Chapter 185: You Must Help Me
Lorelai marched forward, her footsteps echoing confidently through the empty palace halls.
Though her tattered nightgown clung to her, barely shielding her from the cold, Rhaegar’s long black robe draped over her shoulders like a shadowy mantle, its edges trailing behind her like a pool of liquid darkness.
It carried his warmth, his strength, and that was enough to steady her trembling soul.
At her sides, Alim and Naveen matched her determined pace. Their hands gripped their weapons tightly, their sharp eyes scanning the empty corridors, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.
I knew he would leave this place untouched, Lorelai thought, her gaze darting subtly as she passed through the crown prince’s quarters. Compared to the chaos in the rest of the palace, this place feels lifeless... suffocatingly so. Just like it always has.
The royal grounds were in shambles, the air heavy with the scent of smoke and iron.
Outside, the nomads waged their relentless war, while inside, Rhaegar’s divided forces fought tooth and nail to eradicate Althea’s monstrous army.
The battle was a storm threatening to engulf everything, yet here, in this forsaken wing, an eerie stillness lingered, as though the shadows themselves refused to breathe.
Stopping before the doors to Kai’s Trophy Room, Lorelai drew in a slow, shuddering breath, willing her heart to stop its frantic hammering. Her fingers twitched at her sides, betraying her inner turmoil.
Even now, after everything, the thought of entering that cursed place by her own choice made her stomach knot with dread.
Her hands trembled, but she clenched them into tight fists, forcing the fear back. She couldn’t afford to falter. Not now. It would be a lie to claim she wasn’t afraid—her very bones seemed to resist—but there was something far greater at stake than her fear.