Chapter 11 The Shadow in the Mirror
The midnight hour had long passed, and the mansion was buried in deep silence. Outside Kaelen’s bedroom window, the rain had stopped, leaving only the slow drip of water from the roof.
Kaelen sat perfectly still in his wheelchair, waiting. He listened closely until the distant footsteps of the night guards faded completely down the hallway.
When he was certain he was entirely alone, Kaelen placed his hands on the armrests of his chair.
His legs, which everyone in the empire believed to be completely dead, easily bore his weight. He stood up straight, his tall frame cutting through the shadows of the room. The system had cured his paralysis long ago, but every time he stood on his own two feet in the dark, he had to remind himself to act weak again when the sun rose.
As soon as his boots settled firmly on the floor, a cold blue screen flashed brightly before his eyes.
A clear, mechanical tone rang inside his mind.
[Merchant Donald Subjugation finalized. One year of lifespan deducted.]
Kaelen gasped, his hand flying to his chest. A sudden, piercing coldness rushed through his veins, starting from his heart and spreading out to his fingertips. His breath came out as a white mist in the chilly room. He felt his heartbeat slow down drastically, becoming heavy and distant, as if his body were turning into a block of winter ice.
He steadied himself against the edge of the desk, waiting for the pain to pass. The power of absolute control was absolute, but the ledger always demanded its payment.
Once his breathing became normal, Kaelen walked slowly over to the small piece of mirror resting on his dresser. He picked it up and held it toward the moonlight.
He looked at his reflection. His skin was dangerously pale, almost translucent under the faint moonbeams, making him look like a spirit. But it was his hair that caught his attention. The bright silver-white color, which had only touched the very tips of his dark hair a few days ago, had now crawled much higher. It covered a large portion of the sides and bottom, shining like winter frost against the pitch-black strands.
Kaelen touched the silver hair, his face perfectly calm. He did not care about the lost years.
Suddenly, a loud knock rattled the bedroom door.
"Kaelen?"
It was Aurelia's voice, sharp and clear in the quiet night.
Kaelen’s eyes widened slightly. In a single, silent movement, he dropped back down into his wheelchair, pulling his long blanket over his legs just as the door handle began to turn. He leaned his head against the backrest, closing his eyes and letting his body go limp, pretending to be fast asleep.
The door pushed open, and Aurelia walked in, carrying a small candle and a cup of warm liquid.
She walked over to the side of his chair, setting the candle down on the desk. She looked down at his pale face, her brow furrowing.
"Kaelen, wake up," she said softly, shaking his shoulder. "I know you are not a deep sleeper."
Kaelen stirred slowly, letting out a weak, raspy groan. He opened his eyes halfway, blinking against the faint light of the candle. He rubbed his face, making sure to look as exhausted and fragile as possible.
"Lady... Lady Aurelia?" Kaelen murmured, his voice sounding dry and strained. "What is wrong? Is there another attack?"
"No, there is no attack," Aurelia said, her voice less harsh than usual. She held out the cup toward him. "The servants told me you were coughing badly during dinner. I had them prepare a hot drink made from local roots. It helps clear the chest. Drink it."
Kaelen looked at the steaming cup, then up at her. He forced a small, grateful smile onto his lips. "You... you brought this for me? Thank you. You are very kind."
"Do not mistake this for kindness," Aurelia scoffed, turning her head slightly. "If you die of sickness in this place, your father will blame my family for not taking care of you. I am simply protecting my own name."
Kaelen reached out to take the cup. As he did, his sleeve pulled back, revealing his thin, pale wrist. He took a slow sip of the bitter liquid, keeping his eyes on the floor.
Aurelia stood beside him, waiting for him to finish. As the candle light flickered, it illuminated the side of Kaelen's head. Her breath caught in her throat, and she stepped closer, leaning down to get a better look at his hair.
"Kaelen," Aurelia said, her voice full of sudden surprise. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the side of his head before he could move away. "What happened to your hair?"
Kaelen flinched slightly, playing the part of a startled boy. "My hair? What do you mean?"
"The color," Aurelia said, her sharp eyes staring at the stark silver strands that mixed with the black. "When we left the Capital, your hair was perfectly dark. Now, half of it is as white as snow. You are only nineteen. Why are you turning grey so fast?"
Kaelen quickly lowered his head, pulling his coat up to hide his neck. He let out a forced, bitter laugh, making his shoulders shake a little.
"The border town is very stressful, Lady Aurelia," Kaelen whispered, keeping his voice low and sad. "The air is foul, the room is freezing, and every time the wind blows, I think someone is coming to kill me. My body has always been weak. I suppose the fear and the cold are just making me age faster than normal. I am sorry if it looks ugly."
Aurelia stared at him, her fingers dropping away from his hair. She looked at his pale skin, the dark circles under his eyes, and the silver streaks that looked like a disease eating away at his youth.
For the first time since they had met, the deep disgust in her heart did not rise. Instead, a strange, uncomfortable feeling settled in her chest. She remembered how her own mother had withered away under the stress of an abusive household. Looking at Kaelen, she only saw another victim of the royal family’s cruelty, a boy who was literally rotting away from fear in a lawless town.
"It is not ugly," Aurelia said quietly, her voice softening in a way Kaelen had never heard before. "It is just... strange. You need to stop worrying so much. Boros’s guards are watching the house now. No one is going to break your window again."
"I will try," Kaelen said, looking up at her with big, innocent eyes. "Your words make me feel a bit safer."
"Just finish your drink and go to sleep," Aurelia said, her voice returning to its usual coldness as she picked up her candle. She turned away, not wanting him to see the hint of pity on her face. "We have a lot of work to do tomorrow to secure the food supply."
"Goodnight, Lady Aurelia," Kaelen said softly to her back.
