Chapter 32
The castle was steeped in an oppressive silence, the kind that seemed to reverberate through the ancient stone walls and settle heavily in the air. Word had spread like wildfire: Princess Delilah's son, the much-anticipated heir, had died at childbirth. Every hallway, every chamber, and every courtyard was draped in mourning. Even the bustling streets outside had ground to a halt, the usual vibrant chatter replaced by hushed whispers and tear-streaked faces.
As I dressed, my fingers trembled. My own injuries, inflicted in a moment of her anguish, were still fresh. Three long deep lines on my face, Rowan had given me something to speed up the healing, but the scars were still fresh, one wrong move and they would be bleeding again.
Rowan, ever-watchful, stood by the window, his eyes clouded with worry and regret.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I wish I was there to protect you from this. I should have been there sooner."
I turned to face him, forcing a small, reassuring smile. "You did everything you could. Besides, Delilah was only hurting, looking for someone to blame like you said."
He crossed the room in quick strides, taking my hands in his. His touch was warm, steadying the tumult within me. "Nevertheless. I should have protected you," he said, his jaw tight with guilt.
"And I shouldn't have even helped her in the first place," I replied gently. "But what's done is done."
I remembered the events that unfolded after Delilah's outburst. I had become sceptical with myself. Wondering if there was truly a possibility that I could have hurt Delilah and Lucian's son. Rowan had shut down that notion down quickly.
And he was right. Despite what she might have done to me or said to me during dinner, I had no ill feeling towards her or her child.
With a nod, he squeezed my hands and then released them, turning to retrieve his formal cloak. We were summoned to an emergency family meeting by the Alpha King, a gathering that would undoubtedly be fraught with sorrow and tension. Together, we made our way through the silent corridors, our footsteps echoing like the heartbeat of the castle.
The family meeting room was dimly lit, the heavy drapes drawn to block out the summer sun. Faces that were usually vibrant and full of life were now ashen and solemn. The Alpha King sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding despite the lines of grief etched into his features. Beside him was the Royal Concubine, her eyes sharp and calculating, wearing all black. Lucian and his wife were noticeably absent. I heard Delilah would not leave her bed or stop trying to hurt herself ever since the incident. Lucian had taken it upon himself to stay by her side and watch her.
Rowan and I took our seats, the atmosphere thick with unspoken words. The King cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"The loss of the Crown Prince's son is a tragedy that weighs heavily on us all," he began, his voice steady but filled with sorrow. "A stillborn firstborn heir is considered a bad omen and for such reason, we must seek the guidance and blessing of the Moon Goddess. We will go to her temple for prayers and guidance."
A murmur of agreement swept through the room, though it did little to lift the heavy pall. The Royal Concubine leaned forward, her gaze locking onto me with a predatory gleam. "I believe," she said, her tone dripping with insinuation, "that this was premeditated. I spoke to Delilah herself and she seemed to believe the same thing."
"What do you mean?"
The King asked.
The Royal Concubine shifted in her seat.
"What do you think?! Someone must have done this to us! To cause us such grief. Cressida, you were with her, were you not?"
A chill ran down my spine. Her words hung in the air, thick with accusation. Rowan's hand clenched around mine under the table, a silent promise of support. He straightened, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
"And what do you mean?! My wife was the one who found her in labour and took her to her chambers."
The Royal Concubine shrugged.
"And she must have managed to do something to her didn't she?! She was the only one with her in those moments."
"I will not allow anyone to blame my wife for this tragedy," he declared, his eyes blazing with protectiveness.
"Did you forget that Delilah had two more full moons left before her pregnancy came to term?! The baby was premature! How could you blame Cressida for helping her?!?!"
The Concubine's eyes narrowed, but she held her tongue. The King nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Rowan is right," he said finally. "We must not let grief turn us against one another. This is not the time for that. We have lots of things to do."
He then turned to Rowan. "Until Crown Prince Lucian is able to resume his duties, you will take over his responsibilities. Lucian may not be in the right frame of mind currently. I want to give him time to heal."
Rowan bowed his head in acknowledgment. "I will do my best, Your Majesty."
With that, the King dismissed us, the meeting dissolving into a heavy silence.
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