The Hidden Princess

Chapter Twenty-two

"To her, it looked as if the sky itself was burning."

Night turned into day, and then day again faded into night. Time seemed to blur as Liora sat stiffly before her parents, the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold heavy on her shoulders. Gareth sat beside her, his expression tense, his eyes avoiding her gaze. She knew he dreaded this moment as much as she did, but for different reasons. While Liora had the searing reminder of her failure-her side still burned with each shallow breath-Gareth's worry stemmed from a different kind of pain: guilt.
Rowen was nowhere to be seen, sent away as soon as their parents arrived for the family meeting Gareth had arranged. Liora couldn't help but feel his absence keenly. He was her protector, her guard, and in many ways, her friend. His presence had always made her feel safe, but not now. Now, she was alone in front of their parents, facing their wrath without the comfort of his quiet support.
The grand room was cold and quiet, the fire in the hearth barely crackling, casting long shadows across the stone walls. Soraya, their youngest sister, was in her chambers, mercifully kept from this conversation. She was too young to understand, and Liora was grateful for that small mercy. Soraya didn't need to know about the burdens that weighed down the kingdom-or the mistakes her older sister had made.
King Eldrin sat at the head of the table, his posture as rigid as ever, back straight, shoulders square. He had always commanded respect, even in silence. His dark hair, streaked with silver, was tied back neatly, his eyes sharp and unreadable as they studied his eldest children. Beside him, Queen Elara mirrored his stance, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Though she remained silent, Liora could feel the weight of her mother's disapproval hanging in the air like a storm cloud, ready to burst at any moment.
"Gareth," Eldrin's voice broke the silence, calm but firm, "you are the one who called us here. What is it you wish to discuss with us?"
Liora flinched at the formal tone, her father's deep voice carrying an undercurrent of expectation. Gareth sat up straighter, his jaw clenched, but his face was pale. She could feel the tension radiating off of him. He had called the meeting, but now, faced with their parents' gaze, he seemed to falter.
"Mother, Father," Gareth began, his voice tight, the words catching in his throat. He cleared it and tried again, but it was clear he was struggling. "Liora-I-we've been-"
Liora didn't need to hear more. She could see how much Gareth feared what was to come. He had more to lose than she did. His role in the kingdom was one of leadership, and if their parents believed he had been distracted by her, they might strip him of his involvement in the war plans. She couldn't let that happen.
So, before Gareth could stumble through another half-finished sentence, Liora spoke up, her voice quiet but steady, despite the pain in her side. "I've been practicing my magic," she confessed, meeting her father's eyes head-on. "Gareth and Rowen helped. I haven't been going to bed early. I've been sneaking out... going to the old training grounds."
The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Liora could feel Gareth's sharp intake of breath beside her, but she kept her gaze forward, refusing to shrink under the weight of her confession. If anyone was to blame, it was her. She had pushed them both into helping her, despite the warnings, despite knowing the risks.
For a long moment, there was nothing but silence. Eldrin's face remained stoic, unreadable, but the flicker of something darker passed through his eyes-something Liora couldn't quite name. Elara, on the other hand, let out a soft, disbelieving gasp, her hands tightening in her lap.
"You've been practicing magic?" Elara's voice was soft, but the edge of disappointment was clear. Her eyes flicked from Liora to Gareth and back again. "Without our knowledge?"
"Yes," Liora admitted, her chest tightening. "I wanted to learn more... to control it. But things didn't go as planned." She hesitated, glancing at Gareth before continuing. "I lost control."
"You lost control," Eldrin repeated slowly, his voice growing colder, each word dripping with the weight of his disapproval. "Liora, do you understand what could have happened? How reckless that was?"
Liora's throat tightened, but she nodded. She understood. She had nearly died because of it. But she couldn't tell them that-not now.
Gareth finally spoke, his voice breaking through the tension. "It wasn't just her," he said, his tone filled with guilt. "I should have stopped her, Father. I should have made her wait, but I didn't. I let her go too far."
Eldrin's gaze snapped to Gareth, his jaw clenched. "You are her brother, Gareth. You were supposed to protect her, not encourage her recklessness."
Gareth bowed his head, clearly ashamed, but before Eldrin could continue, Liora interrupted. "It wasn't his fault," she said quickly. "I pushed him into helping me. He warned me, but I didn't listen."
Elara's expression softened slightly, but it was clear she was far from forgiving. "And Rowen?" she asked, her voice quieter now. "Did he play a part in this?"
Liora hesitated. She didn't want Rowen to face their wrath as well, but she couldn't lie. "He helped," she admitted. "But only because I ordered him to. He was just doing his duty."
Eldrin leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping the armrest as he considered her words. The silence stretched on, each second feeling like an eternity. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and commanding. "This ends now. No more unsanctioned magic. No more training grounds. You will both focus on the tasks we assign you, nothing more."
Liora felt her heart drop at his words. No more training. No more magic. How could she stop now, when she was so close to mastering it? But the look on her father's face told her there was no arguing. Not this time.
"Yes, Father," she said softly, her voice heavy with resignation.
Gareth nodded as well, his eyes still downcast. "Yes, Father."
The weight of their agreement settled over the room like a suffocating blanket, leaving no room for hope. The meeting was over, and with it, Liora's dream of mastering her powers-at least for now.
The two siblings left the room, the tension between them thick enough to be palpable. Neither Gareth nor Liora spoke as they made their way down the long corridors of the castle. Gareth's face was set in a hard, unreadable expression, his anger simmering just below the surface, while Liora's mind raced with fear and uncertainty. She had known this meeting with their parents would not end well, but the finality of her father's words weighed heavily on her, making her chest feel tight.
They passed by several large windows, the cool evening breeze drifting in through the cracks. Liora's gaze flicked toward the view outside, the setting sun casting a golden-red hue over the horizon. It was almost beautiful-almost. To her, it looked as if the sky itself was burning, flames licking the edges of the earth as if it was preparing to consume everything in its path. The sight sent a shiver through her, reminding her of the power that she'd so recklessly lost control of.
The silence between them grew heavier with each step, the only sound the soft echo of their footsteps on the stone floor. Liora wanted to say something, anything to break the tension, but the words stuck in her throat. What could she even say to make this better? Gareth had been right-she had been reckless. But she couldn't stop the nagging feeling that giving up now was the worst thing she could do. She needed to control her magic. She needed to be ready. The kingdom was at risk, and her powers were the only way she could help. How could her parents not see that?
Gareth, on the other hand, was fuming, though he hid it well. His hands were clenched at his sides as he walked, and his jaw was set tight. He wasn't just angry at Liora, though. He was angry at himself. He should have stopped her before things got out of hand. But now, everything was spiraling out of control-her powers, the war rumors, their parents' looming disappointment. It was all too much.
They reached the staircase, and Gareth paused for a moment, glancing down at her with a mix of frustration and worry. "I can't protect you if you keep doing this," he said quietly. "You need to stop before it's too late."
Liora looked up at him, meeting his gaze for the first time since they left their parents' chambers. "And what if I don't?" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "What if not using my powers is what puts us all in danger?"
Gareth didn't answer right away, his expression torn between the brother who wanted to shield her from harm and the strategist who knew the risks. After a long pause, he simply sighed and turned away, heading down the staircase without another word.
Liora watched him go, her heart heavy with fear, guilt, and defiance. She knew she couldn't just give up. Not yet. But for now, she would have to bide her time and figure out how to train in secret-without getting caught again. As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, casting the world in darkness, Liora made a silent vow to herself: she wouldn't let this be the end of her magic. Not when the kingdom needed her most.