For the next few days, Daliya ignored Haitham, even asking Mazin to accompany her for another visit to Thuraya.

  She wasn’t going to let it slide.

  Thuraya was happy to see her, always smiling, her shoulders relaxing each time Daliya entered her cozy home. Daliya still remembered the first time she had seen her friend after the incident. Thuraya’s mother had stood at the door, speechless, her wide eyes shifting between Daliya and Mazin before falling to her knees. Daliya stopped her before her head connected with the floor. She lifted her up to her feet, gently asking her permission to see Thuraya. The woman’s mouth opened and closed, failing to articulate words, then nodded.

  Thuraya’s eyes had widened, and she had tried to get up from her bed and bow despite her injuries. Daliya had hurried to her and gently pushed her back.

  “Your Highness, what are you doing here?”

  Daliay smiled apologetically at her. “I’m here to ask for your forgiveness.”

  “My forgiveness? For what, Your Highness?”

  Daliya binked at her. “That night…” She glanced at Thuraya’s feet bundled under the covers. “I’ve caused you harm instead of protecting you.”

  Thuraya furiously shook her head. “Your Highness, if it weren’t for you, head butler Adyl, and Lord Haitham, I wouldn’t have a chance to walk again.”

  Whatever expression Daliya had on her face made Thuraya’s eyes widen further. She flailed, stumbling over her words to assure Daliya she wasn’t to blame.

  Daliya couldn’t help but despise the real princess a bit more.

  Another thing Daliya had to think about was the head butler. She couldn’t help but wonder. Did the princess know that he was an Ice wielder, too? It was a surprise to Daliya that she wasn’t the only one with powers in the palace, not when she had never seen the old man use them all the time she was around.

  Apparently, he had used his powers to construct an ice wall to stop Daliya’s powers from further expanding, which ended up saving Thuraya’s life. Daliya was grateful for that. But also, deep down, she couldn’t help the nagging feeling of suspicion from trickling to the forefront of her mind.

  What else was hidden from her?

  As she returned from town, Haitham stepped in front of her, stopping her attempt to avoid him for another day. He stood still, staring at her, not saying a single word.

  Daliya pinched the bridge of her nose. “What do you want?”

  “Oh, so you remember me!” He crossed his arms over his chest.

  She took a step to the side. He mirrored her.

  “If you’re not gonna say anything, I’m leaving. I still have my duties to attend to.”

  “I’m sorry, okay?”

  She huffed. “Are you really?”

  He hesitated. “It helped, didn’t it?”

  She gawked at him. She should have known.

  She walked forward, pushing him away when he tried to stop her. “I have work to do.”

  “What about our training?”

  “Later. I have an important meeting with Mazin.” She didn’t. But it was as good an excuse as any.

  “You smile at him and glare at me when I’m only trying to help you.” He sounded like he was sulking. Haitham paused. “Listen, I didn’t mean to anger you. I just wanted to help. You couldn’t control your powers; something must have been done before they boiled over.”

  Daliya burst out in anger. “You endangered the lives of those people! They could have died!”

  “No. I wouldn’t have let harm come to them,” he said firmly, then added softer, “Or to you.”

  She snorted.

  Their argument took a backseat when an old, disheveled man arrived at the castle’s gate asking for an audience with the princess on an urgent matter.

  He was ushered to the meeting hall, where Daliya listened to his plea.

  His town, a small miners’ village in an isolated area, has been attacked by monsters. They tried to drive them away, but they were overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. They had lost contact with the legion of guards stationed nearby. The town’s governor had refused to ask for help and had instead opted to send even more workers to replace the speed of Silver Steel’s production.

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  Having had enough, the old man, a simple villager who had yet to hear news of his son, had decided to ask her for help. Not that he seemed sure it would bear any fruit, for the doubtful, and almost heartbroken look, he was throwing her way. He seemed ready for rejection.

  Daliya was livid. How could someone prioritize Silver Steel—no matter how important or crucial to the empire it was—over human lives?

  “We have knights stationed there?” she whisper-asked Mazin.

  He shook his head. “They’re the emperor’s guards.” He straightened up, his hand over the hilt of his sword. “We’ll prepare for departure,” Mazin said.

  “No. The knights must remain here to ensure the safety of SilverTown. I’ll go to see into this matter.”

  From the corner of her eyes, she could see Haitham cross his arms over his chest, his haughty stare drawn on the kneeling knight. She rolled her eyes. She could never understand why the two couldn’t be civil with each other.

  “With all due respect, your Highness. I am the captain of the black legion. I’m fairly capable of dealing with these abominations.”

  She sighed. “Fine.”

  Haitham insisted on riding in the carriage with her.

  “For your safety,” he said.

  Not in the mood to argue further, she ignored him. Mazin seemed ready to unsheath his sword and ask him for a duel. But a word from her was enough to stop their meaningless fighting and set them on the march. Even Haitham listened to her warning and left the captain alone.

  “I’m surprised the emperor hasn’t sent one of his guard dogs to deal with the matter before. If what the man is saying, the monster infestation has been going on for a while.”

  Daliya frowned. “Doesn’t the village and its surroundings fall under the princess’s jurisdiction? Why is the emperor the one managing it?”

  Haitham threw her a funny look. He shook his head, an amused smile pulling at his lips. “True. But the mines are crucial to the empire. It’s a bit baffling they left them unchecked for this long.”

  “Why? What’s this Silver Steel everyone seems so fond of?”

  He motioned to her sword. “It’s the material used for empirical swords. It’s also used to make power-dampening manacles. Your connection to your powers gets cut off once they’re fastened around your arms. It’s never happened to me, but I heard it could be quite painful.” He winced. “Just imagining it is enough to send my mind reeling.”

  Daliya grimaced. That was one thing she had no desire to experience.

  They reached the town at night. The white mountains towered to the side, their peaks reaching high into the clouds. A strange, thick mist covered parts of the ground.

  The governor was frantic. He had first denied there ever being a problem with steel production, promising Daliya that he would deliver the same amount indicated in the formal document sent by the emperor. When Daliya informed him of the reason for her visit, he paused as if he did not understand her words, then nodded, promising to help in any way he could.

  “The monsters have invaded the whole area,” the governor informed her, motioning to the white mountains. “We have a couple of houses scattered all over the mountains ground for the miners to rest. We’ll head to one of them at first light.”

  Daliya nodded.

  The governor relinquished his home—the biggest and largest in the entire village—for the princess’ accommodation. Daliya had nearly thrown a tantrum about the man and his family remaining in their house. They were but guests.

  She found herself unable to sleep. She turned in her bed, eyes closed, trying to empty her mind before finally giving up and heading downstairs. The sound of Haitham’s voice hastened her steps at the promise of some company. But her peace was short-lived. Haitham wasn’t alone. Mazin stood before him, his taut shoulders and the scowl on his face belaying his displeasure at whatever Haitham said.

  “Will you say the same thing once the princess becomes one of these abominations?” Haitham hissed.

  Both Mazin and Daliya stilled.

  What is he talking about? No one told her about this.

  “I–I don’t–” Mazin swallowed heavily. “Her Highness is the strongest Ice Weilder on the continent. She wouldn’t let herself turn into one of them.”

  “Spare me your excuses.” Haitham’s voice was so harsh it sent shivers down Daliya’s back.

  She retreated, suddenly uninterested in where their conversation was leading. She walked outside and sat under the porch, watching the moonlight dance over the crushed snow.

  She stayed there awhile, basking in the night’s blissful silence. It was so peaceful. For a moment, she forgot that monsters lurked beyond the tree line, that she might turn into one someday.

  “Can’t sleep?” Haitham asked.

  “Was it true? What you said…” She trailed off. She felt silly for worrying about it when the Seer had already pointed her death.

  He didn’t seem surprised, as if he knew she was listening in on them. He sat beside her, his eyes gazing at the endless snow.

  She glanced at him.

  “I’m afraid it’s the natural cycle of things. Those lost souls, once, were humans, like you and I.” He paused. “But eventually, their senses got overwhelmed, and they turned into what you saw.”

  “Will I turn into a monster?”

  He gave her a long look. “Hopefully, not for a long time.” At her querying look, he continued, “Losing one’s sense of self leads to a loss of control, which, in turn, leads to the soul’s corruption. That form merely mirrors the monster’s soul. Deformed and unrecognizable. Something no longer human.”

  “Oh…”

  He nodded. He held his hands wide, a small grin at the corner of his lips. “Which is why I’m here. I’ll ensure you get full control over your ice, even if it is the last thing I’ll ever do. After all, I’m your faithful bodyguard, both body and soul.” He winked.

  Daliya didn’t know what kind of face she was making, but it was enough to send Haitham into a fluster. He rubbed the back of his head, a giggle escaping his lips. Even under the moonlight, she could still see the blush that traveled up his neck and covered his ears.

  “I think we should get back inside. Rational thoughts in freezing weather is not one of my strong suits.”

  She burst into laughter. He looked at her, indignant.

  “I’ll let you know. I’m usually very articulate.”

  “Sure.”

  He huffed but stayed beside her instead of heading inside, where warmth and comfort awaited him.