Camery Valatieri

The woman glanced at him, her gaze lingering for just a moment, waiting for a response that never came. With a soft sigh, she shook her head and returned to her work, the quiet of the room settling around her once again. Hours drifted by, and though she stayed focused, there was a noticeable slump in her shoulders, a subtle weariness that wasn’t from the task itself but from the silence. This was Malakai’s role, after all—duties that had little to do with her and everything to do with his loyalty to the kingdom. She didn’t mind. She was used to it. What she really wanted was simple: someone to talk to, someone to laugh with. But she understood why that wasn’t possible. Not when her father was involved. Her thoughts wandered, tracing the path her father had carved for himself, the path that kept him hidden away in his study, obsessing over threats that were more imagined than real. The so-called king of the Night Kingdom—unstable, unpredictable, and dangerous. She shivered at the thought, remembering the whispers that had spread over the years about how he’d treated his own flesh and blood. If he could do that to his own son, what might he do to anyone else? The idea gnawed at her, unsettling her like nothing else could.

Yet, even with that heavy weight on her mind, her gaze flickered back to Malakai. He was quiet, distant, just as he was supposed to be, but there was something about him she couldn’t shake. Over the past few weeks, she had found herself thinking of him more than she cared to admit. A small, fleeting crush, she told herself. What girl wouldn’t feel that way, especially when he was as attractive as he was and tasked with keeping her safe? But that was all it was—nothing more, nothing serious. Still, she was curious. She had grown tired of the silence between them, of the distance that kept him firmly in the role of protector and nothing else.

"Say," she asked, her voice lighter now, tinged with curiosity, "Do you have any family up here?" The words slipped out before she could stop them, a small attempt at breaking the silence.

She raised an eyebrow lightly, her gaze sharp and thoughtful as she studied him, a soft hum escaping her lips. "No?" she repeated, her voice carrying a gentle note of surprise as she placed the sheets of paper down, having gone through them all with a hint of frustration, but still finding no answers. The sun, dipping lower in the sky, began to paint the room in hues of orange and pink, the soft light spilling in through the large windows. It bathed the room in a warm glow, transforming everything it touched. The gold-trimmed edges of her bed frame caught the light just right, sending soft golden reflections dancing across the ceiling, like ripples on water. It was an effect she had always found mesmerizing, despite having seen it a thousand times before. The room was carefully designed, each detail meant to capture the essence of every moment in the day. From the soft golden morning light to the pink and orange hues of dusk, everything about it seemed intentional, peaceful. She had grown up in this room—watched the seasons change through these windows, learned the patterns of light and shadow, and yet, the beauty of it never seemed to fade. There was a magic in the way the light filled the space, and it still made her pause in appreciation.

Turning her attention back to him, Camery's expression softened. She shook her head slightly, trying to push away the distraction of the room's beauty to focus on the matter at hand. "Well... do you have any family at all?" she asked, her voice gentle, laced with genuine curiosity. She stood up, brushing the front of her dress absentmindedly, smoothing out any wrinkles. She moved over to her desk, her fingers quickly tidying the papers, aligning them into neat stacks with careful precision. There was a quiet focus to her actions, as if she was trying to ground herself in the present moment, though her mind was still racing. She couldn’t help but wonder. He couldn’t possibly be alone, could he? He was still so young—at least, she thought he was. He couldn’t be much older than her, could he? Maybe twenty? Twenty-one? The thought lingered in her mind, and she found herself studying him again, wondering what his story was. What could have happened to him for him to end up here, alone, with no mention of family? Surely, he had someone. Someone who cared for him.

The woman nodded slowly, her gaze softening as she observed him. He was so... stiff. There was a certain guardedness in his posture, a resistance to let anyone in. She couldn’t help but feel that she wouldn’t be able to get him to open up easily. I’ll have to plan something, she thought to herself, the wheels in her mind already turning. Something to get him out of his shell. She enjoyed going out, but he was right—she shouldn’t go alone. And with the rumors of the night kingdom spying on them, sneaking out in the dark didn’t seem like the safest idea, either. Yeah, I’ll drag him out tomorrow, she decided with a small smile.

Her gaze softened as she looked at him for a moment, a flicker of pity crossing her face. "I’m sorry to hear that," she murmured, her voice quiet and empathetic. "I can’t imagine being without my parents," she added, her words thoughtful. She had always been surrounded by love, even if the relationship with her parents wasn’t the closest. She knew, without a doubt, that her mother and father loved her more than anything, that they would do whatever it took to keep her safe. It was a comfort she often took for granted.

She sighed softly, her thoughts drifting for a moment as she looked down. The golden markings on her shoulders, which had been visible in the sunlight, were starting to fade as the sun sank lower in the sky. She knew it was almost time. "It’s time you all swap over," she murmured when she heard a soft knock on the door. Her night guard, she assumed.

Turning back to him, she offered a gentle smile. "Go get some rest," she suggested, her tone light but carrying a warmth. "And when you come tomorrow... just relax, yeah?" she added, the playful edge returning to her voice. She waved him off with a soft gesture before turning toward her own preparations for bed.

As she welcomed her night guard outside her room, she flopped down onto her mattress, the weight of the day lifting off her shoulders. She closed her eyes for a moment, the quiet settling around her, and let herself relax for the first time that evening.