Chapter 2

Alexander nodded, his eyes softening with pride at his daughter's quick grasp of the political nuances. "Yes, for tonight, we'll keep it informal, as informal as a royal dinner can be. And you're correct about the timeline. The official announcement will come next week, with the wedding to follow in six months, as tradition dictates."

He crossed to the large windows that overlooked the palace grounds, his silhouette stark against the fading afternoon light. "As for your role at the Academy, maintaining your current... discretion would be wise. The formal introduction of you as stepsister to the Talley twins will come with the public announcement."

Elizabeth recognised the subtle strain in her father's voice. Though Alexander would never admit it, he was nervous about tonight's dinner. Not about state affairs or diplomatic consequences, those he could navigate blindfolded, but about the simple human act of blending two families wounded by loss.

"I'll be on my best behaviour, Father," she promised, rising from her seat with practised grace. "Though I must admit, I'm curious to see how Buck and Elliot will react when they realise the quiet girl from their literature class is actually their future stepsister."

What Elizabeth didn't say was how the twins had largely ignored her existence at school. When they did acknowledge her, it was with the casual dismissiveness reserved for those deemed unimportant to their social hierarchy. Not cruelty, precisely, but the kind of benign neglect that could sting more than outright hostility.

Alexander turned from the window, studying his daughter's carefully composed expression. He saw beyond it to the uncertainty she tried to hide. "They may surprise you, Little Star. People often behave differently when court politics enter the equation."

"That's precisely what worries me," Elizabeth thought, though she kept this observation to herself.

As she left her father's study, Elizabeth's mind whirled with calculations. The Talley twins were popular, athletic, and intimidating to most of their peers. They moved through the Academy halls with the confidence of boys who knew their place in the world was secure. Their future roles as joint Alphas of Thunder Peak were never in question.

Her own position, while theoretically stronger, had always felt precarious to Elizabeth. Without siblings to share the burden of royal expectation, without her mother's guidance, she sometimes felt like a solitary moon trying to exert the gravitational pull of a planet.

In her chambers, Elizabeth found Mira, her lady's maid, already laying out potential outfits for dinner.

"His Majesty informed me of tonight's guests," Mira explained, her fingers smoothing the fabric of a deep blue dress. "I thought perhaps this one? Formal enough to remind everyone of your station, but not so formal as to suggest you're trying too hard."

Elizabeth smiled at Mira's astute understanding of court subtleties. "Perfect. And my hair?"

"Down, I think. With the silver moonstone clips your father gave you for your last birthday."

As Mira went to fetch them, Elizabeth called out to stop her, “Be careful, Mira, the twins don’t know who I really am yet. The whole school just thinks I’m some oddly quiet Alpha’s daughter, maybe the hair clip mother gave me instead?”

Mira paused, her hand already halfway to the jewellery box. "The moonstone clips would make quite a statement," she said thoughtfully, "but perhaps you're right. The silver crescents your mother gave you would be more... subtle."

Elizabeth nodded, grateful for Mira's understanding. The maid had been with her since she was a child, one of the few constants in her life after her mother's passing. More than a servant, Mira had become something of a confidante, though both maintained the proper boundaries their positions required.

As Mira helped her dress, Elizabeth's thoughts drifted to the Talley twins. She had observed them carefully over the past two years at the Academy, though they had rarely returned the favour. Buck was all swagger and charm, his laughter echoing through the hallways as he moved with his entourage of admirers. Elliot was the quieter shadow, watchful and calculating, his rare smiles reserved for his brother and their closest friends.

Neither had ever spared more than a passing glance for the unassuming girl who sat three rows back in Literature and History. Elizabeth had made herself invisible by design, a skill she had perfected since her mother's death. It was easier to watch and learn when people forgot you were there.

Across the palace, in the guest wing, the Talley twins were having their own preparations disrupted by their mother's unexpected announcement.

"What do you mean we're having dinner with the King?" Buck demanded, dropping the football he'd been tossing from hand to hand. "Tonight?"

Luna Phoebe Talley regarded her elder son (by twelve minutes, as Buck never failed to remind everyone) with practised patience. "Yes, tonight. And I expect both of you to be on your best behaviour."

Elliot, who had been reading by the window, closed his book with deliberate care. Unlike his impulsive brother, he preferred to process information before reacting. "This isn't just a diplomatic dinner, is it?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied his mother's face.

Phoebe smoothed her already immaculate dress, a tell that both boys recognised. "No," she admitted. "It's not. King Alexander and I have been... spending time together over the past few months."

"Spending time?" Buck's eyebrows shot up. "What does that mean?"

"It means," Elliot interjected, his voice quiet but certain, "that our mother is courting the King. Or being courted by him."

Phoebe nodded, her expression a complex mixture of apprehension and resolve. "Alexander has asked for my hand in marriage, and I have accepted."

The silence that followed her announcement was absolute. Buck's mouth opened and closed several times, no sound emerging. Elliot remained utterly still, only the slight tightening of his fingers on his book betraying his shock.

"You're going to be the Queen," Buck finally managed, his voice uncharacteristically small.

“No Queen Consort, the next true Queen of Moon’s Fall will be his Heir and daughter.” His mother replied firmly.

"Daughter?" Buck's voice rose in pitch. "The King has a daughter?"

Phoebe's expression shifted to one of mild surprise. "Yes, of course. Princess Elizabeth. She's in your year at the Academy. I believe she is 12 years old. It’s to hide who she really is."