Chapter 5: A Seat Beside the Prince 

~ Elara ~

*Mooncrest Castle*

In her last life, Elara had politely excused herself from the Royal Dinner.

But before she could leave, Mira had stormed out after the king's reprimand.

Cassian chased after her and further humiliated Elara. 

By the next day, she became the talk of the capital. 

Well, not this time.

She had a place at the table, and it was next to Prince Kael.

Kael silently slid the plate of walnuts and sliced apples toward Elara without a word, and she happily served herself. 

She felt Cassian’s glare, but she ignored him.

“Kael,” Cassian said. “Elara is allergic to nuts!”

Kael looked at Cassian and took his time. 

“You have been engaged to Lady Elara for years, and you didn’t know she was never allergic to nuts,” Kael said, returning the plate to the table. 

Only then did Elara glance at Cassian. He was giving her a puzzled look. 

“I didn't eat nuts because you were allergic to them, Your Highness,” Elara replied casually. “But when we were children, Prince Kael and I often shared walnuts in former Luna Queen Isolde's chambers.”

She had mentioned Isolde deliberately.

Every person seated at the royal table knew what that name represented.

Before the king's long-hidden affair with Lady Elowen came to light, Isolde had been Asteria's Luna Queen, and Kael had lived in the palace as the only prince.

When the truth was finally exposed, Isolde relinquished the throne and left the capital with her son rather than remain beside a faithless husband.

That was how Elowen became Luna Queen, and Cassian the Crown Prince.

History had repeated itself once already.

In her previous life, Cassian had become no different from his father.

From the corner of her eye, she saw her brother, Cedric, giving her that warning look. 

Not that Isolde’s name was forbidden, but Queen Elowen certainly did not like being reminded of her former status. 

Because of Elara’s words, the air shifted. 

She didn't have to guess that the Luna Queen's mood had soured, and, with it, the king's.

“Cassian,” Alpha King Aldric said, his voice edged with irritation. Though well into his fifties, his broad frame remained imposing, while silver streaks in his dark hair only heightened the authority in his steel-gray eyes.

“Yes, Father?” Cassian answered. 

“Who sits beside the Crown Prince during the Royal Family dinner?” the king asked. 

Cassian glanced toward Elara and gulped. “My betrothed.”

The King’s eyes narrowed. “Then tell me, why is another lady occupying that seat?”

The question lingered in the air.

Cassian's expression stiffened before answering,  “Mira is unfamiliar with our customs. I did not wish to embarrass her.”

The Alpha King nodded once before turning his attention to the young woman. “Lady Mira.”

Mira’s brows met as she turned to the king. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“We look forward to hearing what you know about the spreading frost. Since you have come to Asteria willingly, I expect you to make an equal effort to learn our customs,” the king added. “I shall excuse you for your lack of knowledge today, but there will be no next time.”

Mira’s face reddened. She looked like she was about to erupt before saying something. But before she could speak, the king turned to Cassian. “But my son was born into those customs.”

“You invited Lady Mira.”

“You escorted her here.”

“You introduced her before this family.”

The king frowned. “And before a single word was exchanged, you offered her the place reserved for your future wife.”

Silence settled over the hall once more.

Cassian lowered his eyes. “I acted without thinking, Father.”

“You did.” The king said, his voice edged with annoyance. “A future Alpha King cannot afford to be thoughtless. Do not disrespect the House of Ashbourne.”

There it was.

The real reason the king had scolded his heir.

Though Cassian ruled Ironwood as its Alpha Prince, House Ashbourne had commanded its warriors for generations. To alienate Elara was to risk the loyalty of the very army entrusted with defending one of Asteria's most important territories.

Elara had planted a dangerous thought:

If House Ashbourne turned away from Cassian, where would its loyalty fall?

Elara couldn't know what answer the king had reached.

But judging by his expression, he had already considered the possibility.

'Perhaps that was wrong of me,' Elara thought. But she had mentioned Isolde to discourage Queen Elowen from continuing to favor her as Cassian's future wife.

“Lady Elara,” the king’s voice brought her back to her senses. 

She met his eyes.

“You have shown this family more grace than my own son has shown you this evening,” the king said. 

Just then, Mira abruptly pushed back her chair.

She looked around the table, her eyes glistening as though she were fighting back tears.

“I understand now,” she said through gritted teeth. “If my presence causes this much trouble... then I should leave.”

“Mira,” Cassian called, immediately rising to his feet.

She turned away before anyone could stop her and hurried toward the grand doors. “Don't follow me, Cassian!”

“Mira, wait,” Cassian said, taking a step after her. “No one is asking you to leave.”

“Yes, they are!” Mira cried without looking back. “I don't belong here!”

She reached the doors.

Cassian caught up and instinctively reached for her arm.

“Stay away from me!” Mira flung out her hand. 

A small crimson flame flickered from her fingertips. It lasted only a heartbeat before disappearing.

Gasps rippled through the dining hall.

Even Kael's hand tightened around his glass.

Mira fled the hall.

Cassian followed without hesitation.

Seeing how it turned out, Elara thought, ‘Some things truly refused to change.’

Just as in her previous life, that single display of fire would convince the king and queen that Mira might truly be the savior foretold in the prophecy.

But Elara knew better.

The only problem was… she did not know why.

Not yet, at least. 

The astonishment around the table hadn't faded.

“Could she really be a Fireblood?”

“The Priestess of Ironwood told me about her.”

“We must convince her to remain in Asteria.”

Meanwhile, Elara quietly resumed her meal.

Then, someone spoke.

“So this was why you want to marry me?” Kael murmured, his sharp eyes lingering on her only for a second before lifting his cup to his lips. “I suggest you look elsewhere. Your troubles are your own to bear, Lady Elara.”

A scoff left his lips. 

Elara sighed. ‘What do I do to convince this stubborn prince?’