CHAPTER FIVE(HEARTACHES NOT HEARTBREAK)

CHAPTER FIVE

“Her Majesty is here?”

The guard’s voice cracked like thunder across the hallway. His eyes went wide the moment he saw me standing there, tall, calm, glowing in the dim golden light that poured from the torches.

I couldn’t help the little smirk tugging at my lips.

Yes, I looked good. Way too good for someone trapped in a stranger’s body and stuck in a century that didn’t even have toothpaste.

The maids had bathed me in warm milky water mixed with lavender and crushed herbs. They used something that smelled like coconut oil as pomade, rubbed it into my skin till it shimmered like glass. Candles burned all around the bath, and I’d felt a weird kind of peace for the first time since I landed here.

Then came the hair, long, dark, and soft like silk. They straightened it with something hot enough to burn a village down. After that, they painted my lips red, lined my eyes with soot, and wrapped me in a long floral gown that made me look like sin itself.

When I looked in the mirror, I nearly gasped.

Elara or me, I guess, was beautiful. Heartbreakingly beautiful.

And maybe that’s what scared everyone around me.

The palace guard swallowed hard. “We’ll inform His Majesty immediately, my lady.”

I nodded, trying to act as queenly as possible even though I had no idea what queens actually did besides breathing expensively.

The doors to the King’s chambers creaked open.

I turned to Valerie, my loyal shadow since I woke up here and whispered, “Stay outside. I need to handle this myself.”

Her eyes widened. “My lady, you shouldn’t”

But I was already walking in.

The room was huge. Too huge. Candles burned low, the flames dancing lazily. The scent of sandalwood filled the air. My heart raced as I spotted him…Alaric,lying on his bed, half-sitting, his robe slightly open at the chest.

Good God.

He looked… unreal.

His silver eyes flickered up lazily, catching me like a blade to the chest. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice deep, rough, the kind that scraped your name when he said it.

I blinked, snapping out of my daze. “Your Majesty…..”

“Cut the act,” he said coldly, pushing himself up. “If you’ve come to insult me again, make it quick. I need sleep.”

I froze.

Okay, ouch.

This man clearly hated Elara - the real one. The woman whose body I was currently borrowing like a bad rental car.

“Actually…” I began, trying to sound confident. “I came to spend the night with you.”

That made him pause. His brow furrowed, his lips twitching slightly. “With me?” he repeated slowly. “Are you drunk, Elara?”

“No.”

“Did you hit your head again?”

I sighed. “It’s a marital right, is it not?”

His expression darkened. “You’ve never used that excuse before.”

Damn.

“I mean… maybe I’m trying to fix things between us,” I said softly, walking closer. “We’re husband and wife. We should…..yunno”

“Don’t,” he cut in, his voice low but sharp. “Whatever game you’re playing, I’m not interested.”

My stomach dropped.

This wasn’t the 21st century where rejection came with emojis and healing playlists. This was the past - where kings executed wives for less. I had to move carefully.

“Alright then,” I said quietly, trying to retreat gracefully. “Goodnight, Your Majesty.”

But the second I turned to leave, my heel caught the edge of my massive gown.

Before I knew it, the world tilted. I gasped, shutting my eyes, bracing for impact 

Only to land in something firm.

Warm.

Alive.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself locked in his arms. His chest rose and fell against mine. His breath brushed my cheek.

And those silver eyes… they weren’t cold anymore. They were startled. Confused. Maybe even… curious.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

It was just the sound of his heartbeat against my ear, the faint scent of his skin sandalwood and smoke.

Then reality struck. He quickly stepped back, clearing his throat, face unreadable again.

I caught my breath. “I I'm sorry, I tripped,” I mumbled, clutching the edge of my gown.

He looked at me as if he was seeing a ghost. “You said sorry?”

“What?”

“You. Said sorry, Elara.” His tone softened in disbelief. “What is going on with you?”

If only he knew.

“I’m not Elara,” I whispered in my mind. “Not even close.”

But out loud, I forced a small laugh. “Maybe I’m… trying to be better.”

He studied me. For the first time, I saw a flicker of something human in his eyes, not anger, not pride… but surprise.

“Seems like your fighting training paid off,” I said lightly.

And for a heartbeat, I heard it -a chuckle.

Low, brief, but real.

Oh my God, the King actually laughed.

“Thank you,” I said quickly, hoping to keep that rare warmth alive. “Also, I’d like to invite you to my charity event tomorrow.”

“Charity?” His tone was flat again.

“Yes. The one I took a thousand gold coins for.”

“You mean the one everyone thought was another of your schemes?”

I blinked. “It wasn’t.”

He tilted his head slightly. “You’re serious?”

I nodded.

He exhaled, almost smiling but stopping himself halfway. “You’re different,” he muttered under his breath, barely audible.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing,” he said, lying back down. “I’m not coming to your event.”

And just like that, the wall slammed back up.

I stared at him for a long moment, wondering how someone could be so heartbreakingly beautiful and emotionally unreachable at the same time.

“I see,” I murmured, turning toward the door.

The guard outside opened it just as I reached for the handle almost like he’d been waiting.

I walked out slowly, my chest tight.

Valerie rushed up to me. “My lady, are you alright?”

I forced a smile. “He’s… fine. Just tired.”

But deep down, I knew something had shifted.

Maybe not much. But enough.

The way he looked at me before letting go, it wasn’t hatred. Not this time.

It was confusion. Maybe curiosity.

And maybe, just maybe… that was the beginning of something.

As I walked back through the candlelit corridor, I whispered to myself, “Alright, Liana. Step one: fix Elara’s mess. 

Step two: find that relic. 

Step three…”

My voice trailed off.

“…figure out why the hell your heart beats faster every time you look at Alaric.”