Chapter 17
It was late evening, and I sat by the windowsill, gazing at the night sky. A cool berez cessed my face, its touch somthing yet slurp. I looked at sky. The sky was a deep and endless black it looked deceptively calm–like a fragile illusion musking the chaos that hirker beneath
The entire castle wa
was in chaos, just the day before, members of the council had approached me, presenting the supposed ‘crimes‘ commmmitted by Rowan Unfortunately for them, instead of the persecution and alienation tary wanted me to feel for Rowan, I declared that I would personally visi the Pack of Anbel for an inspection, catching them all off guant
“To be fair, I couldn’t blame them. In hundreds of years, no royal hail ever dareil to visit the Pack of Ambel, let alone go there for an official inspection. To say that everyour was shocked would be an understatement. Thus, after the initial shock, objections came from all directions, – the entire castle was shown inte turmoil
Yet despite the chaos, I remained calm
“This breeze is nice and calming.” I murmured under my breath, framing my hack against the wall as the cold wind kissed my fare. My body relaxed, and without thinking, my hand gently rested over my small belly, seeking the linle life growing within.
“Unfortunately, it’s still on early to feel you,” I whispered solily.
It was evening yet again. From the mousent 1 turised back time, during the evening, I stared at the sky, thinking of the little child that my heart and Joul has been missing.
And like all the other rights, in my mind, the face of my son appeared. Immediately, an mverwhelming wave of emotion hit me.
“River, my son you have suffered so much in our past life.’1 thought of the just,
suffering my son had endured.
You must have been so scared.”
“River. Your mother is sorry.” I repeated in my mind. Deep inside, my heart has painfully sluttered yet again.
Even when I turn back time to rewrite the future. I would never saop menurming for the pain you suffered, I thought. At that moment, my emotions swelled and tears began to well up in the corners of my eyes. Despiir bokling power and position, at that moment, I felt incredibly vulnerable
Suddenly, I heard a servant’s voice. “Your Majerry, Lord Silas heartheil”
I sharply opened my eyes and turned to see him standing a few meters away. He watched me with an odd expression in his eyes.
My servants had allowed him into my chambers without my permission. My eyes meiately turned cold as I hard any gaze on the woman behind him. Unfortunately, that womans did not notice the. Slie was focused un Silis, respecifully bowing to him.
“Who gave you the authority to let anyone into my room?” I asked, my voice wcy. Finally, the woman flinched. She looked at me before kneeling
“M–My Queen… Please have mercy!” she begged. Yet, her face was calm despite the fear in her voice. I felt more irked and ordered, “Drag her to the prison”
It was only then when fear finally appeared on the servant’s face. Panic filled her eyes. Hut before she could respond, a calin voice cut through the
“Althea.” Silas said, his voice steady. “It’s not her fault. I insisted
1 raised an eyebrow, replying coldly. “Should I send both of you to prison then?
Silas didn’t answer immediately. His eyes glinted with something unexpected, as if he found the situation amusing. But rather than responding to me, he turned to the servant and gently dismissed her. She bowed repeatedly in gratitude, leaving without a word.
Oh how rauly he overruled my order. My gure hardened further.
Now, it was just the two of us. The air between us was thick with tendon.
Silas studied me, his usually impassive eyes sparkling as though he enjoyed the moment. His expression softened just a liuse, and for the first time in both this life and my past, he looked at me with something akin to interest. It unserded me, but I refused to show it.
“Althea, I’m sorry,” he said suddenly.
True Surprise flickered in my eyes at words 1
I never thought I would hear him say
“I know you heard what I said when you were poisoned, he continued. “It wasn’t what I meant
The don’t mean it?
Ties telling me like he didn’t diss me and left me for death?
Cluper 17
I wanted to laugh, but before Lcould, he added. “I know you’re doing i
- because pooler hurt by me
print. I laughed out loud, wuble to hold in in anymore. Silas worked i
yes widening as if he were more fascina
my wine cold and firm “I dont war
it want to hear plasti
trat, his gave grew more intense and he looked at mor as if I were a child throwing a tantrum To my dog, he seemed to
“Alright” he
sut don’t you know that going to the Park of Ambel without their express permission could be seen as an
His words were delivered with a smirk, as if he were presenting an undeniable truth. “Even as a queen, you can’t
At that moment, a strong gust of
A rodd slaver ran denen my spare,
of wart
en our territories
swept turnugh the room, sending my hair flying, bila oborrved me with an almost oboruve look in his eyes it suddenly became harder to breathe Suddenly, I wanted to grab his eyes and burn them.
Then, Instiend something. A letter had appeared on the table Both Sides and I were surprised. With my eyes widening, I looked at the letter. But when I saw the handwriting a smile tugged at my lips.
Job Like finding an oasis in a scorching desert. I suddenly felt lighter, happier.
I ignored tulas completely and reached for the letter. Then, I began to read with my eyes.
My
“Althea, not “Tittle mouse? I was surprised. ‘Are you this surprised that I want to visit your pack? Did I take you off guard?
A smile spread across my face as I imagined Rowan’s reaction, Excited, I continued reading the letter, but suddenly, I paused.
That only been two days. Do you miss me this much?
I stopped, and for a moment. Lcouldn’t keep the annusement off my face. Then, I burst into laughter.
1 you want to visit my park… What’s going through your mind, my queen? Is this your way of asking me out on a date?” My smile widened Who would have taught the Evil Rogur King could be so playful?
siner you insist so mu
insist so much, I’ll give you a chance?”
“If you want to vout the Park of Ambel, 111 welcome you with open arms.”
I finished reading the lener path a smile. Not a single mention of the crimes be the investigation–only teasing and flirtation. It felt as though we were bowen, and Tcouldn’t help line laugh at the absurdity of it all.
been watching
ΠΙΓ the entire time. As I waved the letter in front of him, I said, “Did you say
huay I need express permissiont Doesn’t chas
