A Palace Of Secrets (2)

❤️ A Palace Of Secrets (2) ❤️

Nasa finished her meal in silence, her father’s last words lingering in her mind. The dinning room felt emptier with each passing minute, and though she tried to push the frustration aside, it clung to her like a shadow. After finishing the last bite, she rose quietly, her footsteps echoing in the still dining room, and retreated to her chambers. She slipped into bed, staring at the ceiling until her heavy thoughts eventually gave way to sleep.

★★

The next morning, the palace grounds were alive with activity as the sun cast its golden light over the sprawling castle. Nyxoria was already out, her spirited mare, Penelope, galloping at full speed across the open large and long palace grounds.

The guards, stationed around the grounds, exchanged wary glances, trying their best to stay out of her way. Penelope was known for her mischief, and no one wanted to be caught in her path. Despite their careful efforts, the horse seemed to delight in finding ways to disrupt their attempts at peace.

One guard sidestepped, thinking he’d avoided her, only for Penelope to swing her powerful legs back in a perfectly aimed kick that narrowly missed his shield. Another guard jumped out of the way, muttering curses under his breath as he clutched his helmet.

"That horse has it out for us!" one of the younger guards that had joined newly exclaimed, his eyes wide with exasperation.

"Just let her run her course," his older companion replied, shaking his head. "She’s as stubborn as her rider. It’ll be over when she decides it’s over."

Nyxoria, for her part, was completely unbothered by the chaos Penelope caused. She rode with an easy grace, her laughter ringing out as the wind whipped through her hair. For her, this was freedom—a moment where she could forget everything else and simply enjoy the rush of speed and the exhilaration of being untamed.

The guards, however, continued their morning in a state of near-panic, dodging Penelope’s antics and muttering about whose idea it was to let the wild mare live here in the first place.

"Nyxoria!" Her uncle's sharp voice rang out, cutting through the morning air. Startled, Nyxoria pulled Penelope to a halt, the horse snorting in protest as they turned to face him. She watched as Uncle Vyr strode toward her, his expression tight with frustration.

"Good morning, Uncle," Nyxoria greeted, feigning innocence as she dismounted from her horse with practiced ease.

"I thought we discussed something important last night," Vyr said, his tone firm.

Nyxoria tilted her head slightly, furrowing her brow as if trying to recall. "Oh," she said, drawing the word out dramatically. "I’ve forgotten what we talked about. Care to remind me?"

Vyr rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest, his stance radiating disapproval. "Don’t play games with me, Nyxoria. You promised to visit the Emperor today to apologize."

Nyxoria’s lips curled into a playful smirk. "Oh, that? I thought you were joking, Uncle. So I just went along with it."

"I wasn’t joking," Vyr said, his voice lowering, his seriousness cutting through her humor. "This is no small matter, Nyxoria. The fact that the Emperor hasn’t come here yet means he’s planning something, and I know war is one of the possibilities."

At his words, Nyxoria’s smirk faded, replaced by a flicker of unease. She straightened, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Do you really think he’d start a war over something as small as me not kneeling?"

"You may see it as small," Vyr replied, his voice heavy, "but to him, it’s a matter of respect—and power. He rules with an iron fist, Nyxoria. Those who defy him rarely go unpunished. You need to go, not just for yourself, but for all of us."

Nyxoria hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground as she considered his words. She hated the thought of bending to someone else’s will.

"Fine," she said finally, her voice quiet but resolute. "I’ll go."

"Thank you," Vyr said, his tone softening. "You’re doing the right thing, trust me."

Nyxoria gave a small nod and tapped her horse on the head. Penelope snorted softly, as if understanding her signal, and trotted off gracefully toward the stable to wait.

Nyxoria made her way back to her chambers, her mind racing with thoughts of the impending meeting with the Emperor. She quickly shed her riding clothes and stepped into the adjoining bathroom, the warm water from the shower washing away the dirt and sweat from her ride.

Once done, she went to her wardrobe and selected a pair of sleek, dark brown leather trousers. The trousers fit snugly.

For her top, she opted for a fitted black tunic made from a sturdy yet comfortable fabric. The tunic was sleeveless, allowing her freedom of movement, with a high collar that framed her neck elegantly.

Around her waist, she fastened a wide belt with an ornate buckle, which held a small dagger sheath on one side. She completed the look with bracers on her wrists, intricately crafted from leather and metal, both decorative and practical. Just in case...

Her boots were knee-high, made of supple black leather with reinforced soles, perfect for both riding and combat. She tied her hair back into a loose braid, letting a few strands frame her face, giving her an air of effortless confidence.

As she glanced at herself in the mirror, the reflection staring back at her was both fierce and regal—a warrior ready to face whatever came her way. "Let’s see if the Emperor is ready for me," she muttered to herself before striding out of her chambers with purpose.

She wasn't surprised to see her cousin besides Vyr. Nasa was wearing a beautiful purple gown and her pink hair was let down, her smile widened as Nyxoria approached them.

Nyxoria wasn’t surprised to see her cousin, Nasa, standing beside King Vyr as she approached. Nasa looked radiant in her flowing purple gown, her long pink hair cascading over her shoulders like silk. Her smile widened smugly, a clear indication she was about to make some snide remark.

"I know you’re going to fuck this up," Nasa said, her voice dripping with mockery as Nyxoria stopped in front of them.

Nyxoria smirked, unbothered. "Aww, you’re always so predictable," she retorted, her tone light but pointed.

King Vyr sighed, his eyes falling on the dagger strapped to Nyxoria’s side. "Must you carry the dagger?" he asked, his voice laced with exasperation.

"Yes, Uncle," Nyxoria replied simply, with no further explanation.

She whistled sharply, and Penelope trotted forward with an elegant prance, her coat gleaming in the sunlight. Nyxoria mounted the horse smoothly and glanced at her uncle with a small nod.

"Goodbye, Uncle," she said before turning to Nasa, giving her a dramatic roll of her eyes. With a nudge to Penelope, she rode toward the palace gates, leaving her cousin and uncle behind.

King Vyr watched her leave, and a sudden realization struck him. His eyes widened, and he muttered under his breath, "She doesn’t even know the way to the Emperor’s castle."

Without hesitation, he turned to a nearby guard and barked, "Quick, follow her!"

The guard saluted, mounted a horse, and took off after Nyxoria and Penelope, disappearing down the road.

★★★

As King Vyr and Nasa began walking back to the throne room, the silence between them stretched until Nasa finally broke it.

"So, Father," she began, her tone casual but tinged with curiosity.

"Yes?" Vyr replied, though his focus seemed elsewhere.

"I was wondering about something you said last night," Nasa continued, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

"And what did I say?"

"You said everything you do, you’re doing for me," she said, her voice quieter now. "What exactly did you mean by that?"

Vyr stopped walking for a moment, his brows furrowing as he considered her question. "I said that?"

"Yes, Father," Nasa confirmed, her tone insistent but calm.

Vyr let out a deep sigh and ran a hand over his face. "I must have been angrier than I realized to say something like that," he admitted. "But what I meant is this: you’re a princess, Nasaria. Everything you have—your title, your comforts, your privileges—none of it comes without effort. I work hard to make sure you have the life you deserve."

Nasa stayed quiet, her lips pressing into a thin line as she absorbed his words. She looked straight ahead, her expression unreadable, though a flicker of something deeper passed through her eyes.

By the time they reached the throne room, the silence between them had grown heavy. Vyr returned to his duties, while Nasa lingered for a moment longer, staring at the ornate doors. Without another word, Nasa turned to leave, her thoughts swirling like a storm. She paused briefly at the door, her hand resting on the polished wood. In a barely audible whisper, she said, "Thank you, Father."

Vyr, still seated, heard her quiet words. A soft smile spread across his face as he watched his daughter push the door open and step out, letting it close gently behind her.

But as the silence settled in the room, the warm expression on Vyr’s face shifted. His eyes glinted with a hint of darkness, a shadow passing over them that betrayed deeper thoughts. The smile remained, but it seemed almost calculated now, as if he were pondering something far more complex than the exchange with his daughter.

He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as his gaze lingered on the closed door. "You’ll understand everything one day, my dear," he murmured, his voice low and laced with something unspoken. The faint flicker of darkness in his eyes lingered as he turned his attention back to the matters before him.