The frozen heart

Chapter 15: Lines in the Sand

Chapter 15: Lines in the Sand

The morning air was crisp and cool as Anne entered the kitchen, her mind still clouded with thoughts of the previous night. The nobleman was still away, and Anne took full advantage of the relative freedom the castle's emptiness provided. The stolen moments with Kaiden were becoming a routine she both cherished and dreaded. She knew Maris would disapprove, and she had tried to keep her secret meetings hidden from her friend.

As Anne stirred the pot of simmering stew, she felt Maris's eyes on her. The kitchen was quieter than usual, with only a handful of maids bustling about, yet the air between them felt charged. Anne had noticed Maris acting distant for days now—since the moment Maris had caught her sneaking food for the cursed boy.

Finally, Maris broke the silence.

"You're still doing it, aren't you?" she said, her voice low but sharp enough to cut through the quiet.

Anne froze, her hand gripping the wooden spoon a little too tightly. She glanced over her shoulder at Maris, who stood with her arms crossed, frowning deeply.

"Doing what?" Anne asked, trying to keep her tone light, though she knew exactly what Maris meant.

"Talking to him. Feeding him. You're still seeing that cursed boy."

Anne sighed, setting the spoon down. There was no point in denying it. Maris already knew the truth.

"I am," Anne admitted, turning to face her friend. "But, Maris, he's not what everyone thinks he is. He's just—"

Maris cut her off with a sharp shake of her head. "He's dangerous, Anne. You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"I do know," Anne insisted, stepping closer. "I've been talking to him for weeks now. He's not some monster, Maris. He's just a boy who's been abandoned and mistreated."

Maris's frown deepened, and she bit her lip, clearly frustrated. "You don't get it, do you? It's not just about whether or not he's dangerous. People talk. Someone will notice, Anne. Someone will report it to the nobleman when he returns. And what then? You'll be punished."

Anne's heart sank at the reminder.

"I can handle it," Anne said, her voice firmer than she felt. "I'm careful."

Maris's eyes narrowed, and she took a step forward. "Careful? Is that what you call giving him a name?"

Anne blinked, momentarily thrown off. "What? How did you—?"

"I heard you," Maris said, her tone accusing. "I followed you the other night, Anne. I heard you calling him 'Kaiden.'" She spat the name like it was poison. "You gave him a name."

Anne opened her mouth to respond, but the words stuck in her throat. Maris's expression was a mixture of hurt and anger, and for the first time, Anne realized just how deeply her actions had affected her friend.

"Maris, I..." Anne started, but then forced a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Kaiden's a nice name, don't you think? Better than calling him 'the cursed boy' all the time."

But Maris didn't smile. She didn't laugh. Her expression remained stone-cold, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest.

"This isn't a joke, Anne," Maris said quietly. "You don't get to make light of this. You don't understand the danger you're putting yourself in. And for what? Because you feel sorry for him?"

Anne's smile faltered, and the weight of the conversation pressed down on her. She had hoped to brush past Maris's disapproval, to make her see the boy's humanity through humor or reason. But Maris wasn't having it.