No Solace (The Flames of Retribution - Book 1)

Chapter Thirty-One - Chevral Deming

When I slowed down, I was lost in every way possible.

The streets were lined with squat buildings, their windows opaque with grime. The sound of transports echoed in the distance, and the air was thick with the smell of coal dust. I looked around, trying to get my bearings, but everything looked the same. I was in a Low neighborhood, I realized. I laughed bitterly. Well, that was fitting, wasn't it?

Renata was pregnant, and it seemed that it was Merx's child. And I was the fool who'd held on to promises never meant to be kept.

I had always known that Merx and Renata had a complicated history, but I had never imagined that he would agree to matrimony. I'm sure that the woman was filled with joy at her triumph.

She was my betrayer.

How could he be with her?

 I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face, and I didn't care who saw me. I felt like I had been a fool to believe that Merx would ever love me, that I could ever be enough for him. Just as Renata had said that day - how could he love a Low?

As I walked, I stumbled upon a small park, deserted at this time of night. I sank down onto a bench, burying my face in my hands. My world felt over, and I didn't know how to pick up the pieces.

I looked up at the sky, obscured from the grimy air in the Low neighborhood. A few stars struggled to shine through the gloom, and I thought of "Xīwàng, both of us trying to struggle to shine despite the gloom that pressed upon us on all sides.

"I don't think I can shine anymore, Xīwàng," I whispered. With everything that I lost... how could I press on?

As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up to see a figure walking towards me, their face obscured by the darkness. I stood up, ready to leave.

"Wait," the figure called out, their voice soft and tremulous. "Don't run away. Everyone always leaves me now."

As he emerged from the gloom, I saw it was Chevral Deming.

Chevral's eyes were bloodshot, and his hair was disheveled. He looked like he had been crying, and his clothes were stained with wine. He stumbled over to the bench and collapsed onto it, his head in his hands.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I wanted to be around someone who had just caused so much chaos. But then I remembered the vulnerability in his voice, and I sat back down on the bench.

I swallowed once. I couldn't believe I was feeling pity for the man, but there it was. "Are you okay?"

Chevral looked up at me, his eyes red and puffy. "No," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not okay. I've lost everything."

I could hear the pain in his voice, and I scrubbed a hand through my hair, sure that I would be making a mistake by listening to him. "What happened?" I asked despite my better judgment.

Chevral let out a bitter laugh. "I was censured by the council. My family disowned me. And now, even my dear Prince Kohl has abandoned me."

I could see the despair etched on his face, and I knew that Kohl had caused all of the chaos in his life, but like a fool, he pined for the prince. That he hadn't noticed my own drying tears was typical Chevral. Setting aside my pain for the information that talking to Chevral might gain me, I said, "I'm a stranger, but perhaps you can tell me what happened."

Chevral looked up at me, his eyes searching mine. "I made a mistake," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I tried to take something from Kohl, and he grew angry. It was a toy that he was going to break, and it was precious to me. I had to save it... her."