Chapter 23: The Letter From Belmond

A soft knock echoed through the study before the door opened.

“My lord, a messenger has arrived with a letter for you,” the servant said, holding out a sealed envelope carefully.

Azael took it, eyes narrowing at the familiar seal. “Leave it on the table,” he said, voice flat. The servant nodded and slipped out quietly.

Elara, who had been lingering by the doorway, stepped closer. “What is it?” she asked, trying to read the seal.

Azael didn’t answer immediately. He broke the seal and unfolded the letter, scanning the lines quickly. His jaw tightened.

“…From Duke Ricardo,” he finally said, placing the letter on the desk. “Belmond has… problems. Bigger than they let on.”

Elara frowned. “Problems? What kind of problems?”

Azael rubbed the bridge of his nose. “The heretics have grown bold. They’re attacking border towns, gathering followers… summoning things they shouldn’t.”

Elara’s stomach twisted. “And he expects you to fix it?”

“I’m just a duke to them,” Azael said, looking out the window. “A political shield. Nothing more. But the timing is troubling. The watcher Ian left Vareth the night you opened that dungeon. By morning, Belmond sent this letter. Too precise.”

Elara’s eyes widened. “So… the watchers are moving. Does that mean—”

“Yes,” Azael interrupted, turning to face her. “They think the devil is on the move. Scared kingdoms do dangerous things. And wars start when fear spreads.”

Elara bit her lip. “So what do we do?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll reply. Tell them to hold their borders. Stop spreading rumors about curses. And… I’m keeping you inside the castle until we understand what they want.”

She gave a small, reluctant nod. “Of course.”

Azael studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. “Elara… if the watchers are shifting across kingdoms, something big is coming. I need you alive. I need you safe.”

She looked down, feeling the weight of his words. “Alright,” she whispered.

He nodded once, folding the letter back. “Good. Rest. I may need you tomorrow.”

As she turned to leave, she caught him muttering under his breath as he unfolded the letter again. “…Belmond… what have you done this time…”

The tension in his voice left no doubt—this was more than just politics. Something dangerous was coming.

Elara tucked the letter beside her books and sank into her chair. Her eyes lingered on the seal of Belmond, a name she had heard only in passing while she was still at home with her family. Tales of its rolling hills, bustling markets, and the grand palace her father once mentioned occasionally, came rushing back.

Her mind drifted to her father, her mother, and her sisters. It had been days since she’d received any word from them. The ache of missing them settled heavily in her chest. She wondered if they were safe, if her absence had caused worry, if anything had changed while she had been away in Vareth.

She shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts. Worry wouldn’t change anything, and she had too much at stake here. The scrolls and tomes on the table called her attention back.

Before she could open her book, the door creaked open, and Kalaen stepped in quietly. He noticed the distant look in her eyes and the faint tremor in her hands.

“You’ve been staring at that letter for a while,” he said softly, closing the door behind him. “Belmond’s on your mind.”

Elara bit her lip and looked up, caught off guard by his sudden presence. “It… it’s just… been a while since I heard from them,” she admitted quietly. “I miss them.”

Kalaen stepped closer, careful not to crowd her, yet the air between them seemed to hum with an unspoken tension. He rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. “I know it’s hard. But you’re not alone here.”

She looked up at him, noticing the warmth in his gaze, and something inside her stirred. For a moment, the weight in her chest felt lighter, as if just his presence could ease the ache.

“I know,” she whispered, almost to herself. “It’s just… sometimes it hits me all at once.”

Kalaen nodded, his thumb brushing lightly over the back of her hand. “It’s okay to feel that. You don’t always have to be strong.”

Elara’s heart skipped a beat at the contact, and she quickly looked down at her hands, ashamed of how her body reacted. “I… I should get back to my studies,” she murmured, trying to regain her composure.

“Of course,” he said, though he lingered a moment longer than necessary. “But if you need anything… or anyone…” He let the words hang in the air, and she could feel the unspoken meaning behind them.

Elara swallowed, her chest tightening, but nodded. “Thank you, Kalaen.”

He gave a small, reassuring smile before stepping back and exiting the room, leaving her alone again. Her eyes fell back on the letter, but now her heart was racing, and her thoughts were split between the distant kingdom of Belmond and the man who had just left.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her book and tried to focus on her studies, though she silently wished he stayed.