The frozen heart

Chapter 17: Promises Through Time

Chapter 17: Promises Through Time

The three years that passed felt like an eternity for Anne. The castle had remained the same—cold, rigid, and indifferent. The days blended into each other, filled with the monotonous routine of kitchen work, the same arrogant nobleman looming over them, and the maids whispering among themselves. But for Anne, the world had changed the moment Kaiden had been taken from her.

Every day, she thought of him. She wondered where he was, if he was safe, and if he still remembered her. Her mind often drifted back to their promise—the words they had exchanged in the dark basement, when she had begged him to stay alive, to come back to her whole. But in Kaiden's absence, the castle felt emptier. Even though the other maids still gossiped about "that cursed boy," some whispering that he must be dead by now, Anne refused to believe it. She clung to the hope that he would return, that he would keep his promise.

But hope was a fragile thing, especially when surrounded by doubt.

In the quiet moments of the kitchen, when Anne's hands worked mindlessly over the dough, her thoughts wandered back over the last three years, trying to piece together the passing of time.

She remembered the day Maris had left. After all they had endured together, Maris had found a new life outside the cold stone walls of the castle. She had met a kind and gentle man from the town—a shopkeeper who adored her. They had married in a small ceremony, and Maris had moved into a cozy house with him, leaving Anne behind in the castle. Anne had felt a sharp pang of loneliness when Maris left, though her friend had promised to visit often or invited her to come stay whenever she could get a break. But those visits were few and far between, and over time, the distance had grown.

Without Maris, the days had grown even more solitary. The other maids were polite but distant, caught up in their own gossip and routines. No one truly understood the weight that Anne carried or the waiting game she was playing, counting down the days until Kaiden's return.

Then there was Thomas. The young cook had taken a particular interest in her, though Anne wished he hadn't. He was always nearby, always with a sly smile or a comment laced with flirtation. No matter how much she ignored him or brushed him off, he persisted. There was a brashness about him that made Anne uncomfortable, but she tried to remain polite, hoping he'd lose interest over time. But instead, he only seemed to become more persistent, following her around the kitchen and trying to catch her alone whenever he could.

His advances were harmless, but Anne could never bring herself to entertain them. Her heart belonged to someone else—someone who had been ripped away from her and whose absence she felt every single day.

Each night she lay awake, thinking of Kaiden, wondering where he was, if he was still safe, and if he had changed as much as she feared. She had promised herself she would wait for him, and that promise kept her going, even through the endless cycle of monotonous days, the loneliness, and Thomas's unwelcome attention.

One rainy afternoon, as Anne was kneading dough in the kitchen, she tried to push the thoughts away. The pattering of the rain outside and the dull chatter of the other maids were almost comforting in their familiarity. She focused on the task at hand, the warm bread rising in the ovens, the heat from the hearth warming the chilly air.

Suddenly, the heavy clatter of boots echoed through the stone hallways, and Anne looked up.

A young man stood in the doorway, tall and imposing, his presence immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the room. He was soaking wet, the rain dripping from his long white hair, which was tied back to reveal his striking icy blue eyes—eyes that haunted her dreams for the past three years.