The silence that followed their last exchange lingered softly, like the hush after rain. The fire in the hearth burned low, casting warm light over the polished stone floor. Valerian sat relaxed, his long fingers resting on the arm of his chair, watching the flames dance. Aurelia sat across from him, thoughtful, her veil glimmering faintly in the firelight.
She broke the silence first.
"May I ask you something?"
He turned to her. "You may."
"Why did your son ask you to marry me?" Her tone was calm, curious rather than accusing. "I doubt we ever met before Caelmont, and I can't imagine what reason he would have. Surely it wasn't out of pity… or because Neris and his mother tried to humiliate me that day."
Valerian's expression didn't change, though his eyes darkened slightly. "I asked him the same thing," he said. "Why you? Why not any of the noble daughters his grandmother had paraded before him as potential mother's?"
"And what did he say?"
Valerian leaned back slightly, his jaw tightening. "He said he wouldn't answer. Not yet. Not until he has all the proof he needs."
Aurelia frowned. "Proof?" she echoed softly. "What proof could he possibly be looking for?"
"I don't know," Valerian admitted. "He didn't say. And I didn't press."
Aurelia's gaze lingered on the fire, thoughtful. "Strange boy," she murmured. "He's kind, but there's something about him… something older than his years."
"He takes after me," Valerian said, half amused.
Aurelia shot him a sidelong glance. "Then I should be worried."
He chuckled ... a low, warm sound that surprised her. "Perhaps you should."
She fell quiet again, turning his words over in her mind. "Still, I can't help but wonder what kind of proof he meant," she said at last.
"Ask him," Valerian suggested. "He's rather fond of you already. I think he'll tell you ... eventually."
"I will," she said softly. "Though I can't promise I'll understand his answer."
Valerian smiled faintly. Then, as if remembering something, he straightened a little. "Oh ... that reminds me. Vaelric also mentioned something else."
"What is it?"
"He said he's found a way to lift your curse."
Aurelia froze. Her breath caught in her throat, and when she finally spoke, her voice trembled slightly. "You're serious?"
"I can't joke about something like that," Valerian replied.
Her eyes widened beneath the veil. "How?" she whispered.
"He said it's through the Cael'haran."
She blinked, stunned. "The Cael'haran?" Her voice rose an octave. "The Hunt of Realms?"
"Yes."
She leaned forward, disbelief etched in her face. "But… how could a hunt undo a curse? It's a sport ... a deadly one, but still a sport."
Valerian's gaze was steady. "I don't know. He only said this hunt will be different from the others before it."
Aurelia's brows knitted. "Different how?"
"That," Valerian said, "he wouldn't tell me either. But he was certain. And by some strange coincidence...or fate...the next Hunt is only a few months away."
Aurelia leaned back slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. "A few months," she repeated softly. "Yes… the Cael'haran is always held before the spring equinox."
He nodded. "Then we'll have our answers soon enough."
She was silent for a long time, staring into the firelight that shimmered through her veil. "I don't want to get my hopes up," she said finally. "My father tried everything...ancient spells, sacrifices, charms...and still he failed. When he locked me away, I thought perhaps the curse was meant to last forever."
Valerian's voice softened. "Perhaps it was meant to, until now."
"Perhaps," she said with a faint, sad smile. "But I've learned that hope can be a cruel thing, my lord. I'll wait, but I won't believe until I see it."
He inclined his head slightly. "Wise. But I'd rather you prepare yourself...for your coronation, at least. It's in two days. You'll need to be proud before the court."
She gave a dry little laugh. "Pride, I still have. Beauty, not so much."
"Pride," he said, "will serve you better than beauty ever could."
Their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them...respect, perhaps, or a quiet understanding of two people who had endured far more than most would ever know.
Valerian shifted slightly. "Before I forget," he said, "Lord Sylas asked me to tell you something."
"Sylas?" she echoed. "Sylas Skyborne...the Wind Lord?"
He nodded. "He said to tell you that not everyone wishes you ill. That he is one of the few who wishes you well."
Aurelia blinked in surprise. "I didn't even know he knew of me."
"Before the curse," Valerian said, "many knew of you. You were quite the talk of the realm...your beauty, your bravery, your grace. The flame goddess they called you. Men admired you from afar, even those who never met you."
She tilted her head. "Including the Wind Lord, apparently?"
"Perhaps," Valerian said with a faint smirk.
Her gaze sharpened slightly. "And what about you, my lord?"
"What about me?"
"Did you also… admire me?" she asked quietly, her tone light but her eyes searching.
Valerian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he regarded her with an expression she couldn't quite read ... something between amusement and contemplation. Then, slowly, he smiled ... that rare, disarming smile that softened his entire face.
"Perhaps I did," he said finally.
Aurelia's lips parted in surprise, then curved into the faintest, knowing smile. "You don't sound very sure."
"I rarely am," he replied, rising from his chair. "But that's a discussion for another day."
He turned toward the door, pausing just before he reached it. "Rest well, Aurelia. You'll need your strength for the coronation."
She inclined her head. "Goodnight, my lord."
He gave a short nod and left, the soft echo of his boots fading down the corridor, Taren following in his footsteps.
The room grew quiet again. Gwen, who had stood silently the whole time, approached her mistress. "My lady," she said gently, "we should return to your chambers."
Aurelia still gazed at the door where Valerian had disappeared. "Yes," she said finally, rising slowly. "Let's go."
And together, they stepped into the dimly lit corridor ... toward her bedroom. Aurelia's thoughts filled with many things. She just didn't understand but she wants to understand.
And to do that she'll need to talk to vaelric. During the dinner, vaelric, just like he told her, didn't say a word, and he left when his father commanded everyone to leave.
Aurelia sighed, and Gwen looking at her mistress knew the thoughts going on in her head.
Gwen told her while holding her hand gently, "Don't think too much about it my lady, let's reach your chambers first, and since it's already late, sleep and think over it. By dawn who knows, you might have an answer.
Aurelia nodded and said "yes you're right. Tonight we rest".