I won't fall for the queen who burned my world-Chapter 97: I still don’t trust you

The moment stretched between them, heavy and unspoken, filled with the weight of too many emotions tangled together, too many unsaid words pressing against the silence.

Elysia wasn't sure what she had expected after Zera's confession—maybe more anger, maybe another argument, maybe nothing at all—but she hadn't expected this.

She hadn't expected Zera's breath to shudder the way it did.

Hadn't expected the sudden collapse of tension in her shoulders, the way her normally sharp and steady stance seemed to break all at once.

Hadn't expected her to move closer—

And wrap her arms around her.

Elysia stiffened.

It wasn't a hesitant hug, wasn't careful or measured—it was desperate, trembling, almost clinging, like Zera was trying to hold onto something slipping through her fingers.

For a moment, Elysia couldn't move.

Zera's grip was tight, her breath uneven, her entire body shaking ever so slightly.

And then—

A soft, strangled sound.

Barely audible.

Zera was crying.

Elysia's breath hitched, her body still tense, her mind at war with itself.

Because part of her wanted to push Zera away, to remind her that none of this changed what she had done, that no amount of tears could erase the betrayal—

But another part of her...

The part that remembered everything—

The part that remembered late nights spent laughing under the stars, whispered promises of a future before the war, before Malvoria, before everything fell apart—

That part ached.

And slowly—hesitantly—

She lifted her arms.

And hugged Zera back.

It wasn't the same.

It wasn't like before.

But it was something.

Zera clung to her, her fingers gripping the fabric of Elysia's shawl as if letting go would mean losing everything. Her breaths were uneven, soft and hitched against Elysia's shoulder, but she didn't speak, didn't say anything more—just held on.

Elysia exhaled slowly, her fingers pressing lightly against Zera's back, grounding both of them.

This didn't mean forgiveness.

It didn't mean everything was suddenly fine.

But in this moment, for just a little while—

She could allow this.

"...We should go to my room," Elysia murmured at last, her voice softer than before.

Zera didn't move immediately.

Then, a small nod against her shoulder.

Elysia pulled back slightly, just enough to meet Zera's tear-streaked gaze, her own expression unreadable. "If anyone sees us like this, it'll raise too many questions."

Zera let out a quiet, watery laugh, though there was no amusement in it. "I doubt anyone would dare question you."

Elysia arched a brow. "Maybe not. But I'd rather not risk it."

Zera nodded again, wiping at her eyes quickly, as if trying to gather the pieces of herself before anyone else could see them broken.

Elysia turned, leading the way back to her chambers, the echo of their footsteps the only sound between them.

The castle felt different at night.

Not hostile.

Not even eerie.

Just... still.

Like the walls themselves were waiting for something to happen.

When they reached her door, Elysia pushed it open without hesitation, stepping inside and motioning for Zera to follow.

The room was still warm from before, the soft glow of the sconces casting flickering light over the bed, the furniture, the delicate silver trim along the dark wooden walls.

Elysia sighed, undoing the shawl from around her shoulders and setting it aside before sitting on the edge of the bed.

Zera hesitated in the doorway.

Elysia tilted her head slightly. "Are you just going to stand there?"

Zera exhaled, stepping inside fully before closing the door behind her. "I just... I don't know what I'm doing here."

Elysia didn't look at her. "Neither do I."

A pause.

Then, Zera sat in the chair across from the bed, her fingers curling against the fabric of her sleeves, her usual confidence dimmed.

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Elysia should have been angrier.

Maybe she still was.

But exhaustion was beginning to creep up on her again, and with it, a strange sort of acceptance.

Not of what had happened.

Not of what Zera had done.

But of the fact that they were here, in this moment, with nowhere else to go.

Elysia lay back against the pillows, closing her eyes. "I still don't trust you."

Zera let out a slow breath. "I know."

A pause.

"...But I don't hate you," Elysia added, barely above a whisper.

She didn't know if she meant it.

But she also didn't know if she didn't.

Zera didn't answer right away.

And maybe that was for the best.

Because before Elysia could say anything else—

Sleep finally pulled her under.

---

The morning came with a slow, creeping warmth that filtered through the heavy curtains, casting golden streaks of light across the dimly lit room.

Elysia stirred, her body shifting beneath the soft blankets as her mind slowly clawed its way out of sleep's hazy grasp.

There was an unfamiliar weight beside her—warmth pressing close, the steady rhythm of slow, even breaths filling the silence.

For a brief, disoriented moment, her mind forgot where she was.

Then, as her awareness sharpened, she remembered.

Zera.

Her heart gave a slow, uneven thud as she turned her head, her silver hair shifting against the pillow.

There, just inches away, Zera lay nestled beneath the covers, her dark lashes resting against her cheeks, her face softer in sleep than Elysia had seen it in a long time.

She looked... peaceful.

Elysia frowned slightly, staring at her.

She hadn't meant for this to happen. She hadn't expected Zera to stay—hadn't expected her to fall asleep here, beside her, like they had so many times before back when things were different.

Back when things weren't so complicated.

She swallowed, shifting slightly beneath the blankets, unsure of how to feel about any of this.

Did she wake her?

Did she let her sleep?

Did she—

The sound of the door opening startled her.

Elysia's breath hitched as her head snapped toward the entrance, her pulse jumping slightly at the sudden intrusion.

And then—

Her heart dropped.

Standing in the doorway, carrying a tray of food with her usual ease, was Malvoria.

Her gray eyes immediately landed on Elysia—then lowered to the bed, where Zera was still curled beside her.

For a long moment, there was silence.

A silence so thick, so heavy, that Elysia could physically feel the shift in the air.

Oh, shit.