Chapter 3

The family carriage was late.

I stood outside the Court's side gate for nearly half an hour, back soaked through. When it finally pulled up, the driver took his time reining in the horses before lazily pressing the bell twice.

I got in.

Aldric, head of the guard detail, turned around from the driver's seat like I'd personally offended him. "That temper of yours, honestly — a few minutes late and you pull a face like that. A lady from a great house ought to carry herself like one. What's a bit of standing around?" He paused and threw in one more. "Between you and me, my son — I would never let him get mixed up with someone like you."

I didn't take the bait. I looked down at the message crystal in my hand.

A group of visitors had come through the Court today, and the crystal was buzzing.

[Cael took us out in his family's private carriage — the woodwork and carvings in that cabin are something else, definitely not what you'd find in an ordinary household!]

[You don't realize it until you're actually sitting inside — every inch of it screams old money. No normal person has something like that...]

[I'm serious, riding in that carriage is the first time I've actually felt what aristocracy means]

I stared at the crystal for a few seconds.

Isn't that my family's carriage?

I had someone pull up Aldric's household file. The answer came back fast — Head Guard Aldric Calder. One son. Cael Calder.

I folded the note and closed my hand around it.

All the loose pieces started pulling toward the same point.

Cael had never stumbled into my life by accident. All those unexplained leaks in my past life — where I was going, when, who I'd spoken to — someone always knew ahead of time. That was Aldric feeding information from behind the scenes. Cael's ability to show up at exactly the right moments had nothing to do with luck. His father was at my side every day, with a full picture of every move I made.

And the people who tried to speak up for me in my past life — Aldric had dealt with them too, one way or another.

Then there was the thing between Cael and me.

He used to say he felt out of his depth. Said he didn't know whether a guardsman's son had any right to stand next to me. I always told him it didn't matter. Then one day he said he wanted to engrave the date we met onto my family crest brooch — a small thing, just between the two of us, no need to tell anyone.

He said it with this uncertain, slightly hesitant look — like he wasn't sure he was allowed to ask.

That particular combination of holding back and being honest about it was exactly what got to me. I unclasped the brooch and put it in his hand.

A few days later, he said he'd had it engraved. He pinned it back on for me himself, fingertips resting at my collar for just a second before he looked up and smiled.

I thought that was tenderness.

My hand moved up slowly and touched the brooch at my collar. My fingertip had just reached the clasp when —

"Did something fall, my lady?" Aldric cut in, his voice suddenly far too casual. "I thought I heard something drop back there on the road. Would you check?"

I didn't move.

"That brooch especially — don't go fussing with it," he added. "The road's rough and it'll wear down. The late lady gave that to you. Best be careful."

I looked up and caught his eyes in the rearview mirror.

There it was.

"Nothing fell," I said, and put my hand down. "Just touching it."

He went quiet for a beat, then said something noncommittal and turned back around.

I heard him let out a slow breath.

Back at the estate, I did three things.

Unclasped the brooch and dropped it to the bottom of my jewelry box.

Sent a message to the family steward: the head guard has been out of line lately. Please arrange a replacement.

Had dinner. Went to bed.

The hollow feeling in my chest — gone.

Not gradually. All at once. Like something that had been quietly leaking had just been plugged.

I dug out an identical brooch from my backup case and pinned it on. No need to tip anyone off.

Talia and Cael had no idea.

So. Right now, Talia — the only thing you have left is that elixir debt.