Chapter 26
A figure dressed in plain white stepped out of the Moonview Manor and quietly turned into a garden path.
Deborah didn’t catch a clear look at his face, but that white robe–it was Simon’s favorite color.
And the air around him… so still, so calm, it seemed to soothe everything nearby. That presence, so distinct and serene–it had to be Simon.
But he hadn’t left the residence at all. Deborah thought, ‘Then why has Damian said he was away on official business?‘
“Simon!” Deborah called out, hurrying after him.
He was a fair distance ahead. Just as he turned a corner past an archway, he disappeared from view.
Deborah picked up her pace. As she crossed through the arch, she spotted that white figure again–just slipping through another archway up ahead.
“Simon!”
But he didn’t seem to hear her. Never looked back.
She kept chasing–through two more archways, past an ornamental rock garden and a stream.
At the far end of the rear courtyard stood a compound she had never seen before. Simon entered and vanished within seconds.
From a distance, the name plaque on the building flickered in and out of sight–Skyrift Hall.
Even without stepping closer, Deborah could feel the pressure radiating from it–heavy, suffocating. The guards posted there were far more vigilant than anywhere else in the estate.
As she moved closer, two guards suddenly sprang out from the shadows and blocked her way. “This is a restricted area. Without the Prince Damian’s token, no one is allowed near.”
Deborah thought, ‘So there are parts of the Damian’s estate that even I can’t access?‘
“I’m Princess Deborah. I just-
“Deborah, what are you doing here?” a low, calm voice interrupted from behind.
Startled, Deborah turned–and froze.
“Mother?”
It was none other than Emily Fletcher, the mother of both Damian and Simon.
But Deborah thought, ‘Hasn’t she left for Mount Grimstone to offer prayers the night of our wedding, right after coffee?‘ That was why, during her recent visit to the palace, Deborah hadn’t gone to pay her respects.
Deborah wondered, ‘Why is she still at the Damian’s estate? If both Emily and Simon are here, why pretend they aren’t? What else is this place hiding?‘
“Mother,” Deborah said, stepping forward to bow.
The old maid beside Emily, Luann Kline, smiled warmly. “Princess Deborah, what brings you here?”
“I just…” Deborah glanced toward Skyrift Hall in the distance. “I thought I saw Simon…”
“You must’ve imagined it,” Luann interrupted gently, still smiling. “Prince Simon left the city a few days ago. There’s no way he could be here.”
“But-”
Π
“Skyrift Hall is off–limits,” Emily said coolly. “Deborah, don’t go poking around where you shouldn’t.”
She wasn’t one to waste words. With a wave of her hand, two more guards stepped forward and positioned themselves in front of Deborah.
“Escort Princess Deborah back to her quarters,” Emily said evenly.
“Yes, Your Grace.” The guards stepped closer. Their posture made it clear–they wouldn’t let her take another step toward Skyrift Hall.
Deborah lowered her eyes, pushing down the emotions rising within her. Her voice was soft. “Yes, Mother. I’ll return now.”
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Chapter 26
That day, Deborah stayed in her room and didn’t set foot outside.
But come midnight, a slim shadow leapt silently out her window.
15
Light on her feet, she skimmed across rooftops, gliding over courtyards like a whisper on the wind. Soon, she reached the high walls surrounding Skyrift Hall. The figure she’d seen carlier–it had to be Simon.
Since their wedding night, she hadn’t seen her husband once. He was clearly still in the residence, yet refused to see her.
She wondered, ‘What bride can accept that? What secrets are hidden in this place? What are Simon, Emily, and even Damian keeping from me?‘
Tonight, she had to find out.
Taking a deep breath, she waited for a gap in the guards‘ patrol. Then, with a graceful leap, Deborah landed silently atop the wall of Skyrift Hall.
