CHAPTER 6 - A House That Isn't a Palace
The grand hall still echoed with her presence.
The knights slowly rose, yet not one of them dared to speak too loudly.Alaric stood a few steps away from her.
Waiting.
Keira could feel every pair of eyes fixed on her, but she remained still.
"What do you want?" Alaric finally asked.
The question was simple.The answer was not.
Keira looked around the hall. Tall pillars. A gilded ceiling. The royal crest that felt familiar… and piercing at the same time.
This palace felt like a dream she once had. And also like a wound that had never healed.
"I don't want to stay here."
Silence fell instantly.
Sir Kael frowned.
Lucien did not look surprised; he simply observed.
Daniel slightly turned toward her, a faint relief slipping into his breath.
Alaric did not move. "This is your home," he said quietly.
Keira shook her head. "No." The answer was soft. But firm.
"This palace may have once been my home." She paused briefly."But now… this place only feels foreign."
She did not elaborate.
Not about the memories that came in flashes.Not about the white marble shadowed by something darker.
Alaric looked at her for a long moment.
"Did this palace hurt you?"
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
Keira did not answer immediately.
The silence was answer enough.
Cassian, who had remained quiet until now, finally stepped forward.
"Your Majesty," he said carefully, "if she is not comfortable in the palace… perhaps there is another option."
All eyes shifted to him.
Cassian looked at Keira, not as a nobleman.But as someone who had lost.
"The Evermont residence is still empty."
He swallowed.
"Since… your departure."
Alaric stiffened slightly at Cassian's words but did not interrupt.
"It is not a palace—there is no throne room, no council chamber… and no memories that weigh too heavily upon you." His gaze softened. "Only a house."
Keira felt something strange tighten in her chest.
A house.
Not a kingdom.Not a throne.
Daniel murmured softly, "That makes more sense."
Lucien studied Cassian for a moment before speaking.
"It would also reduce public attention. If word spreads that the Queen is spending time at the Evermont residence for rest."
Sir Kael nodded in agreement.
Alaric remained silent.
His gaze moved from Cassian to Keira.
He knew what this meant.
If Keira did not stay in the palace—She was not choosing to return.
At least not yet.
Finally, he spoke.
"If that is what you want… I will not force you."
Keira looked at him briefly.
There was something in his eyes.
Not anger.Not rejection.
Only loss that had learned not to hold too tightly.
"I just need time to process all of this…" Keira said softly.
Not a promise.Not a refusal.
Cassian bowed his head slightly.
"Then allow me to prepare everything."
He turned and gestured to one of the guards.
"Seal the hall. No news leaves without permission."
Sir Kael immediately took charge of security.
Lucien stepped a little closer to Keira.
"If you need anything—"
Keira shook her head faintly.
"I just want space."
Lucien accepted that without objection.
Moments later, they walked out of the hall.
Their footsteps echoed through the long palace corridors.
Keira did not look back.
She could feel Alaric still standing where he was.
Not calling her.Not stopping her.
Daniel walked beside her.
"At least it's not the palace," he muttered softly.
Keira nodded.
But as they passed through the grand palace gates,She could not stop one more flash of memory.
Stairs.White marble.And someone calling her name.
Not Keira.
She drew a deep breath and forced the image to fade.
Focus.
The black carriage of the Evermont family had been prepared in the courtyard.
Cassian opened the door himself.
Not as a duke.
But as someone who wanted to make sure his sister would not leave again.
"The Evermont residence is not far," he said gently."And there is no crown there."
Keira looked at him for a moment.
Then stepped inside.
The carriage began to move away from the palace.
And behind the tall windows of the throne room,A king stood alone.