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“Your Highness,” he spoke slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose, “these are indeed challenging times, and the revelations are weighty. What we must do now is remain steadfast. Your husband, the king, is on a quest for answers, and only he can be the one to obtain them. We cannot help him, no matter how much we wanted to.”
“So, what are we supposed to do then?” I asked, out of my mind with worry.
“We can support him in any way he needs us to,” he spoke knowledgeably. “If he needs time away, we must give it to him. In the meantime, we should prepare our kingdom for the challenges that may lie ahead.”
I immediately remembered the last vampire attack. I also remembered that the events of that fateful night tested our defenses and our resolve.
“What about the castle?” I wondered. “No one can know that the king isn’t here. But even so, this information might leak in directions we don’t want it to. I wanted to ask if our castle is safe now?”
Leopold’s gaze held a sense of reassurance as he addressed me. “Your Highness, I want you to know that the castle is safe. Our guards are vigilant, and we’ve reinforced our defenses. Even in the king’s absence, we will protect everyone, rest assured of that.”
His words were a comforting reminder of the strength of our kingdom and the unwavering commitment of those who defended it. I nodded in gratitude, finding solace in his assurance.
“That is good to know, thank you,” I said, with relief. “At least that.”
He hesitated to ask, but it was stronger than him. “Do you know when the king is returning, Your Highness?”
“No,” I admitted with a heavy heart. “He didn’t say anything. He just told me to go back on my own and that he needs to do this alone. I don’t know anything other than that.”
“I see,” Leopold nodded, sighing heavily. He didn’t say anything other than that. Instead, he got up, signaling that the conversation was over. “I’m sure that everything will be all right. Our king is wise. He knows what he is doing. If he thinks that this is the path he must take, so be it. We shall wait for him to come back and in the meantime, keep the castle and everyone in it safe.”
“Yes,” I managed a weak smile.
He bowed respectfully, then left the study. At that moment, I didn’t want to be alone. I rushed over to Cass’ room, where one of the servants was watching her. I dismissed her, and sat down with Cass by the window, cradling her in my arms. The sun streamed through the window, casting a comforting glow over the room. I held her tightly, and she looked up at me with bright, curious eyes.
“Wasn’t daddy supposed to come back with you?” she asked, noticing that even after half an hour, Adrian hadn’t come to say hi.
I spoke to her with a gentle tone, my words aimed at reassuring her. “Sweetheart, your dad has some urgent business to take care of, but he’ll be back soon. He loves you very much, and he’ll return as soon as he can.”
Cass had always been a rather precocious child, especially now when she was almost nine years old. She immediately nodded with understanding. “Okay. I just miss him, that’s all.”
I smiled, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I’m sure he misses us, too. We’ll have some fun here, just you and me, and he’ll be back before you know it.”
As the hours passed, Cass and I embraced the afternoon with a sense of joy and togetherness. Our time was filled with games, laughter, and shared moments that deepened our mother daughter bond. We played hide-and-seek in the castle's grand halls, our giggles echoing through the stone corridors. I watched with delight as Cass’ eyes sparkled with excitement, her laughter filling my heart with warmth. We retreated to the castle’s gardens, where we explored the vibrant blooms and basked in the sun's gentle rays. Cass gathered flowers, creating colorful bouquets that filled the air with their sweet fragrance. Sitting on a soft blanket, we shared stories and dreams, our hearts connected by the simple pleasures of the day. The castle and its surroundings were transformed into a playground of wonder and love.
She managed to help me forget about everything other than the present moment, everything other than the enormous love I felt for her. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, our shared moments soon became treasured memories. We went back inside to have dinner, and soon after, I was tucking Cass into her bed, bidding her good night.
The day had finally come to its end, and the whole castle settled into the silent embrace of night. I doubted that I would be able to fall asleep immediately, with my nerves still strung like a finely tuned instrument. So, instead, I decided to take a warm bath, in hopes that it might soothe my stressed state of mind.
Usually, one of the servants would run a bath for me, preparing it just the way I liked it, but tonight, I wanted to be alone. I didn’t want or need anyone’s help. I turned the ornate, antique brass handles of the bathtub faucets, enjoying the sound of running water. The clear, cascading water created a gentle symphony which immediately kickstarted my relaxation process.
I reached towards a nearby shelf in the bathroom, choosing from an assortment of fragrant bath oils and salts. I chose my favorite lavender-scented bath oil, its soothing aroma filling the air as I poured a generous amount of it into the water. I needed to really relax this evening. On a nearby counter, I laid out a stack of fluffy, soft towels and a cozy robe to wrap myself up in the moment I stepped out of the bathtub.
Candles were the last touch. I arranged a few candles around the edge of the tub, their flickering flames casting a soft, warm light throughout the room. I would usually play music, but right now, I wanted to be alone and in silence with my thoughts.
When I assured myself that everything was ready, I eased into the warm, fragrant water, letting its soothing embrace wash away the cares of the day, The tranquility of the bath, combined with the comforting scents and candlelight, provided a moment of respite which I so desperately needed.
As I lay back in the tub, the fragrant steam rising around me, my thoughts turned to Adrian. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was safe, if he was finding the answers he sought, or if the shadows of the unknown were closing in on him.
With every passing minute, my thoughts turned to hope, to the strength and determination that had carried us through countless challenges before. I whispered a silent prayer for Adrian’s safety and well-being, trusting that the love that bound us would guide him back to us, just as it had always done.
As I emerged from the bath, wrapped in a warm robe, I felt a renewed sense of resolve. The castle was secure, our daughter was sleeping peacefully, and our kingdom was in capable hands. I had done everything I could to ensure our family’s well-being. With a deep breath, I prepared to face the night, ready to embrace the unknown and to await the return of the man I loved, with the hope that he would soon come back to us, safe and whole.
Chapter Fifteen
Adrian
I had been riding through the woods aimlessly, the towering trees and winding paths offering little in the way of direction. The thoughts that churned in my mind were as tangled as the forest itself, and the shadows of uncertainty clung to me like a heavy cloak I couldn’t get rid of no matter how hard I tried.
