Chapter 36

My fingers danced among the blooms, my eyes sparkling with concentration as I carefully wove sprays of lilacs, roses, and wildflowers. The Dowager Queen herself had entrusted me with this task, and it filled my heart with a rare excitement. I was no longer the observer on the sidelines; today, I had a part to play, and it was for none other than the esteemed wolf clans, visiting in an attempt to present their case to the Alpha King and formally ask for Rowan to be reinstated as Crown Prince. I could scarcely contain my pride.

"Lady Cressida, does this grouping look suitable?" One of the maids asked, holding up a small bouquet.

I inspected it, nodding with a soft smile. "Perfect, Lilian. The touch of Sage is just right. It adds a sense of grounding."

The maids around me continued their work, some chatting quietly about the wolves, others merely admiring the arrangements coming together. For a moment, I closed my eyes, savouring the scent of the fresh blooms and the satisfaction of responsibility.

But then, rapid footsteps echoed down the corridor, disrupting the gentle atmosphere. My handmaiden, Maria, burst into the room, her face ashen and her breaths coming in gasps.

"My Lady!" Maria called, her voice trembling. "Please, I must speak with you—now."

Startled by the sudden urgency in my usually composed handmaiden, I turned and met her gaze. "Maria, what's wrong?"

"It's... it's not safe to speak here," Maria whispered, casting a cautious glance at the surrounding maids.

Understanding the need for privacy, I set down the bouquet I'd been holding and nodded, following Maria out of the room and into one of the quieter hallways of the castle. My heart pounded with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Once they were alone, Maria took a shuddering breath, her voice barely a whisper. "My Lady, I am aware of how this may sound... But please, for your safety, you need to leave now..."

My eyes widened. "What do you mean? Is something wrong? Why would I leave now?"

Maria shook her head, glancing around before leaning closer. "There is an evil plot against you. The Royal Concubine has been plotting to remove you ever since the Crown Prince saved you. She does not believe you, and she does not believe that you are Lady Cressida. I believe she has finally found something against you. And she intends to reveal it tonight during the wolf clan meeting ."

I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. The flowers, the excitement, the honour of preparing for a royal event—all of it suddenly seemed distant, overshadowed by this new, sinister revelation.

"How? How did you find out about this?" I asked, my voice low. "That they're planning something..."

Maria's expression softened with concern, and then for a brief second, I saw something like a guilt flash in those eyes. "That is not necessary, my lady. What is necessary is that you leave now! Now or they are going to carry out their evil plan soon!"

My mind raced. I couldn't ignore the threat, but then I couldn't just leave without telling Rowan. Besides, I didn't know if it was the truth or not. I had to tell Rowan about it first.

After a moment, I took Maria's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Thank you for telling me, Maria," I said firmly. "You must understand I cannot leave now without Prince Rowan's knowledge. I will speak to him about this first."

Maria's eyes widened with fear. She grabbed my hand desperately.

"My Lady, there is no time to waste! We must make haste! I have a horse waiting for you outside the Gates, if you leave now, you can leave and be out of the kingdom before they even find out that you have left."

I pulled my hand away.

"I can't just leave without telling Rowan. I cannot do that Maria."

I gave Maria one last look before going back to my flower arrangements.

"My Lady, you are making a grave mistake."

Before I could ask her what that meant, she already left, running down the hall.



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

I moved through the dim corridors of the castle, my heart drumming with a frantic urgency. Where could he be? I had been searching for what felt like hours, calling his name softly, hoping he'd answer. Prince Rowan was nowhere to be found, and each empty hallway only made the warning even heavier in my mind. I needed to find him; Maria's words clung to me, dark and cryptic, a whisper of foreboding that refused to be silenced. I had not been able to stop thinking about it, to stop pondering on those dark cryptic words that could be the end for me.

My steps slowed as I neared the eastern wing. There, in the slant of sunlight pouring through an arched window, I saw her.

A woman stood at the end of the corridor, shrouded in shadow but unmistakable. Long, golden hair fell in waves over her shoulders, spilling like sunlight against her back. I froze, my breath caught in my chest. It was impossible. It couldn't be her. And yet... the way she stood, the grace of her profile...

"Lady Isabelle?" I whispered, the name slipping from my lips like an unbidden ghost. I blinked, and she was gone. Only empty air remained in the corridor. I must have imagined it. Lady Isabelle Carstairs was dead. She was dead and buried. But why, why was I seeing her now? Today of all days after Maria's warning?

Suppressing the unsettling image, I forced myself to move on, drawing closer to my chambers. But before I could reach them, I heard footsteps behind me. Turning, I found myself face-to-face with Lady Elana, the Royal Concubine, and an entourage of guards, her smile cold and tainted with an unsettling malice.

"Cressida," she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Going somewhere?"

I fought the urge to step back. "Lady Elana. I... I was just returning to my chambers."

She looked past me, a flicker of something dark dancing in her eyes. Then she lifted a hand, signalling to the guards. "Seize her," she commanded.

Panic flashed through me as the guards closed in, their expressions stony and unmoved. "What... What are you doing?" I asked, my voice trembling.

Lady Elana's smile widened, almost revelling in my fear. "I know what you've done, you impostor. Lied to me. Deceived the Crown. Desecrated this castle with your mere presence."

"Lady Cressida, you are mistaken," I stammered, attempting to shake off the guards' grip, my voice pleading. "I haven't deceived anyone. I would never—"

A resounding slap across my face silenced me, and I gasped at the sting. "Silence!" she hissed. "You and your poisoned lies are done here."

My cheek burned, and I felt the pull as she reached for the braid I'd hastily tied that morning, loosening it with a harsh tug. My hair tumbled down, cascading around my shoulders. A murmur swept through the room, and I saw eyes widening, horrified and uncertain, as they looked upon me.

It was then I realised. The mark. The Otsayak symbol was now exposed, an unmistakable dark sigil embedded on my forehead. I'd kept it hidden, carefully concealed all these months. But now there was nothing to shield me from their accusing stares.

A wave of dread coursed through me, but I lifted my chin, trying to steady my voice. "This mark... it's not what you think. I am loyal to this crown, to Prince Rowan. I would never—"

"I told you. I told you what she was. She is an abomination."

A voice said as a figure emerged from the shadows.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Lady Isabelle Carstairs in the flesh.

How?

She was dead. I saw her dead body.

I saw her lying cold and blue on the floor.

My jaw hung in shock.

Lady Elana leaned in close, her gaze flicking to the mark on my forehead. "Yes," she whispered, her tone edged with triumph. "She is nothing more than a traitor in disguise, staining this sacred place. The Otsayak mark is a brand of darkness. And she is the curse that has infiltrated this castle for months now. We must purge her out."