Queen of infertility…
### **Veronica’s POV**
Ever since the unfortunate return of Ashley to the mansion, I have not known peace, as the past keeps haunting me. I remember the first day I realized she was back. I was walking past her room when I heard the sound of giggles. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, since Simon and Lucas never allowed anyone to enter the room after she left. They only permitted two maids to clean it every two weeks. No one else was allowed inside. Hearing noise from there piqued my curiosity, as it made no sense that someone would be in the room.
Seeing her again was terrifying, and I could feel my wolf threatening to leave me on the spot. However, this was not the end of the traumatic experience, as the worst possible outcome now stood before me: both her return and the presence of her children. They constantly avoided me at every opportunity.
It’s been almost a week now, and Ashley is still in the house, which is beginning to wear on me. Honestly, I am in a state of extreme confusion. How am I supposed to react to such a nerve-racking return of the past, which also brings with it the tools to access the future? Those boys she brought with her are clearly her way to gain power and status within the mansion-and, ultimately, the kingdom.
Have I ever felt inferior to Ashley? Probably not. But her return, with not one but two children who are both confirmed to be Simon and Lucas’ sons, gives me unbearable anxiety. After so long, I am reliving the same fear I felt when I began losing Simon and Lucas to her years ago. Yet this time, it’s worse, as the stakes involve providing the kingdom with an heir to the throne.
For days, I’ve spent time alone in my room, crying and punishing myself for not being able to carry a child for Simon and Lucas. It’s agonizing that a dirty slave, brought into the mansion years ago, somehow took what should have been mine-what belonged to me, Veronica! After so much self-pity and condemnation, I finally decided to do something about the situation.
Unable to think straight anymore, I called the only person I knew could help: my mother. I grabbed my phone from the table and dialed her number, tapping my fingers impatiently on the bed as I waited for her to pick up. But she didn’t answer. I tried several more times, but it was the same result. Frustrated, I angrily flung the phone away. I ruffled my hair, frantically looking around the room. If I didn’t act soon, everything I had could come crashing down right before my eyes.
The other day, I overheard some maids gossiping. They said it wouldn’t be long before I was sent out of the mansion and stripped of my title as queen since I was infertile and unable to provide the kingdom with an heir. One maid even mocked me by calling me “Veronica, the Queen of Infertility and Evil.” Of course, I was furious and had her punished, but I couldn’t dismiss the truth in her words. Whether I liked it or not, I had six years to prove myself worthy of the throne. No matter how much I pleaded with the Moon Goddess for mercy, she remained cruel.
On this particular day, I was heading to the dining table for lunch when a small figure ran past and bumped into me. Looking down, a frown crept across my face as I recognized one of Ashley’s brats.
“Sorry, Aunty,” he said softly, waving apologetically as he turned to leave. I stopped him immediately.
“Stop right there!” I said. He froze in place. I walked closer and bent down so that my face was level with his. “What’s your name, little boy?” He fiddled with his shirt, clearly scared and unsure whether to answer.
“S-Simeon,” he stammered. My wolf stirred, enraged. How typical of Ashley to name one of her sons something so similar to one of their fathers. The audacity.
“Wow, Simeon. What’s your brother’s name?”
“His name is Luke,” he said. It all clicked. Ashley, the insolent woman, had deliberately named her sons after Simon and Lucas.
“Well, Simeon,” I sneered, gripping his cheeks tightly with one hand, “your mother clearly hasn’t trained you well. You’re such a brat.” As I thought more about my dilemma, my anger grew, and my grip tightened, my nails digging into his soft skin. He whimpered, on the verge of crying, but I quickly clamped my other hand over his mouth to stifle the sound.
“No, no, shhh. I thought you were a brave boy. Why are you crying?” I taunted. He continued to whimper. “You’re supposed to be a man, the future heir to the throne, and you’re this weak? Well, what else should I expect from the son of a weak slave?” I released his fragile face. He cried and ran off while I shook my head at the pitiful sight.
“What a waste,” I muttered to myself, then made my way to the dining room, where the maids had started setting up lunch.
Not long after eating, Ashley confronted me.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you, but if you have any issues with me, I suggest you keep it between us,” she said, clearly agitated.
I scoffed and folded my arms, watching her rant. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
She looked at me with disdain. “My son told me that you pinched him hard on the face just because he accidentally bumped into you and apologized.”
“And?”
“And I don’t appreciate that. You and I both know you didn’t do it because of the bump.”
“Oh really? If we both know why I did it, why don’t you enlighten me?”
“Listen, Veronica. Like I said, keep our animosity between us. Leave my children out of it.”
“Or else?” I taunted.
She scoffed, stepping closer with an intimidating glare. “You chose to vent your frustration on him today, but if you know what’s best for you, I suggest this be the first and last time. Don’t touch him or his brother again.”
“Is that a threat?”
“Take it however you want, but remember, you’re not dealing with the same wolf you once knew. I won’t hesitate to show you your place if you push me.” With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me stunned by the authority in her voice.
“How in the world did she get such confidence?” I muttered, still unable to comprehend the drastic change in her demeanor. I was about to head to my room when I overheard voices coming from Lucas’ study. Moving closer to the door, I recognized one voice as Beta Damien’s. At first, I wasn’t interested, but then something caught my attention.
“They’ve requested to meet with you and His Highness Simon. It’s about the children in the house,” Damien said.
“What? How did the news get to them?” Lucas asked, his voice tense.
“I’m not sure, Your Highness, but they know about the children and are aware that we’ve been investigating for a while.”
“Well, alright. Simon and I will meet with them later. Last time, they discussed the lack of an heir and the possible contenders for the throne. Things should be different now that the issue is resolved. This meeting is probably just to express their displeasure over not being informed sooner, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. You’re dismissed, Damien.”
I quickly ran to avoid being seen as Damien left the room. Sneaking back to my bedroom, the first thing that came to mind was calling my mom again. So much was happening, and I didn’t want to be caught off guard.
“Please pick up, Mom, please,” I said anxiously as the phone rang. After several rings, she finally answered, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“Oh my goodness, Mom, where have you been? Do you know how long I’ve been trying to reach you?”
“Oh really? I didn’t notice, with the 28 missed calls,” she said sarcastically.
“Now’s not the time for jokes, Mom. There’s serious trouble here.”
“What do you mean?”
“Guess who’s back in the mansion?”
“Who?”
“Ashley!”
“Who’s that?”
“Mom, how could you forget my worst enemy?”
“What?” my mother gasped. “Are you saying those brats belong to Simon and Lucas?”
“Yes, Mom,” I replied, exasperation thick in my voice. “They found out during some event where they met Ashley and the boys. She denied that they were her children at first, but Simon and Lucas weren’t fooled. They investigated and confirmed the truth-those twin boys are theirs. And now, they’ve brought her back into the mansion.”
“When did all this happen?” she demanded.
“About a week ago,” I said, barely keeping the frustration out of my voice.
“And you’re only telling me this now? Why didn’t you tell me the moment you found out?”
“I didn’t have the chance, Mom! Everything has been happening so fast. I’ve been trying to reach you for days.”
My mother’s sigh echoed over the line. “Veronica, you should have told me sooner. This is no small matter. Do you understand what this means? If those boys are truly Simon and Lucas’s, they’ve already secured their positions as heirs to the throne. And what about you? You’ve had six years to give them an heir and-”
“I know, Mom,” I interrupted, my voice cracking with emotion. “I *know* I’ve failed. You don’t need to remind me.”
For a moment, there was only silence on the other end. Then, my mother’s voice softened, though it remained stern. “This changes everything. You need to act quickly and wisely. If those boys become the official heirs, you’ll lose everything-your title, your status, and any chance at power. You must find a way to protect yourself.”
My heart raced as her words sank in. She was right, of course. I was running out of time, and the stakes were higher than ever.
“I understand, Mom,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “But what can I do? They’re already here, and Ashley has returned with more power than ever. It feels like I’ve lost before I’ve even begun to fight.”
“That’s not true,” she replied sharply. “You’re stronger than this. Remember who you are, Veronica. You didn’t climb your way to the top by being weak or passive. If you want to keep your place, you need to find a way to make yourself indispensable. Make them remember why they chose you in the first place.”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “You’re right, Mom. I won’t let Ashley take everything from me again.”
“Good,” she said. “Now, start planning. And call me if anything else happens. We’ll figure this out together.”
We ended the call, and I sat on the edge of my bed, my mind racing. My mother’s words had ignited a fire in me. I wasn’t going to let Ashley win. Not this time.
But how could I fight back? What could I do to remind Simon and Lucas of my value? I needed a plan-something bold, something that would secure my position once and for all.
I didn’t have much time to think about my next move when a knock sounded at the door. I glanced toward it and called, “Who is it?”
“Greetings, my queen,” a voice responded from the other side. “I’ve been sent to request your presence in the courtroom. Their Highnesses have asked for you to come immediately.”
I sighed softly, rubbing my temples in an attempt to dispel the tension building there. “All right, you may leave,” I replied, listening as the servant’s footsteps faded down the hall.
I stood still for a moment, uncertainty gnawing at me. *What could they possibly want now?* I wondered as I rose from the bed. My mind raced through the possibilities, none of them comforting.
After a quick glance in the mirror, I ran my fingers through my hair and straightened my dress, making sure I looked presentable. Satisfied with my appearance, I took a deep breath and steeled myself before heading toward the courtroom.