78: Ears inside the walls

Ears inside the walls

Destan was the capital city of the King, carefully chosen and designed by Emanuel de Lanark. The royal palace, much like the King himself, possessed a complex and multi-layered structure.1

Within the grand walls of the palace, a concealed passage existed—a secret and narrow space known exclusively to the King and the Crown Prince. This hidden nook meandered through the intricate architecture, hidden from prying eyes and unnoticed by all except those privy to its existence.

Accessible through discreet entrances and concealed behind ornate tapestries or cleverly crafted panels, the passage led to a covert vantage point overlooking the throne room. Strategically positioned, it allowed for undetectable eavesdropping, granting the opportunity to observe the power dynamics and hushed conversations unfolding within the chamber.

Adela was about to reach for her trusted dagger when the strong grip of the man behind her stopped her.

"It is I, Dela,"

In a husky yet hushed voice, the Crown Prince spoke into Adela's ear, causing her to gasp against the gentle pressure of his fingers on her mouth. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she recognized his face with a frown on hers.

There was no need for Claude to maintain their posture within the narrow space as the sound was effectively muffled, but the Crown Prince was reluctant to let go. The situation provided him with a perfect excuse to hold Adela from behind in that intimate manner, he who had sought solace in her arms when no one else was there for him. Embracing her this way brought him unparalleled satisfaction.

His index finger, momentarily leaving her waist, repeatedly pointed forward as he whispered, "Listen carefully," 

"Leave us," spoke the King in a singsong voice accompanied by the thuds that indicated everyone was leaving the Throne Room.

The irony was not lost on Adela as, once again, she found herself eavesdropping on Egon von Conradie for the second day in a row.

"Well, von Conradie... What brings you here today?" the King inquired.

"I accompanied your niece through a portal from Kolhis after failing to retrieve a Healer I know there, but I'm sure you are already well aware of it,"

"Indeed, it had reached my ears. But one needs to hear matters directly in order to ask the questions on their mind," 

"Ask away," 

Adela couldn't help but flinch at the offensive tone, causing Claude's arms to tighten slightly around her.

"A busy merchant like you with wealth to manage across the continent and beyond, why do you care so much about the Archduke?"

Adela heard the yellow smile in the King's question.

"Lady Adelaide established an infirmary for me, but then she revoked our agreement without giving me the chance to compensate,"

"How very interesting," the King remarked.

There was a long pause in the conversation, and Adela first touched then pressed against the back of Claude's hand, silently signaling that she was calm enough to be left alone and not make a sound.

She froze when she felt him breathing in deeply a couple of times through her hair.

When she looked up at him, instead of his usual smile, she noticed two deep red patches on his cheeks.

He sighed a long sigh, as if something troubled him deeply.

"Well, von Conradie, thank you for your honesty... Like you, I believe in compensating those around me, so I'll return the favor by being honest with you," Emanuel began, his words hanging in the air. Adela held her breath, sensing something significant was about to be revealed.

"The Crown Prince, who will soon marry Adelaide, has already cured the Archduke," he continued, dropping the unexpected bomb. Adela's body tensed, feeling as if she had been pricked with a thousand needles. It clashed with the monumental relief she felt hearing that her father was cured.

"Come here," Claude spoke in a normal tone releasing her then taking hold of her hand and leading her skillfully through the maze-like corridors. They arrived at an inconspicuous location, where Claude pushed against a seemingly ordinary section of the wall. As if by magic, a door opened, revealing a room that exuded feminine regal charm with silk damask walls and a magnificent four-poster bed. 

"This is your designated chamber for now and for always,"

Unbeknownst to Adela, Claude was assigning her the Crown Princess's quarters.

As her gaze settled on him, her surprise grew. The darkness in his expression was unfamiliar to the man she knew.

"Last time we spoke, I told you I won't leave matters to chance anymore," 

Adela's eye twitched, unsure of how to respond. She needed to diplomatically manage her cousin's expectations and prompt him into favorable action on her behalf at the same time.

"Your Highness, I implore you to prevent your father from making statements that may complicate matters for you and I," she appealed to him.

A cynical smile crept onto Claude's face. "It pains me to deny the Lady's request, but my father and I seldom see eye to eye. However, on this particular occasion, we do,"

Adela was about to object when his face darkened once again, stopping her.

"I strongly advise you to appease the King, at least while you're here. I don't want someone's ghost haunting our lives in the future," he warned.

The Crown Prince's harsh tone was foreign to her, and the need to protect Egon was so potent that it was almost painful.

"Have I offended you in any way?" she asked with a small voice.

His light green eyes blazed with intensity. "I told you to wait, that I would send somebody your way. Do I not have your allegiance?" he demanded, as though his father's passing had already occurred.

As a seasoned conversationalist with noblemen, she placed the back of her hand against her forehead, subtly furrowing her brows to buy herself a few moments to process the whirlwind of events. The realization came all too soon: The white wolf had not been sent by the Crown Prince, which meant that her entire encounter with him had violated Emorian laws.

I must keep this to myself...

"Dela, I have been mistaken about many things... I thought you had no inclination to leave your land," he confessed.

"I do not," 

"But you did, with him!" he accused, causing her lips to part as she scrambled for words to justify her actions.

"Bow down for your Crown Prince," he commanded with an air of authority.

Adela curtsied with a heavy heart, casting her eyes downward in modesty. As Claude circled around her, she silently endured the discomfort, internalizing her struggle.

"My sweet Dela... One cannot forsake their lineage, not us, at least," he murmured, his hand on the nape of her neck. When he touched her cheek, she looked up at him, searching the face of the man who bore little to no resemblance to the child she played with in the garden of the Archduke's manor.

"You cannot deny who you are, the superiority and morality you absorbed as a de Lanark. It's ingrained in your very posture..." His hand trailed down her cheek, his thumb hovering over her lips but not quite touching.

This isn't happening...

"...There shall be one king to govern Emoria, and he shall be the man you give your heart to."

In the face of his roundabout proposal, all Adela could do was keep her mouth shut.

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