May I??
Reaching the top of the stairs, I made my way to my chambers. The large double doors stood as a reminder of the power and luxury I held, but it felt precarious now-like everything around me could shatter with one wrong move. I pushed open the doors and entered the room, closing them behind me with a soft click. The air inside was cool, yet I felt a restlessness stirring within me.
I crossed the room to stand by the window, looking out over the sprawling gardens of the estate. The sun was sinking below the horizon, casting the sky in shades of orange and purple. Normally, I found the view soothing, but tonight it offered no comfort. My mind was still racing, trying to make sense of Fabian’s revelations. If Ashley was truly still vulnerable amidst all the allies she had started gaining back, then there was an opportunity there. But how much could I trust Fabian’s information? And what would he want in return for giving it to me?
I clenched my fists, feeling the pressure of the decisions ahead. It wasn’t just about Ashley-it was about positioning myself in this volatile world of alliances, betrayals, and power. One misstep, and I could end up like her, or worse.
A knock on the door broke my train of thought. I turned, surprised, as I hadn’t expected anyone. “Come in,” I called, composing myself.
The door opened, and my personal and most trusted handmaid, Amira, entered. She curtsied before speaking. “My lady, I figured you’d be stressed and a bit tired, so I thought to bring you some tea to help you relax for the evening.”
I nodded. “Hmm, thank you, dear. Leave it on the table, please.”
She did as I asked and hesitated for a moment, glancing at me. “Is there anything else you need, Your Highness? You seem… troubled.”
I forced a small smile. “No, I’m fine. You’re dismissed.”
She curtsied again and quietly left the room, leaving me alone once more. I sighed and walked over to the small table where she had placed the tea. I poured myself a cup, but the warmth of the drink did little to soothe the tension knotting my shoulders.
As I sipped the tea, I found myself thinking about my mother’s advice again: *Play their game.* It was a game, indeed-a ruthless one where only the clever and careful survived. Ashley had risen to power through her own cunning and strength, but now it was my turn. If Fabian was right, then I had an opening. I just needed to ensure that every move I made was calculated, precise.
I placed the teacup down and walked back to the window. The sky had darkened, and the first stars were beginning to appear. Somewhere out there, Ashley was consolidating her power, unaware of the cracks forming beneath her. I would use those cracks, exploit them, and when the time was right, I would make my move.
But for now, I had to be patient. The game had only just begun, and I intended to play it better than anyone else. As soon as I finished with my tea, I gently placed the cup on the table and moved back to sit by the window again.
It wasn’t long after that Amira walked back in, and she glanced at me, still seated by the window. I could tell she was hesitating, unsure of what to say, so I kept my gaze fixed out the window.
“What is it, Amira? I don’t think I’m comfortable with this intense gaze you have on me.”
She quickly adjusted herself, and I slowly turned to face her. I looked at her with a questioning gaze to urge her to speak, but she shook her head in response.
“It’s nothing, my lady. My apologies if I made you uncomfortable,” she said, taking the empty cup and the teaspoon she had brought with it. She was about to leave when I stopped her.
“Wait, go prepare me a bath. I think a cold bath would really help me relax right now.”
“All right, my lady,” she responded, and then made her way towards the bathroom. The sound of running water filled the air, and I took a deep breath as I basked in the silence of the room.
“Oh, and yes, use the rose-scented bath bombs in the water.”
“Yes, my lady,” she responded from inside, and I relaxed back in the seat as I waited. When she returned to the room, I got up and started taking off my dress.
“Let me help you, my lady,” she said as she rushed over to assist me. As soon as she unzipped my dress, I urged her to get me the towel from my closet, and she went to fetch it immediately. I wrapped it around my body before walking into the bathroom. I took off the towel and instantly dipped myself into the tub, letting the coldness of the water wash over me.
“Ahhh, this feels great,” I moaned as relief soon washed over me. Although the tea hadn’t been very effective in easing the tension already building in me, this cold bath certainly did wonders. I remained there for about ten minutes, allowing my body to relax before rinsing off.
I wrapped myself back in the towel and then made my way back to the room. There, Amira was waiting for me with my nightdress already laid out, and I walked over to my dressing table to moisturize and do my skincare routine. Once I finished, I put on my nightdress, and Amira handed me the chilled glass of juice she had brought.
“Thank you,” I muttered, nodding in appreciation.
“Anything else, my lady?”
“No, nothing. I’m perfectly fine now. You’re dismissed.”
“All right then, I’ll take my leave, my lady.” She curtsied and left me alone in the room. Once I was finally alone, I placed the half-drunk glass of juice down and went over to where my phone lay on the bed. I turned it on and saw a text from an unknown number. Curious, I read it aloud.
“Greetings, Your Highness. I hope you are doing much better now. I thought to check up on you.” I read it a couple of times, trying to figure out who it could be.
“Who is this?” I texted back and waited for a response. It didn’t take long before I received a reply.
“It is me, Lyon.” As soon as I saw this, I froze for a moment. How exactly did he get my number? I remained silent, wondering who might have given it to him.
“I see. Well, I’m doing well, thank you. More importantly, how did you get my number?” There was a hesitation, and I knew he was probably contemplating how to answer.
“I just hope you are okay, Your Highness. If it would make you feel any better, I could accompany you on a walk in the garden or anywhere you wish to go.”
I didn’t respond immediately, reading the text over and over again. Not only did he evade my question, but he also invited me on a walk. After thinking for a while, I decided to go, though not with his knowledge.
“No thanks, I’m not interested.”
“Oh, okay, Your Highness. Please take care of yourself. Goodnight.” He responded, and I set the phone down as I slowly got up from the bed. I adjusted the fit of my dress, slipped on some shoes, and made my way out. As I walked past the hallway, I could hear the sound of giggles and running coming from Ashley’s room. From the sound of it, she was probably chasing one of her sons who was refusing to take a bath. His giggles echoed down the hallway, accompanied by Ashley’s shouted orders, and I rolled my eyes at the commotion.
“This is a mansion, not an elementary school! So annoying,” I murmured before proceeding on my way.
When I reached the garden, I looked around to make sure no one else was there, and once I was sure of it, I quietly walked over to the bench and sat down. I looked up at the sky and was greeted by millions of stars twinkling quietly above. I searched for the moon, but it was nowhere to be found. I remained silent, enjoying the cool breeze. The mating season was just a month away, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. This would be the seventh mating season I would spend since marrying Lucas and Simon, and the previous ones hadn’t gone well for me.
I let out a deep breath as memories of the last six mating seasons played in my mind, recalling just how bad they had been. Every effort I made to strengthen my relationships with Lucas and Simon had been unfruitful. Now, with the return of a certain someone, I decided not to bother anymore.
I got up from the bench and decided to walk a bit to stretch my legs. I didn’t want to think about the upcoming season, so I kept walking, hoping to clear my mind.
“Your Highness?” I heard a voice from behind, and I turned to see Lyon standing a few feet away.
“You? Are you stalking me now?” I questioned immediately upon seeing him.
“Oh no, not at all, Your Highness. In fact, I’m surprised to see you here. I thought you said you weren’t coming.”
“Well, I… I changed my mind. Do I need your permission to go anywhere in this house?”
“Absolutely not, my apologies,” he said. I turned away and continued walking. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him standing in place, just watching me. He didn’t move, simply staring, which made me stop in my tracks.
“What? Aren’t you going to come along?” I asked, breaking the silence. He quickly jogged over to catch up.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I promise not to say anything or make you uncomfortable with my presence,” he replied, falling into step beside me.
I shook my head slightly but kept walking. We moved in silence for a while, the only sound being the faint rustling of the leaves in the night breeze. After a few minutes, the quiet became unbearable.
“So, are you just going to remain silent the entire time?” I asked, breaking the stillness.
“What? I thought you-”
“I don’t enjoy the silence. It’s uncomfortable,” I cut in, my voice carrying more frustration than I intended.
“Oh, well… I, um…” He trailed off, clearly unsure how to continue. I could see he was trying to avoid something, which only made me more impatient.
“How did you get my number, Lyon?” I asked directly this time, watching him tense at the question. He rubbed the back of his neck, his discomfort obvious.
“I… well, it’s complicated, Your Highness.”
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his evasion. “Never mind. I’ll find out myself,” I said coolly, dismissing the subject for now. The walk continued in silence for a few more minutes, the tension between us palpable.
“May I ask you something, Your Highness?” Lyon ventured cautiously after a while.
“Hmm, go on,” I said, my tone flat, still not fully forgiving him for avoiding my earlier question.
He hesitated, as if trying to phrase his question carefully. “Do you ever feel like you’ve been robbed of your rights?” His words hung in the air, and I stopped in my tracks, turning to face him, surprise written across my face.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean… you’ve worked so hard and come so far to be where you are now, yet it seems like everything is being handed to someone else. Even though others might not admit it, it feels unjust, doesn’t it?” His voice was calm, but the words struck deep, mirroring my own buried thoughts.
I took a deep breath, letting his words sink in. At least someone else saw the truth. It wasn’t just me. I studied his face, trying to decide whether I could trust him with my inner frustrations. After a moment of contemplation, I finally decided to speak.
“Yes,” I admitted quietly, my voice carrying a weight I hadn’t expected. “It does feel that way.”