Page 92 of A Kingdom's Heart
I stood with her, brushing the wrinkles from my dress. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
She nodded faintly. “I will. I just need some rest.”
I stayed beside her until she lay down, curling beneath her blanket. Her breathing steadied slowly, the tension easing from her face. I watched her for a while longer, waiting until her eyes finally closed. Only then did I move.
Quietly, I slipped out of the room and pulled the door closed behind me. The corridor outside was dim, lit only by a few torches along the walls. My footsteps echoed softly as I made my way
through the long halls toward my chamber.
When I reached the door, I froze. Lorenzo was there, standing beside it, his arms crossed casually.
“Took you long,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“You waited,” I replied.
He smiled, unbothered. “I’d wait as long as one could.”
I nodded faintly, unsure how to respond. He stepped forward and opened the door for me.
“After you,” he said.
I stepped inside, the soft light of the chamber washing over the silver walls and pale curtains. The scent of roses drifted faintly from the balcony. William stood there, his helm tucked beneath his arm, watching us with that same unreadable expression. His gaze was steady, cold, and far too heavy to ignore. I hated how much it still affected me.
Lorenzo followed close behind, his steps quiet. “I’ll stay for a bit,” he said lightly. “It feels wrong to leave so soon.”
I hesitated but gave a small nod. “If you wish.”
He smiled, moving closer. His hand found mine, his touch warm and certain. “You look tired,” he said softly.
“I suppose I am,” I murmured.
He lifted my hands between his, brushing his thumb over my knuckles before leaning in and pressing a kiss to them. My breath caught. His lips were gentle, lingering just long enough to make
my heart stutter.
When he looked up again, his green eyes met mine, soft and searching. “You really are beautiful,” he said, his voice quiet.
I tried to smile, though it felt strained. “Thank you, my lord.”
“Lorenzo,” he corrected with a faint grin. “I already said it’s Lorenzo. No titles between us, not when we’ll soon be wed.”
I nodded, forcing a faint smile again. “Of course.”
He stepped closer, closing the space between us until I could feel the warmth of him against my skin. His voice dropped lower, calm and certain. “Rest well, dear,” he said, his breath brushing my cheek. “I’ll need you looking radiant tomorrow.”
Every part of me wanted to pull away, to step back, to breathe again. But I didn’t. I only nodded, my voice thin and quiet. “I will.”
Lorenzo smiled, pleased, and finally released me. He turned toward the door, the faint sound of his boots echoing on the polished floor. Before leaving, he looked back once more, his
gaze soft but expectant. “Goodnight, Iris.”
“Goodnight,” I whispered.
When the door closed behind him, silence filled the room again. It felt heavy, sharp, alive.
William was still standing by the balcony. The faint lantern light touched the edge of his armor, glinting off the metal and tracing the lines of his face. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders squared,every inch of him tense. His eyes were hard, steady, and burning with something I didn’t want to name.
He looked the same as he had all day. Cold. Controlled. Angry.
