Wings of Ambition Shackled by Fate

The next day, Valeria woke up late in the morning, feeling more rested than she had in months. She slowly blinked her eyes open and stretched her limbs, relishing the unfamiliar sensation of peace. Suddenly, a pillow hit her square in the face.

"Awake, sleepyhead?" Katherine teased from the lounge chair beside the fireplace, a book in her hands.

Valeria groaned, yanking the pillow off her face. "Could you maybe stop throwing pillows at me?" she mumbled, her voice heavy with sleep.

"Nope. It's too much fun." Katherine grinned mischievously. "Now get up. I'm starving and need breakfast."

Valeria rolled her eyes at her friend's impatience, chuckling despite herself as she sat up. "Give me a minute to get ready," she said, heading for the bathroom.

"You only get half a minute!" Katherine called after her, laughing.

Valeria shook her head, smiling as she closed the door behind her. She quickly brushed her teeth, washed her face, and combed her hair into a simple ponytail. Katherine had lent her a comfortable blue dress, which she slipped into before the two made their way to the dining room.

The sight of the food laid out before them made Valeria's stomach rumble. She realized she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast the day before. Without hesitation, she filled her plate and began eating with enthusiasm, savoring every bite. She was halfway through devouring her meal when Katherine's voice interrupted her.

"Did you hear anything about your family after you ran away from the castle?"

Valeria froze mid-bite. The question struck a raw nerve. She hadn't realized how deeply her family's lack of concern had hurt her until now. She had never expected anything from her half-brother, but she had clung to the hope that her father might care, even a little. Her mother's betrayal, however, cut the deepest. She had told Valeria to endure the forced marriage, to obey for the sake of their family.

"No. Nothing. They didn't even visit or ask after me," Valeria said bitterly, pushing her plate away. Her appetite had vanished.

"Wait, what do you mean they didn't visit?" Katherine asked, frowning in confusion.

Valeria glanced at her, equally confused. "I mean exactly what I said. They never visited me."

Katherine's brow furrowed as she processed the statement, her lips pursed in thought. "That's impossible," she finally said. "I know for a fact that Lady Isabell went to the castle every day to see you. She was told you refused to meet her."

Valeria's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? No one told me that. I never refused to see her!"

It hit her like a punch to the gut. The king. He must have kept her mother's visits a secret to further isolate her. All this time, she had believed her mother had abandoned her, sold her to the king without a second thought. But in truth, her mother had fought to see her. Warmth filled her chest at the revelation, and a small glimmer of hope took root. Someone still cared for her.

"Do you know where she is now? Is she in Elsass?" Valeria asked, her voice trembling with emotion. Her homeland, Elsass, wasn't far from Lohra. If her mother was there, perhaps she could find a way to meet her. A flicker of hope stirred within her chest.

Katherine's expression grew somber. "Oh, Valeria... you really didn't hear anything while you were locked up in that castle, did you?"

Her hope was crushed quickly. A sinking feeling settled in Valeria's stomach. "No. Why? What happened?"

Katherine hesitated, as if weighing her words. "A better question might be, what hasn't happened? Your father mysteriously fell ill—everyone suspects poison—and now Maximilian is controlling Elsass in his name. He's even banned Lady Isabell from the estate. The last I heard, your mother was living near the king's palace, hoping to catch a glimpse of you."

Valeria stared at her friend, her mind reeling. Maximilian. Her half-brother was behind this. It was his scheming that had forced her into this marriage with the king, and now he had taken over her family's estate, likely poisoning their father to seize control. And as if that wasn't enough, he had banished her mother. Fury bubbled within her, white-hot and unrelenting.

"That bastard. I should've killed him when we were children," Valeria muttered darkly, her fists clenching on the table. She would have to take care of him soon. "Anything else I should know?"

Katherine shook her head. "That's all for now. But, Valeria..." She hesitated. "What do you plan to do now that you've escaped the king?"

Valeria frowned. "What do you mean? I thought I'd stay here until the king gives up searching for me."

Katherine bit her lip, her face troubled. Before she could respond, a deep voice from behind Valeria cut through the air.

"You can't stay here."

Valeria whipped around to see Lord Lorenz Lohra standing in the doorway. She had known Katherine's father her entire life. He was a stark contrast to her own father—stern but fair, a man of integrity and principle who was one of the king's fiercest political rivals.

"What?" Valeria stammered, turning back to Katherine. "Why? I have nowhere else to go!"

Lord Lohra stepped into the room, his expression firm but tinged with regret. He pulled out the chair opposite Valeria and sat down, resting his hands on the table. Despite his graying hair and the lines of age etched onto his face, Lord Lohra maintained a commanding presence. His broad shoulders and fit physique hinted at a man who valued discipline and strength, and there was still a rugged handsomeness about him that spoke of his younger days.

"Valeria, I am truly sorry," he began, his voice calm and measured. "But I have to think of my family and my land. The king is desperate for an excuse to take away my power, and harboring you would give him exactly what he needs."

Valeria stood, desperation etched into her features. "Please! I can't go anywhere else. I can't let him find me."

Lord Lohra met her gaze, his expression softening slightly, though his resolve remained steadfast. "I understand, truly. But you are smart enough to see the truth in my words. You can't stay here, not without endangering everyone."

Her chest tightened. She hated that he was right. But the thought of going back out into the world, of living in constant fear, was unbearable. Where could she go? Who could she trust?