# Chapter 10: Something of the Same Value
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 10 of **"Forgotten Wife: Let the Traitors Kneel Down"** — a chapter filled with tension, whispered rumors, and the weight of an impossible bargain. Grab a warm drink, settle in, and let's dive into the story together.
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When Cassian opened his eyes that morning, the first thing he saw was Maya sitting on the edge of the bed, her nose buried in the book his father had given her. Her brow was furrowed, and though her eyes moved across the pages, he could tell her mind was elsewhere. Gently, he reached out and caressed her back, letting his touch pull her from her thoughts.
"Have you been awake long?" he asked softly.
"No," she replied, without looking at him.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
He studied her for a moment. "You seem restless. What's wrong?"
Maya finally closed the book and sighed. "Too many things. Aren't you worried?"
"I am too," Cassian admitted. "But somehow, I feel like you're worried about something else."
"I'm a little concerned about the keys," she said, her voice low. "I don't think they'll give them to us just because we ask nicely."
Cassian frowned. "I hadn't thought about that. But darkness is something that affects us all... shouldn't they want to help us?"
Maya's gaze held a flicker of doubt. "I'm not so sure. But let's hope so."
Before they could discuss it further, a soft knock came at the door. A maid's voice drifted through. "Miss Maya, I've been sent to find you."
Maya set the book aside, rose, and moved to the wardrobe. She pulled out a simple blue tunic and black pants, changing with practiced ease. "Your clothes were very dirty," she called over her shoulder. "I'll ask someone to bring you a change of clothes."
Cassian stretched, standing in a robe that barely covered the essentials. "Yes, I wouldn't like to go out into the hallway in such a deplorable state."
The maid, Doroti, waited just outside the door. When Maya appeared, Doroti bowed her head. "Are you ready, Miss Maya?"
"Yes, but first, I want you to bring a change of clothes for Cassian."
From the doorway, Maya caught a glimpse of the prince inside—wearing that too-small robe—and quickly averted her eyes with a faint blush.
"Right away, Miss Maya."
Doroti hurried off and encountered another maid, Lisa, standing outside the prince's room looking perplexed. "What are you doing, Lisa?"
"Doroti! They sent me to look for Prince Cassian, but he's not answering. I think he's not here."
Doroti opened the door slightly and peeked in. "That's because he's not in his room. He's in Miss Maya's room... and judging by his clothes, I think he slept with her."
Lisa's eyes widened. "So the rumors that they're together are true?"
"It seems so."
Lisa clicked her tongue with envy. "What luck that girl has. What did she do to make a prince fall into her hands?"
"She is very pretty," Doroti said simply.
Lisa sneered. "She must have seduced him with her body."
Doroti, now holding a fresh set of clothes, turned and gave Lisa a warning look. "Be careful what you say, Lisa. No matter how your relationship started, she is your partner. You'll be in trouble if your words reach her ears."
Lisa lowered her eyes. "I know... it was just a comment."
"I'll give you some advice," Doroti added, her voice kind but firm. "If you want to keep working here, save your comments for another place."
Lisa sighed and followed after her. "Wait for me—I still have to do what I was ordered to do."
The two maids arrived at Maya's room and delivered the clothes. After a short while, Cassian emerged properly dressed, and Lisa informed him that he too had been summoned. Then they were led through the winding hallways to a room where Ethan and Dantriel were already waiting.
"It took you a long time to come," Ethan complained as they entered. "I suppose it's a royal custom."
Maya ignored his remark and asked, "How did your trip go?"
It was Dantriel who answered. He pulled out two medallions—simple leather cords strung with wooden charms carved in the shape of two interlocking circles. Maya took one, turning it over in her fingers skeptically. "Will this actually work?"
"I assure you, it is effective," Dantriel said.
"Have you ever used them before?"
"Yes, from time to time they sent me as an emissary to the fairy kingdom. I assure you, they work."
Maya nodded, tucking the charm beneath her tunic. "And when will we leave?"
"I think it would be best to go right now," Dantriel said. "We have no time to waste."
Cassian agreed. "Yes, we should leave immediately."
"Any suggestions for the trip?" Maya asked.
Dantriel hummed thoughtfully. "Just wear comfortable clothes. We'll have to walk a lot to reach the fairy kingdom."
Maya frowned. "Can't we use a teleportation scroll?"
"You can't reach the fairy kingdom with a scroll," Dantriel explained. "We'll travel part of the way by scroll, but after that, we'll have to walk."
"Then I'm going to get ready," Maya said, turning to the door.
Once she was gone, Cassian fixed the elves with a serious look. "Do you think the fairies are willing to help us? That they'll give us the key they hold without asking for anything in return?"
Dantriel smiled grimly. "I doubt it. Fairies are not very generous. If we want the key to the doors of Hades that they possess, we must give them something of the same value."
"And what do you suggest we offer them?" Cassian pressed.
"I don't know yet. We'll know when we're there, and we'll give them whatever they ask for."
Cassian's jaw tightened. "What if it's something we can't give them?"
Ethan let out a low chuckle. "Then we'll have to find a way to give it to them anyway."
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Back in her room, Maya was finishing packing her bag when a knock interrupted her. She opened the door to find Cassian waiting in simple traveler's clothes. Maya eyed him up and down, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Have you already prepared your things?" she asked.
"Yeah."
Maya studied him carefully. He had clearly tried to dress like a commoner, but there was no hiding the way he carried himself—the upright posture, the quiet authority in his eyes. He still looked every inch a prince.
She laughed. "If your purpose in dressing like that was to go unnoticed, let me tell you, it doesn't work. You still look like a prince."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah."
Cassian stepped closer, a hint of warmth in his expression. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, I was just finishing putting away the last of it when you arrived."
But Maya saw something else in his eyes—a shadow of worry. "You look troubled," she said.
"I asked the elves if the fairies would give us the key to the gates of Hades that they possess..."
"I guess they said no."
"They said they will ask for something of the same value as the key."
Maya let out a humorless huff. "Hmm... It was to be expected they wouldn't hand them over easily. But we're sure to find a way to convince them to give us what we need."
"Yes, you're right."
Maya slung her bag over her shoulder. "Then let's go."
"Wait," Cassian said, catching her hand. "I want us to see April before we leave."
"So?" Maya blinked.
"To cure you."
Maya hesitated. "I'm—"
"Please," he said, his voice gentle but unwavering. "I'll feel calmer if you do."
Maya let out a slow breath. "Okay. Then let's go."
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Dear reader, this chapter may be quieter than the storm of battles and betrayals we've seen before, but it's woven with threads of unease that pull tighter with every step. The rumors among the maids remind us how quickly whispers can twist into poison, while the fairies' demand for "something of the same value" looms like a shadow over the road ahead. Maya and Cassian's bond is deepening—there's tenderness in his concern for her, and a quiet strength in her refusal to be afraid. Yet the real test is only beginning.
**Reader's Impressions & Star Rating:**
As a reader, I felt the tension coiling beneath every conversation. The warning Doroti gave Lisa was a chilling reminder that even within their allies' walls, not everyone wishes them well. And the fairies' mysterious price? That sinking feeling in my stomach—just what could they ask for that might cost more than they're willing to pay? This chapter does a brilliant job building atmosphere and deepening the emotional stakes without sacrificing momentum. I'm on the edge of my seat.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars
**Next Chapter Prediction:**
I believe the journey to the fairy kingdom will be fraught with hidden dangers—perhaps an ambush along the road, or a confrontation with a fairy who recognizes Maya's face from a past she cannot remember. And that "something of equal value"... I suspect it will not be gold or jewels, but something painfully personal—maybe a memory, a heart's desire, or even Maya's forgotten connection to the fairies themselves. The request could shatter the fragile trust between her and Cassian before they even reach the gates of Hades.
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