LOGINAlthea smiled as she watched from the balcony, the twins playing with Ash. It had been a while since she last touched or played with the little wolf, who was growing quickly now. She would have loved to join them, but she always ended up sneezing whenever Ash was around.A knock sounded, followed by a guard’s voice announcing that Healer Lakan had arrived. Melva quickly moved to open the door.“Your Majesty,” Lakan greeted with a respectful bow.Althea returned his greeting with a smile before walking toward the bed and lying down so he could examine her condition.“Isn’t my baby a bit too sensitive?” she asked as Lakan checked her abdomen.Melva, who was preparing hot chocolate nearby, chimed in, “I agree, Your Majesty. Our royal heir seems a bit sensitive… and quite picky too.”After a few more minutes of examination, Lakan suddenly looked at her with a wide smile, his eyes gleaming.“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” he said enthusiastically. “I am now certain—you are carrying twins.
Kingdom of VelmoraZander massaged his temples as he went through the growing pile of petitions before him.“You should’ve anticipated this, especially now that many are eager to pledge their allegiance to you,” Arlan commented, casually picking up the scrolls Zander had tossed aside and reviewing them one by one.“I did,” Zander replied with a sigh. “I just didn’t expect it this early. I’m still stabilizing our house, and there’s so much left to do. We still need to subdue the houses of Aquyra and Pyrelith. Do they really think I have time to marry right now?”He frowned, clearly irritated. Both the houses of Zephyros and Terravane had been relentlessly pushing him to marry their princesses.“Hah! Most men would be thrilled with those offers,” Arlan said with an amused grin. “Imagine having a harem of beautiful women, and princesses at that. I’d say they’re aiming to secure at least one of their own as your future queen once you establish your rule over the continent.”“There’s noth
Beatrice’s smile was so wide that she barely got any sleep, the overwhelming bliss from last night still bubbling inside her. Everything had gone perfectly, from Uriel’s confession to the moment they finally made their relationship official.She couldn’t wait to tell Princess Riela the good news.She quickly called her maidservant to help her get ready for the day. Once she was done and stepped outside, she was startled to see Uriel waiting by her door, leaning casually against the opposite wall.He straightened immediately when he saw her.A blush rose to her cheeks as she gave him her sweetest smile. He seemed momentarily taken aback, lips parting slightly as he stared at her.“Good morning. Don’t you have your royal court session with the king this morning?” she asked, doing her best to stay composed while quietly squealing inside.“It’s almost lunch… and I thought you might want to eat with me,” Uriel quickly replied.Beatrice had completely lost track of time and nearly forgot th
In the bedchamber where Kael was being kept, Elara, one of the royal healers who had recently become part of the special elite group formed by the King and Queen called the Spiritual Guards, had been assigned to personally watch over him.She had just finished praying for his recovery when she moved to sit at the edge of the bed to check on him again.His body was stable and unharmed, but he was still unconscious.“You should fight it,” she told him softly. “The battle inside your mind. Don’t be deceived by the darkness.”She couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. From what she had sensed earlier, she already had some idea of what had happened. She felt and smelled the dark entities trying to enter and take hold of Kael’s body. Spirits of envy, jealousy, and others connected to his lingering desire for the Queen.“There’s no point in letting yourself fall into total destruction,” she continued with a quiet sigh. “Be glad that the Queen is in good hands and is happy. You need to let go
The next day, Althea was having an early breakfast with Gavriel on their balcony.She would have loved to join Queen Mother Wilma, Princess Riela, and Lady Beatrice to ask about the masquerade ball last night and hear how everything went. But her sensitive pregnancy in the first trimester made it difficult.More often than not, her stomach would turn during breakfast or even after small meals. Because of that, she decided it was best to eat privately in their bedchamber instead. She didn’t want anyone else to lose their appetite because of her condition.Gavriel usually stayed with her during meals, unless he was away or attending important meetings. Even then, Melva often insisted on staying behind to keep her company.“What is it? Are you feeling sick?” Gavriel asked worriedly when her expression soured the moment she sipped the chicken soup during breakfast.“I don’t like it,” she murmured weakly.“But you liked this yesterday,” Gavriel reminded her.She shrugged and gently rested
Beatrice’s heart nearly stopped the moment Uriel pulled her closer and led her away from Lord Evan.What puzzled her even more was that he wasn’t guiding her back into the dance circle. Instead, he was leading her away from the center of the ballroom floor entirely.Unlike the other attendees, he wasn’t wearing a mask. She could clearly see the dark expression on his face.“Where are we going?” she asked in surprise. “There are still several gentlemen I’m supposed to dance with.”She had already danced with two, and there were still three more before the scheduled break. The masquerade ball had been carefully arranged so she and Riela would have time to speak with each gentleman during the dances. After that, they were expected to share drinks and light refreshments with another group of five candidates each. There were even games planned later in the evening to make the gathering more relaxed and enjoyable. The gentlemen’s names had all been listed in advance, assigned to each acti
At North PalaceNight had fallen, yet Althea couldn’t sleep. The bed felt too empty without Gavriel. It wasn’t the first night she’d been alone in his chambers, but this time it carried a strange heaviness, an uneasy feeling that he might not return anytime soon.With a sigh, she got up, slipped in
Gavriel frowned, torn between pulling away and staying to give Althea the warmth she sought.“Please,” she mumbled in her sleep, tugging him closer. Unable to resist, he joined her on the bed, wrapping her gently in his arms.She pressed her face against his bare chest, murmuring softly, “So warm…
Last night, the Alpha King didn’t return, so Althea had slept alone in his bedchamber. Today, she woke up early and had breakfast with Melva and Elsa in her room. It would have been nice to eat outside or in the dining hall for a change, but Althea knew how quickly rumors spread. It was safer for
“My Lady!” Melva cried, rushing to her side as soon as she saw her on the ground, clutching her chest. “What’s wrong? What happened?”Melva helped her up while Althea scanned the room. “Someone’s here. I felt it!” she blurted. She clearly felt that sudden surge of energy pulsed through her, sharp







