[BL] Rules Of Desire: His Majesty's Secret-Chapter 40 - 38: Into the Veil

Nigel woke up with a crick in his neck, his back still pressed against the cold wall near the corridor. Sunlight streamed faintly through the stained-glass windows, warming the stone floor in streaks of gold and red.

He blinked hard, stretched his limbs, and rubbed his eyes. His neck was sore, but that wasn’t what weighed on his mind. It was the strange silence behind Kaelith’s chamber door.

He had waited all night. freёnovelkiss.com

Watched.

Waited.

And still, Hale never came out.

The same servant who moved like clockwork, always returning to his quarters just before sunrise, had vanished into Kaelith’s room and had not emerged.

Nigel leaned his back fully against the wall and whispered under his breath.

"What is going on between the prince and his servant?"

He shook his head, chuckled softly, and looked down the hallway as a maid passed by without noticing him.

"Even when the kingdom is in chaos, I still manage to spy on lovers," he muttered, amused. "I thought this wasn’t my business... but this is starting to get interesting."

A crooked smile tugged at his lips.

"So the prince, heir to the throne, is forbidden to love a man. But he’s still finding a way to sneak around with his servant?"

He laughed again, quieter this time.

"But maybe... none of this makes sense. Maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see."

He straightened up, stretched again, and walked slowly down the corridor. He passed a few guards, nodded once, and let the thought slip to the back of his mind.

But it didn’t leave.

Not fully.

Back in the chamber, Kaelith stood by the far wall, opening a small drawer behind the bookshelf. His fingers curled around a familiar shape, and he pulled out a weathered, leather-bound journal. The edges were frayed. The cover had once been blue but had long faded to gray.

He opened it quietly.

Behind him, the bed rustled. Hale sat up slowly, rubbing his face with both hands before resting his elbows on his knees.

"How are we going to leave the kingdom without the King noticing?"

Kaelith glanced at him over his shoulder.

"He won’t allow it," he said calmly. "That’s why I’m not going to ask."

Hale turned fully, his bare feet touching the cool floor.

"He doesn’t believe this is the work of magic?"

"No. He doesn’t. And even if he did... he wouldn’t admit it."

Hale’s brow furrowed.

"But why? Why doesn’t he believe in magic? It feels like this kingdom has some history with it. Something hidden."

Kaelith closed the journal softly. He didn’t look back at Hale immediately. When he finally walked over and sat beside him, the pause before he spoke was longer than usual.

"This story... is about the Queen."

Hale turned toward him.

"But we can’t speak of it now," Kaelith added. "Not yet. When the kingdom is safe again, and the silence lifts... ask me then. I’ll tell you everything."

Hale nodded quietly. His fingers brushed Kaelith’s for just a moment, then he stood, moving to collect his clothes. The fabric was still wrinkled from the night before. He dressed slowly, methodically, tying the last of the buttons without a word.

Kaelith watched him for a moment, then stood as well.

"That’s why I need to find the priestess," he said. "She knew things. She warned me long ago... and I didn’t listen."

"And Elion?" Hale asked.

"I’ll speak to him today," Kaelith replied. "We’ll plan carefully."

Hale raised a brow with faint amusement.

"So we’re going to sneak out of Zarethrone like fugitives?"

Kaelith gave a tired smile.

"I would have left tonight, but tomorrow is Zarethrone’s Judgment Day."

Hale laughed quietly and shook his head.

"There’s still judgment in Zarethrone with everything going on?"

Kaelith didn’t smile this time.

"There must be," he said. "Order must be kept... even in a kingdom falling apart."

Kaelith fastened the last clasp on his tunic and stepped into his boots, his mind already a thousand leagues south. Hale followed quietly as they exited the chamber together. The scroll had been tucked back into its protective casing, hidden beneath layers of fabric inside Kaelith’s leather satchel.

The hall outside was already busier than it had been at dawn. Servants passed with baskets, guards whispered about new patrol shifts, and somewhere near the court, the low echo of metal against metal signaled another round of training.

But Kaelith’s path was clear.

He didn’t speak as he crossed the marble corridor toward the west wing. Hale matched his steps without question. When they reached the old strategy room tucked behind the Hawkshade tapestries, Kaelith pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Elion was already there, pacing in front of the old war map, arms crossed tightly.

"You’re late," Elion muttered without turning.

Kaelith closed the door.

"I didn’t say what time I’d be here."

Hale stepped aside, letting Kaelith approach. Elion turned then, his eyes moving briefly from Kaelith to Hale, then back again.

"You found something?"

Kaelith nodded once.

"We read the scroll. Or what we could of it. The rest of the truth lies elsewhere."

Elion tilted his head slightly.

"Where?"

Kaelith reached into his satchel and laid the journal on the old war table.

"There’s a priestess who used to live in the south, near the border of Khasidar. She knew about the Veiled Spirits. She warned me once... before the court forced her into silence."

"And now you want to go to her?" Elion asked, already knowing the answer.

Kaelith didn’t hesitate.

Yes. In three days, if possible.

Elion was silent for a long moment. Then he exhaled and rubbed his temple.

"The King will not approve."

Kaelith met his gaze. "He won’t know."

Before Elion could respond, the door behind them opened.

Lysaro stood at the threshold, his shadow stretching long across the floor. His armor was still dusted with dried sand from the morning drills. His sword hung at his hip, untouched.

He stepped in and closed the door behind him.

"I heard enough from the corridor."

Kaelith narrowed his eyes. "You were eavesdropping?"

"I was passing," Lysaro replied, unapologetic. "And I heard the words ’Veiled Spirits’ and ’southern border.’ That’s all I needed to stay."

Elion crossed his arms. "This is a private discussion."

"No, it’s not," Lysaro said calmly. "Not when something’s killing my soldiers and leaving no trace. Not when your answers lie beyond the kingdom, and you plan to vanish without notice."

Kaelith sighed.

"I won’t bring you into this. It’s too dangerous."

Lysaro stepped forward until he stood beside the table, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his blade.

"I’ve lived through two border wars, seen men lose their minds to whispers in the dark. I know when danger has a name, even if we haven’t spoken it yet. So don’t tell me it’s too dangerous. Let me decide that."

Kaelith studied him for a long time. He saw no ambition in Lysaro’s eyes. Only loyalty. And something else a silent grief, the same weight all three of them carried for the lives already lost.

"Then we ride in three days," Kaelith said finally. "At dawn."

"Why not sooner?" Elion asked.

Kaelith looked toward the window, where bells were already tolling.

"Because tomorrow is Judgment Day. If we disappear before then, it’ll raise too many questions."

Lysaro nodded. "And after?"

"We leave quietly," Kaelith said. "No banners. No guards. No trails."

Hale finally spoke, voice low.

"And if we find something?"

Kaelith turned to him.

"Then we return with more than whispers."

Kaelith stood by the window, his eyes tracing the horizon beyond the palace walls as soft light poured through the tall panes.

"We won’t be going alone," he said, not turning around. "Elion and Lysaro will join us."

Hale, who had just finished tightening the straps on his boots, looked up from where he stand at the front door outside, got there not too long. "Lysaro too?" he asked, surprised.

Kaelith nodded. "He insisted. Said if something threatens Zarethrone from the shadows, he won’t sit back and let others carry the weight alone."

Hale turned slowly, brows furrowed. "So your father won’t know about this?"

Kaelith turned to face him, eyes serious. "No. And he won’t. If he finds out, he’ll forbid it. He doesn’t believe this is magic, and I won’t waste time trying to convince him."

Hale moved closer to him, voice low. "So when are we leaving?"

"In three days," Kaelith said. "Or sooner, if the court grows too restless. I don’t want to draw attention. Not yet. We move quietly. No announcements. No formal departure."

Hale nodded, understanding the urgency. "I’ll prepare everything we’ll need. Food. Maps. Extra cloaks. Horses."

Kaelith stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Be discreet. Not even the palace guards should know we’re leaving."

Hale gave a short nod. "I understand."

Their eyes met in silence for a moment longer, both knowing that this journey might change everything, or lead them deeper into a darkness no one was ready to face.

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