CHAPTER SIX - THE CROWN OF THORNS

“The new crown princess is……” the announcer paused for a second “Theresa of the Eastern Quarter.”

The villagers and elders started applauding her as she walked over

“Bow your head, Crown Princess.”

The voice was firm.

Cold.

Commanding.

Theresa gave a faint smile and quietly lowered her head

But only physically.

Inside, her wolf purred.

I bow now… so i can make them bow later.

A hand lifted her chin.

“Look at me.”

She did.

It was James standing before her.

The Alpha.

The Future king.

The man she once begged to see is now in front of her

Now he was looking at her like… duty.

Nothing more.

“From this moment,” he said, his voice steady

“You are bound to the throne. You will carry its honor. Its burdens. Its legacy.”

Theresa nod in agreement.

“And you?” she asked. “Will you carry me?”

A brief silence. James stared directly into her eyes. She has no fear

Then

“I will protect you as my Luna.” He said

Not love.

Not want.

Not choose.

Protect.

Her smile deepened.

“How generous of you, Alpha.”

They shared refreshments to the guests and moments of joy began

⸻

“The king is waiting,” a palace guard informed.

Theresa walked beside James.

Not behind.

Not ahead.

Beside. As the crown princess.

The palace doors opened.

The scent of power hit her instantly.

Old.

Ancient.

Dominant.

On the throne sat the King.

Weak body.

Strong aura.

Dying… but not yet dead.

“So this is the one,” the King said, his voice rough.

Theresa stepped forward in confidence not in fear

“Your Majesty.” She said bowing before the king.

“Raise your head.” The king instructed, his voice too weak and low to hear

She did.

His eyes studied her.

Sharp.

Courageous.

“You don’t tremble,” he said with a smile.

“Should I?” she replied calmly.

A pause.

Then

A low chuckle.

“I like her,” the King said.

James remained calm.

“She has spine.”

Theresa smiled faintly.

“I have ambition,” she corrected.

The King’s eyes squinted for a moment.

“Even better.”

⸻

“Leave us,” the King ordered.

James hesitated.

“But father……”

“Please give us a moment.”

Silence.

James footsteps fading.

The door shut.

Now it was just the two of them.

The dying King…

And the woman who wanted his throne.

“Come closer,” he said.

Theresa obeyed.

“You smell… hungry,” he murmured.

She tilted her head and smiled.

“Hungry for a continuous successful kingdom” she said

“I like your confidence and your authority speaks clearer for anyone who underestimates you.” The king added

A slow smile spread across her lips.

⸻

“You want power,” the King said in a very direct manner.

“I want what I deserve.”

“And what is that?”

She stepped closer.

“A true kingdom just as you’ve kept it, being beside the crown price and support him with all I have.”

A long silence.

Then the King laughed.

Weak, but real.

“You remind me of wife.”

“Then you understand me.” She said

“I do,” he said. “And that’s why I like you the moment you walked in with confidence, your presence speaks authority.”

“Thank you my king.” She said bowing down

⸻

“You may go,” the King said.

Theresa bowed again.

But as she turned

“One more thing,” he added.

She paused.

“If you ever betray this throne…”

His voice dropped.

“You will suffer a painful curse.”

Theresa turned to the king.

“I promise you my king.” She said calmly bowed for the last time and left.

⸻

Her steps were steady.

Controlled.

But her thoughts

The king is weak? He’s almost like a corpse

Her jaw tightened.

“I rather set him free from pains than let a corpse stand my way,” she whispered.

⸻

“Crown Princess.”

A maid bowed as Theresa entered her chamber.

“Prepare my bath.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Theresa walked slowly across the room.

Touching nothing.

Observing everything.

Gold.

Silk.

Yet…

It didn’t feel like enough.

She left to take her bath.

⸻

“You seem displeased.”

Theresa turned.

James stood by the window.

Watching her.

“How long have you been here?” she asked.

“Long enough for you to notice.”

He stepped closer.

“This isn’t a game, Theresa.” He said placing his hands on her shoulder. “You wanted this position.”

“I earned it.” She said

“You never earned it, you were chosen.” He noted

Silence.

Then she went into her bath tub

⸻

“You don’t even love me,” she said suddenly.

James didn’t respond.

“You don’t touch me,” she continued. “You don’t even look at me.”

“This is not about love, it’s about duty.”

She laughed softly.

“How pathetic.” She said drying herself up

“You should rest,” he said.

Theresa walked past him and went back to her chambers.

⸻

Later that night

While she was about leaving her chambers to look around, a maid bumped into her accidentally

“Please… my lady… I didn’t mean to…”

“Be quiet.” She exclaimed checking herself for stains

The maid trembled.

“I…I didn’t see you coming my lady”

Theresa stepped closer.

“What is this you’re carrying?” She said picking up the tray.

“Medicine, For the King.” The maid said still scared

“You have access to his chambers.”

The maid froze.

“I.yes, but…”

“And you serve him personally.” Theresa interrupted

“Yes…my lady”

Theresa smiled.

“Perfect.”

⸻

“I don’t understand,” the maid whispered.

“You will.”

Theresa placed the tray down slowly.

“Tell me,” she said. “I sense fear and pains all over you.”

The maid stiffened as her eyes filled with tears.

“It’s… it is a family issue.” The maid’s hands trembled.

“My mother is ill,” she admitted quietly. “And the treatment, It’s… expensive.”

Theresa smiled faintly.

“How unfortunate.”

⸻

“I’m trying,” the maid said quickly. “I work day and night, I save everything I can.…”

“But you still haven’t gathered the bill.” Theresa said trying to confront her

Tears rolled down the maid’s cheeks.

“No…”

Theresa stepped closer.

“What if I told you I could help?”

The maid looked up.

The words brought Hope. And something more terrifying. Desperation.

“You… can?”

“Yes, I can” Theresa’s smile widened. “But with a simple task.”

⸻

Theresa looked around and took the main inside her chambers

Then…

“What kind of task?” the maid asked cautiously.

Theresa picked up a small vial from the table close to her.

Harmless looking but deadly.

“Do you know what this is?”

The maid shook her head.

“No, my lady.”

“It’s medicine.” Theresa’s eyes darkened. “I made it specifically for the King’s condition.”

⸻

The maid froze.

“I… I already give him his medicine.”

“Not this one.”

She stepped closer.

“From now on… you will give him this instead.”

The maid stepped back.

“My lady… I don’t think… I can”

“You don’t think?” Theresa interrupted softly.

“I… I mean… Sorry but…” the maid whispered. “What… what does it do?”

Theresa tilted her head.

“You don’t ask questions,” Theresa said giving her a dangerous glance.

“And if you choose not to, your mother will die and I’ll make sure you are banished from this palace.” She continued

⸻

“I can’t do that,” the maid said, shaking her head in fear.

“You can.”

The maid stepped back again.

Fear creeping in.

“My lady… that’s the King… I can’t cause harm to the king, that’s committing treason”

⸻

Theresa smiled.

“The king will die eventually, you are only freeing him from pain.”

Silence.

The maid’s breathing grew uneven. Her thoughts filled with questions

I can’t do this, but she offered to save my mother

But I can’t commit treason against the palace that took me in when my family had nothing

The king is a kind hearted man, he has never done anything wrong to deserve this

But what is my mother dies because I couldn’t afford to save her

The guilt of letting my mother die when I had the chance to save her

——

Theresa interrupted her thoughts

“You haven’t said anything.”

“My lady please I’m not a murderer…… I’m only trying to survive.”

Theresa’s expression didn’t change.

“Exactly.” She said smiling

“This isn’t survival,” Theresa added lifting her chin up. “This is power,” Theresa corrected.

“I’ll give you enough money to cure your mother,” Theresa said calmly.

The maid looked straight into her eyes.

Hope flickering again.

“And also I’ll make you my Court Maid,” Theresa added.

⸻

“You have one job,” Theresa said, placing the vial in the maid’s shaking hand.

“One drop each day.”

The maid stared at it.

Horrified.

“Within 2 weeks…”

Theresa’s voice dropped.

“He will be gone.”

⸻

“No one will suspect you,” she continued.

“He’s already dying.”

The maid’s lips trembled. “This is wrong…”

“Wrong doesn’t matter,” Theresa said.

“Winning does.”

⸻

“You should leave now before someone sees you here.” Theresa said

The maid stared at the vial.

Her breathing uneven.

Heavy.

Suffocating.

Her soul… breaking.

She turned to leave.

“Oh… and one more thing.” Theresa said softly

The maid paused. Terrified.

“If you tell anyone…”

Theresa’s eyes darkened.

“I won’t need a poison to deal with you.”

“Think carefully,” Theresa added.

“Your decision… decides who lives.”