Chapter 50
The words hit me like a blow, stealing the breath from my lungs. For a moment, I could only stare at her, the accusation ringing in my ears.
“You’re mistaken,” I said quickly, stepping back. “I’ve done no such thing.”
“You’re lying!” she shrieked, and before I could react, she lunged at me.
Her hands clawed at my arms, and I stumbled, barely catching myself. The crowd gasped, murmurs spreading like wildfire.
“Delilah, stop!” Lucian’s voice was sharp as he moved between us, grabbing her wrists and pulling her back.
“Let me go!” she screamed, struggling against him. “She’s a murderer! She killed my baby!”
The courtyard fell deathly silent, the weight of her accusation hanging in the air. I could feel every pair of eyes on me, their judgment, their curiosity.
“She doesn’t know what she’s saying,” Lucian said firmly, his grip on her unrelenting. “Delilah stop! Lady Arin had nothing to do with your son.”
Delilah’s face crumpled, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’ve seen her,” she sobbed. “She was there! She was there when the baby was coming! She touched me with her vile hands! She is not real!”
“I wasn’t there,” I said, my voice steady despite the hammering of my heart. “You’re mistaken. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re lying,” she whispered, her voice broken.
Lucian sighed, softening his tone. “Delilah, what are you doing here? This is embarrassing. Even for you. Lady Arin is from Braam. She doesn’t know you, she doesn’t know anything about what happened.”
She glared at me, her eyes burning with hatred. “I’ll get you for it. I’ll get you for killing my son,” she said before wrenching herself free and stalking away.
The courtyard buzzed with whispers as the crowd slowly returned to their conversations, though I could feel their stolen glances and murmured words.
Lucian turned to me, his expression full of regret. “Arin, I’m so sorry. She’s been... unwell since our son died. I’m sure you must have heard about her. She is my ex-wife. You see we had a son, he died at birth and she has never been the same again. She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”
I nodded, trying to shake the unease settling in my chest. Delilah had recognized me. And she was the only one who did. The only reason they had ignored her is because they didn’t believe the words of a woman like her.
But Delilah recognized me.
“I understand,” I said, though the words felt hollow.
He reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. “Don’t let her get to you. She’s just... grieving.”
I forced a small smile, though inside, I was far from calm. Delilah’s words echoed in my mind, her accusation cutting deeper than I cared to admit.
She was the one person who I least expected to recognize me and yet she did.
..........
After the encounter with Delilah, I knew I had to be even more careful, the news had spread round the castle and everyone seemed to feel sorry for me.
It gave me the opportunity to miss dinner under the guise of being tired. I had other plans anyways. The night air was cool against my skin as I slipped out of the castle gates, the faint glow of the moon guiding my steps. The guards were easily distracted by a well-timed commotion near the stables, and I moved swiftly into the forest beyond. My heart raced, not from fear, but from the weight of what I had to do.
Kaelin’s hidden refuge was deep within the woods, shielded by dense trees and wards only I could pass through. I pushed aside a low-hanging branch, stepping into the clearing where a small fire crackled softly. Kaelin sat on a worn stool, her sharp eyes lifting to meet mine as I approached. Kaelin, the woman who had saved my life. The woman who was just like me and had trained me and honed me for revenge.
“Ariadne,” she said, her voice as steady as ever. “You’re late.”
She was the only one who used my name now and it made me happy.
“I had to wait for the right moment,” I replied, sitting across from her. The familiar scent of herbs and smoke was oddly comforting.
Kaelin studied me, her gaze piercing as if she could read every thought in my head. “What’s your update?”
I hesitated for a moment, my fingers twisting in my lap. “Prince Lucian asked me to marry him. I agreed.”
Her brows lifted slightly, but her expression remained otherwise unreadable. “Interesting choice. Why?”
“It’s a strategic move,” I said quickly. “For some reason he believes me to be the perfect choice for him and I don’t know why. But it grants me closer access to the royal family. Besides…” My voice faltered. “Rowan doesn’t recognize me.”
Kaelin’s eyes narrowed. “You sound like that bothers you.”
“It doesn’t,” I lied, though the tightness in my chest told a different story. Of course it bothered me, after everything that happened between us I never thought that I would be that forgettable. “It’s better this way.”
She leaned forward, her tone soft but cutting. “Don’t lose focus, Arin. You know why we are fighting this war. Rowan and his kind are the reason our people were driven to extinction. They’re the reason your family is gone.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” I said firmly. “I won’t forget.”
“Good.” She sat back, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “You’ve been trained for this. Your charm, your wit—use them all. But remember, if you’re caught…”
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