Page 106 of Rise of a Fallen Man

I held on to these words of hope as Revlis quietly moved toward the path between the birch trees. I didn’t look back, no matter how much I wished to do it. It took all my focus simply to stay in the saddle.

One day, the pain of losing her might ease. One day, I might look up at the stars and not compare them to her freckles. One day, the peals of her laughter stop dancing through my memories.

Or maybe a miracle could happen, and one day, I might be able to say to her, “I love you.”

Ari

AS AN INEXPERIENCEDrider, Salas looked unsure in the saddle but steady enough for me not to worry about him making it across the river safely. As Revlis turned toward the forest, I headed back to Egami.

I didn’t look back. I’d watched him leave too many times already. Today, it was enough for me to know that he was safe. And he would stay safe. Until I’ll see him again. Because I would see him again.

As I walked back to the city along the deserted road, I knew with certainty that sooner or later, I would come searching for him, and I would find him, no matter how far life would take him from me. My love would help me find my way back to him. Knowing it helped me walk away from him now, instead of running after him.

A large group of riders on horseback exited the city. I recognized the palace uniforms they wore.

Were they after Salas?

If so, they were too late.

With a furtive glance over my shoulder, I made sure he’d made it to the secret path and was out of sight already. As the guards would head further down the road, searching for him, they would actually increase the distance between them and the man they were after.

Pulling the hood of my cloak over my head, I stepped to the side of the road to let them pass me. But as the riders approached, my gaze crossed with the woman who led them—Gem.

Her eyes narrowed, and I ducked my head down quickly. But it was too late. She knew me too well to be fooled by my cloak. And there was only one reason for me to be here at this hour.

“This way!” she screamed, steering the guards off the road.

Our path through the forest wasn’t a secret to Gem. She knew it better than I did.

“Gem!” I rushed off the road after the guards.

She slowed her horse, only to shake her head at me with her lips pursed in disappointment.

“Don’t, Gem. Please,” I begged. “Let him be.”

But she spurred her horse, catching up with the guards. Taking her place ahead of them, she led them right to the spot where the path began.

“Don’t!” I ran after them in vain.

Safety proved to be just an illusion, like happiness was only a dream.

Chapter 28

Ari

By knowingly fornicating with a fallen man, I disregarded our laws, betrayed our queendom, and disappointed my mother. Despite Leafar’s silence, the Grand Duchess of Olakrez found out about my gross transgression through other means.

I caused a scandal, which would forever stain my husband’s reputation if it became public. Because that was how the public opinion worked—I was the fornicator, but Leafar would be blamed for being a bad husband who failed to keep me at his side.

However, my only punishment was a stern conversation with my mother, who lectured me on making better choices in the future.

After ensuring that Rorrim would keep my affair a secret from the rest of the world, the grand duchess called Leafar “spoiled goods” and departed Rorrim without a delay, leaving him behind. As it turned out, my “disgrace” actually strengthened Rorrim’s relationship with Olakrez, since making my “dirty secret” known to the world was not in either country’s interests.

Leafar stayed in his rooms, refusing to see me. His valet informed me that my presence in his bedroom was no longer desired and that from then on, the prince would charge the Crown of Rorrim for any public appearances with me at the price negotiated through the royal council.

The games master announced that Falo retired from the gladiators and decided to spend the rest of his life in peace of the countryside in an undisclosed location. After the damage his sabotage had caused to the games from the very first act of Salas, Lerrel could’ve pursued a life of imprisonment or even the death penalty for Falo, but she chose to just banish him instead.

The scandal of the crown princess’s affair with a former man for hire was hushed up with minimal consequences for the crown before any rumors even got a chance to form.

---