The frozen heart

Chapter 16: Fate Sealed by Compassion

Chapter 16: Fate Sealed by Compassion

The kitchen was alive with its usual bustle as Anne and Maris worked side by side. The nobleman was due to return today, and although the castle had felt strangely empty in his absence, there was a growing tension in the air. The preparations had been more subdued than usual, but still, the pressure of his arrival weighed on everyone's shoulders. Anne kneaded dough while Maris chopped vegetables, the rhythmic thud of her knife the only sound for a moment.

"He'll be here any minute," Maris muttered, glancing over at Anne. "Feels like the quiet's about to end."

Anne gave her a small smile, though her thoughts were elsewhere. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen. Something bad. Ever since the nobleman had left, she'd been sneaking Kaiden into the kitchen at night, feeding him, trying to connect with him. It felt like the right thing to do—kindness to a boy who had been cast out by everyone. But now, with the nobleman's return, that act of mercy felt dangerous.

A boy appeared at the door, panting as if he'd run across the entire castle.

"Everyone," he wheezed, clutching at the doorway, "the nobleman wants everyone outside. He's... he's going to make an announcement."

Maris exchanged a glance with Anne, wiping her hands on her apron. "What's this about?"

Anne shrugged, a knot of unease twisting in her stomach. "I guess we'll find out."

They followed the boy out of the kitchen, leaving their half-finished work behind. The castle felt colder as they walked toward the courtyard, the walls looming higher than usual as if they were closing in. Outside, the other maids and servants had already begun to gather, huddling together in small groups. The nobleman, tall and imposing despite his age, stood at the center, his piercing eyes scanning the crowd as he waited for everyone to assemble.

He looked every bit the part of a man in his fifties who had lived a life of authority. His graying hair was slicked back, his face sharp and angular. His clothing was immaculate, a cloak of rich burgundy fabric draped over his broad shoulders, giving him an almost regal air. The nobleman was not the type of person to speak unless he had something important to say, and the tension was palpable as he waited for the last few stragglers to arrive.

Anne and Maris joined the group, standing toward the back. Anne's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to remain calm. She glanced at Maris, who looked curious but not particularly worried. She envied Maris's ability to remain so at ease. Anne, on the other hand, couldn't shake the feeling that she was about to be thrown into something far worse than a mere announcement.

Once the crowd had settled into a respectful silence, the nobleman began to speak, his voice low and commanding, yet carrying easily across the courtyard.

"While I was away," he said, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd, "I heard a story. A story that disturbed me greatly."

Anne's heart leapt into her throat, and her stomach twisted with anxiety. She didn't dare look up, but she could feel the weight of his gaze moving over them all, pausing here and there as if seeking out the guilty.

"This story," the nobleman continued, his voice growing colder, "involved the cursed boy."

A murmur went through the gathered servants, and Anne could feel her pulse racing in her ears. She didn't move. Didn't breathe. She hoped that, somehow, she could blend into the background and remain unnoticed.

"I gave strict orders," the nobleman said, his voice dark with anger, "that the boy was to be ignored. He lives here because I allow him to live here. Not out of kindness, but out of my generosity."