Sebastian Whenever I close my eyes, I see her. A shadow, a whisper, a ghost of a face I can’t quite touch. She pulls at me in ways I can’t explain, like a thread wrapped around my soul. I don’t even know who she is, yet I ache for her. “Your Majesty, we’ve arrived,” Nathan’s voice cut through the fog of my thoughts, grounding me. The carriage rolled to a slow stop, wheels crunching over gravel. I straightened in my seat, forcing my mind to clear. Outside, the sprawling courtyard of Aldred’s castle stretched before us, guarded walls rising high like teeth of stone. Flags bearing the kingdom’s crest snapped in the sharp afternoon wind. Soldiers lined both sides of the cobblestone path, their armor gleaming, spears pointed skyward. It was less a welcome and more a silent warning. The door swung open, flooding the carriage with sunlight. I stepped down, boots striking the stone with deliberate weight. The air felt heavy, tense, as though the entire kingdom held its breath, waiting fo
Last Updated : 2025-09-10 Read more