ELARIS- A Girl Shaped By Tragedy

11 | I Chose Myself

-Elaris-

As I turned away from the dark confines of the cell, the thick silence shattered. Stefan was there, his presence casting a shadow that felt more judgmental than protective. His eyes burned, the fury in them fierce but tightly controlled. I straightened, preparing myself for the storm about to be unleashed.

"Elaris," he said, his voice low and seething. "What... have... you done?"

I met his gaze, defiance rising. "Sir, I-"

"Don't 'sir' me right now!" he snapped, stepping closer until his face was cast in harsh shadow. "Do you realize what you've risked? Your safety, his life... the king's wrath, for heaven's sake! The king won't just punish; he'll destroy anyone who defies him."

I held my ground, my heart pounding but my face unreadable. "What would you have me do? Leave him to rot? He saved my life once-"

"Saved you? He's the king's enemy!" His voice was a cold blade, cutting down any notion of sentiment. "The king won't see this as honor; he'll see it as betrayal. And you, Elaris, have just put yourself squarely in his sights."

Stefan's eyes narrowed, his anger dimming into something more complex, something strained. "And your ambitions? Do you think you can afford these impulsive rescues without suffering the consequences? The king doesn't show mercy. I cannot protect you from his wrath."

"You don't need to protect me..." My voice held, proud and unyielding. "I chose this, knowing full well the risk. I don't need anyone's permission."

His expression faltered, a fleeting vulnerability barely hidden beneath the fury. "You think you're invincible? That you're immune to consequences?" He paused, breathing heavily, as though struggling to contain the frustration within him. "You don't understand what he's capable of."

"Perhaps not," I replied, my voice steady but my resolve flaring. "But I won't stand by while someone suffers for politics. I'm not made to cower, Sir."

"And what happens if you're the one who suffers? You think I can just stand by and watch you walk into danger because of a choice you made on a whim?"

He sighed, "The damage is done. The king will be furious. But... if there's a way to prevent you from being punished, I'll find it. But you have to trust me."

"I trust you," I said honestly though that can be a lie.

"Good."

He stepped even closer, his gaze intense, capturing mine. "Then listen to me, Elaris. The king won't be as forgiving as I am. If you want to survive this, we need a plan. And you must promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"Promise me," he said, each word deliberate, "that you'll stop taking matters into your own hands. No more defiance, no more lone rescues. If you're serious about surviving this... you'll have to follow my lead."

To promise him this felt like a surrender of the control I held dear, a submission I wasn't prepared to give. But Stefan's expression, though taut with frustration, didn't move me. He wanted me to follow, to be shielded by him, to trust his judgment above my own. I almost resented it, this demand he held over me like a command...

"Promise me, Elaris," he repeated, softer but no less determined. "The king will come after you, and it won't just be your life at stake. Do you understand?"

I met his gaze, the weight of his plea pressing against my own stubbornness. His eyes held a turmoil he didn't dare show-a worry buried under fierce words, a loyalty that would drag him through fire if it meant shielding me from harm.

"...I promise," I murmured, letting the words slip out like an empty concession, a token offered to ease his mind. In reality, it felt like nothing at all... a hollow surrender. But if it placated him, if it gave him one less thing to worry over, then that was enough for now.

"Good. Then we're in this together-no more solo acts. We'll figure a way through this mess." He began leading me outside, his expression resolute.

A flicker of realization washed over me, making it clear why his concern felt so intense. Why would anyone care for me? No one ever had... A small smirk crept onto my lips as I watched him. He resembled a lone lion, now transformed into a protective cat, tending to its cub.

When he caught me staring, I didn't look away. I held his gaze, curiosity bubbling beneath the surface. "What are you looking at?" I asked, my voice teasing yet laced with genuine intrigue.

He raised an eyebrow, it was me who was staring, he made a stern expression again. "Just trying to figure out what's going on in that unpredictable mind of yours, But if you're smiling now, it better not be because you think this is some kind of game." My smile dropped.

As Stefan led me through the dimly lit corridors, I noticed how similar is the architect of this castle and the castle i once used to call my home.

But those memories quickly faded, overshadowed by the weight of what I had become.

a cruel reminder of the carefree girl I had once been, lost beneath layers of pain and pride. I struggled to grasp the fleeting fragments, the laughter mingling with the pain of betrayal and longing. I pity myself cause no one else. A bitter smirk tugged at my lips. They all see a girl with ambition and strength, but they don't see the cracks beneath the surface. It's only me against the world. I can't rely on anyone else, and I won't.

As I caught a glimpse of Stefan's determined expression, a flicker of guilt threatened to seep in. But why should I care? No one has ever mattered more than me. The world revolves around my pain, my struggles. I shook my head, dismissing the thought as I clung to my fragile facade, reminding myself that vulnerability was a luxury I could not afford.