Chapter 10

I hesitated before Prince Rowan's door, my hand trembling as it reached for the handle. I drew a shaky breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. The prince needed me, I had been gone for too long. That was the only thought that gave me the strength to push open the heavy door and step into the room.

"Your Highness," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper as I entered. The room was warm, filled with the scent of herbs and the faint sound of crackling fire. Prince Rowan was sitting by the hearth, his wheelchair facing the flames. He turned at the sound of my voice, his sharp eyes immediately narrowing with concern.

"Ariadne," he said, his tone softening, "what has happened to you?"

I quickly turned my face away, brushing at my eyes in a futile attempt to hide the swelling. "It's nothing, Your Highness. I am fine." I forced a smile, hoping he would not press further.

But Prince Rowan was never one to be easily deceived. He wheeled his broken wheelchair closer despite the strength it took to do that, his eyes scanning my face. "Don't lie to me, Ariadne. Why have you been crying?"

I shook my head, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. "Please, Your Highness, it's nothing. Just... a small mishap. It's not worthy of your concern."

His gaze intensified, and I could see the frustration building in his eyes. "Was it Lark?" he asked bluntly. "Did he hurt you?"

"No," I answered too quickly, my voice catching in my throat. "No, nothing happened."

His hands gripped the arms of his chair, his knuckles white with tension. He reached for my hand, his touch gentle but insistent. "Let me see," he commanded softly.

I hesitated but knew better than to resist. Slowly, I lifted my sleeves and turned to show him there were no cuts or bruises. His eyes roamed over my skin, relief mingling with confusion as he found no physical evidence of harm.

"Where is your necklace?" he asked suddenly, his gaze piercing into mine.

My hand instinctively went to my neck, finding the familiar spot empty. I had worn that necklace every day since I was born, it was part and parcel of me. And now that it was gone it felt like someone had ripped a limb away from me. I could feel it’s absence physically. "I... I took it off," I lied, avoiding his eyes.

Prince Rowan's expression hardened. "You're lying, Ariadne. I've never seen you take it off. Now tell me the truth. What did Lark do?"

I swallowed hard, my eyes filling with tears once more. Lark had taken the necklace, but he promised to come back for me. And something about the way he talked, the confidence he asked, how smug he looked when he asked me who was going to save me. I knew he meant what he said.

He was right when he saved no one would save him from me. Because I didn’t know anyone who would. "He took it," I admitted in a whisper. "He took my necklace and... and then he left. Nothing else happened, I swear."

The prince's face darkened with anger, his jaw clenching as he struggled to contain his fury. "That bastard," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "I swear I'll make him pay for this."

I knelt beside him, my hands on the floor. "Please, Your Highness, don't. It's not worth it. I'm fine, really."

His eyes softened as he looked down at me, but the anger did not leave his expression. "How can you say that, Ariadne? How can I sit here, helpless in this chair, while you suffer because of me?"

"It's not your job to protect me," I said gently, my voice trembling. "You have enough to worry about. I can take care of myself."

He shook his head, his eyes filling with pain. "You don't understand. I feel so powerless, trapped in this wheelchair. All you’ve done since you have gotten here is care for me and I can't even defend you against a man like Lark."

“You don't have to. I'm stronger than you think. I won't let him hurt me again.”

My words were only to convince the Prince, but even I did not believe them. I knew that there was no way that I could defend myself against a man like him. Especially in a palace where nobody cared about us.

But Prince Rowan would not be swayed. "Promise me," he said fiercely, his eyes locking onto mine. "Next time that bastard comes here, make sure I am with you. Don’t ever see him without me there. It's an order, Ariadne."

I hesitated, knowing how much this meant to him. "I promise," I said finally, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

He exhaled slowly, some of the tension leaving his body. "Thank you," he said quietly.

We sat in silence for a moment, the crackling fire the only sound in the room. I could see the toll this was taking on him, the way his shoulders sagged with the weight of his helplessness. It broke my heart to see him like this, to know that my suffering added to his burden.

"Let me tend to you," I said, changing the subject. "I told you I wanted to help cut your hair."

Wheeling Prince Rowan to the bathing chamber, I could feel the tension in the air. I was trying my hardest to stop thinking about Lark and what he had done, but it seemed as though his recent actions had now weighed on the Prince’s mind. Even mine too.

I tried to dispel some of the tension by humming a little, hoping it would take my mind off the subject. As I guided Prince’s chair along the corridor, the rhythmic creak of the wheels echoed our unspoken determination.

"Remember, Your Highness, I mentioned that I would also cut your beard?" I reminded him gently, a touch of playfulness in my voice to lighten the moment.

He nodded, his piercing blue eyes meeting mine with a mix of weariness and trust. Those eyes, I thought, could melt the coldest winter. I longed to see them without the obstruction of the disheveled hair and beard that had grown so unruly during his time of confinement.

Once inside the chamber, I carefully positioned his chair next to the marble basin. The room was filled with the soothing sound of water cascading from the bronze spout, creating a serene atmosphere. I wrapped a cloth around his shoulders, then reached for the scissors and comb.

"Are you ready, Prince Rowan?" I asked, my hands trembling slightly with the weight of the task ahead.

"Do your worst, Ariadne," he replied with a half-smile, his voice warm and reassuring.

I started with his hair, carefully snipping away the overgrown locks. Each cut was precise, a deliberate move to unveil the man beneath the wild exterior. As I worked, I marveled at the transformation. Bit by bit, his noble features emerged: the strong jawline, the high cheekbones, and most of all, those mesmerizing blue eyes.

The light of the chamber seemed to dance in his gaze, now unobstructed by the tangled strands. I felt a sense of pride and wonder, as if I were witnessing the rebirth of a legend.

Next, I turned my attention to his mustache and beard. With meticulous care, I trimmed and shaved, revealing the smooth skin beneath. His face was a canvas, and I was the artist restoring its former glory. When I finished, I took a step back, heart pounding in anticipation.

Gods.

He was even more handsome than I imagined.

How did I not see it in the beginning?!

How did I not know?!

"There," I said, unable to hide the awe in my voice. "Take a look at yourself, Your Highness."

I held up the polished mirror, angling it so he could see his reflection. For a moment, he was silent, eyes wide with shock. He raised a hand to his face, touching the smooth skin, the clean lines.

"I barely even remember what I look like," he murmured, voice thick with emotion.

"Well, I can see why you were once so popular. You look every bit the prince you are," I said softly, my own eyes filling with tears.

“All thanks to you.”

He said as he looked at me with a smile.

“How are your legs today?”

I asked him as I touched them, my hands roaming around them and pressing slightly.

“I’m getting more sensation around them. I noticed I can move my toenails now.”

My eyes widened in surprise.

“That’s great! We will continue with the leg exercises. Very soon, you’ll start working again.”

I said and he sighed.

“Ariadne please. Don’t get your hopes up.”

I shook my head adamantly.

“I promise, I will return you to who and what you once were."


He looked at me then, truly looked, and I saw a glimmer of hope spark in those blue depths. The journey ahead was long, but in that moment, I knew we would succeed.

Together.