Chapter 70
Celestina had grown accustomed to the quiet tension that lingered in the palace, but tonight, it felt heavier than ever. Kael’s footsteps echoed down the corridor as she passed his study, and she paused. The door was slightly ajar, and his low voice drifted into the hall.
“…it’s almost done,” Kael said, his tone calm and measured. “The final pieces are falling into place. Make sure nothing goes wrong.”
Celestina’s breath hitched, and she leaned closer, straining to hear more.
“Yes,” Kael continued. “I’ll handle it personally if I have to. I can’t risk her finding out. Trust me—it will be worth it in the end.”
Her heart pounded as she tried to process his words. What final pieces? What can’t I find out?
The conversation ended abruptly, and she quickly backed away, pretending to check the flowers on a nearby table. Kael stepped out of the study moments later, his phone still in hand.
“Celestina,” he said, his face breaking into a smile as if nothing were wrong. “You’re still up?”
“I was just walking to clear my head,” she said, forcing a smile. “Who were you speaking to?”
Kael’s expression didn’t falter. “One of the bodyguards. Security measures, you know. Nothing important.”
Her stomach churned at how effortlessly he lied. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak further.
The next morning, Celestina found another envelope on her desk. Her hands trembled as she opened it, already dreading its contents.
Inside was a single sheet of paper with just one chilling sentence: “Your time is running out. He’s not who you think he is.”
Her blood ran cold as she clutched the letter, her mind racing. Who was sending these warnings? And how much did they know about Kael’s plans?
“Who are you really, Kael?” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.
She knew she needed answers, but Kael’s growing control over her life made it harder to investigate without raising suspicion.
That evening, Kael surprised her with a romantic gesture that felt both unexpected and calculated.
“Dinner on the balcony,” he said with a charming smile as he led her to the beautifully set table under the stars. Candles flickered in the soft breeze, and the aroma of her favorite dishes filled the air.
“This is… lovely,” Celestina said hesitantly, sitting down across from him.
“You’ve been under so much stress lately,” Kael said, pouring her a glass of wine. “I wanted to remind you how much you mean to me. We’ve been through so much together, haven’t we?”
His words were sweet, his tone warm, but Celestina couldn’t shake the sense that it was all an act. She sipped her wine, keeping her smile in place while her thoughts churned.
“You’ve been busy,” she said, trying to sound casual. “Anything exciting happening in your meetings?”
Kael chuckled. “Just the usual politics. Nothing that should concern you.”
Her smile tightened. He’s always keeping me in the dark.
Later that night, Celestina waited until Kael retired to their room before sneaking into his study. Her heart raced as she closed the door quietly behind her and began searching through his desk drawers.
Papers, files, and folders were neatly arranged, but one folder tucked beneath others caught her eye. Pulling it out, she opened it to find a list of names.
Her breath caught in her throat as she scanned the list.
Some names she recognized as political allies or opponents of her father, but one name at the bottom made her blood run cold: her own.
The list was titled “Consolidation Plan,” but the details were sparse. Next to her name, a single word was scrawled: “Neutralize.”
Celestina’s hands shook as she stared at the word. Neutralize? What was Kael planning for her?
The sound of footsteps in the hall made her shove the folder back into the drawer. She hurried out of the study, her heart pounding in her chest.
When she returned to her room, Celestina was too shaken to sleep. She lay awake, her thoughts spinning with everything she had discovered. Kael’s lies, the mysterious warnings, and now her name on a list of targets—it all pointed to one thing.
Kael wasn’t just hiding something. He was planning something dangerous, and she was at the center of it.
Exhausted, she finally drifted into an uneasy sleep, only to wake in the early hours of the morning.
A single photograph lay on her pillow.
It was Dimitri.
He was standing in front of a familiar building, his face serious, his eyes piercing.
Scrawled across the bottom of the photo were the words: “I’m coming for you.”
