Chapter 85
The Emberforge Estate had never felt so quiet.
Servants hurried through the halls, carrying fresh flowers, polishing silver trays, and making sure every detail of Lady Aurora's outfit was perfect for her dinner at the palace with her parents.
Normally, the manor buzzed with life.
Today...
It felt strangely empty.
Out in the training yard, Turner swung his sword with controlled precision.
Clang!
The blade struck the wooden training post.
Again.
Clang!
Again.
Clang!
The post splintered beneath the force of his strike.
Nearby, Alistair watched with folded arms. "Captain..."
No answer. Another strike.
CRACK!
The training post snapped clean in half.
Alistair sighed dramatically. "I believe the post has surrendered."
Turner lowered his sword, breathing heavily. Sweat ran down his forehead, but it wasn't the training that exhausted him.
It was his thoughts. "I've lost."
Alistair frowned. "What?"
Turner looked toward the manor.
Maids were laughing as they disappeared inside with Aurora's dress.
"The King invited her to dinner."
Realization dawned across Alistair's face. "So that's what's bothering you."
Turner gave a humourless laugh. "He's the King."
Silence lingered between them.
"What chance does a knight have against a king?"
Alistair didn't answer.
Because he knew Turner wasn't asking him.
He was asking himself.
As evening approached, the royal carriage rolled into the estate.
Turner stood at the entrance with the escort knights.
He had guarded Lady Aurora for years.
Tonight...His heart was far less steady than his sword hand.
The manor doors slowly opened.
Aurora appeared at the top of the staircase. She wore a, ice-blue gown that shimmered softly beneath the lantern light.
The dress wasn't overly extravagant.
It didn't need to be.
The elegant silhouette, the delicate embroidery, and the way the evening light caught the silver thread made her seem almost ethereal.
Her hair was loosely pinned, allowing soft curls to frame her face.
She looked...
Beautiful.
Turner's breath caught. For a brief, moment, the entire world disappeared.
Emily noticed immediately.
She nudged Anne with her elbow. "Our poor captain looks as though someone has stolen his soul."
Anne smiled knowingly. "I think Lady Aurora borrowed it years ago."
Emily covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
Aurora walked toward Turner. "Good evening, Captain."
Turner bowed. "My Lady..."
The words escaped before he could stop them. "...you look beautiful."
Aurora blinked before smiling warmly. "Thank you."
That smile alone was enough to make his heart race.
The duke escorted Aurora to the waiting carriage.
Lucian's royal crest gleamed on the carriage door.
Turner's chest tightened.
Aurora climbed inside.
Before the carriage door closed, she looked toward him once more.
He forced a smile. The carriage rolled away.
Turner remained standing long after it had disappeared beyond the estate gates.
The estate felt...Wrong.
Normally Aurora could be found somewhere.
At the school.
The forge.
The gardens.
The library.
Training with him.
Laughing with Emily.
Talking with the servants.
Now...There was only silence.
Turner starred toward the empty road.
He hadn't realized just how much of the estate's warmth came from one person.
Alistair quietly walked over. "You've been standing here for fifteen minutes."
"I know."
"Waiting for the carriage to come back won't make it return faster."
"I know."
"You've answered everything with 'I know.'"
"...I know."
Alistair sighed. "Come."
"Where?"
"The tavern."
Turner frowned. "I don't drink."
"You do tonight."
"I have duties."
"You have feelings."
Turner looked away. "I'd rather have duties."
Alistair laughed. "I know."
The tavern fell silent as Captain Turner entered.
The owner blinked. "Captain?"
Turner sat heavily at a corner table."...Something strong."
The owner raised an eyebrow. "One bottle?"
Turner looked up. "Did I stutter?"
Within minutes...One bottle became two, then three. The surrounding soldiers discreetly pretended not to watch. They failed miserably.
Turner stared into his mug. "You know what's unfair?"
The mug offered no opinion. "I've protected her."
He took another drink. "I trained her."
Another drink. "I nearly died protecting her."
He pointed accusingly at the mug. "And what does the King do?"
Silence.
"He sends flowers." Turner frowned. "Flowers."
Another drink. "I can buy flowers."
The tavern owner nodded. "I sell flowers."
Turner's eyes brightened. "You do?"
"...No."
The entire tavern burst into laughter. Even Turner managed a reluctant smile. He slumped back into his chair.
"It doesn't matter." His voice became quiet. "He's the King."
No one laughed this time.
"I can't compete with a king."
The room fell silent.
Alistair sat opposite him. "You know what I think?"
Turner sighed. "What?"
"I think you're an idiot."
Turner blinked, "...Excuse me?"
Alistair shrugged. "You think Aurora cares about crowns?"
Turner didn't answer.
"When she smiles..." Alistair continued, "...is she looking at the King's crown?"
Turner slowly shook his head, "No."
"Who does she smile at?"
Turner remembered, Aurora laughing with children, Aurora helping farmers. Aurora eating with servants. Aurora thanking every maid by name. Aurora working beside blacksmiths with soot on her cheeks.
She had never cared about rank.
Alistair leaned forward. "You're fighting the wrong battle."
Turner frowned. "I don't understand."
"You're trying to defeat a king." He shook his head. "You don't have to."
Turner stared at him.
"You already have something His Majesty doesn't."
"What?"
"Her trust."
Turner's eyes widened slightly.
"You've protected her.
You've trained beside her.
You've seen her cry.
You've seen her laugh.
You know what frightens her.
You know what makes her smile."
Alistair smiled. "His Majesty is trying to earn what you've had for years."
Turner looked down at his drink. "Then why does it still feel like I'm losing?"
Alistair chuckled. "Because you've never told her how you feel."
Turner closed his eyes. "And if she rejects me?"
Alistair shrugged. "Then at least you'll stop confessing your love to innocent mugs."
Turner looked at the mug."...I may owe it an apology."
The tavern erupted into laughter once more. Even Turner laughed. A real laugh.
For the first time that evening, the knot in his chest eased—if only a little.
Far away, at the royal palace, Lucian sat across from Aurora, listening intently as she spoke about medicine, trade, and the people she had met during her travels.
Neither man knew what the future held.
One was trying to earn Aurora's heart.
The other was only beginning to realize that if he wanted any chance of keeping it...
He would have to find the courage to tell her before it was too late
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