Chapter 42
The court of Zaire was as I remembered it—opulent and suffocating. But with the death of its Alpha King, it bore a heavier air, a weight that pressed against my chest like the remnants of a storm.
His death had left a gaping wound in the kingdom, one that Rowan's coronation had yet to heal. There was much to hear and so many things the people were scared about. The news of the King’s death has shocked them, at a time where many were just coming to accept Prince Rowan as the Crown Prince, they had to accept him as their King. I wove through the maze of courtiers, cloaked in my new identity as Lady Arin, emissary of Braam, the North Isles.
It wasn't hard to see the fractures within the royal family.
Elana, the once-powerful royal concubine, now sat among the courtiers, stripped of her influence. Without the Alpha King, she held no true influence. Her beauty, though still striking, had taken on a brittle edge, and the glint of desperation in her eyes was impossible to miss. She was not as important as she had once prided herself to be. No one spared her a second glance, and it was clear she was a relic of the past—discarded as easily as a tarnished crown.
Then there was Prince Lucian, Rowan's younger brother. His bitterness was palpable, his gaze sharp and unforgiving as he prowled the court. He had lot of things to be angry for. He had been comfortable as crown Prince and then he had lost it all when Rowan was reinstated. The whispers about his divorce from Princess Delilah swirled like a dark cloud. Apparently she had not recovered after the death of their child and she had retreated into isolation, and Lucian had wasted no time severing their mating bond. A decision that only drove Delilah even more mad.
I could see the weight of his choices in the tension of his jaw, but there was no sympathy in my heart for him.
No not for him. Not after all he had done.
And Rowan.
My chest tightened at the thought of him, at the sight of him seated on the throne that he had wanted to reclaim so badly. His crown sat heavy on his brow, and though he carried himself with the confidence of a king, I could see the strain in the lines of his face. There was something fractured about him, something raw that he tried to hide behind the polished veneer of power.
And yet, even now, I couldn't deny the pull he had on me. It was maddening. He was just as I remembered. Just as handsome as I remembered. Even more handsome as a king.
I pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on my mission. The cracks in the kingdom were deepening, and I would exploit them until the entire structure came crashing down.
But my resolve faltered when our paths crossed for the first time since my arrival.
The audience chamber was filled with tension as I stood before him, presenting myself as Lady Arin of Braam. The courtiers watched with interest, their faces a sea of carefully crafted indifference. Rowan's gaze settled on me, and my heart thundered in my chest.
He didn't recognize me.
It was both a relief and a dagger to my heart. After everything we had been to each other, how could he not know me?
"Lady Arin," he said, his voice steady, though his piercing blue eyes betrayed a flicker of something he couldn't name. "It is an honor to welcome an emissary from the North Isles. We are so glad you could honor our invitation. This is a good chance to foster peace between our nations don’t you think?”
I met his gaze, forcing myself to keep my composure. "Your Majesty," I replied, my voice calm and measured. "It is also an honor to meet you. I am happy that we would finally get a change to strengthen the alliance between our lands. My country values stability, and we hope to ensure a prosperous future under your reign."
His lips pressed into a thin line, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind. There was a tension in his posture, a suspicion that he couldn't quite shake.
"Stability is something we also value here," he said, his tone laced with an edge. "Though I also cannot help but find it curious that Braam would send an emissary now, after so many years of silence. Besides, we had also extended a courtesy letter for my coronation and no emissaries of Braam attended.”
I forced a smile. "Times change, Your Majesty. We are looking at things in a new light. We recognize the strength of Zaire under your leadership and wish to offer our unwavering support. We wish to learn your ways and help out in any way we can.”
His gaze lingered on me for a moment too long, and I could feel the weight of his scrutiny. Did he sense the truth? Did some part of him recognize me, even if his mind could not place it?
The tension between us was electric, and I clenched my hands into fists to keep from trembling.
"Your arrival is... timely," he finally said, his voice softer now, almost thoughtful. "We are just in the process of making a few needed changes to the kingdom. I hope you find our court to your liking, Lady Arin."
I dipped into a shallow bow, masking the storm of emotions raging within me. "I am sure I will, Your Majesty."
As I left the chamber, my head held high, I could feel his gaze burning into my back. And though I hated him—hated the man who had betrayed me and stolen everything I held dear—a part of me couldn't help but ache for what we had lost.
But there was no room for sentiment. Not now.
I would bring this kingdom to its knees. And Rowan would be the first to fall.
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