Page 28 of Of Snow and Sapphire

Ludelle’s heart shattered as Zimyn stepped out the door.

Zimyn thanked the Weather Gods that the halls were empty, save for a few guards standing watch, who were easy enough to avoid since he knew exactly where they were stationed. Growing up, he had loved the night shift. The quiet nights allowed him time to think without the worry of guests getting lost or the pressure of having to appear perfect at all times. He could relax his shoulders, a simple luxury. On lucky nights, Ludelle would visit him. She would sit on the opposite side of the wall with books or correspondences to read up on, or she would try to find ways to distract him, many times that consisted of throwing small icicles at his legs. But how could she never realize that just her presence would always be a distraction?

Now, he felt disassociated from himself, his body and mind two separate beings as if he had too much to drink.

He reprimanded himself for being so damn weak. They had been so close to her Undertaking. He knew having her completely would have made it harder for him to go, and it did. Stepping off the mattress had been like ripping off a limb.

He didn’t even know where he was headed. Perhaps he should shake off some of the anger before he tried interacting with anyone. Or he could go to his father and throw another ice figurine at the wall.

Rolling his neck, he decided on the training rings. He wouldn’t disrupt his father’s peace again.

He walked down and far, on the opposite side of the castle. It was a quieter area, since guests hardly went there. As he did, he noticed a trail of red.

He turned the corner and bumped straight into someone. Disoriented, Zimyn grabbed the person’s shoulders to steady them. Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, a shooting pain exploded on his thigh. He fell to his knees as it spread across his whole leg, no longer able to carry the weight of his body anymore.

He saw black right as Balvan’s face loomed out of the shadows.

“I knew you would always make things harder for me.” It was the last thing Zimyn heard before his head hit the ground.

When Zimyn came to, his head throbbed unbearingly. He had no clue where he was, only that it was dark and that his body ached from having been lying on a hard surface. His hands were tied, and he didn’t bother struggling. He relented himself to this.

Memories of the past few hours flashed behind his eyes. His solitude, Ludelle and him in bed together, his frustrations with himself.

“Good, you’re awake.” Balvan said as he walked in, the light from the hallway spilling through before the door shut again. Balvan held a lantern that barely illuminated anything, but Zimyn could just make out the outline of a desk and a bookshelf.

His study, then. Zimyn had never been inside it before, having been told it was strictly forbidden. His father had been very stern about that fact, so even as a child, Zimyn took no chances.

“We only have a short time.”

Zimyn knew that Balvan purposefully piqued his curiosity, and he despised that he so easily gave in. “Short time until what?”

“Glad you asked,” he responded cheerily. “The Undertaking. You and I will be participating.”

“I don’t understand.” How could they be participating? Only Ludelle and her future betrothed were supposed to be involved.

“Ludelle’s Undertaking is a unique one.” Balvan sat at his desk, resting his crossed heels on it. The dim light only allowed Zimyn to see the one side of his face clearly. “She has always been conflicted between the responsibility of her Court and her affection towards you.”

“So what, she’s going to be forced to pick between me and a noble?”

“Not anymore,” he said exasperated.

That was when Zimyn noticed the unmoving body. Lord Cirrus lay there, his neck at an awkward angle and red bloomed against his chest.

“What—”

“Lord Cirrus wanted you dead, especially when he heard that Ludelle was in your room. I stopped him.”

Zimyn shook his head confused. “Why? Why did you stop him?” Zimyn thought Balvan would be overjoyed if the advisor found the Queen’s Captain dead.

“Because a Queen in mourning would not be productive to this court.” Balvan didn’t let Zimyn get another word in. “The dream about the Undertaking came to Sveta a few months ago. She would have been forced to pick between you and Cirrus, until he tried ruining that.” Balavan nodded his head towards the dead body. “Sveta had a new dream last night. Ludelle will be picking between you and me.”

“Is that why you hated him? Why you pushed Ludelle away from him?”

“I pushed him away because I wanted his place.”

Zimyn scoffed. Of course he would want to be by Ludelle’s side. “Even if she picks you, you would only be her consort. You would have no actual power.”

“Maybe not at first, but ice is so fragile. Easily broken.”

---