There are moments in court when danger doesn't come with trumpets or poison.
It comes with silence.
That evening, the silence came in the form of a note.
Slipped beneath my door.
No seal. No name. Just one sentence:
"You are not the only one who remembers."
I stared at it for too long.
Then I burned it.
Not out of fear—but because fear wouldn't help me now.
---
Cladus was waiting outside my chambers, as always. Not quite shadow, not quite man.
But tonight—his stance was different. Tighter. Too still.
"You saw it," I said quietly.
He nodded once.
"Someone's watching."
"They always are."
"No." His voice was sharp. "This is different."
I studied his face.
There was something new there.
Not caution.
Not suspicion.
But anger.
"Cladus," I said slowly. "What did you see?"
His jaw ticked. "Not what. Who."
He opened his hand—and in it, a torn scrap of dark silk. Royal livery.
"Someone from the inner palace," I whispered.
He nodded again. "Someone with access to your chambers. Someone who wants you scared."
But I wasn't scared.
I was furious.
---
The next day, I wore crimson.
Not white. Not gold. Crimson.
Let them whisper. Let them remember.
At council, I stood beside the Duke as if I still bore power.
I saw Serina's knuckles go white on her goblet.
I saw Auren watching me with narrowed eyes.
Good, I thought. Keep watching.
---
That night, it happened.
Not a blade. Not poison.
But worse.
Tessa didn't return.
My handmaid—loyal, sweet, trembling Tessa—didn't answer my call.
We found her at dawn. In the west corridor.
Alive. But bruised. Shaking.
"He said… you needed to learn fear," she whispered.
Cladus was there before I even reached her.
He lifted her—gently—and carried her himself.
His hands were trembling.
That was the first time I saw it.
Not anger.
Not duty.
But helplessness.
---
We brought her to the inner infirmary.
Cladus didn't speak the whole time.
But when we were alone—
He turned to me. His eyes were wild. Broken.
"You could have been her," he said.
"But I'm not."
"You don't understand, Elara."
"This court—it eats people like you. Women like you."
"Then let it choke on me."
He stared at me.
Then said, almost like a prayer:
"I would burn this palace to keep you safe."
I didn't answer.
Because I believed him.
---
Later, I sat by the balcony.
A familiar presence lingered at the threshold.
"Is it safe?" Auren asked casually. "Or will I be burned alive for interrupting?"
I didn't turn.
"You've always been good at surviving fire, haven't you?"
He laughed. But it didn't reach his eyes.
"I heard about your maid. You alright?"
>"Tessa will heal."
"You always protect the weak." He sounded almost… wistful.
"Someone has to," I said. "Not everyone is born with power, Auren."
"No," he said softly. "Some of us were born with it—and still have no idea how to use it."
---
But I barely heard him.
Because Cladus had left something on my table.
A map.
Of the palace.
With three rooms circled.
And a single note in his handwriting:
They're watching you from within.