Tied…
“If one of the maids touches anything, I’ll have their heads,” Veronica spat. “No one but me has permission to enter this library. Well, at least except for Lucas and Simon, but still, they barely come in here, so I more or less have full authority over this place.”
I could feel the heat of her anger radiating from the other side of the shelf. She was so close now that I could hear her breathing.
“Let’s go. We’ll search the rooms later. I need to find those papers before anyone notices they’re missing.”
I waited until I was sure the sound of their footsteps had faded into the distance before daring to move. My heart was still racing, but I couldn’t afford to linger any longer. I had to get these documents out of here-and fast.
I slipped out of the library, carefully closing the door behind me. As I moved through the halls, my mind raced. Veronica’s schemes were deeper than I had realized, and I still wasn’t sure of the full extent of her plans. How she even got alerted about the papers that quickly was something I just couldn’t understand. But I knew one thing for certain: she was dangerous, and the longer she stayed in this palace, the more harm she could cause.
“Or wait, could she possibly have installed cameras in this place?” I whispered to myself as I slowly walked down the hallway, moving as steadily and calmly as I could to avoid arousing suspicion.
“No, I guess not,” I muttered. “She knew the papers were missing, but if there really were cameras in the library, they would’ve caught me taking them. From the looks of things, she still thinks one of the maids took them. I just have to use these papers wisely without getting implicated or caught.” My pace quickened as I neared my room.
I needed to act quickly, but carefully. Exposing her too soon could backfire, especially without enough proof. But waiting too long could give her time to cover her tracks. I needed a plan.
I hurried into my room, locking the door behind me. I laid the papers out on my desk, smoothing them one by one. Each was more incriminating than the last-secret deals with rival packs, betrayals that threatened the kingdom’s stability. Veronica was playing a dangerous game, one that could lead to war if it wasn’t stopped.
Just as I began examining one of the more suspicious documents, a soft knock came at the door. My pulse quickened.
“Mommy?” It was Luke, his small voice a welcome sound after the tension of the past few minutes.
I quickly gathered the papers and tucked them away in a drawer before crossing the room to open the door.
“Yes, sweetheart?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm and gentle. Luke looked up at me with wide eyes, his hair slightly mussed from whatever game he and Simeon had been playing. He had always been the more carefree and rough one, so I wasn’t surprised by his tousled appearance.
“Simeon said the Ratman is going to eat him,” he said, looking genuinely concerned. I couldn’t help but smile at his seriousness.
“Don’t worry, love,” I reassured him, crouching down to his level. “I talked to the Ratman. He promised me he wouldn’t eat Simeon-just as long as you two stay out of the library.”
Luke’s eyes lit up with relief. “Okay! I’ll tell him,” he said, turning to run off again.
“Luke, wait!” I called, and he spun back around. “Did your brother tell anybody about today, about both of us being in the library?” He looked at me, confused. I continued, “Has anyone asked him about what happened while we were in the library?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Mommy.”
I took a deep breath, rubbing my temples to ease the headache that had begun to form. “You know what, why don’t you go get him for me quickly?”
Luke nodded and ran off. I stood up and began pacing around the room. It wouldn’t be long before Veronica’s investigation reached the kids. I had to get to them first. They wouldn’t understand the implications of revealing the truth to Veronica, so I needed to guide them on what to say.
When Luke returned with his brother, I stopped pacing and urged them to come closer.
“Alright, I need to tell you something important, okay?” I said, holding their hands and looking at them one by one. “Ratman has gone to talk to the lady in the house with us, you know her, right?”
“You mean the fair lady with little balls on her face?” Simeon said, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Leave it to a six-year-old to describe Veronica by her pimple-covered face that had resisted all her expensive skincare treatments.
“Yes, that lady,” I said, smiling. “Well, I saw her talking to Ratman. He was asking her to find out who entered the library today.”
Both boys gasped, and I nodded in response.
“Exactly! Now she’s going around asking people if they know who was in the library today, so if she asks you, you tell her you don’t know. None of us went into the library, okay? Do you understand?”
“Yes, Mommy,” they chorused, and I nodded. As much as I disliked the idea of lying to my children, I knew I had to make them treat this situation seriously-even if it meant making up something to seem more urgent.
“And you’re sure he’s not going to eat me, Mommy?” Simeon asked.
“Of course not, sweetheart. I’ve spoken to him, but if that lady finds out that we were in the library, he might change his mind. He could eat me, your father, and everyone else in the mansion. So remember, it’s our little secret, okay?”
Simeon’s face brightened. “Okay, Mommy!”
“Good. Now let’s go to the garden and play,” I said. They jumped up eagerly and rushed to the door.
I went over to the drawer where I’d hidden the papers. Leaving them in the room while I was away would be risky. I knew the type of person Veronica was-she’d probably have the room searched in my absence. I carefully hid the papers in my dress before leaving with the boys. I needed time to think, and the garden seemed like the safest place to clear my head, away from Veronica’s spying eyes and the secrets lurking in the palace walls.
As I watched Luke dash off with Simeon close behind him, I couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out. I had uncovered Veronica’s secrets, but how long until she uncovered mine?
Stepping into the sunlight of the garden, I knew one thing for sure-Veronica wasn’t going to win this game, not if I had anything to say about it. I sat on a concrete bench, watching the boys play. Their giggles filled the air, and I savored the moment of peace. It had been two days since the elders’ meeting, and I needed this quiet time to prepare for what was coming tomorrow. The marriage rituals would take place after three days, and now that time was almost up.
If I had my way, I wouldn’t go through with it, but it wasn’t just my choice anymore. My children were not just mine; they were the kingdom’s. I hated the idea of marrying Lucas and Simon, especially given our past. But I reminded myself that this was a sacrifice I had to make for the sake of my children. With that mindset, I was able to manage the anxiety I felt about the coming day.
“Mommy, watch me!” Luke called, attempting a handstand. From the tone of his voice, I knew he was about to lose his balance, but he wanted me to see before he fell.
“Wow! Well done, my boy!” I applauded softly, and he grinned before collapsing out of the handstand, his face red like a tomato. Simeon laughed, and I sighed peacefully, knowing these moments of quiet wouldn’t last.
—
Finally, the day had come, and though I hated to admit it, I was nervous about the marriage ritual. The elders had left me no choice. In fact, I never really had a choice from the moment Lucas and Simon found me and the children, bringing us here against my will.
Veronica, of course, wasn’t pleased with the arrangement, so she ended up not attending the ceremony-not that I cared. All I wanted was for the rituals to be over so I could focus on gathering more evidence against her. Luke and Simeon, on the other hand, seemed thrilled. They didn’t understand the full gravity of the situation. After learning that George wasn’t their father, but rather Lucas and Simon were, they were overjoyed at the idea of us getting married.
As the ceremonial drums echoed through the palace halls, I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the ceremonial gown that felt heavier than it should. My reflection showed a calm exterior, but inside, I was anything but. The marriage ritual wasn’t just a union; it was a binding contract, one that tied me to Lucas and Simon not only for their sake but for the future of our children and the kingdom itself.
A knock at the door broke my thoughts. It was one of the messengers. He stepped inside, his presence imposing yet somehow gentle, as it should be for a personnel such as him
“It’s time, my lady” he said, his voice soft but firm.
I nodded, my heart pounding, but I refused to let him see any hint of weakness. The past between both Lucas and Simon and myself was complicated. They had once been important figures in my life, and now, fate was forcing us together again. But this time, it wasn’t for love-it was for power, for protection, for survival, and the sake of responsibility in general
As we walked down the stairs, I glanced at the cold faces of both Lucas and Simon who were already seated on their designated seats, their faces hard to read. The years had changed them, just as they had changed me. I wondered what they truly felt about all this. Did they regret the choices made? Or was this ritual just another step toward the throne?
The great hall was filled with elders, nobles, and other figures of authority, their eyes watching our every move. I spotted Luke and Simeon near the altar, their faces filled with excitement.
Looking over towards Lucas and Simon, I noticed their gaze locked on mine for a moment, and this made me nervous . Simon, who usually held nothing but a cold expression on his face now had the same mix of emotions in his eyes-regret, duty, and a flicker of something else I couldn’t quite place.
Veronica was notably absent, as expected. Her absence was a small victory, but I knew it wouldn’t last. She would make her move soon. The ceremony might tie me to Lucas and Simon in the eyes of the kingdom, but it would also make me a bigger target. I had to stay one step ahead of her.
The ritual began, the priestess reciting the ancient vows. I barely listened, my mind racing with thoughts of what would happen after today. I had secured the papers that proved Veronica’s betrayal, but I needed more than just documents to bring her down. I needed allies, and I needed time-both of which were running out.
As the priestess turned to me, I realized it was my turn to speak. The room was so silent I could hear the rustling of my gown as I shifted.
“I, Queen Luna,” I began, using the formal name given to me as the new queen, “vow to uphold the unity of this kingdom and to protect the heirs to the throne. I pledge my loyalty to our Kings, Lucas and Simon, for the sake of the peace and future of our people.”
The words felt foreign on my tongue, but I spoke them with conviction. The truth was, this was not about loyalty to them. It was about loyalty to my children, to ensure their safety and their rightful place in this world.
Lucas and Simon echoed their vows, their voices steady. We carried out other necessary rituals including the blood oath, invoking the moon goddess’ spirit, etc. When the priestess raised her hands to declare the union complete, a wave of unease washed over me. It was done. I was now bound to them, in the eyes of the kingdom and in the eyes of fate.