The corridors of the Eastern wing carried sound strangely . Every whisper , every rustle of silk , seemed to travel further than it should — as if the stone itself enjoyed gossip .
By dawn , the castle already hummed with speculation .
Elira felt it before she heard it : the pause in conversation when she entered ; the shift of gazes as though she carried something dangerous . Not the scandal of affection — that would come later — but something subtler . Influence . Scribes were meant to be invisible . She was no longer invisible .
That morning is council session gathered in the Glass Hall , named for its vaulted ceiling of mirrored panes that caught the sky and shattered it into fragments of light . Maps lay unrolled , tokens marking alliances and sieges .
Caelum stood at the far end of the long table , gauntleted hands resting against the edge . He has not slept — she could tell by the faint bruising beneath his eyes — but he held himself with the same measured precision .
When she entered , his gaze flicked to her briefly . A flicker , nothing more . But she felt it .
" Proceed ," he said to the generals , his voice even .
Commander Varek spoke first , briefing on the Western border , while Lady Solenne lounged like a cat at the table is edge , adorned in soft grey silk . Her eyes , pale as winter glass , followed Elira .
When the reports were done , Caelum turned . " Scribe Vane . Summarize the discrepancies ."
Elira inhaled . " The figures from the West understate losses . By the handwriting alone , the reports were rewritten . Someone in the courier line tampered with them — likely at Lord Myren is post ."
Varek frowned . " That is a heavy accusation ."
" I have proof ," she said quietly , sliding the scroll forward . " The ink is from the Southern province , not Myren is own stores . It carries traces of red ash from the Glassforge District ."
A pause .
Solenne is lips curved . " You have a remarkable eye for detail , little scribe . Tell me — how long before the Prince decides he cannot think without you ?"
The room chilled .
Caelum did not look at Solenne but his tone cut through the air . " Lady Solenne , I suggest you concern yourself with your diplomatic dispatches ."
Her smile did not falter . " Of course , Highness ."
The meeting continued but Elira is hands were trembling faintly under the table . She forced then still .
When the council adjourned, she lingered to collect her notes . The hall emptied slowly , echoing with fading voices . Caelum was last to leave .
He approached without sound , stopping just behind her .
" You handled that well ," he said .
" I spoke the truth ," she replied without looking up .
" You always do ."
There was quiet between them , the kind that thickened rather than eased .
" Solenne will not forget this morning," he added .
" I imagine she forgets very little ," Elira said .
" Nor forgive ."
She turned then , meeting his gaze . " Then I should tread carefully ."
He studied her . " You should . And yet , I find I would rather you did not ."
Her breath caught — just slightly . " That sounds like permission to be reckless ."
" It is not ."
His voice was sharp but softer underneath .
When she finally looked away , his gloved hand brushed against hers on the table . Barely there . Then he was gone .
That night , Elira found her chamber door unlatched .
The candle on her desk had been moved . Not stolen — just shifted .
Someone had been inside .
A folded note lay beneath her ink jar sealed with no crest , only a thumbprint pressed in wax .
She broke it .
You see too much . You will be silenced before the truth binds you .
The handwriting was elegant . Familiar .
Solenne .
She burned the note . Watched the wax curl and the flame eat the threat .
But she could not sleep .
At midnight , she rose and crossed the silent corridors toward the map chamber . The door was ajar .
Caelum stood there again , sleeves rolled , his forearms inked faintly with the residue of sigils — binding marks from the truth — ward he had cast during council .
" You should not be here ," he said , without turning .
" Neither should you ."
He exhaled , low almost a laugh . " You are becoming bolder , Elira Vane ."
" I have been threatened ."
He turned then , the faintest change in his expression . " By whom ?"
" Someone who does not want me near you ."
Silence . The air between them changed — sharpened .
" I will have Varek double your guard ."
" I do not want guards ."
" Then what do you want ?"
Her pulse stuttered . " Truth ."
He took a step closer . " And if the truth is dangerous ?"
" Then I will write it anyway ."
His hand lifted — hesitated — then brushed a strand of hair from her face , slow enough to feel every breath between them .
" You have no idea what you have walked into ," he said quietly . " This court devours its own . I cannot always protect you ."
She met his gaze . " I did not ask you to ."
Something flickered in him — admiration , fear , desire . He could not tell which .
He stepped back , breaking the thread of whatever had nearly happened .
" Go ," he said , voice rough . " Before I forget myself ."
Elira turned , but at the door she paused , glancing back .
" I think ," she said softly , " you already have ."
The door closed behind her .
And Caelum , alone in the flickering light of the map room , pressed his hand to the edge of the table and whispered — " Damn you , truth ."
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