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“Why didn’t you tell her about Cassandra’s secret boyfriend?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
“I don’t think it’s wise to keep stuff hidden from the same person who’s trying to help us,” he pointed out.
“I know,” I nodded. “I know that. But… I can’t explain it. And besides, maybe it’s nothing. But I want to be sure it’s nothing before we tell anyone.”
“Alright,” he agreed.
“Thank you for trusting me,” I told him. “Really… I don’t know what I would do without you. I mean, without you here, with me, protecting me.” I added the last part as quickly as I could. I didn’t want him to think that this was a love confession, because it almost sounded like that. It was merely gratitude. At least, that was what I was trying to convince myself of.
“This is not just a job for me anymore,” he replied, a little hesitantly. “But it doesn’t matter.”
“Of course, it does,” I jumped, clutching at his words, because they were finally what I was so desperate to hear. “Tellme, please. Because… there is something I want to tell you as well.”
He looked at me, weirded out a little, but he managed to regain composure.
“It seems we both have something to share with each other,” he said. “But not now. Riding back to the castle is more important. When I come back, then we’ll talk.”
“Alright,” I agreed, then without being able to resist the temptation, I leaned over and kissed him on the lips. It was a chaste kiss, a kiss of promise and beckoning to come back soon. I could only hope that he was able to read it all from it.
“I’ll be back soon,” he told me, caressing my cheek.
I watched him mount his horse and gallop into the woods. My heart fluttered out of love, out of fear for him. I couldn’t wait to have him back, hopefully with specific information that might bring us closer to what was truly happening not only inside the castle, but also around it.
Chapter Thirty
Adrian
I hoped that I wouldn’t run into anyone at the castle, which was a long shot. The servants were still busily working. The wedding day was a mere week away. There was a sense of joy but also trepidation in the air, and everyone felt it.
I descended my horse and rushed to the castle, climbing the stairs. The memory of Cassandra’s lifeless body at the bottom flooded my mind. I tried not to think about it, but that was difficult. As I finally reached the door to her room, a sense of melancholy washed over me, knowing that I was about to intrude upon a dead person’s private space. It just didn’t feel right. I knew that if the king saw me, he would banish me from the castle. But I also understood the importance of uncovering any clues that might shed light on the identity of her secret boyfriend. Even if it wasn’t important, I had to return to Lilith with something specific.
Taking a deep breath, I gently pushed the door open. The room felt as if it held echoes of her spirit, and I stepped inside with a mix of reverence and determination. Every object in the room seemed to hold a piece of her essence, and I felt a pang of sorrow realizing that I would never see her again. She was a kind soul, one that did not deserve the end she received.
I started my search methodically, starting with her desk, where I assumed she would have kept her journals. I opened all of the drawers, and the final one yielded the desired result. It was a dainty purple notebook, which had no lock and key. Anyone could open it. That was how trusting she was.
With a trembling hand, I scanned through the pages, hoping to find any mention of her secret beau. But it seemed thatCass had been meticulous in keeping this part of her life hidden, leaving no trace of her feelings within the pages of her journal.
Next, I moved to her bookshelf, examining the titles of the novels she loved. Perhaps she had hidden a letter or a memento between the pages. Yet, as I pulled out each book, I found nothing that hinted at the existence of her secret love.
Feeling a sense of urgency, I turned to her closet, where her clothes and personal belongings were neatly arranged. I felt even worse, as if I was desecrating a holy space. But I couldn’t stop now. Lilith was counting on me. I pushed away these thoughts and continued. The scent of her perfume lingered in the air, and it brought back memories of her laughter and warmth. But even as I searched through her clothes, I found nothing that could offer any clue.
As time passed, my frustration grew, and I felt a sense of defeat. It seemed that every corner of her room held no answers, and I feared that her secret would remain hidden forever.
As I continued my search in Cassandra’s room, my eyes caught a glimmer of something unusual near her bed – a loose floorboard. Curiosity piqued, I knelt down and carefully pried the board open. To my surprise, a small wooden box was hidden beneath it, as if waiting to be discovered.
Gently lifting the box, I felt a rush of anticipation. Could this be what I had been searching for? Slowly, I opened the lid, and my heart skipped a beat as I beheld a treasure trove of mementos within.
The box was filled with tokens of memories – faded photographs capturing moments of laughter and joy, dried flowers that held the essence of cherished walks together, and small trinkets that bore the imprint of shared experiences. I took one of the photographs. It was the three of them, Cassandra, Luke and Lilith. They were all laughing, looking so much alive.
As I sifted through the contents, a folded piece of parchment caught my eye. My hands trembled slightly as I unfolded it, and there, in elegant script, were words of love and affection addressed to Cass. It was a heartfelt letter from her secret boyfriend, pouring out his feelings and emotions with tenderness and sincerity. It was signed L.
As I looked through the mementos in the box, a sense of realization washed over me. The photographs, the dried flowers, the trinkets – they all painted a picture of a love that had been kept hidden from everyone, including me. And as the pieces fell into place, I couldn't deny the truth any longer – Cassandra’s secret boyfriend was Luke.
My heart sank, and I felt a wave of conflicting emotions. On one hand, I was happy to have found the answers I had been seeking, but on the other, the revelation brought a heavy weight of sorrow and confusion. How could Luke have kept such a secret from everyone at the castle?
As the truth settled in, I realized the implications of this discovery. Not only had Cassandra kept her relationship with Luke hidden, but Luke had also been hiding this truth from Lilith. It felt like a betrayal, and yet, I understood the complexity of their situation.
