The moment was shattered by a knock at the door. Austin immediately pulled back.
"Your Grace," A woman called from outside. "Her Highness wants to see you. She said it's urgent."
Austin stood and reached for his coat.
"Keep your hand clean. It will heal," He said and left.
Audrey's room was exactly how a princess's room should have been.
Candles burned in silver sconces, casting a warm glow over silk hangings and velvet cushions. A fire crackled in the marble hearth and the bed canopied in gold was piled high with furs and pillows.
Audrey stood in front of her dressing table in a blue robe when Austin arrived. She had a letter in her hands.
"You wanted to talk?" Austin asked as he entered.
Audrey looked at him through the mirror.
"I received a letter from my father tonight."
Austin closed the door and walked towards her.
"What did it say?"
"My father is asking about our relationship." She turned from the mirror to look at him. "He wants to know when we intend to move on with our engagement."
Austin exhaled quietly.
Austin and Audrey had been engaged for three years. It was a political arrangement meant to strengthen alliances and maintain the power balance in the northern territories.
But that didn't change the fact that Austin and Audrey were childhood friends, and she had been in love with him for eight years now. He was aware of her feelings, she had already confessed to him many times.
However, Austin saw her only as a very good friend. He had agreed to the engagement because, in their world, politics was mandatory in a marriage, not love.
"What are you planning to tell him?" He asked.
"I wanted to speak with you first." She stepped closer, her fingers curling around his arm. "Austin, we had been engaged for three years. You weren't ready for the marriage then…so I gave you the space you asked for and never demanded anything in return."
"I know…and I'm really grateful for that."
"Then give me something now," She almost pleaded. "I want to marry you, Austin. I don't want to stay as your fiancée anymore. I want to be your duchess."
Austin didn't reply but Audrey kept looking at him, waiting for his answer.
"I'll visit him," He finally said. "I promise."
Audrey smiled and immediately wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you…Thank you so much."
Meanwhile, in another part of the castle, in his bed, Alina lay awake, wondering why he hadn't returned.
The next morning, after breakfast, Alina found Lord Ashby in his usual corner of the library, dozing over a book on Byzantine trade routes.
"My lord," She said, gently touching his shoulder. "Lord Ashby."
He jolted awake.
"Ehh? What? Is the library on fire?"
"No, my lord. I need your help."
He squinted at her, to look at her clearly.
"Alina? What help do you need?"
She pulled a letter from her pocket.
"I need this delivered to my home." She hesitated. "I didn't know who to trust, so I…"
Lord Ashby took the letter from her hands and slipped it into his coat.
"I'll make sure the letters reaches its destination."
"Thank you so much."
"Don't thank me yet," He muttered, as he reached for another book. "I have something for you as well. Information."
Alina's heart pounded.
"What kind of information?"
He picked up the book. It was the same book that was on his face yesterday.
"I saw you looking at this yesterday," He said, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "When you thought I was asleep."
He pressed the book into her hands.
"Check the library's eastern history section. You might find some answers to questions you haven't even thought to ask."
"The eastern history section?"
"It's on the third floor. No one goes there anymore." He smirked. "Except me, of course. I go everywhere."
Alina clutched the book to her chest, her mind already racing.
"Thank you, my lord. I don't know how to…"
"Go," He waved her off. "You're disturbing my sleep."
Alina bowed and went straight to the eastern section, only to be blocked by a rope at the entrance. A sign hung nearby:
Closed for construction. No entry.
Beyond it, she could see the ladders, dust cloths, and scattered tools,
Of course, it is closed. Of course, the one place Lord Ashby asked me to go is inaccessible.
She turned away in frustration.
In the evening, a minor lord, Lord Wethersby, from somewhere south, arrived during dinner at Ravenmoor.
Austin greeted him with pleasantries, before guiding him through the hall. Then, to Alina's surprise, he steered him towards her.
Alina immediately stood from her chair.
"Lord Wethersby." Austin placed his hand on her waist. "This is Alina Ashworth."
Lord Wethersby bowed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ashworth."
Alina smiled politely, playing her part. But this time, she decided to play it differently. If he could use her as a performance, she could at least rewrite the script.
She moved her hand and placed it lightly on Austin's where it rested on her waist. She felt him freeze and smiled.
Alina continued talking to Lord Wethersby about the southern roads, about the weather while her fingers traced his knuckles. His grip tightened on her waist, but she ignored it.
When she leaned forward to answer a question, her shoulder brushed his chest. From the corner of her eye, she saw him clenching his jaw.
To Lord Wethersby, and to everyone else, it looked intimate. But to Austin, it felt like torture.
His body had gone rigid, but he couldn't pull away without drawing attention.
When Lord Wethersby finally moved on to meet other nobles, she immediately removed her hand. Austin leaned down.
"What was that?" He whispered.
"What?" She asked casually, not even looking at him.
"You know exactly what."
"I was just being affectionate like you in public." She said, smoothing her dress.
"You can't do that."
"Why not?" She finally turned to look at him. "You put your hand on me when we're in public. I was just matching your performance." She smiled innocently and walked away before he could answer.
At night, when she entered the room, she was surprised to see him already in bed, lying down. She stopped for a second, before slipping in beside him and turning her back to him.
"What the hell were you doing?" His voice was controlled and dangerous.
"I don't know what you mean," She replied, unbothered.
"Don't you dare play games with me, Alina."
"Why?" She murmured. "You use me as a prop but I'm not allowed to use you back? That seems like an uneven arrangement."
He didn't reply but spoke after a minute.
"You enjoyed that?"
"A lot." She replied with a smile. "Anyway, I'm very tired. Good night, Your Grace."
"I'm not done talking yet…You need…" He stopped.
She had already fallen asleep, peaceful and unbothered, while he lay awake, staring at the canopy, his hands folded over his chest and, for once, had nothing to say.
The tables had turned.
Two days later, the library finally reopened. The moment Alina heard, she went straight to the eastern history section.
She didn't even know what she was looking for. Her eyes scanned the shelves, searching for something familiar when she noticed some shelves were half empty.
She slowed down. A chill crept up her spine.
Had someone known I was coming? Had someone removed the books before I could find them?