[BL] Rules Of Desire: His Majesty's Secret-Chapter 37 - 35: Whispers Before Dawn

They heard a sound pass by swift and sharp like wind slicing through silk. A low rustle, almost like a whisper, echoed down the dim corridor.

Kaelith’s body stiffened.

"Hale," he whispered, eyes narrowing as he looked around the stone hallway, "did you hear that?"

Hale paused mid-step, glancing over his shoulder. "I did," he replied in a hushed voice. "It didn’t sound like footsteps. It’s more like something... brushing the walls."

A gust of air swept through the corridor, though there were no windows open. A distant clang, metal scraping against stone, sent a chill down Kaelith’s spine.

"It’s not even midnight," Kaelith muttered, glancing at the high window above. "But the night feels wrong."

"We should go," Hale said quickly, his voice low but firm.

They hurried to Kaelith’s chamber, boots echoing against the floor in rhythm with their racing hearts. Once inside, Hale helped Kaelith remove his armor piece by piece, his hands steady even as unease sat behind his eyes.

"There," Hale said as he placed the last piece aside. "You should rest now. I’ll head to the servant quarters."

Kaelith grabbed his wrist before he could turn away. "Didn’t we just hear a spirit or something roaming outside? And now you want to walk out alone?"

Hale chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension. Nothing is going to happen, Your Highness. I’ll get there in a blink.

Kaelith tightened his grip, eyes firm. Don’t test my temper, Hale. I’m not letting you go out there tonight.

I’ll be fine.

"No." Kaelith’s tone was final.

Suddenly, the window burst open, slamming against the wall with a loud BANG. The heavy curtains blew wildly, and a strange wailing sound, neither wind nor human, rippled through the room.

Hale, take a step forward.

Kaelith flinched. Do you still want to go out now?

Hale looked toward the window. "I was just going to close it," he said gently.

Kaelith’s arms wrapped around him tightly from behind. "Then I’m coming with you."

"No," Hale said quickly, covering Kaelith’s hands with his own. Stay here. I’ll shut it. I promise I won’t leave.

Kaelith nodded hesitantly.

Hale crossed the room, pulled the window shut, and latched it. Yet the wind still howled outside like voices lost in a void.

Shadows danced across the stone walls, the wind howled against the glass panes, and Kaelith barely slept, his arm tightly wrapped around Hale as if letting go would invite danger in. The eerie whisper they’d heard hours ago still lingered in the back of their minds. Even after the window was secured and the candles burned low, a strange chill had remained in the room.

But then...

Morning came.

Soft light spilled through the heavy curtains, painting pale gold across the bedchamber floor. All was quiet until a sudden, sharp scream pierced the air.

Kaelith’s eyes snapped open. He sat up instantly, heart pounding. Hale stirred beside him, blinking fast, already half-awake from Kaelith’s movement.

Another scream echoed, this time clearer. A woman’s voice, frantic, from outside the palace walls.

The scream pierced the air.

The commotion spread fast. Footsteps thundered down the corridor. Voices called out orders. Guards were shouting, rushing toward the direction of the scream. Hale and Kaelith both sprang from the bed.

Kaelith threw on his robe and opened the door, stopping one of the running guards.

"What happened?" he demanded.

The guard bowed slightly, face pale. Your Highness... six more bodies. Found just now. One of the maids went to fetch water and found a man dead outside the well. Then more were discovered near the southern watch post.

Kaelith’s heart sank. "No injuries?"

The guard shook his head. None, Your Highness. Just like the others. No wounds. No blood. It’s just lifeless.

Hale looked at Kaelith, eyes wide with fear. That’s fifteen people in two nights.

Without wasting a moment, Kaelith rushed to the King’s chambers. When he entered, King Aldric was already awake, surrounded by his advisors.

"Father," Kaelith said, not waiting for the ceremony. It’s happened again. Six more dead. There is no trace of poison or attack.

"We know,"King Aldric cut in, holding up a hand. The reports have reached me.

Kaelith stepped forward. This can not be natural. Last night, Hale and I heard sounds... whispers in the dark. The window shook violently with no wind. I know what I heard.

King Aldric’s brows drew together, but he said nothing for a moment. Then, finally, his voice rumbled. "Kael... You’re imagining things. You’re allowing whispers and fear to cloud your mind."

Kaelith stepped forward, refusing to back down. Father, I am not. You saw the bodies. No poison. No blade. No illness. If this is not sorcery... then what is it?

Aldric stood, walking to the window. Until I see proof of magic, not whispers. We treat this as an unknown illness or unseen enemy. I will not throw this kingdom into chaos based on fear alone.

"But people are dying."

Then we shall guard the night more heavily. But I will not plunge this kingdom into chaos by whispering words of curses and spirits. His voice was iron and final.

Kaelith clenched his fists. He could feel Hale’s quiet presence behind him, and he glanced back. Hale gave a subtle nod as if to say you’re not imagining this.

But the King had spoken. For now, Kaelith could only watch and wait.

Still... deep down, he knew.

This was not a sickness.

This was not fear.

Something else had entered Zarethrone.

The court had been dismissed. But Kaelith’s mind couldn’t rest.

He paced his chambers, fingers running through his dark strands of hair, a deep furrow between his brows. Hale sat quietly nearby, watching him with patient eyes.

"They won’t act," Kaelith muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Fifteen people have died in two nights, and still he refuses to see it for what it is."

"He’s the King," Hale said softly. He fears the ripple effect of panic more than anything else. If the people believe there’s a spirit, they’ll tear each other apart with fear.

Kaelith stopped and turned to him. Which is why I have to act. Quietly.

Hale stood. "What do you mean?"

Kaelith walked to a small drawer and pulled out a thin, leather-bound journal. "There’s someone I need to find. An old priestess. She used to serve in the southern part of the kingdom, near the border with Khasidar. She once told me about Veiled Spirits, entities that whisper in the dark, and steal life without leaving marks.

Hale’s expression turned serious. Do you think that’s what’s happening now?

"I don’t know," Kaelith admitted. But I can’t ignore what we heard last night. What we felt. That wasn’t imagination.

A knock came at the door.

Kaelith froze.

Hale moved closer to him instinctively.

"Your Highness," a guard called from outside. "General requests your presence. He says it’s urgent."

Kaelith and Hale exchanged a look.

"I’ll go," Kaelith said.

But before he stepped out, he turned to Hale, his voice low. "I need you to do something for me. Quietly. Go to the palace archives. There are old scrolls and ancient reports of unexplained deaths. Look for anything similar.

Hale nodded. "I’ll find what you need."

"And Hale..."

"Yes?"

Kaelith’s eyes lingered on him. "Be careful. Whatever this is... it’s watching us."

Hale gave a small smile. "Then I’ll move like a shadow."

With that, Kaelith pulled on his cloak and left for the war chamber, where General waited.

The palace’s archives sat at the edge of the inner court, tucked beneath a quiet wing few dared to enter unless summoned. This time, Hale had been sent, not by a king, but by the prince himself. And though the command was quiet, curiosity sharpened his steps.

He entered the narrow hallway, the faint scent of old parchment and dust filling his lungs. The lanterns along the corridor flickered despite no wind in sight. Sunlight was spilling through the small arched windows, and yet the shadows inside seemed oddly thick, almost like they clung to the walls.

As he stepped farther in, the air grew heavier, almost cold, though it was barely midday. He reached the ancient oak door that bore the Zarethrone crest two swords beneath a crown and pressed it open. A low creak echoed through the silence.

Inside, rows of scrolls and records towered to the ceiling, layered shelves filled with the kingdom’s history: wars fought, bloodlines recorded, alliances broken.

Kaelith had been clear search for anything that echoed the horrors unfolding now: unexplained deaths, eerie whispers, forbidden magic. Hale wasn’t wandering blindly. He was following the shadows of a pattern long buried.

He stepped deeper into the room, fingers brushing lightly over the spines of aged books.

Then.

"Hale..."

A voice. Low. Breathless. It wasn’t loud, but it sliced the silence like a blade.

Hale froze.

His breath caught in his throat. He turned sharply, eyes scanning behind him.

Nothing. No one.

The door remained slightly open. The same sunlight poured in. The same silence waited.

He slowly took a step back, heart thudding loud in his chest.

Then again.

Why are you here.

This time the voice came from the far end of the room. Not threatening. Not quite human either. Something about the tone felt ancient. Hollow. Like it echoed from inside the walls themselves.

Hale’s throat tightened. "Who’s there?" he called out. Show yourself.

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