Lilith’s P. O. V
I had just begun to immerse myself at the moment, feeling the intensity of what was happening around us, when suddenly I noticed that Adams was pulling away from me. Just a moment before, we had been enveloped in a thick silence, a pause that was filled with so many unspoken promises and emotions that seemed to flutter just at the edge of being revealed.
But in the blink of an eye he stepped back as if my very presence were something unbearable, something that had burned him.
The shock of that sudden distance hurt me deeply, igniting a storm of confusion and pain that surged within my chest, raw and difficult to ignore. I couldn’t help but wonder what had caused him to react in such a way.
The longing and desire that had been shimmering just behind my eyelids now felt tainted as if an unsettling chill had settled in the air around us. It wrapped around me, pulling me back to the harsh reality I had wanted to escape, making it difficult to breathe.
I could almost sense the remnants of a moment that could have been-a kiss that had the potential to be something electric and profoundly beautiful-but now that possibility felt like it had been reduced to nothing, disappearing into thin air.
“Just… focus on the positives, Lilith,” I softly said to myself in the quiet and dimly lit space of my room with my voice almost lost in the thick air filled with disappointment.
Adams wasn’t just an ordinary person, he was a king. He carried a tremendous amount of responsibilities that weighed him down more than any heavy armor ever could. Wanting him to set aside those important duties for my own sake would be incredibly selfish of me-a thought that dug deeper into the already heavy feelings in my heart.
As this understanding slowly settled in, I could feel my spirits dropping even lower, but I fought against the urge to stay in that dark place.
Letting out a deep weary sigh, I sought comfort under my blankets hoping that sleep would come to me and help quiet the storm of thoughts racing through my mind…
The morning light gently came through the curtains in my room at the same time, creating a soft and pleasant glow all around me.
I rubbed my eyes with my palms to clear the remaining bits of sleep that were still lingering. Two minutes later, I was able to sit up straight in my bed. I felt the warm sunlight soaking into my body, and it was really nice.
I decided to stretch my arms and legs and as I did that I heard a soft rustling sound which was quite relaxing. I looked around the room and my eyes landed on Cara.
She was straightening out the linens on the bed in a lovely and graceful way, and putting off the little trinkets that were scattered all over the place.
“Cara!” I shouted while jumping out of bed with my heart full of joy at seeing my good maid. “You’re finally back on your feet!”
“Good morning, Your Highness,” she said while stopping for a moment with a shy smile spreading across her face as she looked back at me.
“I wouldn’t miss a morning with you for anything. It feels great to be here again.”
I walked up to her and embraced her tightly. “You can not imagine how much I’ve missed you! It was not easy not having you around; it was like…” I was trying to pick the right words to express my feelings. “…the sun was hidden by clouds,” I said to make her smile.
Cara laughed with her voice lively and happy while immediately making me feel better. “I apologize for not being there when you needed me. But now that I’m here, I am completely at your service .”
I felt really thankful. “Should we have breakfast?” I asked while feeling much happier with her there. “I can’t wait to talk about everything!”
“Sure! I’ll get breakfast ready right now” she said cheerfully.
As Cara walked to the kitchen I felt warmth inside. This was what our connection was all about-the easy comfort of having someone who understood me so well.
Before breakfast, going for a jog felt like a great way to clear my head. I got ready fast while tying my hair back into a simple ponytail before heading outside into the cool morning air.
The sun was up high and shining on the lively world around me, but my mind was still stuck on Adams.
I picked up my speed while trying to run faster, hoping to drown out the doubts and confusion. The steady thudding of my feet on the ground helped calm the chaos inside me at least for a little while.
As I jogged by the training area I heard the loud noise of metal hitting wood. This pulled me back to reality. Feeling curious, I slowed down to catch my breath and moved closer to see what was happening.
There a familiar person was hitting a training dummy with strong focus while swinging a sword through the air with force.
“Dale?” I called out when I spotted her figure just as she swung her weapon again.
When I called out, Dale stopped her attack and let the sword fall to the ground with a loud thump. “Your Highness,” she said while bowing quickly and breathing hard. Under her tough appearance, I felt something stronger beneath-maybe anger?
I walked up to her carefully with worry in my voice. “You seem really angry Dale. What happened?”
Dale let out a deep breath with her hands on her hips while trying to catch her breath. “You don’t need to worry about it. Just… training,” she said while waving her hand.
“Don’t say that,” I replied while crossing my arms and not letting her dismiss me. “You won’t trick anyone. Tell me why you’re mad.”
With clear hesitation Dale looked around to make sure we were alone before sharing her heavy news.
“Okay. I’ll tell you.” She put away her sword and faced me with her eyes full of strong resolve. “I learned who burned my village and killed my family.”
My heart pounded hard in my chest with the news hitting me like a cold wave. “Who? Tell me!” I pushed her with the mix of feelings inside me growing stronger.
In a soft and serious voice, Dale shared the shocking secret. “It was Raoul!”