The twilight had settled, casting a golden hue over the Kingdom of Delensar. Queen Isolde's chief handmaiden had knocked three times, her voice laced with urgency as she inquired if Princess Aurelia needed assistance. Aurelia, however, had ordered the palace doors shut, her gaze fixed anxiously toward her bedchamber.
She had instructed Sister Maribel to bring Caelum Valtaris to her private quarters. The room connected to a small garden at the rear of the palace, where a half-height window allowed for discreet entry. Time was running out.
Aurelia sat on a velvet sofa, her face pale with worry. Beside her lay the whalebone farthingale she had yet to don. Her fingers fidgeted with the embroidered patterns on her gown's sash, her teeth gnawing at her lower lip. The tension in her stomach was unbearable—a physical manifestation of her anxiety.
If he didn't arrive soon, she would have no choice but to attend the banquet.
Thud. Thud.
The sound of heavy footsteps crunching on dried twigs in the garden snapped her to attention.
He was here.
Aurelia leapt from the sofa, her heart pounding. Never before had she felt such anticipation for Caelum's arrival. In her haste, she nearly tripped over the heels of her formal shoes. With a frustrated kick, she discarded them, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as she rushed to the window.
There he stood, bathed in the fading light, his golden armor gleaming. The sight of him brought a wave of relief, her heart finally settling after hours of suspense.
Caelum Valtaris, her loyal knight, waited silently beneath the window. His towering frame, encased in cold, unyielding metal, exuded an air of steadfast reliability. A longsword hung at his side, its sheath as golden as his armor. He stood with his head bowed, ever patient, ever obedient.
But Aurelia hesitated.
Though she lacked the ability to wield magic, her intuition was sharp—almost prophetic. It had saved her from danger more than once. Her elder brother had once joked that she had the makings of a seeress, a vessel of the Holy Light. But Aurelia had refused the calling, content to remain the delicate rose nurtured within the palace walls.
Now, that same intuition whispered a warning.
"Your Highness, the banquet is about to begin," the handmaiden's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Aurelia snapped, "I'll be late if I must! Stop pestering me!"
The handmaiden fell silent, her duty fulfilled. She had only needed to confirm that the princess was still in her chambers.
Aurelia took a deep breath, pushing aside her doubts. "Nini, come inside. I need to speak with you."
The nickname slipped out before she could stop it. In her urgency, she had forgotten her own decree forbidding Caelum from entering her chambers. But tonight, she needed him. She had to escape the palace.
She would not marry that Lycan chieftain—a man twice her age, rumored to be as ugly as he was temperamental.
Yet, Aurelia had underestimated Caelum's size. His massive frame, clad in heavy armor, made the delicate window seem laughably small. It was as if a giant were attempting to squeeze into a rabbit's burrow.
But Caelum never refused her.
With a clatter, he removed his sword and leaned forward, his broad shoulders straining against the window frame. The stained glass creaked under the pressure, tiny cracks spreading like veins. Aurelia winced at the sound.
"Stop! You're going to break it!" she scolded, her voice sharp. Then, catching herself, she softened. "Just… don't force it."
She felt a pang of guilt. She hadn't spared a thought for him after banishing him a year ago. He was bound by the Bloodbound Oath, unable to stray far from her. Yet, she had never considered how he had endured his exile.
But now, she needed him.
"Nini," she said, her tone imperious, "I command you to take me away from the palace."
Caelum nodded silently. He rarely spoke, his responses always brief and to the point.
Aurelia hurried to her wardrobe, gathering a handful of priceless jewels. She carelessly bundled them in her skirt and tossed them to Caelum. "Carry these. Don't lose a single one."
She then retrieved a pair of soft leather boots, a gift from her brother last spring. He had promised to take her on an outing, but the promise had never been fulfilled. Aurelia pushed the thought aside, slipping on the boots and returning to the window.
Caelum waited, his golden eyes hidden beneath his helmet. Aurelia bit her lip, a nervous habit she couldn't shake. Was she really ready to leave the palace? She had never ventured beyond its walls without her brother.
But she had no choice.
"Let's go," she declared, her voice firm. "I'll write to my brother once we're safe."
As she turned to fetch a woolen cloak, she failed to notice the shift in Caelum's demeanor. His gaze, once calm and obedient, now burned with a predatory intensity. He inhaled deeply, savoring her sweet scent, before forcing himself to stillness.
When Aurelia turned back, he was as composed as ever.
"Nini," she said, lifting her chin, "I permit you to carry me."
She extended her arms, as though bestowing a great favor. And to Caelum, it was.
With a low creak of armor, he knelt, his massive frame dwarfing hers. Gently, he reached through the window, his hands brushing against her fragile form. The scent of roses filled the air, mingling with the cool night breeze.
"As you command, Your Highness," he murmured, his voice muffled by the helmet.
And with that, the princess and her knight vanished into the shadows, the whispers of the blood moon guiding their path.