Chapter 37
Kael took his new role as Celestina’s head bodyguard with unwavering dedication. His days were consumed with ensuring her safety—checking every corridor before she entered, coordinating with the palace security team, and standing by her side during public appearances. Yet, in the quiet hours of the night, when the palace was silent and his duties momentarily paused, he let his emotions flow onto paper.
Kael wrote letters to Celestina—letters he never intended for her to see. They were his way of processing the feelings he couldn’t voice, the regret he couldn’t undo, and the hope he dared not express aloud.
Kael’s Letters
Letter One:
Celestina,
When I look at you now, I see the strength you’ve always had but that I was too blind to recognize. You are a force of nature, and I am humbled every day to be near you. I know I’ve caused you more pain than anyone ever should, and yet I cannot stop myself from loving you. It’s a love I don’t deserve, but one I will carry with me always, even if it must remain hidden.
Kael
Letter Two:
My Queen,
I call you that not because of your title, but because of the way you command every room you enter. The world bends to your presence, and yet you carry yourself with such grace. There are moments when I catch your smile, fleeting and rare, and I feel as though I’ve seen the sun after years of darkness. If I could take back the hurt I caused you, I would. But I can’t. All I can do is promise to protect you with every fiber of my being—for as long as you’ll allow me to stay by your side.
Kael
Letter Three:
Celestina,
There are things I wish I could say to you, but the words catch in my throat. I watch you, so full of life and strength, and I am reminded of everything I lost when I let you go. Every day I spend protecting you is a day I thank the stars for giving me this second chance, even if it’s not the one I want. I would give my life for you, not because it is my duty, but because it is my greatest honor.
Yours, Kael
***
It was late one evening when Celestina stumbled upon one of the letters. She had been searching for a book in the small library adjoining the palace security office when her eyes fell on a folded piece of paper resting on Kael’s desk.
Curiosity got the better of her, and she picked it up. Unfolding it, her heart stopped as she read the words:
My Queen,
You are the light that guides me, the reason I wake each morning with purpose. Protecting you is not just my duty—it is my redemption. Every moment I spend near you is a gift I don’t deserve, but one I will cherish for the rest of my days.
Kael
Celestina’s hands trembled as she read the letter again. She couldn’t deny the raw emotion in his words, the sincerity that bled through every line. She felt a mix of shock, confusion, and something else she couldn’t quite name.
She quickly folded the letter and placed it back where she’d found it, her mind racing.
The next morning, Kael stood near the palace gardens, his eyes scanning the grounds as Celestina walked along the stone path. She was speaking with her maid, Lila, but her movements seemed distracted, her gaze flickering to him occasionally.
“Is everything alright?” Kael asked as she approached.
Celestina hesitated, her lips parting as if to say something, but she quickly closed them again. “Yes,” she said finally. “Everything’s fine.”
He nodded, though her tone left him unconvinced. “If there’s anything you need, you know I’m here.”
She looked at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. “I know, Kael,” she said softly before walking away.
