Episode 18

“Zale.”

“Where are you, darling?” Ale kept walking around the entire kingdom, searching for her child. Panic rose in her chest when she couldn’t find Zale anywhere. She even circled the same places several times until her body accidentally bumped into someone’s shoulder.

“Uwow, my dear little sister!” squealed the person, stepping back slightly from the impact.

Ale glared coldly at the woman smiling before her. She didn’t understand the woman’s intentions, so she decided to move past her. But the voice that came from the woman stopped her in her tracks.

“Haha, I can’t believe you’ve returned after disappearing for five years. I must admit, you’re quite extraordinary,” the woman said, clapping her hands as she stepped right in front of Ale.

“Move,” Ale said sharply, trying to pass her, but the woman refused to let her go.

“Oh my, I can’t believe how brave you’ve become,” she said mockingly.

“I don’t know you,” Ale replied coldly, her eyes fixed straight ahead.

“Hey, I’m Keona, your sister, Kath,” the woman said, introducing herself.

“A stupid trick, pretending to have amnesia just to attract the Alpha, hmm? Or maybe you hit your head after falling from the cliff and lost your memory,” Keona sneered, her face devoid of the slightest bit of humanity.

“Tch. A lowly creature like you still lives, huh?” Keona insulted Ale, but when their eyes met, she was startled to see something different in her sister’s gaze colder, sharper than five years ago.

With confidence, Ale stepped closer, arms crossed, meeting Keona’s glare head on. Keona even blinked in disbelief; her sister didn’t seem like the same person anymore.

“So what’s your business with me? And why does it matter if the Alpha is interested in me? Isn’t that a good thing? Maybe he’s no longer interested in you because you’re ugly and old,” Ale said with a smirk, throwing Keona’s own words back at her. To Ale, Keona was nothing more than a pest.

“W–what?” Keona stared at Ale in disbelief.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ale. Pleased to meet you, Luna Keona,” Ale said sweetly, emphasizing the last words.

“How dare you?!” Keona raised her hand, ready to slap Ale, but Ale swiftly caught it.

“Tsk, tsk. No wonder the Alpha’s love for you has started to fade you’re too rough,” Ale tilted her head slightly, still holding Keona’s struggling arm.

“Let go!!!” Keona shouted in frustration.

“Arghhhh!” Ale twisted Keona’s arm sharply, making Keona groan in pain.

“I don’t know you, Miss Keona. And one more thing whatever you did to this ‘Kath’ you mentioned, that was cruel. I’ll make sure you’re punished for it.” Without mercy, Ale twisted her arm harder. Keona’s scream echoed, catching someone’s attention.

“Oh heavens, you two!” Luna Amarylis stepped in and broke them apart. Keona immediately grabbed her arm, which had gone numb and red.

“Keona, are you causing trouble again?!” Luna Amarylis scolded. Keona was startled and stepped back.

“No, Luna Amarylis, I was just teaching her a lesson for flirting with my mate,” Keona said, forcing a sweet smile though her heart burned with fury. But instead of sympathy, she was met with a sharp slap from Luna Amarylis.

Plak!

“I’ve warned you not to be harsh with the guests of the kingdom!” Luna Amarylis scolded. Keona couldn’t understand why her mother-in-law was acting so differently usually, she was indifferent toward her no matter how hard Keona tried to win her favor.

“Guest of the kingdom…?” Keona whispered in disbelief.

“Come with me,” Luna Amarylis said gently, smiling at Ale before taking her arm. From a distance, Ale turned her head toward Keona, giving her a sly smile.

“Wasn’t that your daughter-in-law?” Ale asked as they walked.

“Yes, but let her be. I know what lies in her heart. She can do whatever she wants here, but if she commits another act of cruelty, I’ll banish her. I’m sorry for her behavior,” Luna Amarylis said apologetically.

Luna Amarylis led Ale into her private chamber. But a small cry interrupted them.

“Mother!” Zale ran toward Ale, who immediately knelt down and embraced him tightly.

“Oh, my baby,” Ale said with relief, overjoyed to see her child safe. For a moment, she had feared that something terrible might have happened to him, but thankfully, he was fine.

“Lately, Zale has been safe with me. He’s such a smart and well-behaved boy,” Luna Amarylis said with a smile. Ale’s expression softened; she knew her son was clever and playful for his age.

“I want to ask you something, dear. Is he Zach’s child?” Luna Amarylis touched Ale’s hand, but Ale immediately pulled away. Luna Amarylis sighed in resignation.

“No,” Ale said curtly. Her face turned expressionless, and the air in the room grew cold  heavy with tension.

“I understand your fear. You probably still can’t accept it yet. Your heart must be in so much pain. But believe me, Luna is always on your side,” Luna Amarylis said softly, trying to reassure her. Ale’s expression didn’t change.

“You love my son, don’t you?” Luna Amarylis asked, recalling how deeply this woman had once been in love with him. She knew it well.

“No,” Ale answered shortly.

“I’ll be leaving today,” Ale said firmly.

“I beg you please, don’t go. My son truly loves and needs you.” Ale stood up, carrying the sleeping Zale in her arms.

“I have an offer.”

“How about—”