Beneath the Silver Tree

The cold evening air wrapped around Elara and Kael as they stood beneath the silver tree, its glistening leaves swaying gently under the moonlight. The soft rustling filled the silence between them, yet neither spoke for several moments.

Elara had spent years trapped in a cage of duty, confined by expectations and bound by a loveless marriage. But now, with Kael standing beside her once more, a flicker of warmth spread through her chest—something she hadn't felt in a long time.

Kael remained still, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. He was a man shaped by war, by loss, by betrayal. Yet in this moment, he felt something unfamiliar—an urge to comfort her, to shield her from the burdens she carried alone.

Elara hesitated before speaking, her voice quieter than before. "Do you ever regret returning?"

Kael turned his gaze toward her, his expression unreadable. "No," he said simply.

She tilted her head, studying him in the dim light. "Why? After everything, after all the years, why come back now?"

Kael let out a slow breath. "Because you called for me."

Elara's fingers tightened around the fabric of her gown. It had been the king who had summoned Kael, not her, yet his words held a weight that made her heart ache.

"I don't know if I can be saved, Kael." Her voice trembled slightly. "I don't even know who I am anymore."

Kael took a step closer, his presence steady and grounding. "You are still you, Elara." His voice was calm, but there was a quiet intensity behind it. "You've only forgotten what it means to fight for yourself."

Her breath hitched. No one had spoken to her like this in years—not as a princess, not as a wife, but as Elara, a woman longing to escape the life that had been forced upon her.

"I don't know how," she admitted, her eyes glistening.

Kael looked down at her, his jaw tightening. Then, for the first time, he reached out. His rough, calloused fingers brushed against hers, hesitant yet firm. "Then let me remind you."

Her heart pounded against her ribs as she stared at their barely touching hands. A knight's promise.

One that could change everything.

That night, Elara couldn't sleep.

She lay in her large, empty bed, staring at the canopy above her. Thoughts of Kael's words lingered in her mind, filling the silent darkness.

"Then let me remind you."

His voice echoed in her head, and for the first time in years, she felt something other than hopelessness. She felt anticipation.

Rising from her bed, she wrapped a light cloak around her shoulders and stepped outside onto her private balcony. The palace gardens stretched below, bathed in the glow of the full moon. And there, standing near the silver tree, was Kael.

He wasn't in his usual armor, nor did he carry a sword. He was simply dressed in a loose tunic and dark pants, his figure relaxed yet alert.

Before she knew what she was doing, Elara was descending the stone steps leading into the garden. The night air was cool against her skin, but the closer she got to Kael, the less she noticed the cold.

"You don't sleep either?" she asked softly as she approached him.

Kael glanced at her but didn't seem surprised by her presence. "Old habits."

Elara tilted her head. "From your time as a knight?"

He nodded. "You learn to wake before the sun, to listen for threats in the silence." His gaze softened slightly. "And you?"

Elara hesitated before answering. "I don't remember the last time I slept through the night."

Kael's brows furrowed slightly. "Because of him?"

Elara didn't have to ask who he meant. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked away. "Because of everything."

Kael was silent for a moment. Then, without a word, he extended his hand toward her.

Elara blinked, confused. "What are you doing?"

His lips quirked in the faintest hint of amusement. "Dance with me."

She let out a surprised laugh. "Kael, I—"

But his expression remained serious. "You once told me that dancing made you feel free."

Her breath caught in her throat. She had told him that, years ago. Back when she was still a girl, when she still believed in dreams and love stories.

Slowly, cautiously, she placed her hand in his. His grip was firm but gentle, his touch warm against her skin.

They moved in the soft glow of the moonlight, their steps slow and unpracticed. There was no music, no audience—just the two of them, swaying to an unspoken rhythm.

Elara closed her eyes, letting herself feel something other than sorrow. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to exist outside of her title, outside of her marriage.

And in that quiet moment, beneath the silver tree, she began to remember what it felt like to be free.

The moment was fleeting.

As dawn approached, reality crept back in. Elara knew she couldn't afford to lose herself in Kael's presence—not when the walls of the palace were filled with spies and whispers.

The court was already suspicious of her, watching her every move. If anyone saw her with Kael, the rumors would spread like wildfire.

So the next day, she avoided him.

She didn't go to the gardens. She didn't linger in the halls where he stood guard. She buried herself in her duties as a princess, pretending that the night before had been nothing more than a dream.

But Kael was not a man easily ignored.

Late in the afternoon, as she sat in the royal library reading reports on trade agreements, a familiar shadow fell over her.

"You're avoiding me."

Elara stiffened at the sound of his voice but didn't look up. "I have responsibilities."

Kael pulled out a chair across from her, sitting without invitation. "Responsibilities didn't stop you last night."

Her fingers tightened around the parchment she was holding. "That was different."

"How?"

She finally looked at him, frustration flashing in her eyes. "Because last night, for once, I wasn't the princess. But I don't have the luxury of forgetting who I am during the day."

Kael held her gaze, his expression unreadable. "And who are you, Elara?"

She opened her mouth to answer—but no words came.

Because she didn't know anymore.

Kael leaned forward slightly, his voice lower now. "You don't have to pretend with me."

She swallowed hard, her heart pounding.

Before she could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the library.

Elara quickly straightened, her expression carefully neutral as the doors opened. A court advisor stepped inside, his gaze flickering briefly to Kael before settling on her.

"Your Highness," the man said smoothly. "The king has summoned you to his chambers."

Elara's blood ran cold.

The king rarely called for her directly. When he did, it was never for good news.

She cast a quick glance at Kael, who subtly tensed beside her.

"Of course," she said, rising to her feet.

But as she walked past Kael, his fingers brushed against her sleeve—a barely noticeable touch, yet one that sent warmth through her veins.

A silent promise.

No matter what awaited her in the king's chambers, she was not alone.

Not anymore.