LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 9: Chapter 9
For the next several nights, the king still didn't appear, but Valeria remained tense, unable to shake the fear that he could storm through the door at any moment. Each night, she sat on her bed, staring at the door, waiting, dread curling tightly in her stomach. During the day, exhaustion overwhelmed her; she slept most of the time, her body drained from nights of anxious vigil. Yet, she didn't dare ask anyone where the king was, afraid that speaking of him would somehow break her fragile luck and summon him to her chambers.
But after six days, the weight of the unknown became too much to bear. She couldn't live with the constant fear that each night could be the one where her reprieve ended. This night was the worst. She started at the door as always, her body tensed like a bowstring, flinching at every tiny sound. Each creak of the floorboards or distant echo in the hallway made her heart race, her mind conjuring images of the king's dark silhouette filling the doorway.
During the few hours of sleep she managed during the day, nightmares haunted her, relentless and vivid. In her dreams, she relived the terrifying moments from that night—the king's kiss, his weight pressing her down, the helplessness that had gripped her as he threw her onto the bed. Each time she awoke, drenched in sweat, she shivered, grateful for the stroke of luck that had spared her when he'd been called away. But even the memory of that luck did little to soothe her nerves as each new night approached.
So, when Gloria came in to bring her lunch, Valeria finally mustered the courage to speak up before the maid could leave.
"Gloria, could you wait a moment?" Her voice came out softer than she intended, almost timid.
Gloria paused, turning back to Valeria after setting the lunch tray on the table. They hadn't spoken much since that day a week ago, exchanging only the necessary words.
"Yes, my lady?" Gloria replied, bowing respectfully.
Valeria's heart pounded as she forced herself to voice her question. "I… I have a question. Could I… know why the king isn't… visiting me at night?"
She hated how her voice trembled, how her words stumbled out unsteadily, betraying the fear that clawed at her heart. She despised showing such weakness.
Gloria seemed to understand the reason behind her inquiry. Her gaze softened, and after a moment's hesitation, she answered gently, "I'm not allowed to give out that kind of information, my lady, and I know very little myself." She paused, glancing towards the door before continuing in a low voice, as if risking more than just disobedience. "But… some issues have arisen, and the king left the palace the morning after your wedding night. He hasn't returned since then."
Valeria blinked, absorbing this unexpected news. "So… he's been away this entire time?"
"Yes, my lady. I don't know what kind of issues he's dealing with or when he will return. This is all I can share, and I hope I won't regret this moment of kindness."
Without waiting for Valeria's response, Gloria turned to leave, a touch of apprehension on her face. But before she could reach the door, Valeria's voice stopped her again.
"I… appreciate your help very much, Gloria. I promise I won't tell anyone you shared this with me." Valeria hesitated, then added softly, "And… thank you. For what you said to me a few days ago. It… it truly helped."
Valeria wanted to express her gratitude in some meaningful way, to show Gloria that her kindness had not gone unnoticed. She suddenly remembered the jewelry she still had from when she was first locked in this room. She quickly went to the upper drawer of her desk, opened it, and pulled out a pair of earrings—delicate pieces that she once might have cherished, but which now felt like remnants of a life that was no longer hers. Returning to Gloria, she pressed the earrings into the maid's hands.
"I know it isn't much," she said, "but I think you could get some money for them. Please, take them. You're the only one who has shown me any kindness in this place. I want to give something back."
Gloria's eyes widened, and she shook her head fervently. "I can't, my lady—"
"Please," Valeria interrupted, her voice earnest. "Take them. You deserve it."
A warm, grateful smile crossed Gloria's face as she nodded, bowing deeply to show her appreciation. "Thank you, my lady," she murmured before excusing herself.
Once the door closed behind her, Valeria let herself collapse onto the bed, exhaling a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. For the first time since she'd been forced to marry the king, she felt a small sense of relief. Today, she had learned that the king wouldn't be bothering her anytime soon, and she had managed to help someone else in a small but meaningful way. A genuine smile touched her lips—a rare glimmer of light in what had felt like endless darkness.
She took her lunch and moved over to the window, savoring the view as she ate. The world outside was as beautiful as ever, bathed in the golden glow of autumn. The sight filled her with a renewed sense of hope, faint yet unwavering. It somehow helped her to ground herself. Perhaps this window was the only gift the king had given her—the one thing that kept her from feeling truly trapped. If she'd been locked away in a dark, windowless room, she was sure she would have already lost her mind. But with the open view before her, she could still see a world beyond these walls, a reminder that life continued outside her prison.
As the warm autumn breeze fluttered through the trees and the distant calls of birds reached her, she allowed herself to believe, for the first time in a long while, that there might still be a chance for her. She wouldn't forget this view, wouldn't let herself drown in despair. So long as she could see the world outside, she knew she could hold onto hope, however fragile it might be.