INICIAR SESIÓNCarlo walked over to me with a steaming cup of tea in his hands, careful not to spill it. He pressed it into my palms and sat down beside me on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped under his weight. "I asked the maids to make it. Chamomille. I know it relaxes you." He spoke, his voice calming. I'd just gotten out of the shower and my hair was still damp, dark strands sticking to the back of my neck and to my cheeks. I could feel the cold water dripping down onto my shirt. Carlo shifted slightly and I could tell he was trying not to freak out. He was always bad at keeping his emotions in. Finally, he seemed to tire of the pretense and looked at me for a moment before breaking the silence. "Are you going to tell me what that was about?" He asked in exasperation. I sighed and stared straight ahead, tightening my grip around the warm mug. "Elijah is an assh*le who tried to poison me. Nothing shocking there." I mumbled. Carlo frowned. He took the mug from me and set it aside
My blood ran cold."What?"Elijah smirked. He held out his arms."You seek a man strong enough to rule beside you. And a man capable enough to fulfil your deepest desires. And I mean all your desires." He spoke in a low voice.My heartbeat steadied. Good. He wasn't on to me. Just a little egotistical but nothing I didn't already know.I tightened the strings of my robe around my waist."Rest well, Elijah." I spoke dryly before turning around.Instead of hearing feet heading for the door. I heard him let out a huge sigh and plomp down on my couch, legs spread like he owned the room.I wrinkled my face in disgust, folding my arms across my chest."I'll be frank, your Grace." He spime, looking up at me. "You need a husband. I need a crown. My people are strong, of the old blood. We know the old ways better than any of those soft cunts hoping for a chance with you."He placed his legs on my coffee table, folding them."Is that so?" I asked smoothly as I walked over to him. I stopped righ
"Harper?"I perk up, immediately startled when I hear his voice.When I turn around, Dan is right behind me at the door.I can't believe I didn't hear him come in.I immediately want to hide all the evidence of what I was doing. But that's impossible. So I know I have no choice but to own it.I life the handkerchief and show it to him."Why do you still have this?" I ask sharply.Dan looks down at my hand. His lashes have always been so long, it's a wonder to me that they don't get tangled up together."Why are you dressed like a maid?" He counters seeming half amused.I refuse to be derailed.I take another step forward."I asked first. Now answer my question."Daniel shocks me by placing his hand on my arm, the one holding my handkerchief.I feel a chill run down my spine as he fixes his hand around my arm."You once gave it to me, remember?" He asks in a low voice.I feel like a train of memories I had been trying to conceal for years fighting to make their way through.And I'll be
The room is almost eerily quiet. Or maybe it's all in my head.Daniel's stuff is all neatly arranged. Like he never quite settled in here..Everything is arranged in a sort of order I can only farmiliarise with him. Shoes in a line, clothes colour coordinated even though he mostly wears black.The windows are wide open. Casting natural lifht into the room.The only somewhat messy part of the room is a desk with papers and sketches strewn all over.I walk towards it.Dan always loved art. Wherever he was, you could bet he had a sketch pad close by. And if he didn't, there were napkins... even leaves.No surface was safe.I felt uneasy in a way having to roam through. Paranoid like I believed he would somehow know that I had been here.Which was ridiculous because I hadn't had that fear with any of the others I walked up to his closet, gently trailing my fingers over all his hanged shirts.A familiar scent took over. His scent.I gulped.This shouldn't be having this effect on me.But
I tied my hair up making sure to brush all the wispy strands from my face.I sent away all the maids but I know they'll have a heart attack when they see the hair theyvhad spent hours brushing and styling up in a bun instead.I smooth out the maids outfit I stole from Evangeline hoping she wouldn't notice as she's out sick today.I look at myself in the full body mirror in my room and I look almost like a stranger. None of the royal regelia on me. Absolutely no make up. I'm a no body.Something I once wished was true. Something I sometimes still wish was true.I check the time and know I only have two hpurs max. Maybe less.I'm still queen Luna. Even though I have tendencies of diappearing once in a while, my royal guard will eventually notice my absence.And let me not forget, some of the men doing this challenge might surely not be well versed with the Naverene forests or any forests in general. But they're still those like Carlo who grew up training there. He will navigate the wood
"Time for the second challenge."It felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room."Many of you should consider yourselves lucky just to be standing here at all." I paused, letting the silence stretch. "But luck will only carry you so far just so you know."I swept my gaze across the group, reading every one's reactions."Four of you were eliminated yesterday for being weak. Good riddance in my opinion. But two of you joined the running as well."I didn't look at either Dan or Carlo when I spoke intentionally."I'l allow it. But no one should make the mistake of believing they'll receive special treatment. The factions need a competent leader they can rely on. I need a competent partner."I scanned the room of some broad shoulders, some lanky frames. Some with rings on their fingers worth more than some's houses.A sea of men who had no idea what they were getting into with me."My council believes many of you look good on paper. You offer me your armies, a good portion of yo







