The next day , everything changed .
He requested her presence constantly .
Meetings .
Debriefings .
Private councils.
The court whispered .
” You have made yourself a target ,” Commander Varek armed her in passing .
They shall think you have the Prince is ear — and more .”
Elira ignored it .
But late that night , as she returned from the archive , she found zcaelum waiting in her path .
He said nothing .
Just fell into a step beside her .
And after a moment , when no one was watching , their hands brushed .
Once .
Twice .
The third time , she let her fingers linger .
So did he .
Neither spoke of it .
But they did not pull away .
They walked in silence until the torches gave way to moonlight , the stone corridors of the inner keep fading behind them .
Outside , the garden slumbered — ivy curling like fingers around the marble columns , silver dew clinging to the petals of nightbloom .
Caelum did not speak , but his presence was louder than words .
She could feel the shape of him in the dark .
The heat where their hands still touched .
” Why are you here ?” She asked ar last , voice barely abo e the wind .
“I should ask you the same ,” he murmured .
” At this hour ?”
Elira looked away .
” Knowledge does not keep court hours .”
A fair smile ghosted his lips , but it did not reach his eyes .
” They are watching you .”
“So I have been told .”
His fingers tightened , just slightly , around hers .
Not possessive .
Not pleading .
Just present .
“You should not be seen with me like this , ” she said .
” Not so often .
Not alone .”
He turned to face her fully .
” Then tell me to go .”
She did not .
The queit stretched between them , taut as a drawn bow .
Somewhere beyond the hedge , an owl called .
A pair of guards is boots echoed faintly off the northern wall .
“You are not like them ,” he said .
“Who ?”
“The court .
The others .
You do not play their games .
” I do not have time for games .”
Caelum is expression shifted — something old and guarded softening at the edges .
” Good ,” he said .
” Because I am done playing them , too .”
And then he let go .
The warmth of his hands faded almost instantly .
He did not look back as he walked away .
But Elirabstood still in the garden long after he vanished into shadow — aware , for the first time , that proximity could be more dangerous than distance .
The marble Hall was never truly silent .
Even in the early light , when the sun had barely crested the horizon and the servants moved likeghosts among the stone pillars , the echoes of whispered deals and sharpened glances lingered in the air .
Elira had walked these halls for three years .
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