Lilienne
"What are you doing here?" I narrow my eyes at Serina, my voice cold as ice, though my blood roars like fire in my veins. I came here seeking peace, a brief escape from the chaos—but instead, I find myself a ticking bomb all over again.
As if enduring her constant presence in every corner of my court wasn't already unbearable, now she's invaded this place—my garden. And not just anywhere in it. She's seated in my favorite spot.
Where does this girl find the audacity?
"Oh, Luna—I mean, Your Majesty!" Serina jumps to her feet, her hands clutching the hem of her flowing summer dress.
That motion isn't innocent. She wants me to look at her—to see her. And when I do, my vision nearly blurs red with fury.
She's wearing one of my dresses. An old one—I'd long forgotten it even existed, but it's unmistakably mine. She took it. Without asking. Without permission.
"What are you doing here?" I repeat, forcing the heat in my voice to stay hidden beneath a brittle calm.
"Uhm," she stammers, clearly caught off guard. "Well, the maids mentioned a garden the other day, so I thought—"
I don't let her finish. If I hear one more word from her mouth, I might just find the strength to awaken my wolf again—just to tear her apart.
"So just because you heard about this place, you thought it was acceptable to come here? Do you have any idea whose garden this is?"
Serina falters, her wide eyes flickering around the space, avoiding my face as if it's too blinding to look at. "I... I do know, but... well, I thought that now that we're almost on equal footing, I could come here too. Kaelen—His Majesty—he told me I could—"
I can't listen to another word.
"Equal footing?" I all but laugh, the sound bitter and sharp. "You haven't even been officially accepted into the court, yet you already see yourself as my equal? Even if that day ever comes, you'll still be nothing more than the king's mistress. The only person you'll ever stand equal to... is another mistress."
Tears shimmer in Serina's eyes, but I feel nothing. I'm too full, too brimming with anger, betrayal, heartbreak. So much that I almost feel like I could cry too.
But I don't.
She doesn't try to defend herself again. Instead, her composure cracks, and she runs off, a flurry of weeping and silk, not even watching where her feet carry her.
I close my eyes and sink heavily into the hanging chair beneath the tall oak tree. It was one of the few things I asked Kaelen for when I first arrived at the palace.
A small comfort. I had the same kind of chair in the garden of my parents' estate. It was my only request—something to soothe the ache of homesickness that clawed at me day and night.
Was it really too much to ask that this one place remain untouched by his mistress?
I want to disappear.
The thought echoes through me as I open my eyes again and gaze out at the breathtaking scenery. I've thought it many times before. Kaelen's father had a fated mate, too, but unlike his son, he was fortunate. He met her early and made her his queen.
Still, that didn't stop him from having two concubines. Though he was discreet enough not to flaunt their presence in front of the previous queen, it made me realize it was only a matter of time before Kaelen would follow the same path.
I thought I would be prepared for it. But I wasn't. And honestly, I don't think I ever will be.
A soft rustling draws my attention to a wild rose bush in the distance. I don't startle, though—just moments later, the very same black wolf cub bursts out from the thicket, his small body swaying side to side as he trots toward me.
"Hey, buddy," I greet him with a fragile smile, not even realizing until now that tears have stained my cheeks. "I haven't seen you in a few days. What have you been up to?"
I laugh softly at my silly question—of course, he can't answer—but simply talking to him eases some of the weight in my chest.
The wolf leans into my touch as I reach out to pat his head. That's when I notice a small pouch hanging from his neck.
"What's that?" I ask, raising my eyebrows in surprise. "Did you bring something for me?"
The wolf nods and shakes his body vigorously, causing the pouch to slip off. I quickly dive my fingers inside and pull out two folded pieces of paper and a half-used pencil.
The first sheet is blank, but the second holds a note, written in handwriting I know all too well.
"I have been coming to the garden for the past two days, but you were never here. Nor did I receive a reply to my note. It hurt.
I know my queen is busy, but I also know she longs for someone to talk to—someone who can listen to her secrets and keep them safe within his heart.
So, from now on, I will come here with a note and a spare piece of paper, hoping to receive your reply.
Of course, you can still speak to me directly, but my owner told me he would also like the chance to talk to you.
P.S. Don't worry—my owner isn't even allowed to set foot in the palace, so your secrets will be just as safe with him."
As my eyes linger on the final sentence, my eyebrows shoot up almost to my hairline.
"Your owner?" I repeat, my voice dripping with mockery. "So you have one! And a rather nosy one, at that."
I let out a soft chuckle, running my hand gently over the wolf's sleek fur. Whoever is behind this little pup is certainly a clever soul—and hopefully a kind one, too.
"All right," I say, reaching for the pencil. "Let's write your owner a reply. And for starters, I should probably ask him for your name."