Chapter 97
I walked briskly down the grand corridor, trying to drown out the swirling whispers of shock and anger that filled the castle. Isabelle's words hung over the court like a storm cloud, and I could feel the tension suffocating the air around me.
As I passed one of the smaller halls, I heard voices rising—sharp and biting. I paused, my curiosity getting the better of me, and ducked behind a pillar to listen.
"It's disgraceful!" one of the court ladies said, her voice filled with fury. "Queen Isabelle humiliated herself for this court, and how does the King repay her? By letting her take the blame for his own failures?"
Another scoffed, her tone dripping with contempt. "Cowardly, if you ask me. I cannot believe it! Hiding behind his title and his power while she's cast aside like a scapegoat. It's shameful."
"I always thought King Rowan was a strong leader," another chimed in, "but this... this makes me question everything. If he's infertile, how can we even trust him to secure the future of the kingdom?"
My fists clenched at my sides. I wanted to step out and defend him, to tell them that they didn't know the whole truth, that Rowan wasn't the man they were painting him to be. But the anger in their voices made me hesitate.
Another voice broke through, softer but no less scathing. "Do you think Isabelle was telling the truth? About his... condition?"
"Why would she lie?" the first lady replied. "They were married for eleven months. Eleven moons and no heir. I think she was telling the truth. She has nothing to gain now. If anything, her outburst just confirmed everything. And if it's true, what does that mean for us? For the kingdom?"
"It means we have a serious problem. A king who cannot produce an heir. What would happen now? Should he still remain King?"
"Even if he wants to, I don't think the wolf clans will allow it." The first Lady continued as she walked away with the others.
I pressed my back against the cold stone, willing myself to stay hidden.
Further down the hall, another group of voices caught my attention—this time deeper and rougher, the unmistakable tones of the wolf clan chiefs.
"We need to address this," one of them said firmly. "If the King truly can't produce an heir, then what's the point of keeping him on the throne? The future of the pack depends on a strong bloodline."
"Watch your words," another warned. "You're speaking of the Alpha King. Show some respect."
"Respect doesn't secure our legacy," the first growled. "If he is infertile, we need to think about alternatives. The clans won't follow a leader who can't ensure the continuation of his line. What do we do now?!"
A third voice joined in, calmer but no less resolute. "But we can't act on rumors alone. Isabelle's accusations could be a ploy, a final act of vengeance. We need proof before we do anything rash."
"She was once a queen! What use would she have with lying?! And did you notice the King didn't say anything to prove her wrong?"
Another one said, he continued, "And how exactly do you suggest we get proof?" the first snapped. "March into his chambers and demand answers? The King doesn't owe us explanations, but the longer this goes unaddressed, the more unstable the court will become."
"We have to verify her claims first. If they are true, then he cannot remain King can he?!"
"We already deposed the Queen, you want us to depose the Alpha King too?"
Their words stung more than I expected. They didn't know Rowan like I did. He wasn't impotent, but the rumour seemed to have put everyone on edge. It was all they could talk about.
Isabelle had been right about not going down alone, she was attempting to bring down Rowan with her.
But what could I say to them? How could I defend him without exposing my own self? I was pregnant with his child, that alone was proof of his potency, but how could I tell them that?
I took a shaky breath and forced myself to move, slipping away before I could hear more. The weight of their words followed me, though, heavy and unrelenting.
As I made my way back to my chambers, I couldn't shake the image of Rowan standing alone in the hall, facing the judgment of his court. For the first time, I wondered if even he could withstand this storm.
.............
As I passed by one of the quieter wings of the castle, I froze in my tracks at the sound of hushed voices echoing through the stone hallway. I moved closer, careful to stay hidden in the shadows, and strained to hear.
"It's all falling into place," came the smooth, confident voice of Royal Concubine Elana. "Isabelle did all the work for us. This rumor will work perfectly in our favor. While the court is busy questioning the King's ability to produce an heir, they'll lose faith in his leadership altogether. Slowly, they will see my son as the better option.”
There was a small gasp, followed by the softer, more hesitant voice of her handmaiden. "Do you really think it will go that far, my lady? They're already restless after Queen Isabelle's deposition. I doubt they would want to make another decision like that so hastily.”
"That's precisely the point," Elana snapped, her tone sharpening. "We need to feed the fire while it's still smoldering. This is the best time to question his leadership and whether or not he is potent. Some of the wolf clans already distrust Rowan—they've been waiting for a reason to question his strength as Alpha. This gives them one."
There was a pause before the handmaiden spoke again. "But what if he finds out we're behind this? The King wouldn’t go easy on us if he finds out.”
Elana let out a low, humorless laugh. "Do you think I'm afraid of Rowan? Let him suspect all he wants. He has always been suspicious of me, but he has no proof, and by the time he tries to do anything about it, the court will already be turned against him. This is the perfect time.”
I pressed my hand against the cold wall, my heart pounding. They were playing a dangerous game, one that could have devastating consequences for Rowan.
The handmaiden's voice trembled slightly. "And what about the others? What if someone speaks in his favor? Surely not everyone will believe these rumors."
Elana scoffed. "That's why you're here. Your job is to make sure no one questions the story. Start by reminding the court of his first marriage—how he was crippled then, and how that union was also childless. Let them believe this has always been his fault, not Isabelle's. Let them believe that the fact that he was once crippled is the reason for his impotence.”
“When the time is right, I will prepare a healer that would verify this. By then, the damage will already be too much to fix. They will have no choice but to ask him to step down as king.”
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