Chapter 43.2

The bathroom door creaked shut behind Elena. Cura, hovering anxiously outside, rushed towards her. Nearby knights cast startled glances at Elena, their eyes widening at the sight of her damp clothes.

“Elena-nim!” Cura exclaimed, her voice tight with worry. Reaching out, she grabbed Elena’s skirt hem, her trembling hands ineffectively dabbing at the moisture. “Are you alright? What happened in there?”

Elena turned, her gaze flickering past Cura’s shoulder towards the bathroom entrance. “Nothing,” she mumbled.

“It’s not nothing, is it?” A low voice came from behind. Elena spun around to see Serin leaning against the wall, arms crossed.

“Lord Serin,” she stammered, “how did you…?”

“I heard you were wandering outside,” he interrupted, his voice calm but laced with authority. “But you weren’t in the garden. So here I am.”

Elena opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Serin pushed himself off the wall with a sigh, his gaze lingering on Elena for a moment before he brushed past her. “What are you waiting for?” he said, his voice clipped. “Aren’t you going to your room?”

With a hesitant glance at Cura, Elena reluctantly followed Serin. Cura trailed after her, the knights falling into step behind them.

Serin arched an eyebrow, his gaze flickering between Elena and the closed study door. “News travels fast in this castle,” he said, his voice a low murmur. “Word is you agreed to Hazel’s little game. What were you thinking?”

Elena swallowed, forcing a nonchalant shrug. “What?” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Serin’s smile was thin. “Don’t play coy, Elena. We all know Hazel dislikes you. It’s hardly a secret, though I imagine you know that better than anyone.”

His words held a surprising weight, despite their gentle tone. His eyes, however, were a different story – sharp and probing, as if he could see right through her carefully constructed facade.

“Like I told His Grace,” she began, trying to sound confident, “I just needed some fresh air. Being cooped up all day was suffocating.”

“So suffocating you threatened His Grace you’d jump off the terrace?” Serin’s voice held a hint of amusement, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Elena lurched forward, her voice rising in panic. “Threatened? How could I threaten His Grace?”

Serin let out a short, humorless laugh, looking down at her with a knowing smile. “Really? You think I’m that naive? You knew the Duke would cave, didn’t you?”

Elena’s stomach twisted. A prickle of unease ran down her spine. The truth, as uncomfortable as it was, sat heavy in her heart. Serin was right.

Sleep had eluded her for nights on end. How could she convince Kennard to let her out? Begging wouldn’t work, that much was clear. Trapped in her room, her gaze drifted to the terrace doors. Below, the vast castle gardens lay shrouded in darkness.

A thought, fleeting and desperate, flickered in her mind. ‘If only I could jump…’ The idea startled her, yet it clung to her like a shadow.

Hazel’s suggestion echoed in Elena’s mind: “Escape to the terrace, at least.” Maybe mentioning it to Kennard would work. Surely, that wasn’t a threat? But a tiny voice whispered, ‘Did you not even consider it a little?’ Ignoring the unsettling thought, Elena straightened her shoulders.

Serin sighed, like he expected another denial. “Look, whatever happened, the Duke said yes. You’re out, that’s all that matters. But promise me something.”

He stopped and faced her. “Don’t leave the castle grounds. Not even the gardens. And stay away from Hazel, even inside.”

Elena fought to hide her rising panic. “Why?” she managed, trying to sound calm. Did Serin suspect she wanted to flee completely?

Her frantic heart hammered against her ribs, then plunged into a chilling silence as Serin spoke the next words. “Elena, the White Fox Tribe seems to be after you.”

The blood drained from her face, limbs turning to ice. “What? What do you mean?” she whispered, voice trembling.

Serin met her gaze for a fleeting moment before sighing. “Let’s talk privately,” he said to the knights and Cura following them. “Give us some space.” The guards retreated, leaving Elena and Serin alone.

Serin’s voice dropped to a low murmur. “Remember the forest? When you were with the Duke? That’s when the White Fox Tribe attacked you.”

Elena froze. Her body locked in place, as if turned to stone. The memory of the terrifying encounter in the woods flooded back.

“Do you have any idea why they went after you?”

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