Kaive froze where he sat, the words echoing in his mind. His eyes locked onto Lady Walda.
She met his gaze briefly, but then shifted her eyes, lowering them ever so slightly, as if acknowledging his stare was dangerous. There was a faint tremor in her composed posture.
"Tell me, Lady Walda… is this true?" Kaive asked.
She nodded slowly, almost imperceptible, but Kaive's jaw tightened. A nod was not enough, he needed confirmation with words.
"Speak, Lady Walda. Did you hear this correctly, and are you certain you are not mistaken?"
Her lips parted, and she spoke, careful, precise, every syllable measured.
"Yes, His Royalty Kaive. I heard the outsider say it with her own mouth… I, Lady Walda, heard every word clearly. There is no mistake."
Kaive remained speechless, frozen where he sat, his thoughts spinning faster than the world around him. Different possibilities, different assumptions, all collided in his mind at once.
He felt responsible. Somehow, all of this traced back to him. He didn't blame Olessia for thinking he had taken an interest in her. In fact, he couldn't blame her at all. After all, he had.
The truth, plain and unguarded, lay there. His interest in her had been obvious, persistent, and perhaps too forward, too present.
But this… this idea that they were an item? That was entirely false. And yet, hearing Lady Walda confirm the rumors in such a venomous, deliberate way, Kaive couldn't help but wonder why Olessia would say such a thing. Did she even say it? Or had Lady Walda misheard? Could she have twisted it, colored it to fit her own designs?
His hand moved almost unconsciously to the glass of water on the table. He lifted it, gulped it down, the cold liquid sliding down his throat, a small anchor in the storm of his thoughts.
"Maybe that's why she refused to help me with the festival." Kaive mused inwardly, staring at the surface of the water as if it could reflect clarity.
"Because of how present I've been. How constant. Perhaps she saw me too much, noticed too much, and chose to retreat… to protect herself, or to remind me of boundaries I wasn't willing to respect." Kaive mind was buzzing with possibilities.
"Brother," Ziven's voice interrupted through the fog of Kaive's thoughts. Kaive lifted his gaze, suddenly aware of him.
"Is this true?" Ziven asked.
All eyes were on him. Lady Walda's gaze. Lady Eirene's calculating look. Ziven's intense stare. Even the guides and maids in the corner seemed to lean forward, waiting for the words to fall from his lips.
Him and Olessia… an item? He had never said that. There must be some mistake, some misunderstanding, somewhere.
"No. It's not true," Kaive said finally, shaking his head slowly.
"So… it's not true, and this outsider dares to spread false rumors? What if it's traveled outside the palace?" Lady Eirene said.
She leaned slightly forward, her eyes narrowing at Kaive as if to gauge his reaction, then flicked a glance toward Ziven, who was fuming in anger.
"Do something about this," Lady Eirene added, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Kaive's jaw tightened. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again. He knew what would follow, and he didn't like it.
"I'm going to call Olessia to order," Ziven said.
"Brother… no. Let's leave this and focus on dinner. I'll talk to Olessia myself," Kaive interjected.
Ziven didn't answer. He raised his hand subtly, summoning Hakon.
"Hakon," Ziven called.
Hakon, who had been standing a little away, attentive but unobtrusive, stepped forward without hesitation.
"I need both the maid and the black-haired here," Ziven said, his eyes cold and focused. Randa and Olessia, Hakon nodded.
"Bring them both to me," Ziven instructed.
*
*
*
Olessia had been waiting in Kaive's dining room for what felt like hours, though she tried not to admit it even to herself. She had arrived on time, sitting patiently, waiting for him to join her.
He had been the one to suggest they dine together this evening, yet here she was, alone. Her patience was fraying. She shifted in her seat, her fingers brushing against the edge of the table, tapping lightly... an unconscious rhythm born of anticipation and growing irritation.
Thank goodness the cook hadn't started serving yet. The aroma of the carefully prepared food would have grown cold, and the perfect presentation spoiled. She had instructed them to wait until Kaive arrived.
The soft hum of the corridor seemed louder now, each footstep sending a flicker of hope through her chest. Finally, the door to the dining room opened, the hinges creaking lightly. Her eyes lifted, expecting Kaive, her heart giving a small, anxious leap.
But it wasn't him. She turned fully, her brow furrowing slightly, and saw Hakon stepping in instead.
Hakon's gaze met hers for a moment, but there was an edge to it.
"His Royalty calls for you."
That was all Hakon said. He didn't wait for her to respond, and he didn't glance back at her. He just walked out of the dining room.
She didn't know where she was being summoned. Which part of the palace? Which room? Her mind raced, trying to guess, trying to anticipate. She pushed herself up from the chair, the wooden legs scraping lightly against the marble floor, and moved toward the nearest corridor.
Perhaps Kaive was in his private chambers, she thought, perhaps that's where she was needed.
When she arrived, she knocked lightly. But no answer form inside. A frustrated sigh escaped her. She turned toward the hall, trying to think of what to do next.
"His Royalty Kaive is in the northern part of the palace," a voice said behind her. She turned, spotting Dino standing there.
Northern part of the palace, that's Ziven's part. Her stomach tightened instantly, she felt uneasiness. The northern wing wasn't where she usually ventured. It wasn't where she had any reason to be.
"Can you take me there? It seems His Royalty Kaive calls for me," Olessia asked, her voice uncertain, carrying a tremor she didn't bother hiding.
Dino gave a small nod. "Sure. I'll help you."
He began walking, Olessia followed quietly behind him. Her mind raced with questions, with anticipation, her heart flicking between hope and unease. Kaive had called for her… surely.
The northern wing of the palace stretched before them, vast and quieter than the main halls she usually walked. Dino stopped before a large, massive door... Ziven's dining room. The polished wood gleamed, reflecting the soft light of the lanterns lining the corridor.
"It is not His Royalty Kaive who calls for you, but His Royalty Ziven," Dino said.
Before she could reply, Dino pushed the door open. The room was larger than she had imagined, the table long, ornate, lined with high-backed chairs. Her eyes swept across it, she was confused. Ziven? Why would he call her? Her pulse thudded in her chest. She had expected Kaive, not this.
She stepped forward, and was met with a sight that made her chest tighten. Randa was already there, kneeling on the floor, her body trembling, her hands pressed against her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks in silent, helpless sobs.