Chapter 95
The next morning the palace felt heavier. The wedding preparations moved faster, but the air carried tension. Servants hurried with fabrics and flowers. Guards stood straighter. Whispers spread quietly. Everyone knew the date was now eight days away. The queen wanted perfection. The king wanted it done.
Aurora woke early. She felt tired. The nightmare still lingered. Fire. Faces. The boy. She washed her face. Dressed in a simple green gown. She looked in the mirror. Her eyes were tired. She tried to smile. It looked weak.
She walked to the dining hall for breakfast.
Kairo was not there. The queen was alone at the table.
The queen smiled. “Good morning, Aurora. Come sit.”
Aurora sat. “Good morning.”
The queen said, “The fitting is today. The dress is ready. We will do final pins. Then we plan the flowers.”
Aurora nodded. “Okay.”
The queen touched her hand. “You look tired. Are you well?”
Aurora said, “Yes. Just… thinking.”
The queen said, “The wedding is close. It is normal to feel this way. Eat something.”
Aurora ate little. Bread. Fruit. Juice.
After breakfast the queen said, “Come to the fitting room in one hour. I will meet you there.”
Aurora said, “Yes.”
The queen left.
Aurora stood up. She walked to the garden. She needed air. She needed to think.
She sat on a bench. Looked at the flowers. The sun was warm. Birds sang. But her mind was loud.
She thought about Hardin. His arms last night. His voice. The way he calmed her. The way he left when Kairo told him to.
She thought about Kairo. His worry. His love. His order to watch Hardin.
She felt torn. Guilty. Confused.
She stood up. Walked back inside.
She did not see Hardin in the halls.
Meanwhile, Kairo walked the corridors. His face was hard. His eyes sharp. He had not slept well. He thought about last night. The guard running in first. Holding Aurora. Calling her Rhianna.
He did not like it.
He saw Hardin near the east wing. Hardin stood at his post. Two guards watched him from the side.
Kairo walked straight to him.
Hardin saw him. Stood taller. Bowed slightly.
Kairo stopped in front of him. Voice low. Cold.
“You. Follow me.”
Hardin followed. No words.
Kairo led him to a small room. Empty. Closed the door.
Kairo turned. Looked at Hardin.
“Explain last night.”
Hardin said, “Your Highness?”
Kairo said, “You ran into Aurora’s room first. You held her. You called her Rhianna.”
Hardin said, “I heard her scream. I was close. I went to help.”
Kairo stepped closer. “You knew her name. Rhianna. How?”
Hardin said, “She screamed it in her sleep. I heard it. That is all.”
Kairo’s eyes narrowed. “You act like you know her. You look at her too much. You touch her.”
Hardin said, “I did not touch her. I held her to calm her. She was scared. That is all.”
Kairo said, “I do not trust you. You are new. You came suddenly. You are always near her.”
Hardin said, “I am a guard. My post is here.”
Kairo said, “Not anymore. You will do hard work. From now on. Clean the stables. Carry water. Scrub the floors. Every day. Until I say stop.”
Hardin said, “Yes, Your Highness.”
Kairo said, “And stay away from Aurora. Do not talk to her. Do not look at her. If I hear one word that you went near her, you will be gone.”
Hardin said, “Understood.”
Kairo said, “Go. Start now. The stables need cleaning.”
Hardin bowed. Left the room.
Kairo stayed. His hands made fists. He did not trust Hardin. Not at all.
Meanwhile, Aurora walked to the fitting room. The queen waited.
The queen said, “Come. The dress is ready.”
Aurora went inside.
The maids helped her put on the white silk dress. Long. Beautiful. Pearls on the skirt. Veil with silver crown.
Aurora looked in the mirror.
She looked like a bride.
The queen smiled. “Perfect. Kairo will love it.”
Aurora smiled back. But her mind was elsewhere.
She thought about Hardin.
She wondered where he was.
She did not know about Kairo’s order. She did not know Hardin was now doing hard work.
The fitting continued. Pins. Adjustments. Measurements.
Aurora stood still. Let them work.
But her heart was not still.
She thought about the nightmare. The boy. The protection.
She thought about Hardin running to her last night.
She thought about the kiss.
She thought about Kairo’s kiss.
She felt confused.
The queen said, “You are quiet. What is wrong?”
Aurora said, “Nothing. Just tired.”
The queen said, “Rest after this. The wedding is close. You need strength.”
Aurora nodded.
The fitting ended.
Aurora changed back to her dress.
She left the room.
She walked the halls.
She looked for Hardin.
He was not at his post.
She asked a servant. “Where is the guard Hardin?”
The servant said, “He is in the stables. Doing work.”
Aurora frowned. “Stables?”
The servant said, “Yes. New orders from the prince.”
Aurora felt a twist in her stomach.
Kairo did this.
She walked to the stables.
She saw Hardin.
He was cleaning. Shirt off. Sweating. Carrying heavy buckets of water. Scrubbing floors.
Two guards watched him. Made sure he did not stop.
Aurora hid behind a wall. Watched.
Hardin worked hard. No complaints. No rest.
Aurora felt bad.
She turned away.
Went back to her room.
She sat on the bed.
She thought about everything.
The wedding.
Kairo.
Hardin.
The nightmare.
The ache.
She did not know what to do.
But she knew one thing.
She needed to see Hardin again.
She needed to talk to him.
She needed to understand why her heart hurt so much when she saw him work like that.
She needed to remember.
Because the ache was telling her something.
Something big.
Something true.
She stood up.
She would find a way.
She would talk to him.
Even if Kairo did not want it.
Even if it was wrong.
She had to know.