Free Web NovelChapter 17: The Accusation.
"Mother, you are still keeping me here." Ragnar was growing tired of her lecture. He wondered how she had even found out about the errand the king had sent him on. It wasn’t exactly a state secret, but if she had an ulterior motive, he knew he wouldn’t hear the end of it until things were done exactly her way. "I have to leave."
"I thought you weren’t supposed to leave for the west until tomorrow," Aunt Freya asked, her eyes squinting. Her son was trying to hide something from her again. "Why are you already dressed for travel? Is there a change in the plan?"
"I am not at liberty to say, because the king explicitly told me not to tell anyone," he insisted, his knuckles whitening as his grip tightened on the horse’s reins.
"Do not be a fool, Ragnar. I am your mother, and you will tell me your whereabouts," she started, turning to her usual weapon—using her motherly love to manipulate him. "I cannot bear the thought of anything happening to you. I did not carry you for nine months just to..."
"It’s okay, Mother," he interrupted, his gaze darting around the courtyard until it fell on the princess, who was standing not far from them.
Ragnar swallowed hard, forcing himself to look away. How long had she been standing there? Did she overhear them?
He doubted it. Prince Ethan had told him once that humans had far weaker hearing than werewolves, but the risk still made his skin crawl.
"Are you going to tell me or not?" His mother’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
When he looked back down at her, her nose was turned up, her features pinched in anger.
"Fine. I am leaving today, Mother, not tomorrow," Ragnar answered. He already knew he was going to regret telling her the truth. "Cassuis asked me to leave today so that I can return sooner."
"How many days will it take you?"
"Four, at most."
"Good. And whatever evidence you find against the princess," Freya whispered, her voice dropping to a sharp, commanding hiss, "you will report it back to me first. Do you understand?"
"The king was the one who sent me, Mother," Ragnar reminded her, hoping to jar her memory that his first duty was to the throne, not to her. "I cannot betray his trust and give you—"
"Do not piss me off, Ragnar!" Aunt Freya snapped, her voice cutting through the courtyard.
Several passing guards and servants paused, turning to look at her as if she had lost her mind. They must have wondered what could have possessed her to make such a public scene.
Freya took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to calm her racing pulse. One of these days, this boy was going to drive her completely insane.
She remembered what the priest had told her on the very night he was born—that Ragnar was destined to be her nemesis.
She hadn’t believed the old man at first, but as her son grew older, the truth of that prophecy became clearer by the day.
"I am sorry, Mother," Ragnar apologized quickly, bowing his head. He hated seeing her driven to the edge like this. "I will report back to you first. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes. And make sure you find out exactly what kind of relationship Ethan and the princess share."
Ragnar’s brows furrowed in confusion. He stole a brief, fleeting glance back toward the princess. She didn’t look like the kind of person who was capable of the lies they accused her of.
Arianna wasn’t just beautiful; she possessed a quiet, striking calm. She didn’t seem like a villain, nor did she deserve the venom his mother and sister constantly spat her way.
Looking at her now, Ragnar saw a profound, lingering pain in her eyes—the exact reason he deeply regretted pulling that cruel prank on her during her first day here.
"I think the princess might be telling the truth about that, Mother," he said softly, shifting his gaze back. "The king asked me to discover her true motives for marrying him. He never mentioned anything about Prince Ethan."
"Then you will add it to your mission now," his mother insisted, stepping back from him. She crossed her arms over her chest, a proud, smug satisfaction settling onto her features. "I know you won’t disappoint me, dear."
"Goodbye, Mother."
Ragnar snapped the reins, and the black mare surged forward. But as the horse neared the gates, he instinctively slowed her pace right in front of the princess.
Her palms were slick with sweat, even though the afternoon air wasn’t warm. Arianna rubbed the back of her neck gently as Ragnar approached, her heart hammering against her ribs.
She was desperate to know his exact mission but she forced her posture to remain neutral, refusing to betray her anxiety.
She stood her ground, waiting patiently as he drew near.
"Greetings, Luna." Ragnar offered a respectful bow as he pulled his mount to a halt in front of her. The black mare was exceptionally well-trained, standing perfectly still as if it intuitively understood its master’s commands.
"Ragnar, right?" she asked, forcing a polite, measured smile.
"Yes. Her Highness remembers," he nodded, his lips curling into a genuine smile.
"Of course I do," Arianna replied. How on earth could I forget you? "Where are you heading? Hunting?"
"Not exactly. I am running an errand for the court," Ragnar told her.
"What kind of errand?"
Before he could answer, the heavy crunch of footsteps announced his mother’s approach. Freya stepped up beside them, wearing a smooth, false smile as she patted the mare’s neck.
"You should be on your way now, Ragnar. It will get dark before you know it," Aunt Freya said, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness.
"Alright, Mother," Ragnar obeyed without hesitation. He turned back to the princess, offering one last bow before snapping the reins and riding out through the castle gates.
Arianna watched his retreating figure until the dust settled, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.
A wave of despair washed over her; she felt on the verge of tears. He was going to find out the truth about her.
The only person with the power to call Ragnar back was the king but how could she possibly convince him to do that without looking guilty?
"He is around your age," Aunt Freya’s voice cut through the panic, snapping her back to reality. "Handsome and innocent. You would do well to look away, girl. You are married to the king now."
Arianna listened, the words hovering in the air for a fraction of a second before the sheer malice behind them clicked. Instantly, a hot flush of rage rushed to her face, turning her cheeks crimson.
"Are you mad, Aunt Freya?" Arianna hissed, her voice trembling with sudden, fierce anger. "How dare you insinuate such a thing?"
