Chapter 127: Disappointed Regent

Elara:

The threat wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. My mouth closed instantly.

I hated that it worked. I hated that he knew exactly which words would make me stop fighting. But more than anything, I hated watching the Moon Warriors approach Jasper. He didn’t resist. He didn’t protest. He didn’t even look angry. He simply turned toward them and allowed them to take him.

But before the warriors could take him away, Regent Valemont stopped them with a single movement of his hand. His eyes remained fixed on Jasper, and something about the sudden silence made my stomach tighten all over again. "Before you leave," he said, his voice deceptively calm, "I want you to explain something."

Jasper immediately straightened.

Valemont’s gaze dropped to the blood covering his arm. "How exactly did you sustain that injury?"

Every muscle in my body went rigid. I didn’t even need to look at Jasper to know he understood the danger behind that question. Sneaking out of the academy on a weekday night was one offense. Breaking academy regulations was another. But if Darren Valemont discovered that we hadn’t merely gone into town, but had crossed into the human realm, the consequences would be far worse than twenty lashes and the loss of an entire term’s salary.

I felt the blood drain from my face. My mind raced through every possible explanation, but before my anxiety could become obvious, Jasper collected himself. He didn’t hesitate.

"Princess Argentis wasn’t feeling well after the incident this afternoon," he said evenly. "I believed getting her away from the academy for a short while would help her clear her head, so I took her into town. We were attacked there by a group of thugs. I managed to get the Princess away from them, but I sustained the injury during the confrontation."

His explanation was so smooth that for a moment, I almost believed it myself.

Regent Valemont stared at him for several long seconds, and the expression on his face made it painfully obvious that he wasn’t entirely convinced. His eyes narrowed slightly, moving from Jasper’s injured arm to me and then back again. "Thugs?" he repeated, as though testing the word for weaknesses. "In the middle of the night and that too in a town near the academy?"

Jasper nodded. "Yes, Regent."

Darren Valemont didn’t immediately respond. I could practically feel the questions forming behind his eyes, and my heart began pounding harder with every second of silence. Then Lorien stepped in. "I will personally investigate the matter," he said calmly, addressing Valemont before he could question Jasper further. "I will have every detail of tonight’s incident examined, including the circumstances surrounding Jasper’s injury, and I will present a full explanation to the council by tomorrow evening."

Regent Valemont’s expression remained stern, but whatever suspicion had been building seemed to settle enough for him to let the matter go. "Very well," he said eventually. His attention returned to Jasper. "Your position as the Princess’s blood knight has spared you from consequences far more severe tonight. That bond carries considerable weight, and the council recognizes the value of having someone whose life is devoted to hers."

Jasper lowered his head respectfully. But Valemont’s next words were colder. "Do not mistake that privilege for immunity. If you make another decision like this - if you once again expose the Princess to unnecessary danger - the council will take whatever measures are necessary to ensure she no longer has access to influences that encourage such behavior."

My chest tightened.

"Blood knight or not," he continued, "your bond with her will not protect you from every consequence."

I wanted to say something. I wanted to tell him that Jasper wasn’t an influence encouraging me to behave recklessly. He had spent his entire life getting strong enough just to protect me, and tonight he had gotten himself injured because of it. But Jasper looked at me again, and that silent warning stopped me. He knew exactly what I was thinking and he was telling me not to make things worse.

The Moon Warriors finally approached him, and this time there was nothing preventing them from taking him away. Jasper didn’t resist. He simply gave me one final look before allowing the warriors to escort him through the trees.

I watched until his figure disappeared into the darkness, every instinct in me screaming to follow. The image of his bloodied arm wouldn’t leave my mind. Neither would the thought of twenty lashes waiting for him somewhere inside the academy.

Regent Valemont turned toward Lorien once more, apparently satisfied that the matter had been handled. "I believe I finally understand why everyone has been saying she isn’t ready." His voice was calm now, almost dismissive. "She isn’t merely inexperienced. She lacks the discipline required of someone who intends to wear a crown. She has no understanding of restraint, authority, or consequence." His gaze briefly settled on me. "I expected more from the lost Princess of Argentis. I couldn’t have been more disappointed."

He didn’t wait for my response. Without another word, he turned and walked away, two Moon Warriors falling into step behind him. He never looked at me again. Not even once.

I stood there watching his back disappear between the trees, anger burning so fiercely inside me that I could barely breathe. Yet beneath that anger was something far worse. Fear. Fear for Jasper. Fear about what would happen to him while I stood here doing nothing. I wanted to run after him. I wanted to scream at Lorien. I wanted to demand that someone stop this ridiculous punishment. But I couldn’t. Not when Jasper’s safety was being used as the leash around my throat.

Eventually, the clearing became quiet again. I didn’t look at Lorien. I couldn’t. My eyes remained fixed on the path where Jasper had vanished.

"Follow me," Lorien said.

I expected him to wait for my response. He didn’t. He simply turned and began walking through the trees, leaving me standing there for a moment before disappearing into the darkness. I stared after him, my hands still trembling at my sides, before finally forcing my feet to move.