Chapter 144
She was beautiful — but not in a warm, inviting way. Her beauty was cold, sharp, like a blade. Her hair was a deep chestnut brown, her eyes an icy green that seemed to pierce right through me.
She looked at me like she expected me to know her.
I didn't.
Her eyes narrowed. "You don't remember me, do you?"
I swallowed hard, my voice coming out quieter than I meant. "No."
For a moment, she looked almost...shocked. Then her face hardened.
"Well," she said flatly, "that explains a lot."
I stared at her, my mind racing. "Who are you?"
The woman tilted her head. "You really don't know?" She laughed softly, but there was no humor in it.
"I can't believe it." She murmured underneath her breath.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. "Who are you?" I asked again, more desperate this time.
The woman stared at me for a long moment — and then, finally, she answered.
"Kaelin."
She looked at me again, eyes searching mine as if she was waiting for some sort of reaction from me.
When she found none, she sighed and continued.
“I suspected Lucian was lying. Never thought I’d have seen the day where he did something in his brother’s favour. He told us that you were dying. But from the looks of you, he lied about that part."
Lucian?
My chest tightened. "You know Lucian?"
The woman's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Know him? He’s the Prince of Zaire why wouldn’t I? He came to propose a truce. But you..." Her gaze swept over me, sharp and appraising. "You were supposed to be dying. That’s what he and every other soldier told us."
"As you can see, I am not. Who the hell are you? Are you a soldier of Zaire too?!” I asked firmly, though my voice shook.
"No," she murmured, her eyes narrowing again. "I’m not. I can’t believe this.”
Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing. "Who are you?" I asked again, more desperate this time.
The woman stared at me for a long moment — and then, finally, she answered.
“I told you! My name is Kaelin! The woman who saved you when you were about to be executed. Who clothed you, protected you and gave you shelter when Zaire tried to end you. The woman whom you worked alongside with in Braam for months a spy. The woman who you promised you’d get revenge on Zaire for. For our country and our people.”
The name hit me like a slap to the face. I didn't know why. It didn't spark any memories — but my body reacted to it anyway. My heart slammed against my ribs, my skin prickling with unease.
Kaelin. I knew that name. Somehow, I knew it meant trouble. And everything she said… I must have met her during my time in Braam. But what was she doing here?!
A spy!
"You look surprised," Kaelin said coolly. "I suppose Rowan didn't mention me in whatever little fragments you managed to hold onto."
I couldn't stop staring at her. "He told me a lot of things… but I don't... I don't remember anything."
Kaelin's expression darkened. "Then let me remind you of one thing."
She stepped closer, so close I could smell the faint scent of leather and steel on her cloak.
"I am not your ally," she said softly, her voice like silk over a blade. “Not anymore. You lost that privilege when you betrayed us. And if you think Rowan is going to win this war by keeping you hidden in a tower like some fragile little thing, you're more foolish than I thought."
I felt my throat tighten, but I forced my voice steady. "Rowan will end this war. With or without me."
Kaelin laughed — a sharp, bitter sound. "With or without you? Oh, sweetheart." She leaned in, her voice a low whisper.
"You, you more than anyone else here knows that you’re the only reason this war started."
I stood there shocked, taking in everything she was saying.
She stepped back, eyes glinting with something dangerous. "Tell Rowan his mercy is a weakness. And it'll be the death of him. You should surrender while you still can. Save these people.”
Before I could speak, the door creaked open again — and the physician returned. He froze in the doorway, his eyes going wide when he saw Kaelin.
Kaelin smirked at him, then looked back at me one last time.
"See you soon, Ariadne.”
And then she was gone, disappearing into the shadows before I could stop her.
The room was silent again, but the tension hung thick in the air. My heart raced in my chest.
I didn't know her.
But gods, I knew she was right about one thing.
The war wasn't ending without me.
“Your Majesty…” the physician said slowly as he cleared his throat.
“Did you find a test subject already? I need to regain my memories soon. I want it administered to me as soon as possible.”
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