Chapter 12: Order
As Lady Chay, Chloe watched the heartwarming scene unfold before her, her heart torn between love for the king and loyalty to the Seacret Agency. Moments like these made her wonder if she could protect the kingdom from within â if Lady Chay could do more than spy.
Then came the soft beep. A message from Ms. Nightfall â a silent reminder to stay focused. With a breath, Chloe buried her feelings. She wasnât a daughter, nor a princess. She was a servant and an agent. It was late. She went to bed.
Thatâs when the dream came.
She coughed. The sound echoed into an empty void. No floor. Just an endless dark sea. Floating. Suspended.
Then she saw herself â twice.
One version stepped forward, eyes sharp, voice trembling.
"Let me go. Youâre destroying my memories."
The other stood still. Composed.
"I didnât do that. We have to share thoughts. Itâs the only way."
They stared at each other â one desperate, the other firm â as the sea around them pulsed, listening.
Chloe woke up, breath sharp. Moonlight poured into the chamber. She reminded herself: I am Lady Chay. Not Chloe with a secret crush.
Slipping into her butler attire, she moved through the quiet corridors. Eyes alert. Mission in mind. Her feelings were a shadow she had to ignore â or so she thought .
"Ms. Chay. I heard whispers about you. Can you tell me, is there a problem?"
The voice caught her off guard.
Lady Chay turned, composed.
"Whispers are like the shadows theyâre cast in, Mr. Youssef," she said softly. "They can distort the truth or reveal it in unexpected ways. But fear not â I am here to serve and protect."
She continued down the hallway, more alert now. The mention of a âproblemâ made her mind race, but she kept walking, remembering Ms. Nightfallâs words: Be the pawn that sees the board, not the knight blinded by passion.
Then came the voice in her earpiece â Ms. Nightfall.
"Lady Chay, this is Ms. Nightfall. Your recent interactions have not gone unnoticed. I understand the balance you must maintain. But it is imperative you return to your apartment immediately.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Do not be alarmed. Mr. Trabelsi is more than he seems. He is connected to the Seacret Police .You must be safe. Your mission intact. A discreet escort will be arranged. please go back to your apartment immediately"
Chayâs eyes narrowed. She had been careful â but not careful enough.
"Understood, Ms. Nightfall."
Chloe slipped through the crowd, her movements fluid and unnoticed by the guards. The gate to the Inner Castle was supposed to be heavily guarded, especially in this moment, but one of the sentries was asleep on duty. Seizing the chance, she slipped inside unnoticed.
Entering the Inner Castle without permission was forbidden , but she couldnât wait. Her cover was perfect â a shadow among revelersâ or so she thought. She neared the window and saw the king inside, peaceful, laughing , shis smile .... this is the king she loves.
But then something stopped her â a sudden, chilling sensation as if her soul whispered a warning: One step closer, and you will die.
Her mind snapped back to reality. Ms. Nightfall told me not to return to the masquerade⦠What am I thinking? I have to go back.
She turned, footsteps silent against the carpet. The masquerade was fading behind her. It had been an illusion, beautiful but dangerous. Now it was time for her to be the guardian the kingdom needed.
"Lady Chay, I see you are leaving," Youssefâs voice echoed. Calm.
"Let me be the one to tell you this: I am not here to catch you. I am merely a concerned servant of the realm." He stepped closer.
"You have a lesson to learn from Ms. Nightfall. The king is safer with the Seacret Agency than with spies. Our methods are for his protection, not his downfall."
A beat.
"The doctors are waiting for moments like these. A spy in the castle would give them the excuse to tighten control. The masquerade is a beautiful illusion, but it is also a trap. One we wonât let close around our king."
He met her eyes.
"I am not your enemy. But we must remain vigilant."
Then came Ms. Nightfall again â cold and sharp.
"Mr. Trabelsi⦠do not pursue C-55. You know she is important. And⦠Iâm truly sorry for putting the king in danger."
A pause.
"I understand," Youssef replied. "But if you ever become a threat to His Majesty again⦠Iâll personally put her in jail."
Chloeâs heart pounded.
"Mr. Trabelsi, I assure you, my intentions are pure. I am here to serve the kingdom and support the Agency. I can handle any... unforeseen circumstances."
"You have to go back to your apartment now. Have a good rest," Ms. Nightfall ordered.
"Thank you for understanding, Mr. Youssef," Chloe said, her voice steady.
"But I shall not rest until Iâve done all I can to ensure the safety of the kingdom."
"Orders, C-55. Orders," Youssef replied and walked away.
As his figure disappeared, Chloe touched her earpiece. The danger hadnât passed, but someone close to the king knew she wasnât the enemy. That mattered.
She reached her apartment. The door clicked shut behind her â sanctuary.
She removed her emerald gown and hid it away. The mirror reflected a tired Chloe, eyes clouded with regret. She sat at her desk and wrote to Ms. Nightfall, reporting her encounter.
Her hand trembled. Her emotions had nearly compromised everything. She had to be better.
Frustration lingered â she had been ordered to stay at the masquerade, then pulled away. But the trust of the Agency came first. And if she lost that, she lost everything ,but Chloe felt a crushing weight settle over her. She couldnât understand why she had made that mistake â why she had gone back despite Ms. Nightfallâs clear orders to stay away. Had she disobeyed before? Was she delusional with love? was her other side taking too much control? I am C_55, she reminded herself, and I must be stronger than this.