Chapter 99 CHAPTER 99
Lisa returned to Mooncrest long after the night had settled into its quiet rhythm. The palace was calmer than usual, the corridors dimly lit, guards moving with soft, practiced steps. Liam walked her to the doors as always, his presence steady, grounding, before he finally left her to rest
The door closed softly behind Lisa as she stepped into the bedroom, careful not to wake Isabel. The room was dark except for the thin line of moonlight slipping through the curtains, dust motes drifting lazily in its glow. Her body ached in that pleasant, exhausted way that came after a long day, but her mind was still restless, turning over thoughts she hadn’t yet found words for.
She was halfway across the room when Isabel shifted in bed
“You’re late,” she murmured sleepily, turning onto her side. “Do you know what time it is?”
Lisa smiled faintly as she closed the door behind her. “I know. I’m sorry. Today just… ran away from me. I had a lot on my mind.”
Isabel squinted at her through half-open eyes. “You smell like coffee. And pastries. And… city. Wait, did you go to Pauline’s?”
Lisa kicked off her shoes and sat on the edge of the bed. “We had a bit of a detour. And yes, we ended up at Pauline’s. Both Pauline and Alina sent their greetings.”
Isabel pushed herself upright, hair falling into her face. “What do you mean detour?” she echoed. “With Liam? Did you guys go out on a date after visiting Celestine? Come on spill it! Where did the mighty commander take his girlfriend for a date?”
Lisa laughed softly. “It was nothing like that. I was feeling frustrated and somehow went back to our old apartment. Liam was only trying to make me feel better, so he took me to the theme park. But something strange happened in front of the house….”
Isabel’s eyes snapped fully open. “The apartment?” She swung her legs over the side of the bed. “What happened?”
Lisa hesitated, then sighed. “When we got there, someone was already there.”
Isabel froze. “What do you mean, someone?”
“There was a person near the door,” Lisa explained carefully. “They were crouched by the doormat. Like they were looking for something.”
“The key,” Isabel said immediately.
“That’s what it looked like,” Lisa agreed. “When I spoke, they ran.”
“Did you see their face? Could it have been my mother?” Isabel asked anxiously.
“No. It was dark. They were wearing black. But… they were young. Definitely not your mom. Does anybody else know where the key was kept?”
Isabel leaned back against the headboard, chewing on her lip. “I never told anyone else about the key. Just you. Pauline. And my mom.”
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the thought settling between them.
Finally, Isabel exhaled. “Maybe it was just a thief. Someone noticed the place was empty and tried their luck.”
“That’s what we thought too,” Lisa said. “So we left the key with Pauline. Just in case.”
Isabel nodded slowly. “That makes sense. If my mom comes back, she’ll check the café anyway.” She paused, then added with a small grin, “And if a thief comes back, Pauline will scare them off with her glare alone.”
Lisa chuckled quietly, tension easing just a bit.
“So,” Isabel said, tilting her head. “How are Pauline and Alina doing?”
Lisa leaned back against the pillows. “We barely had time to talk, but they seemed to be doing okay. The café is doing well. It was packed with customers we ended up helping serve them.”
Isabel smiled. “That’s wonderful. I’m happy the café is doing well even if that means double the workload for them.”
Lisa smiled at the memory, then her expression sobered.
Isabel noticed immediately. “The meeting with Celestine,” she said quietly.
Lisa nodded. “It didn’t go well.”
Isabel shifted closer. “What happened?”
“A solution exists,” Lisa said. “But it depends on the council. And sacrifice. Always sacrifice.” She swallowed. “Nothing feels simple anymore.”
Isabel reached out and pulled Lisa into a hug, resting her chin on her shoulder. “I don’t understand gods or bonds or any of that,” she said honestly. “But I know you. And I know you’ve already been through too much.”
Lisa closed her eyes, pressing into the embrace. “Sometimes I feel like no matter what I choose, someone loses.”
“Then let us help carry it,” Isabel said softly. “Even if all I can do is stand beside you.”
Lisa’s throat tightened. “I know you will.”
They stayed like that for a moment, quiet and still, the world reduced to the safety of shared warmth.
Isabel pulled back first, wrinkling her nose. “Okay. Emotional moment over. You smell like the café.”
Lisa laughed. “I brought food.”
Isabel’s eyes lit up. “You did?”
“It’s in the fridge,” Lisa said. “I didn’t bring it upstairs because I know you.”
“That is cruel,” Isabel declared. “You know I can’t resist food.”
“That’s exactly why it’s downstairs,” Lisa replied, standing. “You can have it for breakfast.”
Isabel groaned dramatically and flopped back onto the bed. “You’re evil.”
Lisa smiled, heading toward the bathroom. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” Isabel murmured, already half asleep again.
As Lisa closed the door behind her, the palace felt quiet in a way that was not empty, but waiting. Tomorrow, the council would decide. Tomorrow, everything might change.
For now, she let the night hold her.
Across the castle, in the quiet of his chambers, Liam lay awake long after the lights had been dimmed. Sleep refused to come. His thoughts kept circling the coming council meeting and what it might mean -not just for the kingdom, but for Lisa. He had spent the day reassuring her, promising that he would stand by her no matter what, yet in the stillness of the night he could not ignore the truth: he did not have a solution. What lay ahead would demand sacrifices, difficult choices, and a strength neither of them had been tested with before. All he could do was hope that what they were building together would be strong enough to survive what was coming.