Nova’s pov
The door was opened by a guard and I walked inside while Cinder waited outside, standing with the guard at the exit.
The King’s Hall dining was a feast for the senses. As I entered, I was struck by the excess of the space, from the marble floor to the gold-gilded arches overhead.
The light from the stained glass windows cast a kaleidoscope of colours across the room, bathing everything in a magical glow. At the far end of the hall, a table had been set with platters mounded with food, ranging from succulent roasted meats to delicate pastries.
The aromas were dizzying, tempting my appetite.
“You’re here, your Highness!” I heard Aunt Velvena’s voice, coming from the inner part of the room.
I turned towards where her voice was sounding from and I saw her walking out of a door, with a young lady beside her.
The lady looked so much like her and I assumed the lady to be her daughter, Lady Everest.
“Good morning, ma’am… Velvena.” I bowed slightly, my gaze on the lady who kept giving me a look I couldn’t decipher.
“Dear, drop the formality and call me Velvena.” she took my hands and brushed her thumb against the back of my hand.
“It’s a shame a good girl like you ended up with a boy like him.” the lady rolled her eyes before walking away from us, and to the dining.
Aunt Velvena gasped before shaking her head in displeased. “That’s Everest, she’s my daughter but I promise she got her attitude from her cousin, Prescott.” she bit her bottom lip and I smiled at her.
“It’s alright,” I gave her a small nod.
Aunt Velvena smiled warmly at me, before walking me to the dining.
Lady Everest had already seated by the time we got to the dining room. Aunt Velvena sat beside her daughter while I sat opposite Aunt Velvena.
“You should formally introduce yourself to the Queen.” Aunt Velvena groaned to the lady who seemed to care less about anything or anyone.
“I heard your name is Nova, a werewolf and a Princess?” Everest mumbled rather in a question.
I didn’t know what was with her attitude but I nodded anyways.
“That’s not how you introduce yourself, Eve! You’re introducing her to herself, seriously?” Aunt Velvena groaned, I gulped down nothing and stared at the mouth-watering pastries in front of me.
“Mom, seriously she could have done better! I’m very sure your dear nephew forced her, no one would agree to marry a boy like him, absolutely, NO. ONE.” Everest spelt it out to her mother, not minding if I could hear them or not.
“Yes, I’m a werewolf and a princess. I heard your name is Everest, your mom and my maid told me.” I grabbed a cup of juice and took a light sip from it.
“So much for being a warrior, everyone knows me!” she beamed and I felt the corner of my lips curved in a smirk.
The door opened and the Lycan King stepped foot inside, striding towards us with each step he took, sending fear to my heart.
“You sure look like a great warrior,” I mumbled, trying to divert my mind from the man whose appearance seemed to cause me anxiety.
“Of course, and instead of a Princess, I think you should have been a warrior like me.” Everett glared at Prescott who unexpectedly took a seat opposite her.
“I used to be a warrior. I stopped when I realised I suck at fighting.” I chuckled, recalling the last time a pack of rogues attached our pack and I almost lost my life to the fight.
Everest’s eyes widened in amusement. “Really? You should visit the field once in a while, I would be happy to teach you a few things.” she gave a toothy smile and I found myself smiling back at her.
“Greetings, your Majesty!” Aunt Velvena’s voice echoed through the room, sending a message across to us to stop chatting while the Lycan King was here.
“Greetings, My King,” I mumbled, unable to look him in the face as I greeted him.
Everest remained tongue-tied, not acting as if she was to acknowledge the presence of the King.
“Good morning, Aunt.” Prescott greeted, totally ignoring me as he picked up a fork and stabbed it into the meat that was at his front.
“Thanks for the food, goddess, my creator.” Everest blurted out, grabbing a pie from the plates and taking a deep bite.
“Please, help yourself.” Aunt Velvena gestured at the table that was filled with different delicacies.
I grabbed a small plate and scooped a little portion of spaghetti meat sauce into it. Staring at everyone to see them busy with their food, I dipped my fork into the plate of spaghetti and scooped a spoonful, ready to lift it to my mouth when Everest spoke up.
“Have you decided on what to do? Would you like to be a warrior or you’d rather work over some lousy paperwork?” She dropped her fork, staring into my eyes with her fingers crossed on the table.
“Ahh…”
“You should let her be, what’s with you if she does anything or not?” Prescott spoke up for the first time, I was surprised as to why he would decide to help me, but Everest’s response showed that he never planned to speak for me. They were both getting at each other like some foes.
“Why? Why can’t I ask? She may be your bride but don’t forget she’s the Queen. Millions of life now depend on her!” She grabbed her fork and stabbed it to the table, her mouth set in a hard line.
“She may be the Queen and she’s still wife, I own her, and not the nation!” Prescott howled, I stood up from the seat and bowed to Aunt Velvena.
“I shall head back to my quarter.” I marched out of the room without waiting for her reply.
I didn’t know why I had to leave in the middle of breakfast but I couldn’t bear with the silly arguments of the King and his cousin.
I was uncomfortable and I couldn’t breathe. It felt as though they were using me as an excuse to bicker with one another.
Hasn’t he used me enough? For how long will he continue to use me?
The door opened and I rushed out of the room. I met Cinder by the door, she rushed up to me as soon as she spotted me.
“Is breakfast over? Why are you sweating, your Highness?” she asked, her brows knitted together worriedly.
“Nothing. Let’s head out of here, the air here is suffocating me.” I blurted out truthfully.
I hasten my footsteps as we walked out of the King’s Hall building.
Getting outside, the morning breeze on my skin made me forget about the incident at breakfast. We were walking on the parkway that leads back to the King’s building.
My stomach grumbled and I held my stomach. Cinder chuckled behind me and I paused to stare at her.
“Let me guess, you didn’t eat anything,” she smirked, I pressed my lips together, unable to say anything.
“You may head back to your room, I’ll fetch you food from the kitchen.” she bowed before running out of my presence.
“Oh, shit!” I groaned I didn’t eat anything before going to bed and they wouldn’t let me eat my breakfast in peace.
“I’m so happy to be around those people.” I gritted my teeth, rubbed my stomach and was about to enter the King’s building when Shayna’s voice echoed through my mind.
“Princess, help me!” her voice came as a grunt, I hastily stopped on my trace. Looking everywhere but I couldn’t see her anywhere in sight.
Shayna. Shayna! Shayna, where are you?
I yelled out her name through the mind like but I couldn’t hear anything from her. I was already panicking.
Where could she be? Why wasn’t she replying? I kept pacing back and forth, I tried to mind link with her again but I couldn’t reach her.
I stood in front of the King’s building, I tilted my head and drew in a deep breath. The breeze brought with it a complex tapestry of scents, but none matched with Shayna.
There were different scents of people, a mixture of Lycan and werewolf that I did not know, of all the scents I was perceiving, I could not perceive the sharp tang of pine needles and the sweetness of wildflower of Shayna.
My heart thumped in fear as my maid’s scents got hidden.
I was still standing there with my mouth hung open when I saw Cinder, running towards me with tears in her eyes.
“What is the problem? Hey, talk to me.” I couldn’t wait for her to get to me, I rushed up to her and gripped her by her arms.
“What is the matter? Why are you running with so much fear? Why are you in tears?” my voice shook, I was still panicking over Shayna whose scent suddenly got hidden and now Cinder.
“Your Highness,” she panted heavily, beads of sweat mixed with her tears as they rolled down her cheeks.
“Yes, tell me what happened!” I cried out, I couldn’t bear the suspense anymore, I was getting scared already and Cinder wouldn’t tell me what was going on.
“I think you should go to the field…” She fell to her knees and held her chest with her palms.
“For goddess sake, you’re killing me with the suspense. What happened? What’s happening at the field?” I barked, tears were already shimmering in my eyes.
“Shayna, your maid is going to die!” she blurted out, I moved back in shock, why would Shayna be dying?
“What did you mean by that?” I mumbled, tears finally rolled down my eyes as I was staring down at Cinder who doesn’t seem to know how to comprehend what was happening.
“Some guards were dragging her to the field, it seemed like she wasn’t breathing anymore.” my legs wobbled and I fell on my knees.
“Shayna!”