Lilith’s POV
As I fixed the scarf around my neck, I saw Dale in the small and broken mirror of our makeshift dressing room. Her eyes glimmered with mischief, but the frown on her forehead showed how serious it was.
She stood up straighter while putting on a brave face that didn’t really suit her. I smiled slightly, seeing how different we both appeared under our disguises and far from the important images we were used to.
“Are you really sure this is a good idea?” Dale asked with her voice breaking the quiet with a sudden seriousness. “I mean the plan isn’t… it’s not good, my Queen.”
I turned to look at her, staring back confidently. “We have to find out who is spreading the rumors. If someone believes they can damage my reputation without facing any penalties, they are wrong.”
My heart raced at the same time, fueled by the excitement of the hunt and the strong desire to protect my family’s name and seek justice for my parents’ deaths.
Dale paused for a moment while feeling the heavy responsibility of our mission almost overwhelming her. She looked uncertain and said, “A tavern? Are you serious? It’s really not the kind of place where we can just blend in and act like regular ladies, you know?”
I laughed a little and fixed my scarf again. “What’s your idea? How can we get information without being noticed? Plus, if we succeed, we might find out the truth about Raoul.”
“Raoul…” Dale’s voice trailed off with anger showing through. “I still can’t believe you don’t fully believe it’s him. I will make him pay.”
With strong determination, I walked into the dark street with the cool evening air surrounding us. Together we strolled with our footsteps echoing on the stones as we moved past people too busy with their own lives to see us. The loud chatter of the bar got louder with every step we took.
When we got there, we were immediately greeted by a loud mix of laughter and the sound of mugs clinking together. The tavern was full of energy and life-both men and women were socializing and telling stories that were filled with boldness and enjoyment.
I saw Dale look nervously at the crowd and I could tell that she was feeling tense as her shoulders were tight.
“Follow the plan,” I whispered while squeezing her arm gently. We pulled our scarves up to cover our faces before going in while feeling excited and scared at the same time.
We moved through the crowd and found a small table in the corner. It wasn’t great for talking, but staying safe was most important. As we sat down, a waiter came over with a smile in his eyes.
“Would you like something to drink?” he asked while sounding relaxed and easygoing.
I shook my head fast. “No, thanks.”
Before I could say anything else, Dale interrupted, “I’d like a pint of ale please.”
The waiter looked surprised but wrote it down. “One ale coming right up.”
After he walked off, I moved in closer and whispered, “Dale, we shouldn’t-”
“It will seem odd if we don’t order anything! Just act normal!” she whispered while trying not to show her frustration. I stifled a sigh at the same time, understanding her reasoning and nodded.
While we waited, I looked around, noticing a tough-looking man walking through the room with a strong sense of confidence and a smile that felt overly pleased. He walked up to our table while looking straight at us.
“Hey there! Aren’t you two nice ladies tucked away in this dark corner?” He leaned back against the table totally not bothered by Dale’s angry look. “I’m Gabby. Is it okay if I sit with you?”
“Well-” Dale started.
“Come on!” I said with a big smile while tilting my head a bit. “We’re friendly. It’s good to have someone here.”
Dale looked at me with caution, but I looked back to show I wanted to take a risk. Gabby sat down without waiting for a welcome with his confidence strong.
“This is better. So don’t tell me there are no heroes here tonight? Just regular people?” he joked while not noticing Dale’s unease as she moved around in her seat.
I leaned in with a little smile on my face as I joined in the fun. “What do you think? Are we just ordinary or do we have some royal flair?”
Gabby’s eyes got big with his fake surprise so over the top that I couldn’t help but laugh. “Royalty in a bar? That’s a tale!” He leaned back with arms crossed while looking way too relaxed like everything was perfect.
“But I need to ask-who do the knights have to fight to get your attention?”
Dale gave him a stern look, obviously not enjoying the joking around. “Or maybe we just want a peaceful drink without being noticed?”
I gave Dale a quick look to warn her, but I stayed friendly. “We’re fine with some attention. Don’t you think this place needs some fun?”
“Excitement? Here?” Gabby laughed with a playful glint in his eyes. “This tavern is just packed with stories, rumors and booze. That’s the real charm of this place-nothing else.”
“Rumors?” I moved closer and spoke softly. “Tell me more. I’ve heard some interesting ones too, like about the Luna Queen.”
When Gabby heard my title his whole attitude changed and curiosity took over his earlier joking.
“The Luna Queen? Now that’s an interesting story!” He sat up straight while dropping the playful act. “They say she’s a real flirt if you know what I mean.”
I felt a wave of irritation. “Flirt? Seriously? Is that how they describe her in these bars?”
He nodded excitedly while telling his story more. “Oh yes! Just the other night, the Alpha King found her with his brothers in a bad spot-almost lost it with them. It was a big deal! But they managed to hide it, of course.”
As each word was spoken, my fists tightened under the table and anger grew inside me. How could they tell such lies?
“What happened next?” I asked while trying to keep my voice calm, wanting to know how far the false stories had gone.
“Looks like the palace hid all this away. They say the source is reliable, you know-directly from the palace itself!” Gabby smiled, definitely enjoying the excitement he created.
“Who is this source?” I insisted, with my determination growing stronger. I needed to find this spy.
Gabby paused while squinting as if he felt something change in the air. “So here’s the thing-”
Just as he was about to finish, the mood in the tavern shifted. A man strode towards our table exuding authority as he stared at me with an intensity that cut through the laughter and conversation surrounding us. In an instant, he ripped the scarf from my face without any warning.
Gasps filled the tavern as people reacted in shock when my true identity was revealed. “Your Highness!” the man shouted with his shock clear in his voice.
The room went quiet as laughter stopped and drinks paused just before reaching their mouths. Everyone looked at me with shock and confusion on their faces as they understood they were in front of the Luna Queen…