Chapter 3. Stirring Trouble

Aurora POV

I opened my eyes and called for Agatha, like I usually did every morning. The familiar routine brought a fleeting sense of comfort. I stretched, feeling the subtle release of the tight ropes around my neck from the night before; the sensation was oddly soothing, a small reassurance that my body could still move without restriction. I sat up on the bed, blinking against the dim morning light filtering through the heavy curtains, and scanned the room. A couple of maids—none of whom were Agatha—had gathered around my bed, watching me intently as though they expected me to explode at any second.

I ignored them and headed for the washroom. The water was cold, shocking me awake as I splashed my face, clearing the fog from my mind. I brushed my teeth and dressed in something appropriate for the morning meeting—a simple yet elegant outfit that suited my rank but didn’t draw unnecessary attention. When I stepped back into the room, the number of maids had almost doubled. The steady drum of rain against the windows cast a gloomy shadow across the room, making the walls feel closer, the air heavier.

“Where’s Agatha?” I asked, my voice firmer than I intended. “Send for her, and everyone else, please leave. You’re all making me uncomfortable.”

“My lady, she’s… she’s currently indisposed,” one of the maids said hesitantly. “She left instructions with us on how to care for you and—”

“What do you mean she’s currently indisposed?” I snapped, spinning to face them. “Send her to me at once. I don’t care if she’s sick. She cannot delay me.”

I turned to pick something from my wardrobe, but when I noticed there was no movement behind me, I stopped and looked back at the maids. Their expressions were unreadable, faces partially hidden in the shadows of the room. A cold knot formed in my stomach. Something felt off. Something felt very wrong.

Ignoring my growing unease, I left the room and headed downstairs toward Agatha’s quarters. Even if she were sick, she would have come to me. When I reached the foot of the stairs, I noticed a small crowd gathered outside the pack house. My father wasn’t among them. Some of the officials present weren’t even familiar to me, their unfamiliar faces sharp against the backdrop of my childhood home. My heart began to thump faster, but I forced myself to keep moving. I went straight to my aunt’s room beside the kitchen, hoping for answers.

I knocked softly, then pushed the door open and walked in. Her bed was neatly made, untouched. I checked her small bathroom, thinking she might be showering, but it was empty. She couldn’t be in the kitchen either—I had stopped her from doing any cooking long ago because of her age.

Where could she be?

I turned to leave and nearly collided with Marcellus.

“Oh! Good day, Sir Marcellus,” I said politely, my voice betraying none of the anxiety roiling inside me.

He nodded and gave a faint smile.

“Good day, my princess,” he said, his tone calm, neutral. He offered nothing more, and for a fleeting moment I almost asked why he was here, but my thoughts were too consumed with Agatha and the growing sense of dread in my chest. I returned his smile weakly and moved to leave.

“Your father has asked that you join us at the meeting hall, Aurora,” he said quietly, almost as an afterthought.

I froze. “What? Really?” My heart leapt. Maybe, just maybe, there was finally news about Elric. Without thinking, I rushed past Marcellus toward the meeting hall, my footsteps echoing through the stone corridors. I burst in, scanning the room with desperate hope, praying silently that my brother had been found safe.

The first thing I noticed was how empty the hall was. Instead of being filled with familiar faces, officials, and guards, there were only my father and two strangers. My stomach dropped. A bitter taste filled my mouth, metallic and sharp. I forced myself not to imagine the worst, though fear already clawed at my chest, tight and constricting.

“Sit down, Aurora,” my father commanded. I took a seat and lowered myself slowly, forcing my body to obey even as my mind screamed.

“Father, you called for me. I thought there might be news about Elric…” My voice wavered, hope and fear tangled together.

“There is,” he said, his tone calm, almost too calm.

My heart began to race. I leaned forward over the wide, polished table. “Well? Has he been found? Where is he?”

“Slow down, Aurora. Your brother is fine. He will be returned to us soon,” Marcellus said from behind me, entering the room quietly.

Relief surged through me, a wave so strong it made my legs tremble. Joy flooded my chest, replacing some of the fear. My brother was alive.

I smiled at my father, expecting a flicker of warmth in return now that Elric would soon be safe. But he didn’t. His face remained cold, unreadable, a mask of authority that betrayed nothing.

“Aurora, there is something you must know.”

I froze. “What is it, Father?” I asked softly, unease creeping into my voice.

“You know, as a princess…” He began to circle the table, his footsteps measured, deliberate. He stopped behind my chair, and I could feel the weight of his gaze on my shoulders. “…you must be willing and ready to make sacrifices for the kingdom. It is your responsibility.”

“Yes, Father,” I whispered. “I understand. Is there anything that—”

“It is rather a miracle that the Valeborns are willing to set Elric free,” he continued. “Even shocking. Perhaps after the bloody war, this is a sign they are willing to build a relationship. Imagine the good it would do our kingdom if they made peace with us.”

“Yes… yes, Father,” I said cautiously. “But it’s strange that they suddenly want peace.”

“The Valeborns have agreed to release your brother, which is a good sign for us—and for him. But in return, we must make an exchange. We must offer something to show our appreciation. I’m sure you understand what I mean.”

Exchange.

My mind reeled. What sort of exchange could they possibly want for Elric? My stomach lurched.

“What do they want in return?” I asked quietly. My voice was barely audible, trembling as I spoke. Moments later, I realized that asking had been one of the worst decisions I had ever made.

“They want you, Aurora. You will be exchanged for your brother.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. My heart stopped. My vision blurred with tears. I barely made it back to my room, stumbling as I ran, my hands shaking violently. I threw open my dressing area, grabbed a bag, and began stuffing clothes and essentials into it. I didn’t collapse onto the bed or give in to despair as I usually might. Instead, anger and fear propelled me forward.

What a bloody demon. How could my own father send me to those bloodthirsty dogs as an enslaved person in exchange for my brother? My mind raced, and my chest tightened with the cruel weight of betrayal. He was willing to sacrifice my life to save Elric’s—to turn me into a pawn in this ruthless game.

I shivered as I held the bag tightly, the rain outside pounding against the windows like the heartbeat of some monstrous predator waiting for me to fail. The reality of my situation sank in. My freedom, my life, my identity—all were being traded for someone else’s benefit. My father had turned into a stranger, a tyrant cloaked in the skin of family.

My hands trembled, my heart a wild drum in my chest, and yet I knew I had no choice but to prepare. The journey ahead would be terrifying, and I would face unimaginable dangers, but there was no turning back.

I was Aurora Redmont, daughter of Crimson Ridge—and now, a pawn in a game I hadn’t agreed to play.

The rain continued to fall, drumming a relentless rhythm against the windows, as I stuffed the last item into my bag, bracing myself for the world that awaited me outside.