Chapter 109

I forced myself to breathe. "You work for Braam?"

Lilian's smirk widened. "Of course. Just like you."

I clenched my fists. "Does Kaelin know that you're here." 

She tilted her head. "Yes she does. Who do you think sent me? They are all aware of my presence here." 

I felt like the air had been knocked from my lungs.

Kaelin had sent her. Kaelin had probably suggested that they send her. 

She knew I had hesitated. She knew my loyalty was faltering. And now she had placed someone else here to do what I could not.

Lilian watched me closely. "It's clear to me now why everyone was so concerned," she said smoothly. "Your emotions have clouded your judgment, haven't they?"

I forced my expression to remain neutral. "You're wrong. You're wrong about me." 

She chuckled. "Am I? You've been here for months, and yet the kingdom still stands. Rowan still stands. The wolf clans despite all odds still support him. You have made no real progress." She stepped even closer, her voice like silk. "Tell me, Ariadne—how does it feel to betray your mission for a man? A man who had been content to watch you die. Who remarried not even a month after your execution." 

I swallowed, refusing to let her see how deeply her words cut.

She shook her head. "No matter. I'll finish the job. I'll destroy this kingdom and everyone in it as I was meant to."

Something inside me snapped.

"I won't let you. This is my mission." I said firmly.

Lilian arched a brow. "You won't let me?" She laughed. "And what exactly do you plan to do about it?"

I didn't have an answer.

Not yet.

But one thing was clear—I was no longer just a spy.

I was something more.

And I had to decide where my true loyalties lay.

.......................

I couldn't focus on anything.

The letter from Lilian lingered in my mind. How was I supposed to trust anyone now? Kaelin had sent her, and she had known all along. Or maybe she hadn't—maybe she was just as much in the dark as I was. My thoughts kept returning to the same bitter question: What if I've gone too far? What if I can't turn back now?

Sighing, I sat down at my writing desk and took out a fresh sheet of parchment. I needed answers, and the only person who could give them to me was Kaelin.

But would she respond?

I wasn't sure. If she even received the letter, it would likely be days before I heard anything, and by then, I feared it might be too late.

I quickly penned the letter, writing as honestly as I could manage, though my heart trembled with every word I wrote:

Kaelin,

I have discovered another spy in the castle. She tells me that has been sent her by Braam. Lady Lilian, set to marry King Rowan, she is working for Braam. I don't understand why I wasn't informed of this recent development. I need an explanation. Would I be working with Lilian or not? 

Please, send me guidance and some explanation. I'm afraid I won't be able to go on much longer like this.

Arin

I folded the letter, sealing it with my wax stamp. But deep down, I was almost certain I wouldn't receive a response. The betrayal, the tension—it had already festered too long. How could Kaelin still trust me now? How could I even trust myself to complete the mission now? 

I put the letter aside, refusing to dwell on it for now.

The mourning of the Queen Dowager had taken over the castle. Her passing was announced, and the streets were eerily quiet, the shops closed in respect for the late monarch. The loss of the Dowager Queen was palpable in every corner of the kingdom, and I couldn't ignore the sense of heaviness in the air. Yet, I found little comfort in the day's silence. I couldn't stop thinking about Lilian's cryptic words, the other spy, and the unfinished mission that seemed impossible to carry out now.

I decided to stay indoors today, hoping the quiet would give me a moment of clarity. But no sooner had I settled into a chair near the window than the door flew open.

"Arin, you must come with me."

It was the Royal Concubine Elana, her tone sharp and commanding.

I sighed, gathering my composure. "What is it now?"

"We are planning the Queen Dowager's burial rites," she said. "As a princess and part of this family, your presence is required."

"Do I have a choice?" I muttered under my breath.

Her eyes flashed with something cold, but she didn't comment. Instead, she stepped aside for me to follow her.

I walked beside her, my mind still tangled with the events of the past few days. When we arrived at the meeting chamber, Princess Blanca and several court ladies were already gathered, seated around a large oak table. The mood was somber, and the air was thick with the weight of grief. But I couldn't ignore the underlying tension that buzzed quietly beneath the surface.

"We'll begin immediately," Elana said, seating herself at the head of the table. "As you all know, we're preparing for the Dowager Queen's funeral, but there are certain matters that need to be addressed."

She glanced at the ladies around her before her gaze landed on me. "Princess Arin, I trust you have nothing pressing to attend to? This might take a while." 

I sat down without a word, my gaze flicking over the court ladies who eyed me with curiosity.

"The details of the ceremony," Elana began, "must be handled carefully. We need to make sure everything is perfect. We will allow a public viewing, but only for two days. The burial itself will be very private." 

There was a soft murmur of agreement around the table, but my mind drifted. I couldn't concentrate on the burial plans. It was the conversation that had begun to take shape between the ladies that caught my attention.

"I wonder," one of the court ladies began, her voice soft, "why the king has chosen to marry so quickly. Isn't it a bit... unusual?" 

Another lady, a tall blonde, nodded. "Yes, and why Lady Lilian? I heard she's some daughter of a chief I think. Quite an odd choice. I also heard he's proceeding with the wedding regardless of the Queen Dowager's death. Why not wait a while, at least for the mourning period to end? It almost feels like he's rushing things to prove something."

"The rumors about him being infertile, perhaps? It's all everyone is talking about. They're dying to know if it's true." the first lady chimed in.

The room went silent for a moment.

"Perhaps that's why he's marrying so quickly, to prove he's capable of fathering an heir. Although I wonder if diving in so quickly would bode well." another lady added.

"His first wife did run away, after all," a fourth lady said quietly. "Maybe she left because she knew he couldn't—"

I slammed my hand down on the table, my heart pounding in my chest. "That's not why she left," I snapped.

The room fell silent.

"How dare you?" I continued, my voice rising. "You speak of things you know nothing about." I glared at the ladies around me. "You should remember that the king's first marriage was a time of great loss and pain for him. He was deposed, crippled, and the marriage wasn't even a true one to begin with. How could you speak about your Alpha King in this manner? Especially now that the whole castle is grieving the death of his grandmother?" 

The court ladies exchanged nervous glances.

"Do you even remember the circumstances of his first marriage? No one knew about it, no one spoke of it, and the reasons behind it were kept a secret from the public. The castle kept it hidden to protect his reputation. His first wife's departure was probably her choice, and it had nothing to do with his ability to father children."

The Royal Concubine Elana's eyes widened, and she leaned forward, her voice low. "Princess Arin, last I remember, you're from Braam, you weren't even here when all that happened. How do you know all of this?"

I felt my heart race, but I quickly composed myself. "Queen Isabelle informed me. She shared the truth with me when I asked."

Elana seemed taken aback by my response. She opened her mouth to speak but then closed it again, clearly unsure of how to respond.

After a long pause, she cleared her throat. "Well, it seems you've been quite well informed. Let us move past all of that." 

"Let's move on, shall we?" I said, forcing a smile. "We have more important matters to focus on, like the Queen's burial rites."

The conversation shifted back to the topic at hand, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between me and Elana. She didn't speak again, but I could see the simmering tension in her eyes.

I had silenced her for now, but I wasn't sure for how long.