immediately glanced over his shoulder and subtly signaled for Byanka to remain inside.
Anala stepped forward with an arrogant expression.
"Your Majesty, if you ever cheat on me, my clan will leave your side."
Aamon felt irritation rise within him, but he buried it beneath a calm smile.
"Don't worry. I don't have a lover. You are only my suitor, Anala. We aren't even engaged yet."
Anala's expression hardened.
"Don't forget that my father and my older brother fought beside you and the late Fire King."
Aamon's smile disappeared.
"But your father couldn't save the late Fire King."
Silence fell.
Anala's face immediately darkened. Without another word, she turned around and stormed away.
Aamon remained at the doorway, watching her leave.
His mind drifted back to the past.
"Father..."
The word escaped him in a whisper.
He missed his father. More than anything, he wished he could see him again, hear his voice, and feel the reassurance of having him by his side.
But those memories were painful.
Aamon swallowed his grief and returned to the room.
Byanka was waiting for him.
She gave him a small nod, silently assuring him that she was all right.
Then her expression suddenly changed.
Her hands flew to her head.
"Aamon..."
She stumbled before dropping to her knees.
"Byanka!"
Aamon rushed toward her.
He knew exactly what was happening.
The fragments of her suppressed memories were beginning to surface.
He quickly raised his hand and performed the spell Cierra had taught him. A faint magical glow surrounded Byanka's body, soothing the pain that had begun to spread through her head.
Her breathing gradually steadied.
The pain disappeared.
But so did the memories that had been trying to return.
Aamon lowered his hand.
He had saved her from the agony, but the spell had also sealed away the memories that might have revealed the truth.
For now, Byanka would remain unaware of who she truly was.
✦
✧
✦
Two Years Later
Two years had passed since that day.
Aamon had finally broken off his engagement with Anala.
In the years that followed, he and Byanka had grown closer. What had initially begun as a carefully constructed lie had slowly developed into something far more genuine. Their relationship deepened with every passing day, and eventually, they shared an intimacy neither of them could easily deny.
Yet Byanka's condition continued to worsen.
Her headaches became more frequent and more severe. They often appeared at specific times, almost as though something inside her was responding to a hidden trigger.
Aamon refused to leave her unprotected.
Wherever Byanka went, trusted guards accompanied her. They were people Aamon personally selected, individuals he knew would never betray her identity or reveal her existence to outsiders.
This secrecy had become especially important because the Icelanders had been secretly spying on the Firelands for the past two years.
They had searched for information about the kingdom, its royal family, and anything that might give them an advantage.
But Byanka remained hidden.
They had never seen her.
Aamon had made certain of that.
One day, Aamon decided to visit a marketplace in disguise. He wanted to observe his people without the restrictions that came with being recognized as the king.
When Byanka heard about his plans, however, she immediately wanted to accompany him.
Aamon tried to refuse.
She insisted.
Eventually, he found himself unable to resist her charm.
"Fine," he finally said. "But you will not leave my side."
Byanka smiled brightly.
Aamon sighed.
It was precisely because he knew she could be difficult to resist that he ordered several trusted guards to accompany them in disguise.
The night before their departure, Byanka and Aamon slept in the same bed.
Sometime during the night, Byanka suddenly opened her eyes.
She felt as though someone was watching them.
She remained still for a moment, listening to the silence around them.
"Aamon?"
He stirred beside her.
"I feel like someone is watching us."
Aamon opened his eyes and looked around the room.
"There's no one here."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Byanka narrowed her eyes.
"How do you know?"
Aamon smiled.
"Do you want me to prove it?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"How can you prove it?"
Aamon moved closer.
Their faces were only inches apart.
Byanka's breath caught as he leaned toward her, but instead of kissing her immediately, Aamon moved toward her right ear.
"I'll prove it," he whispered.
He slowly returned to face her before pressing his lips against hers.
The following morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains.
Byanka woke first.
She quietly raised her hand and summoned a small white feather through magic.
A mischievous smile appeared on her face.
She gently brushed the feather across Aamon's nose.
He stirred.
Byanka giggled.
"Vyenka..." she whispered, laughing softly. "Wake up, Your Majesty."
Aamon slowly opened his eyes.
He sat upright and pretended to be annoyed.
Byanka immediately recognized the act.
She knew him well enough to know when he was pretending.
She played along.
"Oh no," she said innocently.
Aamon narrowed his eyes.
Byanka laughed before getting out of bed and wrapping her arms around him.
Her playful charm quickly broke through his act.
Aamon finally raised his hands in surrender.
"I admit defeat."
Byanka smiled triumphantly.
Aamon leaned back and yawned.
"Why are you yawning?" Byanka asked.
"I'm tired."
"Because of me?"
Aamon gave her a tired look.
"Perhaps."
Byanka laughed again.
Aamon shook his head before getting out of bed.
"Get dressed. We have somewhere to go."
"Where?"
"The marketplace."
Byanka's eyes immediately brightened.
She hurried to prepare herself.
For the first time in a long while, she was going to leave the palace with him.
Neither of them knew that their simple trip to the marketplace would soon bring them closer to the truth they had spent two years trying to escape.