Chapter 108: Chapter One Hundred and Six: The Calm Before The Crescendo

The palace never slept at all really, but today it boasts it a bit more.

Kaelia woke at the sound of footsteps in the far corridors, the beating of tapestries, the rhythm of cart-wheels brought laden with rolls of material and rolled banners.

She rose gradually, and smoothed a palm down the side of her belly. Still sore in places. Still tender where stitches held old pain together.

But outside, the world seemed determined to move on.

Wrapped in a soft tunic the color of clouds, Kaelia padded barefoot to the balcony. The view opened up like a painting; the central courtyard now alive with movement. Servants and decorators crisscrossed with purpose. Long strips of silk in silver, blood-red, and moonlight blue were draped along balconies and walls. The marble fountain in the center gleamed, no longer dulled by dust or age, its water clear and singing again.

Everything was being polished, renewed.

As if the festival would wash away every sin.

Kaelia’s hand remained protectively on her bump, her other hand gripping the railing. She couldn’t help but whisper, “It’s like the kingdom is dressing up to hide something. Like a mask.”

“You always did see through glitter,” came Aaron’s voice from behind.

Kaelia turned slightly to see the crowned prince of Eldoria, barefoot, yawning into his wrist, carrying a small tray stacked with warm pastries and two cups of tea.

“I figured you’d be here,” Aaron said, walking toward her. “You always liked the balcony view more than breakfast.”

Kaelia accepted the tea with a small smile. “View doesn’t make me chew.”

Aaron laughed, sitting beside her on the carved stone bench. “You’ll chew if I bribe you with strawberry filling.”

Kaelia arched a brow. “That’s foul play, Mr Prince.”

Aaron broke off a piece of pastry and popped it into Kaelia’s mouth before he could protest. “You’re glowing, by the way.”

“I’m sweating.”

Aaron chuckled again. “Same thing in a love story.”

They sat for a while in silence, the warm breeze fluttering the curtain behind them. Kaelia sipped his tea, eyes trailing the rhythmic patterns of the workers below… the way they moved in rehearsed harmony, like dancers in a quiet ballet.

“Do you think I’ll be allowed to attend?” Kaelia asked suddenly, softly. “The festival?”

Aaron’s head tilted. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“I’m no one.”

“You’re everything,” Aaron said without hesitation. “But... I understand why you’d feel that way.”

Kaelia swallowed. “It’s not just about feelings. It’s about facts. Alarion has gotten busy with his duties and now I get only a few minutes of his 24 hours. On the day of the feast, he'll be sitting right beside the king and even if I make it to the grand hall, I'll have to hide myself amidst the crowd. Standing amongst the crowd would prevent me from seeing his face because I'm too small and everyone else is huge…” she paused, as if imagining what it'd be like…

“I'm pregnant, Aaron. I can't play his personal assistant in the open anymore, that'd have helped me stand close to him the whole night, but I can't stand that long… and what if someone sniffs me out? Scent blockers can no longer cover my scent since I got pregnant, I can't play Beta anymore. My pregnancy has grown more obvious and sometimes I get scared. What if the walls of my chamber are too thin to protect me? What if Alarion is busy being a Prince when the inevitable occurs?”

Aaron didn’t reply. He just reached out and rested his hand over Kaelia’s. It was a gesture that spoke more than words of comfort.

“If I finish my breakfast, would you take me to the garden? I wanna play around before the palace gets taken over by those who actually belong in the palace.”

“Sure, we'd go play in the garden, if it makes you happy.”

Kaelia smiled as she turned to look at Aaron, “you're too good to me. If I didn't have you my life would have been so miserable.”

“When would you stop hating on your life, my dear?”

“I'm not. It's just, I feel like an audience in my own story. And sometimes it's like I'm not even allowed in the front roll for a better view.”

“Come on Kaelia, you wanna enjoy the garden before visitors take over.”

—

The garden was bursting with flowers.

The pair wandered slowly through the east courtyard where decorators and floral handlers were building massive arches of blooming moon lilies, sun-orchids, and trailing ivy. Kaelia walked carefully, hand in Aaron’s, her sandals brushing over soft moss-lined paths.

A particularly large arch stood ahead, woven in shades of red and silver, half-finished. Beneath it, someone had placed a wooden bench swing, and Kaelia stopped to admire it.

“Looks like something out of a fairy tale,” she said quietly.

Aaron tugged her gently. “Sit. I’ll push.”

“I’m not a child.”

“You’re lighter than a child right now.”

“Rude.”

Kaelia sat with a small grin, letting herself be pushed back and forth in slow sways. The leaves above them rustled, catching the sunlight. The warmth made Kaelia’s eyelids heavy, but the movement of life around her — laughter, distant music being rehearsed — kept her awake.

When Aaron joined her on the swing, Kaelia lifted Aaron’s hand to rest on her belly.

“She moves more when you talk,” Kaelia teased, eyes shining. “I think she likes you.”

Aaron’s lips twitched. “She? You're convinced?”

Kaelia shrugged. “It’s just a feeling.”

Aaron nodded once. His eyes softened. “I wish she was mine sometimes.”

Kael blinked.

The swing stilled slightly.

“I— I didn’t mean—” Aaron stammered, trying to come up with an excuse.

Kaelia looked away, laughing... “You’re allowed to wish. Who knows, you might get yours sooner than later.”

Aaron smiled faintly. “You’d make a wonderful parent.”

“So would you.”

They both sat still for a while, the breeze brushing through their hair, the quiet hum of a kingdom preparing for spectacle all around them.

Then, a horn sounded in the distance. Loud and deep

Kaelia’s head turned sharply toward the sound. From the garden gate, a trail of carriages rolled up the slope toward the grand palace steps; banners of Solara fluttering beside the royal sigil of Valeria.

The nobles from neighboring kingdoms were arriving for the gift offering tradition.

The festival was no longer just a whisper on the wind.

It was coming.

Kaelia stood slowly, brushing off her robe. “Time to disappear, I guess.”

Aaron looked at her. “You don’t have to disappear.”

Kaelia didn’t answer.

She just walked back inside.