Chapter 23

The atmosphere in the council chamber had become noticeably colder since Aeliana's presence had become a regular occurrence. She could feel the stares of Tharx's advisors, their eyes tracking her every movement with suspicion and veiled hostility. Each time Tharx motioned for her to sit beside him, a ripple of discontent seemed to spread through the room, barely concealed behind the nobles' restrained expressions. The air was thick with tension, and Aeliana could sense the subtle shifting of allegiances as some of the more outspoken advisors began to murmur dissent.

But even as the council's resentment toward her grew, Tharx had continued to ask for her opinion, albeit in a way that suggested nothing more than idle curiosity. "What would you do in this situation, Aeliana?" he would ask, his tone detached, as though her answer held no real weight. The first few times he had asked, she hesitated, aware that any suggestion she made would only fuel the council's animosity toward her. But Tharx persisted, and she began to notice the effect her responses had on the course of their discussions.

When she had advised caution in negotiating with a particularly volatile border faction, urging that a show of force might further provoke them, the council initially balked at the idea. Yet, Tharx had subtly guided the discussion toward her suggestion, and in the end, they reached a tentative agreement with the border leaders, averting a potential skirmish. Tharx credited his chief military advisor with the success, his gaze flickering toward Aeliana only briefly, as if to acknowledge the unspoken role she had played.

Now, as she took her usual place in the chamber, she could feel the weight of the council's disapproval pressing in on her. Even though she sat in silence for most of the meetings, there was no doubt that her presence was felt, and not in a way that pleased the nobles. The disdain radiating from certain members was palpable, especially from Kadrin, the head of the warrior faction, who had made no secret of his dislike for her. "It's a distraction," he had muttered to another advisor during a heated discussion, his voice just low enough for Tharx not to hear, but loud enough for Aeliana to catch the words.

Despite their disapproval, she also noticed something else-Tharx had become more protective of her. When a particularly bold advisor had questioned her presence directly, Tharx had cut him off with a tone so cold it could freeze blood. "Her observations are of interest to me," he had stated flatly, his voice carrying an unmistakable edge. "I would suggest focusing on the matters at hand."

Such subtle discouragement had not gone unnoticed. Aeliana saw the way the nobles exchanged uneasy glances, how some of the more vocal opponents of her presence began to soften their objections, or at least keep them to murmured conversations behind closed doors. Even if they could not understand Tharx's motives, they knew better than to push too far.

In private, however, the dynamic was different. Aeliana's conversations with Tharx had grown longer and more layered, filled with a tension that neither of them acknowledged but both felt acutely. He would ask her questions about human customs and leadership, his tone distant, as though he were studying her rather than truly engaging in conversation. Yet, every so often, there was a hint of something else-an almost imperceptible warmth in his voice, or the way his eyes lingered on her just a little too long before he looked away.

On one such evening, after the council had disbanded, Tharx summoned her to his private study. She found him standing at a large, ornate map table, the soft glow of the illuminated surface casting shadows across his features. He didn't look up when she entered.

"We managed to quell the unrest at the eastern border," he began, his tone even. "The envoy returned today with favorable terms."

"That's good news," Aeliana replied, unsure of where the conversation was headed. She hesitated before adding, "Your strategy paid off, then."

Tharx's gaze flicked to her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Yes," he said, and there was an unmistakable note of irony in his voice. "Though, some would say it was not entirely my strategy."

Aeliana felt a flush creep up her neck. She hadn't expected him to acknowledge her contribution, even indirectly. "The council would never accept advice from a human," she said quietly. "And neither would you, if you didn't think there was some merit in it."

Tharx turned to face her fully, his expression inscrutable. "You are perceptive, Aeliana. I have learned to value perceptiveness." He took a step closer, and she could feel the weight of his gaze as if it were a tangible thing pressing against her. "But there are some who see your influence as a threat."

"More than a few, I suspect," Aeliana replied, meeting his gaze. "I've felt the resentment in the council. They don't understand why you keep me here."

"And what do you think?" Tharx asked, his voice lower now. "Do you know why I allow you to stay?"

The question hung in the air between them, charged with a deeper meaning she couldn't quite decipher. "You've never told me your reasons," she answered, her voice steady despite the tension crackling in the space between them. "So, how could I know?"

Tharx's expression softened, but only for a fraction of a second before his cold mask slipped back into place. "You think me distant," he said, a trace of bitterness coloring his words. "Perhaps I am. But I have my reasons."

Aeliana took a small step forward. "And what are those reasons?"

For a brief moment, it seemed as though Tharx might actually answer her. She could see the struggle in his eyes, the way his jaw clenched as if holding back something he wasn't ready to share. But then, just as quickly, he turned away.

"It is not your concern," he said sharply, the vulnerability she had glimpsed vanishing as if it had never been there at all. "Return to your quarters, Aeliana. We have a council meeting in the morning."

Her heart sank as he dismissed her, the distance between them abruptly reasserted. It was as though he had let her see a glimpse of something real, only to shut her out the moment she tried to understand it. She turned to leave, but as she reached the door, Tharx spoke again.

"One more thing," he said, his tone softer than before. "When the council meets tomorrow, I expect you to speak if you have thoughts to share. I would hear your perspective."

The request surprised her, and she glanced back at him, trying to read his expression. But Tharx's face was as unreadable as ever, his eyes fixed on some point far beyond the walls of the room.

"Very well," she replied, and then she was gone.

That night, as she lay awake in her chambers, Aeliana pondered the strange and shifting nature of her relationship with Tharx. He had let down his guard, if only for a moment, but then he had pulled back as though frightened by the very idea of revealing himself to her. It was maddening, trying to reconcile the cold, distant ruler with the man who, in rare moments, seemed almost human.

The council's growing hostility was becoming more palpable with each passing day, and she sensed that Tharx's subtle protection might not be enough to keep the more dangerous factions at bay forever. Yet, she couldn't deny that a part of her was beginning to feel something different-something deeper-toward the enigmatic king.

But trust was a fragile thing, especially when built on the fractured foundations of duty and power. For now, all she could do was continue to walk this delicate line, knowing that one wrong step could shatter whatever tentative bond had formed between them.