Three days after the royal summons, the castle felt...different. It wasn’t anything loud or dramatic. Instead, the change showed in quieter ways.

Conversations stopped whenever Alina walked past. Courtiers’ eyes tracked her movements with cold calculation rather than curiosity or kindness.

"Two weeks," Lady Hargrove declared during lunch while Austin was away, loud enough for Alina to hear clearly. "Hardly enough time to prepare a proper defense."

"Perhaps she won’t need one," Lady Pemberton answered, smiling sharply. "She won’t last that long."

A few soft laughs followed, not boisterous, but loud enough to sting.

Alina kept her eyes fixed on her plate. The bread felt dry in her mouth and the butter had gone cold. Still, she forced herself to eat, not wanting them to think their words mattered enough to hurt her.

Marguerite leaned closer and squeezed her hand under the table.

"Don’t react," she whispered. "They’re only trying to provoke you."

"I know," Alina murmured. "I won’t give them the satisfaction."

The whispers spread anyway. Audrey was no longer the main topic. Now the nobles gossiped about the king’s summons and the uncertain fate awaiting the duke and his bed warmer once he took action.

"She’ll be sent away."

"Or worse."

"The duke can’t protect her from the king."

Alina’s hands remained steady but inside, she was crumbling.

After the meal ended, Lady Talbot pulled Alina aside into a small storage room just off the great hall.

"Sit," Lady Talbot said.

Alina sat.

Lady Talbot kept standing with her arms crossed and her back firmly against the door like she was guarding the room.

"The king’s interrogation won’t be easy. Whatever you feel for His Grace won’t protect you from it."

"I know that."

"Love is nice," Lady Talbot continued, uncrossing her arms and moving towards the window. "But survival is better. You should aim for both."

Alina watched her, waiting for her to continue.

"You have something Audrey never had," she said, looking down at the courtyard. "Real allies. Not because His Grace chose you, but because you chose us. Every woman in the sewing circle is standing with you because you stood with us."

"I didn’t do anything special," Alina said quietly.

"You showed up," she replied, turning back to her. "You sat beside Marguerite when she was falling apart. You made Lady Brennan’s life cheerful. You gave Evelyn a reason to believe she was more than just a kitchen maid."

Alina remained silent, listening to her carefully.

"The king can take titles, status, power...but he cannot take what you’ve built here."

A faint smile touched Alina’s lips.

"No wonder you’re the wisest woman in the whole castle."

"I’m a merchant’s wife," Lady Talbot shrugged. "Wisdom is how we survive."

While Lady Talbot encouraged Alina, in another part of the castle, a sharp ring of steel echoed through the armory.

Austin had been sparring for nearly an hour.

Rowan, his military captain, and a close friend who had just returned from the southern campaign, watched him with curiousity.

"You’re pushing yourself too hard."

"I’m fine."

"You’re not," he replied. "You’re trying to beat the fear out of your body. That’s not how it’s done."

Austin lowered his sword and turned to him.

"Then how is it done?"

"Then tell me what you’re truly afraid of?" he asked. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"I’m afraid of losing everything," he admitted. "The duchy, the crown’s favor, and every alliance my family has built for generations. And..."

"And?"

"I’m afraid of losing her. I’m afraid that the king will take her away and I won’t be able to stop it."

Rowan waited patiently for him to continue.

"And I keep thinking...maybe I should have let her go from the beginning. That loving her was selfish."

"I’ve served you for nine years," Rowan said. "I’ve seen you make the hardest military and political decisions without hesitation. But when it comes to her, why are you doubting yourself?"

"Because she is not a military decision."

"And that’s exactly the point."

Austin fell silent.

"You chose her knowing the consequences," Rowan continued. "That’s not selfishness. That’s what people do when they love something more than themselves."

Austin sighed.

"Maybe you are right. It’s just that...I didn’t expect the king to get involved so quickly."

"Fire always spreads fast," Rowan replied. "Now stop waiting to burn and fight it."

Austin raised his sword and began sparring again with new intensity and determination.

Night had fallen. The candles in Audrey’s room had almost died out. She sat at her desk with an old letter clutched in her hands. The paper was worn from being opened so many times. The ink had faded, but every word remained etched in her memory.

Dear Audrey,

Thank you for managing the household while I was away. The reports were thorough, as always. I don’t know what I would do without you.

Austin.

She read it again slowly.

I don’t know what I would do without you.

She had believed every word. She had built her entire life around the belief that Austin needed her.

But now she knew, he could do without her. He was already doing without her. As he had someone else now, someone he had chosen himself.

Audrey carefully folded the letter, put it in the drawer, and locked it. She did not cry. But something deep inside her cracked quietly.

That same night, cold wind swept across the balcony outside Austin’s chambers. Alina stood at the railing, wrapped in Austin’s coat. He had draped it over her shoulders, the moment she stepped outside.

"Two weeks," she said softly. "It feels both too long and too short at the same time."

Instead of saying something, Austin pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her waist.

The wind tugged at them as Alina rested her head on his shoulder.

"I’m scared as well," she whispered.

"I know."

"I don’t want to lose you."

His hold tightened around her waist.

"You won’t. Because I promise I will never stop fighting for us."