Chapter 119
I sat on the edge of the bed, gripping the fabric of my dress as I turned to Rowan. "She accepted?" My voice barely concealed my disbelief. It had barely even been a few hours since we proposed the idea of marriage to Prince Lucian and she already accepted.
Rowan nodded, his brows furrowed. "Lilian accepted the marriage to Lucian faster than I had thought she would. It's suspicious."
I swallowed hard. "It doesn't make any sense. Lilian has never been one to back down. For her to agree so easily..."
"Braam is defiant planning something," Rowan finished for me, his tone dark. "And we need to find out what that is."
A knock at the door interrupted our thoughts. One of Rowan's trusted guards stepped in and bowed. "Your Majesty, My Queen," he greeted. "We were watching Lady Lilian as ordered, but we haven't noticed anything unusual. She behaves as though she truly intends to marry Prince Lucian."
I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling within me. "Then we must be missing something. We're being too complacent. Lilian wouldn't have accepted the marriage proposal without sending word first, unless they have already anticipated this move from us." I turned to Rowan, voice urgent. "Three days have passed, and Kaelin hasn't made a move or even tried to contact me. This has only made me more uneasy. It's clear now that something is going on."
"You think they're waiting for something?" Rowan asked.
"Or they're already moving," I replied. "I think Braam is working on something bigger than we expected. Rowan we have to find out what it is."
Rowan exhaled sharply. "What do you know? What do you know about Braam that we can use against them. Now is the time to use everything in our power to fight back against them."
I hesitated for a moment, I looked around,then I whispered, "The Emperor of Braam... he's mad."
Rowan's expression turned grim. "That's a dangerous claim."
"I know," I admitted. "But I saw it myself during my eight months in Braam. They tried to hide it, it's very hard to figure the truth out if you're not part of the inner court. He's unstable, paranoid. He believes the gods speak directly to him. His decisions are erratic, and his generals constantly try to cover for him. His brother rules his empires indirectly. If word got out..."
"It would shake the empire," Rowan finished, his eyes darkening. "But no one will believe it without proof."
"Exactly. But if we can get that proof..."
"Then we have leverage." Rowan stood and began pacing. "If we expose him at the right time, Braam might be too preoccupied with its own problems to focus on ours."
A chill ran down my spine. "That's if we can get proof before they act. If we're already too late, we might not get the chance."
"The council meeting is starting soon. Are you joining us?"
Rowan asked as he looked at me.
I nodded.
"Of course. I would. But I need a moment."
I murmured.
Rowan smiled.
"You don't have to attend you know? You can just stay here and rest."
I shook my head.
"I've had enough time to rest. I want to attend. Besides, with everything going on, I can hardly think straight."
"Alright then. If you insist." Rowan said as he planted a kiss on my forehead before leaving the chambers.
I felt comforted by his kiss, but it was impossible not to worry. Not with everything going on.
I took a deep breath and steadied myself before heading to the council meeting. As I stepped into the courtyard, a crisp breeze tugged at my cloak, but the unease settling in my stomach had nothing to do with the cold. The courtyard was quiet, save for the distant chatter of guards patrolling the walls. My steps were measured, cautious.
Then, the air shifted.
A shout rang out. "Protect the Queen!"
My head snapped up just in time to see a hooded figure sprinting toward me, a gleaming blade clutched in his hand. My heart slammed against my ribs. Before I could react, Rowan's guards surged forward, intercepting the attacker just as he lunged.
The clash of steel echoed as two guards forced him back. He snarled, thrashing like a wild animal, his blade swinging recklessly. I stumbled back, my breath coming in sharp, ragged gasps. One of the guards managed to strike his sword from his grasp, sending it clattering to the ground.
"Take him!" someone shouted.
The assassin's gaze flicked to me—wild, desperate. Then, before the guards could subdue him, he reached into his sleeve and yanked out a small dagger. My blood ran cold.
With one swift motion, he drove the blade into his own throat.
I gasped, horror paralyzing me as blood gushed from the wound. He collapsed onto the stone pavement, his body convulsing before falling still. The metallic scent of blood filled the air. Silence followed, thick and suffocating.
A guard appeared at my side, his presence grounding me. "Your Majesty! Are you hurt?" His voice was urgent, his hands gripping my arms as he scanned me for injuries.
I shook my head numbly. "No... but—"
Then, in the distance, just beyond the courtyard, a figure stood watching.
Kaelin.
She was still, almost like a specter in the shadows. Our eyes met, and a slow, knowing smile curved her lips before she turned and disappeared into the castle halls.
"Kaelin..." I whispered, my voice barely audible. "There was a woman! Follow that woman!"
The guard's grip on me tightened. "What woman?! Where did you see her?"
I swallowed hard, deciding against saying anything else. I had waited for a message from Kaelin and she had finally sent me one, even though I didn't like it, I had no choice.
"Sorry.. I was mistaken. It was nothing."
The guard turned to the other guards, his voice like steel. "Inform the Alpha King. Double the watch. No one enters or leaves the castle without clearance. We need to know how and why the assassin got in here! Or why he targeted the queen."
The guards bowed before rushing off. My hands were still trembling as I looked up at the sky. Things were worse. So much worse than I had imagined.
A handmaiden rushed through the courtyard, a letter in her hand.
“Your Majesty, a woman at the end of the hall who claims to be one of your court ladies asked me to hand you this. She says she doesn’t have time to stay and deliver this to you personally but asks me to give it to you.”
The handmaiden pressed the letter in my hands.
I stood there in utter confusion, almost annoyed by the distraction.
“What lady?”
“Oh I don’t know. She was just here.” The handmaiden said anxiously.
“Leave.” I murmured as I started opening the letter.
In mere seconds I already knew who it was from.
How dare you threaten us? The battle line is drawn. - K
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