A Touch of Shadow: The Duke's Obsession

"This is still not enough." Rhaegar shook his head. "We are still missing one crucial witness—Ilai Palewood."

Caelith fell silent.

Rhaegar watched her closely. "The men we sent to Estharo have already departed. But the journey there and back will take no less than two months. In that time... we must hold steady."

Caelith tilted her head. "I understand."

Rhaegar tapped lightly upon several points on the documents before them. "These mark the informants placed by the Earl Valehart’s household. Once you return, you may begin, little by little, to divert their attention."

She listened carefully, nodding as she followed his reasoning, occasionally raising a question of her own.

"And what about Dorian?" she asked. "How am I to deal with him?"

"Continue to feign illness," Rhaegar replied. "Say that your injuries have not yet fully healed—that you require continued rest in solitude."

"Understood, I will do just that."

For a moment, he said nothing more. Then, quietly, he reached out and took her hand.

"Caelith... in the upcoming two months, you must be cautious. Don’t make me worry about you."

She met his gaze, a faint smile in her eyes. "I know, I won’t. You must be careful as well."

Rhaegar gave a slight nod.

As she rose to leave, she paused at the doorway and turned back.

"Rhaegar."

"Yes?"

"When matters on my side are settled... I intend to act."

He studied her face for a few moments. "What do you have in mind?"

Caelith stepped closer, leaning in to whisper her plan in his ear. He flinched at the warmth of her breath against his skin.

When she drew back, the two of them exchanged a glance—silent understanding passing between them, and the faintest trace of shared resolve in their smiles.

***

Several days later.

Caelith sat by the window, a letter in her hand, her brows drawn in quiet tension.

When Dolly entered to refill the tea, Caelith started slightly and hastily slipped the letter into her sleeve.

Dolly paused, surprised—but asked nothing, and withdrew.

Outside the window, a shadow flickered past—furtive, fleeting.

"I saw it, my lady," Charlotte reported in a hushed voice as she entered swiftly. "Madam was reading a letter. When she noticed me, she hid it at once. It seemed... it came from outside."

Yvaine’s eyes lit at once. "A letter? What kind of letter?"

Charlotte shook her head. "I could not see clearly. But judging by her reaction, there is certainly something amiss."

Reclining against her cushions, Yvaine tapped her fingers lightly against the table, her thoughts turning.

After a long pause, her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile.

"How intriguing."

She lifted her gaze, sharp with malice.

"Keep watching. I want to know who she corresponds with... and where those letters come from."

***

In the stillness of night, a shadow crept along the outer wall of Caelith’s courtyard.

He moved close to the stone, step by cautious step—yet before he could go further, a hand clamped over his mouth from behind. In a heartbeat, he was dragged into the darkness and vanished without a trace.

From within her chamber, Caelith stood by the window, her gaze fixed upon the fleeting disturbance outside. A faint curve touched her lips.

As expected... Rhaegar’s men had never left.

By the following morning, Yvaine had waited through the night—yet no word came.

Charlotte hurried in, flustered. "My lady—William is gone!"

Yvaine’s expression shifted sharply. "Gone? What do you mean?!"

"Yes. He left last night... and never returned."

Her fingers tightened around the handkerchief in her grasp, unease flickering in her eyes. Thoughts rushed upon her—Caelith’s nearly vanished scar, her inexplicable closeness with the Princess, that hidden letter...

Just who, exactly, stood behind Caelith?

News reached Dorian as well.

"My lord," the spy reported, "Madam has remained within her courtyard these past days—nothing unusual was spotted. However..."

"However what?"

"Lady Yvaine’s people have been watching her closely. Last night, one of the men she sent... disappeared."

Dorian frowned. "What is Yvaine playing at?"

The spy lowered his head. "I cannot say. But it seems Lady Yvaine is... unusually attentive to Madam."

Dorian fell silent for a moment, then waved his hand.

"Continue observing. Watch them both."

Leaning back in his chair, he pressed his fingers to his brow.

These two women of the Emberlyn household... what web were they weaving?

***

When Caelith returned once more to Firefly Lane, she recounted all that had transpired over the past days to Rhaegar.

"Yvaine has taken the bait," she said. "The man she sent was taken by yours. Now she will be wondering who stands behind me." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Rhaegar nodded. "And the next move?"

Caelith considered her answer briefly. "We wait a few more days. Let her grow restless—uncertain. Then I will reveal just enough... so that she believes she has grasped something real."

Rhaegar looked at her, approval glinting in his eyes. "You grow ever more adept."

She smiled as well. "I have learned from you."

Rhaegar reached out and drew her into his arms. His chin rested lightly atop her head, his voice low, almost muffled.

"When all this is over... what is it that you wish for?"

Caelith paused, then gave a small, thoughtful smile. "I have not yet decided."

"Then think on it," he said softly. "The days ahead are long."

She rested against him in silence.

The days ahead...

Was such a future truly something she could dare to hope for?

. . .

Deep into the night, Lance entered in haste.

"My lord—word has arrived from Estharo."

Rhaegar looked up at once. "Speak."

"Ilai Palewood has been found. He is willing to come to the capital and testify. However..." Lance hesitated, "they have been discovered. Earl Valehart’s men are in pursuit. They are now trapped near Lunden County—unable to advance or retreat."

Rhaegar rose abruptly.

Lunden County lay neither too near nor too distant—three days’ hard ride from the capital. But if the Earl’s forces had already moved, it meant suspicion had been aroused.

He would have to go in person.

And yet—

If he left... what of Caelith?