The Wolf's Queen Vows

Chapter 55: The Rumors

Aveloria woke to a space beside her. The bed was still warm, but Lucien was gone. She reached out anyway, her hand brushing against the sheets as if she could still catch a trace of him. There was nothing.

She lay there for a few seconds, her thoughts blank. Then she sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. It was morning already. Sunlight crept through the curtains, touching the edge of the room. She wasn’t surprised he had left. Lucien had promised to leave by dawn. She only wishes he were around more like the other bonds.

She stood and stretched, feeling a dull ache in her shoulders, within her legs, and her butt cheeks. When she turned toward the vanity, her eyes caught a folded piece of paper resting beside her brush.

Aveloria frowned. She hadn’t left anything there last night. She walked over, picked it up, and the handwriting was slanted, bold, and slightly uneven.

She sat down on the chair and unfolded the note.

’I didn’t want to wake you. You looked peaceful, and I like watching you sleep. Maybe one day, I’ll wake up next to you like that forever.’

Her lips twitched in a faint smile. It was precisely the kind of thing he would say, straightforward, honest, and too direct. She could almost hear his voice in her head, teasing but warm. freēwebnovel.com

She read on.

’There’s something you need to know. The Wanderers, they’re not moving on their own. They serve someone—a witch. And from what I’ve learned, she’s close. Too close. I think she’s present inside the palace walls. The Wanderers’ mission is tied to a phenomenon known as the Blood of the First Moon and a prophecy. I don’t know what it means, but I know it’s connected to you. You carry that blood, Aveloria. Whatever it is, it’s what they’re after. If you want answers, check the old records in your mother’s library or ask an old, trusted elder. You need to know more about the prophecy.’

Her chest tightened as she read the last lines.

’Be careful. Don’t trust anyone until you know who serves whom. Your love, L.’

Aveloria stared at the letter for a long time. Her fingers trembled slightly.

The Blood of the First Moon. She had heard the phrase once before, years ago, when it was mentioned in passing during a council meeting. However, it was dismissed as a legend, something old scholars debated when they had nothing else to do.

And now Lucien was saying it was real, that it was tied to her.

She folded the note carefully and placed it back on the vanity. Her mind was racing. A witch within the palace walls? How could that be possible? The wards surrounding the royal grounds should have made it impossible for any dark magic to linger.

Unless...She swallowed hard and pushed the thought away.

She had too many questions and no answers. The only thing she knew was that Lucien wouldn’t have written that if he wasn’t sure. He wasn’t one to waste words.

Aveloria stood and went to the wardrobe. She changed into a simple gown. Something comfortable enough to move around in but formal enough not to attract attention. As she pulled her hair into a loose braid, her mind kept circling back to the letter.

If what he said was true, then someone inside the palace was helping the Wanderers. Someone powerful enough to hide from the king’s eyes. She had to find out who.

And if her mother’s old library still held the records Lucien mentioned, that would be the first place to start. She slipped the note into her sleeve and stepped out of her room.

The corridor was quiet, but not empty. A few servants were already moving about, cleaning the floors and dusting the wall torches. Some of them looked up when she passed. Others lowered their heads quickly, pretending not to see her.

It didn’t take long before she noticed the whispers.

At first, it was faint, a murmur behind her, two voices too quiet to make out. But as she moved further down the hall, more eyes turned in her direction.

One maid stopped sweeping when Aveloria approached and whispered to another, "Stop talking...she’s close."

Aveloria frowned. She wasn’t accustomed to being discussed this early in the morning.

When she turned a corner, she heard it clearly.

"Did you hear?" one of the servants said in a low voice. "The Heiress was seen last night. With the rogue."

"The rogue? Where? In her chamber?" another gasped.

"They said he was spotted leaving before dawn. No one knows how he got in."

Aveloria froze for half a second. Her stomach turned. It hadn’t even been a full day, and the rumors were already spreading.

She kept walking, pretending not to hear, though her pulse quickened. By the time she reached the end of the hallway, the whispers were louder. Some servants didn’t even bother lowering their voices anymore.

"Maybe that’s why she didn’t stay for the feast."

"Imagine the shame if the King hears of it."

"They say rogues are dangerous, but maybe that’s what she likes."

Her hands tightened at her sides. She ignored the sting in her chest and quickened her pace.

Lucien’s visit hadn’t just been dangerous; it had been reckless. If anyone had actually seen him, it could destroy more than her reputation. It could make the council question her judgment, or worse, her loyalty.

She needed to reach the library fast. But she didn’t make it that far.

Two palace guards stepped into her path near the main staircase. They bowed stiffly, though one of them looked uneasy.

"Heiress, the king requests your presence immediately," the taller one said.

Aveloria blinked. "Now?"

"Yes, my lady. In the throne hall."

Her stomach sank. Of course. The rumors must have reached him already.

She nodded slowly. "Very well. Lead the way."

They turned and started walking. She followed, keeping her posture straight, refusing to show any sign of nerves. But inside, her thoughts wouldn’t stop racing.

If King Alaric had summoned her this early, it couldn’t be good.

As they made their way through the main corridor, she caught more stares, some from guards, some from attendants, and even from one of the court scribes who nearly tripped when he saw her.

The palace felt heavier, like everyone already knew something she didn’t.

When they reached the tall double doors of the throne hall, one of the guards knocked. A voice from inside said, "Enter."

The doors opened slowly.

Aveloria stepped forward. The hall was nearly empty except for her father, King Alaric, sitting on the throne, and a few council members standing nearby.

"Father," she said carefully, bowing her head slightly.

Alaric’s face was unreadable. "Aveloria."

She stopped halfway between the doors and the throne. "You asked to see me." ƒreewebɳovel.com

He gestured for the others to leave. The council members exchanged glances but obeyed, bowing before they walked out. When the doors closed, the room fell into silence.

The king leaned back in his chair, studying her. "Where were you last night?"

Her throat tightened. "After the feast?"

"Yes."

She hesitated. "I went to the infirmary to check on Galen."

"And after that?"

"I went to my chambers."

Alaric’s gaze hardened. "Alone?"

Aveloria met his eyes. "Yes."

He didn’t respond immediately. He stood slowly, his expression sharp. "There are whispers in the palace, Aveloria. Ugly ones."

"I’ve heard them," she said quietly.

"Then you know what people are saying."

She nodded once. "They’re lies."

He studied her face carefully, as if trying to decide whether to believe her.

"I want to believe you," he said finally. "But this family cannot afford any scandal. Not when the kingdom is still fragile."

"I understand."

He sighed and walked closer. "I’ve already ordered an internal check on the guards. I want to know how a rogue could have entered the palace undetected, if he did at all."

Aveloria forced herself to stay calm. "That would be wise."

He looked at her again. "If there’s anything you want to tell me now, I suggest you do it before I hear it from someone else."

"There’s nothing to tell," she said evenly.

He studied her for another moment, then gave a slight nod. "Very well. You may go."

She bowed slightly. "Thank you, Father."

When she turned and left the hall, her hands were trembling at her sides.

Outside the doors, she took a slow, steady breath. She couldn’t let him find out about Lucien, not now, not ever. The timing was too dangerous. If what Lucien said in his note was true, then the threat inside the palace was real. Someone powerful was working against them, and if the King started investigating her instead, it would only make things worse.

Aveloria made her way down the corridor again, her mind racing faster than before. She had to reach her mother’s old library before anyone followed her.

She needed to uncover the truth about the prophecy, the Blood of the First Moon, and the person hiding behind the mask of loyalty within the palace walls.

Because if Lucien was right, it must be something much larger and something already set in motion.

And she didn’t have much time to stop it. Not when so much was at stake.