Chapter 140

"I can't use the Queen in that way..." Rowan said, his voice low and controlled. "And lifting the lockdown too soon invites an invasion from Braam. I won’t risk the lives of our people.” 

"Braam doesn't need an invitation,"  one of his men scoffed from the far end of the table. "They're already moving. Our spies report they've stationed troops along the border. We are surrounded by them.” 

"How many?" Rowan asked sharply, his eyes narrowing.  

"Too many," he said grimly. "They're waiting for a sign of weakness. Starving our own people might be that sign. This lockdown won’t last for long. When the people are hungry they will start fighting us.” 

Murmurs rippled through the room. Rowan's eyes darkened.  

"I'm working on a solution. One that doesn't involve endangering the life of my Queen and my unborn son," Rowan said firmly, though even his voice couldn't cut through the rising tension.  

"You need more than a solution, Your Majesty," Braeden said carefully. "You need an advantage."  

The room fell quiet. Rowan stared at the worn map spread across the table, his mind racing. His kingdom was stretched too thin. He needed time — time they didn't have.  

"My king," a softer voice spoke from the shadows near the door. An old man from the looks of his greying hair. "The Queen advocating for peace is the best option. The Queen is of Braamin blood. I find it hard to believe that they would let any harm come to her. I still think using the Queen would be a good idea to bring about peace."  

Rowan went still. His throat tightened.  

"They won't listen to her," he said quietly, his voice colder now. "The day she married me, they already considered her one of us. She's dead to them now."  

The room fell silent again.  

I turned back slowly and left. I couldn't bear to hear anymore. The council would never truly understand why I couldn't help them. If they ever knew the truth, they would find out that I was a fraud. A fake.

A woman using other people’s identity because she couldn’t live as who she truly was.

………….

I sat on the edge of the luxurious bed, the soft sheets pooling around me. Rowan stood near the window, his back tense as he stared out at the courtyard below. His usual armor was gone, replaced by a simple linen shirt and dark trousers. He looked more like the man I remembered from my dreams than the king the world feared.  

The room felt too big, too quiet, despite the weight of what we'd just agreed to.  

"I still don't like this," I admitted softly, breaking the silence. "Letting everyone believe I'm dying... feels wrong."  

Rowan turned, his expression softening. "I know. But it's the only way to keep you safe, Ariadne." He stepped closer, his voice low. "The council believes they can use you to secure peace. They don't know the truth. Braam won't stop until they have you. They haven't revealed your secret yet, but I'm sure they're itching to. If we tell the lie that you're dying, they might let you off the hook."  

I looked away, my chest tightening. "It's not just that. I hate hiding. I want to help you." 

"You are helping," Rowan said, kneeling in front of me. He took my hands in his, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my palm. "You're staying alive. That's all that matters to me."  

I swallowed hard, nodding despite the ache in my throat. "How about negotiations with them then? I hope you're not thinking of going to war with them are you? I hear their army is three times bigger than ours. This might be a good time to put your brother Lucian to good use." 

Rowan's brows furrowed. "Lucian?"  

"He's valuable, Rowan.  You said he is the only one who knows the truth about me. He could negotiate for us with Braam." 

Rowan's jaw tightened. "Lucian is dangerous and selfish. He betrayed me once already. How do I trust him not to do it again?"  

"Because you hold his family's fate in your hands," I said quietly. "He doesn't know his brother and his wife ran away. He doesn't know you have his mother. If you offer him their freedom... he'll do whatever you ask."  

Rowan stared at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. I could tell he hated the idea — hated even thinking about trusting Lucian — but he couldn't deny the truth in it.  

"You want me to make a deal with the man who tried to take you from me," Rowan said slowly, his voice low and rough.  

I squeezed his hands. "I want you to win, Rowan. I don't want a war. And we both know there would be major losses if we go through with this war. If Braam hasn't made the first strike yet, it must mean they're willing to negotiate." 

Rowan exhaled sharply through his nose, his gaze dark. After a long moment, he nodded once, sharply. "Yes. Their hesitation to fight on the battlefield is exactly what has stalled this battle for so long. It's time we use that to our advantage then." 

\---

The dungeons were cold, damp, and smelled of rust and stale air. Rowan's steps echoed against the stone as we descended. I wasn't supposed to be there — I was supposed to stay hidden — but I couldn't let him face his brother alone. Not for this.  

"Stay back," Rowan murmured as we reached the cell. His voice was a low warning, but I didn't move.  

I wish I remembered Lucian. And what he had done so horribly that made Rowan hate him so much. Even me. But I didn't. All I could think of was how they looked a little bit alike. 

"Come to gloat, brother?" Lucian's voice was hoarse, but his smirk didn't waver.  

Rowan didn't flinch. "No. I came to offer you a deal."  

Lucian laughed, dry and humorless. "A deal? I must be dreaming."  

"You want freedom?" Rowan's voice was steady. "For yourself. For your mother. For Reagan and his wife. I'm offering it."  

Lucian's expression faltered, the smirk slipping. "What's the catch?"  

"You go to Braam," Rowan said coldly. "Negotiate peace on my behalf."  

Lucian barked out a laugh, though there was no amusement in it. "Peace? With Braam? They'll never accept it. Not after—" His gaze flicked to me, lingering. "Not after her.”

“So you finally found her. After blaming me for her disappearance. She is the reason I’m locked up here.” Lucian growled in annoyance.

Rowan shrugged.

“She is also the reason you’re still alive. She begged me not to execute you. If not you’d be dead by now.”

Rowan said to him. Lucian’s eyes travelled to me, staring at me in disbelief. He quickly looked away. 

“So, do you or do you not want your freedom?”

Rowan asked.

Lucian chuckled loudly. I stepped back a bit, startled by his sudden laughter, but Rowan didn’t move. He just stood there with his eyes watching him intently. 

Lucian eventually sighed. 

“There is no negotiating with Braam. The only reason you’re still on the throne right now is because Braam hasn’t told the world that your beloved wife is an otsayak. What do you think the wolf clans are going to do when they find out their queen is fake?” 

“What makes you think I can’t go over there right now and expose your secret for all to know? The true secret of the Queen of Zaire?”

“That she really is an abomination?”