Chapter 93: Chapter 93: LOCKED IN

VALORIA WILDEROSE

I refocus my mind on my mission, burying every lie Azrael has fed me over the past week after falling for them again and again.

When will I ever learn, I wonder? Will it be until he kills me or I run the blade through his heart?

But no matter how much I try to focus, I can’t stop thinking about his last words and the determination behind them—to ruin everything, to be every bit as evil as the rumors make him out to be.

The foolish part of me—desperate to absolve him for some reason—dwells on the hint of something else in his eyes as he made the declaration.

An emotion he himself might not be aware of.

Loneliness, sadness; a quiet longing.

No, Valoria, you’re doing it again—making excuses, falling for his lies.

Azrael has always been evil and not once has he ever denied it.

You just don’t want to believe it because he’s the only one that’s ever defended you against your family.

The only one you’ve ever told the traumatic story of how your mother died.

That’s right. It’s all just sentiments born from trauma.

Today I decide to take a break from my research to clear my head. Read a book that isn’t about Azrael’s past but something else that can take me far away from where I am, so I drop by the general library.

It’s almost empty unlike most days, and that’s because today is the day the Royal Luna returns from an expedition in a far cold continent on the other side of the world.

Her Majesty Elowen Winestrong.

Maids, servants, and concubines are off scurrying around, preparing to appear perfect and welcome her at the front door as a sign of respect.

I decide to put off preparations for a bit longer to grab a book.

I settle for the section filled with pictures and descriptions of faraway places, pulling out a huge atlas from the shelf just before someone else walks in—as loudly and attention-seeking as possible.

With heels clacking violently against the tiled floors.

“Concubine Valoria, how auspicious it is to find you here.”

I look up from my book, staring back at Alice standing there like a walking disco ball.

With hands resting on her hips and a mean-looking glare, she’s dressed in a multicolored sequin sparkling dress with her hair held up in a messy bun, paired with black stiletto heels and shimmering gold jewelry.

Everything about her screams “statement” and “flashy.”

Already dressed to impress the Luna, it seems.

But she’s the last person I expect to see, or even want to run into, especially after our last run-in at this very library.

Her insults from back then still ring clear as day in my mind, which is why I’ve made it a point to avoid her.

Not because I’m terrified. But because I do not want the drama.

“I heard a rumor; your ridiculous stutter has miraculously disappeared after spending a week-long rendezvous with His Majesty.”

She goes after me the second she can, with intent, stomping right in here just to take a go at me because I’m alone.

I flinch at the heavy insinuations and malice oozing from every word, shutting the book slowly and bracing myself for the storm I’m about to face.

Standing up to Marcella has made it significantly easier to look at her as an ordinary person with fears and anxiety—possibly even more than mine—spilling out of her in torrents.

Just like how Marcella was a depressed girl with mother issues underneath all that cruelty.

I take in a deep breath and force a smile. Then lie through my teeth.

“Good morning, Alice. It’s lovely to see you again.”

My approach does not work.

“I’m calling bullshit.”

“On?”

“You never really had a stutter to begin with, did you? It was all part of your ploy to appear helpless and weak, enough to stir His Majesty’s masculine pride and make him take you away for a week-long visit to your territory so you could seduce him and have him all to yourself.”

I feel a sudden headache coming on from simply listening to her.

“That’s all very… elaborate, even for me. And that ’week-long’ visit was hardly romantic.” I try to reiterate so she understands, but it does the opposite.

Like petrol doused on flames, she fumes even more. She cackles, enraged like a mad woman about to go on a rampage.

“I see through your slimy underhanded methods to get everything you want. I’ll admit you’ve impressed me. I’ve never met anyone more desperate to climb the ranks.”

“Again, I have no interest in climbing anything,” I frown, our conversation turning too heated.

“You’re lying.”

She stalks closer to me slowly until we’re inches apart, her index finger poking painfully right above my clavicle.

“That’s why you tag along with the three most sought and respected ladies, flaunting your relationship for the rest of us to see, not caring how much blood or sweat we’ve put in to be where we are. You want to become a high concubine yourself, don’t you?”

Her accusations start to sting in a way I don’t find amusing anymore, especially now that she accuses me of using Calliope, Yara, and Elodie for popularity.

I push her finger off my shoulder, sending a glare just as vicious her way.

“I hang out with them because they’re my friends. Because they’re the only people around here who aren’t power-obsessed like you are.”

It’s her turn to flinch and pull away from me, like my words have stung her.

I realize I’m letting the moment get the best of me and reacting emotionally to things that don’t matter.

The last thing I want to do is become anything like my sisters, hurting people just to make themselves feel better.

None of this is important to me, and her fight isn’t mine. I’m only intent on getting my freedom without making more enemies than I need to.

So I take a deep calming breath, wear another smile, and offer a handshake her way.

“Look, maybe at some point I did something I shouldn’t have that got us off on the wrong foot. I apologize. I have no intention of getting mixed up in your power struggle.”

Alice stares back at me silently for just a moment, seemingly contemplating my words before her glare returns again.

“Don’t mock me.”

She swats my hand aside so viciously, it burns.

“I’d warn you, but you’ve already proven that you’re not backing down. I’ll be seeing you at Her Majesty’s welcome gathering.”

And just like that she leaves as loudly as she had waltzed in—sashaying her hips side to side, striking every foot ahead of the other in those ridiculously sharp heels that just might crack the tiles.

She slams the door shut behind her.

I can finally breathe once she’s gone, leaning against the shelf behind me to gain my balance.

It only took one brief, ridiculous conversation to completely drain me of every bit of mental energy I have, and now I don’t even feel like reading anymore.

All that’s left to do is go back to the room and prepare as well.

I drop the book back, reaching for the handles to the double doors and pull. It doesn’t budge.

I pull again, harder, just to be sure that I exerted enough energy, but the door remains shut.

It takes a few seconds of frantically tugging with all my strength before it slowly clicks what’s happened.

“That bitch…” I curse under my breath.

She wasn’t here to warn or rant. In fact, there was nothing I would have said to calm her.

The only reason she came in here so dramatically and while no one else was around was to pull this stupid stunt and lock me in here with only a few more minutes left to prepare.

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