LOGINThe marketplace was especially lively that day. More merchants than usual had arrived because of the week-long celebration for the Queen’s pregnancy. The King had opened the borders to traders for the occasion, though strict protocols were still in place to maintain security.Beatrice found herself enjoying the outing far more than she expected. She wandered from stall to stall, looking at different goods and occasionally buying small items. Lord Evan accompanied her closely, and to her surprise, Uriel was there as well… carrying most of her purchases.“Are you sure you don’t need to go, my Lord?” she asked Uriel deliberately while browsing through a boutique that displayed neatly folded scarves. “I thought you needed to buy medicines.”“Right, my lord,” Lord Evan added politely. “I will make sure Lady Beatrice remains safe with me around.”Beatrice caught the brief gloomy look that crossed Uriel’s face before he quickly masked it with his usual calm expression.“Gustav and Juno are h
Gavriel could no longer hold himself back. As soon as he finished his duties at the palace, he headed straight to where Althea was.It was already late noon when he arrived. From a distance, he saw her laughing freely while playing cards with Melva and Tristan.He didn’t approach her right away. Instead, he stayed where he was and simply watched her for a moment.Rudy quickly came forward to greet him and began reporting what had happened during the picnic by the shore.“Lord Tristan has started approaching Trudis as well. It seems Her Majesty and Lady Melva are trying to play matchmaker between the two,” Rudy added.Gavriel gave a small nod, his lips curving slightly as he watched the bright smile on his wife’s face.“I want to go to the market with her today,” Gavriel informed Rudy before walking toward Althea.As soon as Melva noticed him, she quickly stood up from where she had been sitting on the ground. Tristan and the twins followed her lead and greeted him politely. Gavriel ga
Days passed, and the long feast continued as scheduled. Life in the palace returned to its usual rhythm.Gavriel had originally intended for Althea to attend court meetings regularly, but with her pregnancy, he limited her presence to once or twice a week, depending on how she felt.After all, they could always discuss important matters in private. Althea often asked about the court sessions, sharing her thoughts and opinions, which Gavriel always took into careful consideration.Today’s session was supposed to be routine. Yet, Gavriel’s expression remained unusually sour.The reason was simple. Kael Moore was present again. He almost forgot about this man…At the front of the hall, Minister Marius Ward stood with the shortlisted candidates for the position of Minister of Justice that had been long vacant. After rounds of screening and elimination, only four remained.“Your Majesty, we will proceed with the next stage of selection through a majority vote from the Royal Council. The fo
Althea couldn’t believe how Gavriel was overreacting. Ever since he found out about her pregnancy, he had become unbearably protective.Yes, he allowed her to spend time with Melva and Tristan, but she was never truly alone. There were always eyes on her… two royal physicians, four maidservants, and even royal guards trailing nearby.And for what?She was only walking along the seashore, planning a simple picnic with Melva, Tristan, and the twins. “Seriously, His Majesty couldn’t even let you have a day to yourself, huh?” Melva teased as she started picking fruits from the basket. “But I understand where he’s coming from. It’s better to be safe than sorry. After all, you are the queen of our kingdom.”“This feels nice,” Tristan said, taking a deep breath of the cool, fresh air. “It reminds me of the days we used to sneak off to the river, having picnics like this… dreaming about being together by the beach, swimming and enjoying ourselves freely.”“It would be nice if we could swim
Most Suitable OneBeatrice couldn’t believe the mess she had made while drunk. She quickly turned her head away and firmly denied it.“No… everything is blurry. All I remember is being with Uncle Arturo and Princess Riela, and then… I think I passed out.”She swallowed, then hurriedly added, “Her Highness said you carried me back to my quarters last night. I haven’t properly thanked you… so, thank you. And I hope I didn’t cause you any trouble.”Beatrice almost wanted to praise herself for not stuttering. It was a relief that she had managed to avoid Uriel’s intense, searching gaze. She refused to turn back, even straightening her posture slightly, worried he might notice how fast her heart was beating if she kept leaning against him.Uriel didn’t answer right away, and the silence made Beatrice uneasy. She could already tell he wasn’t convinced by her excuse, and it only made her more nervous.“Is that so?” he finally said, and she bit her lower lip hard.“Yes, I really don’t remembe
Beatrice did her best to keep her calm and composed as she guided her horse along the road. The three of them rode at a slow pace, mostly because both men seemed determined to match her speed.“You two can go ahead and ride faster,” she suggested with a polite smile. “It’s been a while since I’ve ridden a horse and been outside, so I’m enjoying the scenery.”“It’s quite alright,” Lord Evan replied warmly, his smile wide and earnest. “I said I would accompany you, and I happen to have the entire day free.”Uriel didn’t comment at all, making her raised her eyebrow. Quickly, she turned to Lord Evan and smiled back graciously. “That’s very sweet of you.”She continued chatting politely with Lord Evan, responding to his questions and occasionally laughing softly at his comments.But in truth, her attention was elsewhere.Her senses were secretly focused on Uriel.From the corner of her eyes, she kept observing him, waiting—hoping—for some kind of reaction. Yet every time she stole a glanc
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
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…
“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
“I—” Althea stammered, her heart thudding so loudly she thought it might give her away.“Yes, Sire!” a voice called before she could say another word.It was the mage from earlier. He stepped forward swiftly, hands moving as he began weaving the incantation to open the portal. The air rippled, the







