Chapter Fourteen
Lilith
I rode back to the castle, my heart heavy with concern and uncertainty. The journey had been long. Perhaps it was a mistake, but I refused to stop at the village and spend the night there. I wanted to return to the castle as soon as possible, so the journey felt even longer than on the way there. The revelation of Adrian’s shared bloodline with Constantine weighed heavily on me. Father knew all this and he consciously kept it a secret. I couldn’t understand why. It was as if the entire universe had conspired against us, to keep us apart. Now, my thoughts were filled with worry for him and the path he had chosen to undertake alone.
The castle finally appeared in sight, with its towering spires and stone walls, looming in the distance. My heart felt relieved to see it, despite everything that had happened. It had been our home for many years, a place of safety and love. Now, the past events were slowly casting a shadow over its familiar beauty.
As I dismounted my horse and made my way through the castle’s grand halls, I couldnt shake the feeling of unease. I longed for Adrian’s safe return and for the knowledge that he would find the answers he sought without losing himself in the process. My mind raced with a mix of emotions, and I could only hope that Adrian would return soon before something dreadful happened.
“Your Highness?” I heard Leopold’s voice behind me, as I left the stable. “Is everything all right?”
I knew that he could sense the turmoil inside of me. After all, this man had watched me grow up from a little girl into the woman who was standing before him now. He regarded me with a knowing look, his eyes holding a depth of understanding that came from years of shared experiences.
I had to admit that his presence was a comforting sight. Now, with Father gone, there was no male figure I could turn to, apart from Adrian. With him gone, I realized that Leopold could be the one to turn to for help. I suddenly felt compelled to confide in him, to share the weight of the revelations that had unfolded.
“Leopold,” I began, my voice weak with concern, “I… so much has happened, I don’t know where to start. It’s about Adrian.”
He looked around quickly. Although we were alone, this was not enough.
“Let’s speak in the king’s study,” he suggested. “We will have privacy there, and you can tell me everything, Your Highness. You know I am here to offer my counsel and support in any way I can.”
About ten minutes later, Leopold and I settled into the comfortable chairs of Adrian’s study. I couldn’t hold all this information to myself any longer. I needed to share the burden with someone, someone who could offer advice and guidance. Taking a deep breath, I began to recount the events that had transpired, from our journey to the witch’s hut to the revelation of Adrians shared bloodline with Constantine and the ominous future that loomed over our kingdom. Leopold listened in silence, his eyes reflecting a mix of concern and understanding.
As I spoke, I felt a sense of relief in unburdening my worries and fears. Leopolds presence was a source of strength, and I trusted in his wisdom and his unwavering loyalty to our family and kingdom. When I had finished sharing all the details of our journey, Leopold’s gaze met mine, his expression thoughtful.
“Your Highness,” he spoke slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose, “these are indeed challenging times, and the revelations are weighty. What we must do now is remain steadfast. Your husband, the king, is on a quest for answers, and only he can be the one to obtain them. We cannot help him, no matter how much we wanted to.”
“So, what are we supposed to do then?” I asked, out of my mind with worry.
“We can support him in any way he needs us to,” he spoke knowledgeably. “If he needs time away, we must give it to him. In the meantime, we should prepare our kingdom for the challenges that may lie ahead.”
I immediately remembered the last vampire attack. I also remembered that the events of that fateful night tested our defenses and our resolve.
“What about the castle?” I wondered. “No one can know that the king isn’t here. But even so, this information might leak in directions we don’t want it to. I wanted to ask if our castle is safe now?”
Leopold’s gaze held a sense of reassurance as he addressed me. “Your Highness, I want you to know that the castle is safe. Our guards are vigilant, and we’ve reinforced our defenses. Even in the king’s absence, we will protect everyone, rest assured of that.”
His words were a comforting reminder of the strength of our kingdom and the unwavering commitment of those who defended it. I nodded in gratitude, finding solace in his assurance.
“That is good to know, thank you,” I said, with relief. “At least that.”
He hesitated to ask, but it was stronger than him. “Do you know when the king is returning, Your Highness?”
“No,” I admitted with a heavy heart. “He didn’t say anything. He just told me to go back on my own and that he needs to do this alone. I don’t know anything other than that.”
“I see,” Leopold nodded, sighing heavily. He didn’t say anything other than that. Instead, he got up, signaling that the conversation was over. “I’m sure that everything will be all right. Our king is wise. He knows what he is doing. If he thinks that this is the path he must take, so be it. We shall wait for him to come back and in the meantime, keep the castle and everyone in it safe.”
“Yes,” I managed a weak smile.
He bowed respectfully, then left the study. At that moment, I didn’t want to be alone. I rushed over to Cass’ room, where one of the servants was watching her. I dismissed her, and sat down with Cass by the window, cradling her in my arms. The sun streamed through the window, casting a comforting glow over the room. I held her tightly, and she looked up at me with bright, curious eyes.
“Wasn’t daddy supposed to come back with you?” she asked, noticing that even after half an hour, Adrian hadn’t come to say hi.
I spoke to her with a gentle tone, my words aimed at reassuring her. “Sweetheart, your dad has some urgent business to take care of, but he’ll be back soon. He loves you very much, and he’ll return as soon as he can.”
Cass had always been a rather precocious child, especially now when she was almost nine years old. She immediately nodded with understanding. “Okay. I just miss him, that’s all.”
I smiled, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I’m sure he misses us, too. We’ll have some fun here, just you and me, and he’ll be back before you know it.”
As the hours passed, Cass and I embraced the afternoon with a sense of joy and togetherness. Our time was filled with games, laughter, and shared moments that deepened our mother daughter bond. We played hide-and-seek in the castles grand halls, our giggles echoing through the stone corridors. I watched with delight as Cass’ eyes sparkled with excitement, her laughter filling my heart with warmth. We retreated to the castle’s gardens, where we explored the vibrant blooms and basked in the suns gentle rays. Cass gathered flowers, creating colorful bouquets that filled the air with their sweet fragrance. Sitting on a soft blanket, we shared stories and dreams, our hearts connected by the simple pleasures of the day. The castle and its surroundings were transformed into a playground of wonder and love.
She managed to help me forget about everything other than the present moment, everything other than the enormous love I felt for her. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, our shared moments soon became treasured memories. We went back inside to have dinner, and soon after, I was tucking Cass into her bed, bidding her good night.
The day had finally come to its end, and the whole castle settled into the silent embrace of night. I doubted that I would be able to fall asleep immediately, with my nerves still strung like a finely tuned instrument. So, instead, I decided to take a warm bath, in hopes that it might soothe my stressed state of mind.
Usually, one of the servants would run a bath for me, preparing it just the way I liked it, but tonight, I wanted to be alone. I didn’t want or need anyone’s help. I turned the ornate, antique brass handles of the bathtub faucets, enjoying the sound of running water. The clear, cascading water created a gentle symphony which immediately kickstarted my relaxation process.
I reached towards a nearby shelf in the bathroom, choosing from an assortment of fragrant bath oils and salts. I chose my favorite lavender-scented bath oil, its soothing aroma filling the air as I poured a generous amount of it into the water. I needed to really relax this evening. On a nearby counter, I laid out a stack of fluffy, soft towels and a cozy robe to wrap myself up in the moment I stepped out of the bathtub.
Candles were the last touch. I arranged a few candles around the edge of the tub, their flickering flames casting a soft, warm light throughout the room. I would usually play music, but right now, I wanted to be alone and in silence with my thoughts.
When I assured myself that everything was ready, I eased into the warm, fragrant water, letting its soothing embrace wash away the cares of the day, The tranquility of the bath, combined with the comforting scents and candlelight, provided a moment of respite which I so desperately needed.
As I lay back in the tub, the fragrant steam rising around me, my thoughts turned to Adrian. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was safe, if he was finding the answers he sought, or if the shadows of the unknown were closing in on him.
With every passing minute, my thoughts turned to hope, to the strength and determination that had carried us through countless challenges before. I whispered a silent prayer for Adrian’s safety and well-being, trusting that the love that bound us would guide him back to us, just as it had always done.
As I emerged from the bath, wrapped in a warm robe, I felt a renewed sense of resolve. The castle was secure, our daughter was sleeping peacefully, and our kingdom was in capable hands. I had done everything I could to ensure our family’s well-being. With a deep breath, I prepared to face the night, ready to embrace the unknown and to await the return of the man I loved, with the hope that he would soon come back to us, safe and whole.