Chapter 48
Turner returned to the palace alongside Emily and the surviving knights. Blood still stained parts of his uniform, and every step felt heavier than the last.
All he could think about was Aurora. The image of her collapsing into his arms refused to leave his mind.
His chest tightened.
If he had been a second slower...
If Lucian's knights had arrived a moment later...
He clenched his fists. He didn't want to think about it.
Without wasting any time, he headed straight for the room where Aurora was being treated.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Enter."
Lucian's voice came from inside.
Turner pushed the door open.
The moment Emily entered, she rushed forward and dropped to her knees beside Aurora's bed.
"My Lady!"
Aurora remained asleep, her face pale against the pillows.
Lucian sat beside her; his gaze fixed on her sleeping figure.
"She is resting," he said quietly.
Relief washed over Emily's face, and tears filled her eyes.
Turner stepped forward.
"We should take her back to the Duchy."
Lucian's expression immediately hardened, "No."
The single word made the room colder.
"She is staying here until she recovers."
Turner's jaw tightened, "Your Highness, with all due respect, that would be inappropriate. Lady Aurora belongs with her family."
Lucian slowly stood, "And if she begins bleeding again during the journey?"
The question silenced the room.
"The physician has ordered complete rest. She cannot travel."
Turner refused to back down, "Her parents will want her home."
Lucian's eyes narrowed, "Lady Aurora is my fiancée. Her safety is my responsibility."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Even Emily looked nervous.
Turner's expression darkened, "With all due respect, Your Highness, your responsibility ended a long time ago."
The room fell silent.
Lucian's gaze turned icy.
"The engagement has been broken off ", Turner's voice remained calm, but there was steel beneath it.
For a moment, neither man moved.
The tension between them became almost suffocating.
Emily wished she could disappear.
Lucian took a slow step forward, "Our engagement is not broken."
His voice was cold, "Rumours mean nothing."
Turner's eyes flashed, "Lady Aurora handed the King an official letter."
"And the King has not yet announced anything publicly ", Lucian's jaw tightened, "Until then, she remains my fiancée."
The two men stared at one another.
Neither willing to yield.
Neither willing to look away.
Emily silently prayed nobody drew a sword.
Finally, Lucian broke the silence.
He picked up a sealed letter from the table and handed it to Turner.
"Take this to the Duke and Duchess."
Turner accepted it reluctantly.
"Explain what happened."
His eyes drifted toward Aurora.
"Lady Aurora cannot travel in her condition."
Turner's grip tightened around the letter.
Every instinct screamed at him not to leave.
Not after what had happened.
Not while Lucian remained here.
"I will stay with my Lady," Emily quickly said.
Lucian nodded, "You may."
He called one of the palace maids.
"Escort Miss Emily to a guest room so she may rest first."
Emily looked exhausted enough to collapse. Reluctantly, she agreed.
Before leaving, she squeezed Aurora's hand.
"Please wake up soon, My Lady."
Then she followed the maid from the room.
Lucian turned his attention back to Turner.
"Theo."
A knight stepped forward immediately.
"Take Sir Turner to get his injuries fixed and then escort Sir Turner back to Emberforge."
The order sounded simple enough.
But everyone in the room understood the true meaning.
Lucian did not trust him.
Not even slightly.
"The moment the duke receives the letter, return."
Theo nodded, "Yes, Your Highness."
Lucian's gaze never left Turner.
"And investigate tonight's attack."
His voice darkened, "Those men were not bandits."
A dangerous silence followed. Everyone knew it.
Bandits did not attack heavily guarded noble carriages.
Bandits did not target future queens.
Bandits did not fight with military precision.
This had been an assassination attempt.
And someone powerful was responsible.
A chill ran through the room.
Finally, Turner looked toward Aurora one last time.
His chest ached.
She looked so fragile lying there.
Nothing like the stubborn, determined girl who constantly argued with him.
He wanted to stay.
He wanted to protect her.
But he could do neither.
"I'll return soon, Aurora," he whispered.
Then he turned and left.
The room slowly emptied.
The door clicked shut.
Silence settled.
Only Lucian and Aurora remained.
Lucian returned to his chair beside the bed.
For several minutes, he simply watched her.
The moonlight illuminated her sleeping face.
She looked peaceful.
Untouched by the chaos she had endured.
A strange ache settled in his chest.
Then she moved slightly.
Her lips parted.
"Dante..."
Lucian froze.
The room became deathly silent.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Again.
That name.
"Dante..."
Her voice was soft.
Almost affectionate.
A small smile touched her lips.
"Dante... I'm cold..."
Lucian stared.
Then came the words that shattered whatever calm remained.
"Stop stealing the blanket..."
The blood drained from his face.
His stomach twisted.
The image formed instantly.
A man, sharing her bed, holding her.
Laughing with her.
Someone she loved enough to speak of even in her sleep.
His hands curled into fists.
Who was Dante?
Why had she never mentioned him?
How long had this been going on?
And why did the thought make him so angry?
A sharp pain stabbed through his chest.
Jealousy...Raw.....Ugly......Unfamiliar.
Lucian hated it.
Slowly, he pulled the blanket higher over her shoulders.
The gesture was gentle.
Far gentler than his expression.
"Aurora...", His voice was barely a whisper.
For the first time in years, fear crept into his heart.
Not fear of war.
Not fear of enemies.
But fear that he had already lost her.
To someone he had never even met.
Lucian stared at her for a long moment.
Then he abruptly stood. He couldn't stay here.
Not while imagining another man in her dreams.
Not while hearing another man's name leave her lips.
Without another word, he turned and left the room.
The door closed behind him.
And for the first time that night, genuine anger burned in his eyes.
Whoever Dante was...
Lucian already hated him.
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