ANMELDEN"Mama, what does traitor mean?"
The question came from Dante, serious as always, while they sat at breakfast. Alessia's hand froze halfway to her teacup.
"Where did you hear that word?" Sebastian asked carefully.
"Some boys in the city. They were playing and they said their papa said not to trust us because our grandfather was a traitor." Dante's voice was small. "What did grandfather do wrong?"
THE UNSEEN HUSBANDOne year. It had been one year since Alessia had arrived at the capital with three frightened children and a heart full of uncertainty. One year since she'd discovered the kind officer from the train was her husband. One year since their lives had changed forever.And now, on the anniversary of that reunion, Sebastian had a proposal."Marry me again," he said one morning as they sat with coffee, watching the sun rise over the city.Alessia looked at him, confused. "We're already married.""I know. But our first wedding wasn't a choice. It was an arrangement. We barely saw each other's faces. We knew nothing about each other. We parted at dawn." Sebastian took her hand. "I want to marry you again. This time in daylight. This time by choice. This time surrounded by people who love us. This time as the people we really are."Alessia felt tears spring to her eyes. "A
THE UNSEEN HUSBANDSix months after Marcus Castellani's vindication, Alessia sat in the palace's Reform Council chambers, surrounded by scholars, administrators, and policy makers. She was presenting her father's taxation proposals, refined for modern implementation."The current system places disproportionate burden on farmers and craftsmen," she explained, pointing to charts Sebastian had helped her prepare. "Meanwhile, landed nobles pay minimal taxes despite vast wealth. My father proposed progressive taxation—rates scaled to income and assets. Those with more pay more.""That's radical," one conservative minister objected. "It undermines the natural social order.""The natural social order," Alessia said calmly, "leaves children starving while nobles feast. That's not natural. That's unjust." She'd learned to navigate these arguments, to be firm without being confrontational. "Progressive taxat
THE UNSEEN HUSBANDThe summons came at dawn. An urgent message from the palace, sealed with the First Crown Prince's personal seal. Sebastian read it quickly, his expression growing serious."What is it?" Alessia asked, seeing his face."Political crisis. The Prime Minister has overreached—tried to influence the succession directly. The First Crown Prince is moving against him." Sebastian looked at her. "He wants me at the palace. Now. And he specifically asks for you to come as well.""Me? Why?""Because this involves your father's legacy. The Prince is using Marcus's essays as justification for reform. He wants you there as witness."They dressed quickly, leaving the children with Elena Marcos, and rode to the palace through streets that buzzed with tension. Something was happening. Everyone could feel it.The palace was in controlled chaos. Ministers hurrying thr
THE UNSEEN HUSBAND"Mama, what does traitor mean?"The question came from Dante, serious as always, while they sat at breakfast. Alessia's hand froze halfway to her teacup."Where did you hear that word?" Sebastian asked carefully."Some boys in the city. They were playing and they said their papa said not to trust us because our grandfather was a traitor." Dante's voice was small. "What did grandfather do wrong?"Alessia and Sebastian exchanged glances. They'd known this conversation would come eventually. Children heard things. People gossiped. The Castellani name carried weight—good and bad."Your grandfather," Alessia said slowly, "was a very brave man who stood up for what was right, even when it was dangerous.""But traitor means bad," Lucia said. "Like in stories. Traitors hurt people.""Sometimes," Sebastian said, "people get called traitors when
THE UNSEEN HUSBANDThe invitation arrived on heavy cream paper, sealed with the royal crest. Alessia stared at it like it might bite her."It's from the First Crown Prince," Sebastian said, reading over her shoulder. "He's hosting a dinner for senior military officers and their wives. It's essentially a command performance—we have to attend.""A dinner. With the Crown Prince. And nobles." Alessia's voice was faint. "Sebastian, I can't. I don't know how to navigate that world. I'll embarrass you.""You couldn't embarrass me if you tried." Sebastian turned her to face him. "But I understand this is daunting. So here's what we'll do: I'll teach you the basics. Court etiquette, proper address, how to navigate conversations. You're brilliant—you'll pick it up quickly.""What if they ask about my past? About my father?""Then you tell the truth. Some of these nobles remember M
THE UNSEEN HUSBANDSebastian found the journal by accident.It was three days after the confrontation with Helena, and he'd been looking for a book to read to the children before bed. Alessia had mentioned keeping some books in the chest by the window, so he'd opened it without thinking.Inside, beneath a few worn volumes, was a leather-bound journal.He almost closed the chest immediately—it was clearly private, clearly Alessia's—but the page it was open to caught his eye. Not because of nosiness, but because of the handwriting. The same careful script from the letters Helena had intercepted, but this time formed into poetry.In darkness wed, in darkness parted Two strangers bound by ancient rite I trace your face with trembling fingers And lose you with the morning lightSebastian's breath caught. This was about their wedding night.
THE COMMANDER'S OFFICE - MORNING (DAY FIVE)Sebastian sat at his desk with Lieutenant Marcos and the Guard's financial officer, Captain Delacroix—a meticulous man in his fifties who handled all of Sebastian's personal finances."Walk me through it again," Sebastian said, his voice dangerously calm.
THE FAMILY QUARTERS - MORNING (DAY TWO)Alessia woke to sunlight streaming through windows—real glass windows, not the small, dirty opening in the attic room she'd grown accustomed to. For a moment, she forgot where she was.Then it all came rushing back.The train. The capital. The barracks. Sebas
THE COMMANDER'S OFFICE - CONTINUEDThe door closed behind Ferrara, leaving Alessia alone in the office with Sebastian and the children.The silence was deafening.Sebastian stood behind his desk, still in his full Commander's uniform, his expression one of shock and disbelief. Alessia stood near th
THE FAMILY QUARTERS - MORNING (DAY SEVEN)One week. They'd been together as a family for one week.Sebastian stood at the window, watching the city wake up. In the bedroom, Alessia was still sleeping—actually sleeping past dawn for the first time since she'd arrived. The children were in their room







