JOHANNA.The chief envoy dashed towards me the moment I made the announcement, no one—not even my chief maid knew about it. I hid it from everyone—from my maids that my sickness was the symptom of my pregnancy.King Ramsey looked stunned. It's okay if he looks that way because he didn't get to see me after that night. I was sure to leave before he was awake and without a trace.“Your Highness!! It would be better to get this known to the Supreme King.” the chief envoy said to me, staring at my face. “That's not why we are here. It was agreed on the reason for your return, so you ought to step back from whatever motive you have.”I grimaced. “Are you saying that I made it all up?”He gasped, unable to answer me.“I'm telling the truth here and it isn't a joke. My child belongs to King Ramsey, and only after he or she is crowned will he be dethroned. I would like to see him pay for accusing me—but in a way that it won't affect my child." I uttered, sparing him a glance. He lifted his f
KING RAMSEY.My eyes narrowed when I turned to meet the slave master standing before the crowd. He bowed before me, with disdain written all over his face. “What did you just say now?” I let go of Anna's hand, my attention pulled towards him.He smirked. “The child is mine—”“Stop joking around.” Anna shunned him and frowned. “Why would you say that?”He gazed at me. “You must be shocked to see me here today after being missing from your palace for two weeks now. Well, I am Alpha Roger…..one of the Supreme King’s subordinates, and I was the one who found the Supreme Heiress, which the reward is to get married to her.”“Shut it!!!” Anna screamed at Roger. “I never agreed to that marriage even when I was unaware of the pregnancy. How will I be when I'm not sure what you are to me?” she exhaled deeply, lips pouted angrily. “I never had a one-night stand with you, so stop raising more conflicts when all these have been resolved already.”Roger sneered. He found it funny that he was making
JOHANNA.Evelyn loosened the ribbon and hairpin that was used to style my hair. Beta Sam had unlocked my room, and I resided in it. I wouldn't want to switch rooms, not when I'm up to finding the rat that came in and dropped a contraceptive.She brushed my hair and styled it again, after which she applied some hair cream. “Why didn't I get to know that you were pregnant?” She broke the silence between us.We chit-chat a lot, so being mute was somehow uncomfortable. “You would betray me if you knew because it would cost your life if you hid it.”She scoffed, and I glanced at her. “What's funny? Didn't I get it right?" I grinned. “I was once Luna, so I know how cautious the servants were.”“I wouldn't do that when I solely want you to leave and succeed with your aim. I sensed that you didn't like Alpha Roger, so I guessed returning here would help you reunite with King Ramsey,” she muttered before dropping the hairbrush. “I, within myself, didn't feel comfortable when the declaration o
NINA.Standing before Roger, my heart was beating faster. I wouldn't want to be seen with him or it would look suspicious. The best way to keep my identity hidden was to back the palace building while our conversation was ongoing.Roger slammed his right fist on his other palm. He seemed out of ideas.“How do we do it now? I didn't expect her to return after seeing where she came from.” my voice was so slow that a spy would hardly hear me. “I knew about the one-night stand and I crafted all that—yet it didn't work. You haven't even said anything that would give me some assurance.”He coughed slightly. “So how did you get pregnant? They all believe right now that you're not the lady at the tavern. How will you still prove that it was you?” I stared at his moving lips. He looked mean and disappointed for how our plan turned into just like me.I gripped my gown. “I am not pregnant. I only said that to keep the King at my side—but still, it isn't working.” I made a long face. “You know, t
JOHANNA.While Nina walked to her room, I stood at the side staring at her from the back. “She looked shocked when I talked about Roger. I wonder if she thought no one would see them.” I shook my head and made my way to my room too.I only wanted to see how she would react to what I would say about Roger, and I am well convinced that they have something up their sleeves and it wasn't the first time they were meeting. They seemed to be acquaintances, and the only way to know what they were up to was to keep an eye on them.When I entered my room, I picked up my cell phone and opened my gallery. “What is the use of watching this footage?” I dropped the phone back and crossed my legs.Since the King couldn't dictate who amongst the maids came into the room through the footage, would I be able to do that? He had the maids arrested from the day I was demoted, and also the security man on duty that exact day was captured and arrested after he found the footage….but what use is that?He did
KING RAMSEY.Jealousy flooded my veins as I watched Anna stand with Roger in discussion. He saw me and held her hands, to make me feel more bad. I didn't want to leave, so I watched them until Anna took her leave.Does she truly love him? Will my Beta’s suggestion work as well? If Anna doesn't get to forgive me, as my Beta said, Roger will claim my throne. But one thing baffles me, will Anna let that happen when the child she's carrying is mine?There's no opposition that the child is mine, so if I would go ahead to abdicate the throne and our child is crowned, will she put Roger on that throne and have him claim what's mine?“Only if that child isn't mine will I let it happen!” I thought eyes narrowed while I watched her walk with her maids to the veranda that I stood on.When she approached, I extended my hand to help her climb even though she could do it herself. At first, she hesitated, glaring at me like she was a predator and I was a prey. If looks could kill, I would just slump
JOHANNA.“Let's pretend to not know anything!” King Ramsey said to me. “We will go take a tour there when it gets dark,” he added and I gave a single nod. “I will send one of the prison guards to keep an eye on the body.”I flung my hands to the back, crossing them against each other. “I will take my leave—” I turned, walked to the door, and turned to glance at him. His eyes were already fixated on me and I didn't anticipate that. I immediately faced the door and stormed out of the room.The worst feeling is his presence making my heart race. I can't have myself fall for him again—never!In my room, I sat on the couch, my legs crossed against each other. Why did my heart race when I caught him staring at me? It wasn't something new, so I shouldn't be feeling that way—it's so awkward.“Your Highness!!” Evelyn called out to me.I lifted my head. “What again? I f*cking wants to concentrate on whatever I'm thinking now." I yelled at her and she stepped back, but was still staring at me. “
JOHANNA.The maid's lifeless body was taken out of the cell, and then I left with the king back to the palace compound. We strolled, our hands crossed backwards.When I turned to glance at him, our eyes met, and I faced my front immediately. We shouldn't look at each other. We are only working together for the betterment of our child. I can't stand my child being bullied or denied his or her rights because of something he or she doesn't know about.I loosened my arms and stretched my fingers. My attention was pulled towards him when he cleared his throat. “What's that for? He thinks I want to talk to him?" I pouted my lips, my brows arched.“If Roger murdered the lady, then he would be losing. I'm sure he found out what you did at the cell and wanted to close the case that way.” King Ramsey glanced at me while speaking. I didn't say a word to him….not that the discussion wasn’t related to me, but I still can't find myself sharing words with him when I find everyone suspicious. “He is
KING RAMSEY.“Evelyn is missing as well, and no one is giving hope with their words. They all claim to not know her whereabouts, whereas she returned to the palace with the other servants.” Beta Sam explained to me.It's been over a day, yet Anna was nowhere to be found. At first, I thought Evelyn would be back, but she went missing the same day as Anna, and that's alarming. How can a Princess and her maid be missing and no one was talking about them like it was a setup? They are all less concerned, making it look like it has been what they wanted. Even the Supreme Consort isn't saying anything—the officials too.I turned to Sam, “Looks like we did not search well in the woods. We should go beyond the border like the last time. Bring all your men, the whole clan would be searched this time ....we must find them." I remarked, and he bowed to me.As we entered the car to return to my clan, my cell phone buzzed. I checked, and it was a message from an unsaved contact. The message made
JOHANNA.With the last statement the man made, I knew he just didn't know that I was the Supreme Heiress, but that he knew a lot about me and my family. I glanced at the cup that had slid my palm and at the man. “I'm sorry!!”He smiled at me and picked up the cup. He washed it with the water beside him and poured another drink for me. “I expected you to be shocked. Of course, you weren't expecting it….” he stretched his hands, handing over to me the cup of liquor. “So, can my Princess share with me why he left the palace?”I snorted. “Well, I think knowing you better will be the first thing before sharing something confidential. What relationship do you have with my family to know the source of my mother's death?”He dropped his cup and rested his arms on his thighs. I was beginning to sweat already…..my mouth was drying up.“I was the Supreme Kings Beta!!”For some time, I shut my eyes and opened them again. My father's previous beta!“I resigned after the death of Supreme Luna becau
JOHANNA.While the maids were asleep, I was awake, busy watching them. I had planned with Andriana on how I would leave, and I won't miss the opportunity. She had told me the time everything would be set, and to not miss the time, that's why I am still awake.I leaned on the wall while seated on the bed, watching as the clock ticked. That merchant with a big belly and a shapeless body would be stunned when he asked me the next day and didn't see me. If he is strong enough, then he can come after me in the woods, and leaving their town will give me the strength to do what I want.My arms rested on the pillow that I had placed on my thighs. I yawned and wiped my face to get over the sleep lurking on my eyelid.The door slowly opened, and I knew it was Andriana, so I got down from my bed as well. She sneaked into the room and helped me out of the room, and we didn't say a word to each other.As we climbed down the stairs that would lead to the balcony, she glanced at me several times.“W
JOHANNA.“You're going to be claimed by a merchant that would take care of you and your child, so don't be scared.” the man said to me.My lips dropped open. Was this man okay upstairs? How can you give out a married pregnant woman to another man to claim? This should better be a dream.“Let's go!!”Before I could say a word, he continued moving. We reached a pavement road, but it didn't seem like a major road, and he boarded a cab that drove us to a mansion filled with servants of different genders and ages.I stood still for some time. “These people aren't werewolves or lycans? Are they?” I shook my head. If they were werewolves or lycans, their scent and wolf should be lingering around me as a welcome to the new place, but nothing was happening. I sensed nothing like a wolf in them, and they didn't even give a damn to me.The man climbed the veranda, and I did so as well. Then we walked into the sitting room where an elderly man was sitting on the couch with three ladies around her
JOHANNA.Evelyn sat beside me, leaning on my shoulder. I had tried my best to save her and I succeeded, now we aren't sure where to head any longer, and I'm not sure if there's a route that would lead us away from this deserted river.I was weak as well, and I wouldn't be able to carry Evelyn, so I made up my mind that we would stay on the river bank until the next morning and we would continue our journey. But after about an hour, when she felt she had recovered lots of strength, she insisted that we leave that area.Despite how I tried to make her understand that she was too weak and I could even manage more than her, she insisted, and I had no choice but to give in. She struggled with her feet as we walked ahead, and the least I could do was to support each step she took.I ordered her to wrap her arm around my neck, and she did, and then we began walking slowly until we left the shore.Back to the woods, but in a different place that seemed to be in another Clan, we walked gently,
JOHANNA.Late at night, I slept and woke up. My heart was palpitating. I expected that King Ramsey or his Beta would be here by now. Was it that they didn't get the letter or that they had yet to find me? By sunset tomorrow, this masked woman will return here to hear from me, and I wouldn't want to face her.The fact that I can't agree to assure her of handing over the Supreme Royal file because I'm sure they would still assassinate me after that is one reason I shouldn't be here till the sun sets the next day.If King Ramsey or his Beta gets that letter, they would come here with their men, and my safety would be guaranteed because I'm sure that no matter how hefty the guards here seem to be, they would never fight against the royal guards and warriors.I leaned on the cage, staring at the dark sky. “I just hope it doesn't rain. I won't have to catch a cold here. My wolf is already doing a lot to protect me from the wind.” I muttered and moistened my lips.My mind was heavy. I prayed
EVELYN.I stretched my limbs and slowly opened my eyes to the sun already setting. “My Princess!!” I mumbled, not sure if my voice was audible enough. “Did I fall asleep? Why should I? " My eyes sprang open finally. I recalled that I was on duty and wasn't supposed to fall asleep when I should be protecting Princess Johanna.To my greatest shock, the other servants were also asleep when I sat up. “What the heck is going on?” I blurted, getting to my feet. “Princess!!” I called out, looking around, but I didn't see her.I rushed to the other servants and hit them all slightly, waking them up. “How dare we sleep off when we are entitled to protect Her Grace? Now, she's not here—" I was still looking around. “Get up, let's search for her.”As they gradually stood, the woman who had attended to us came out from her store and bowed to us. I pointed my finger at her. “You! What did you add to the drink you gave us?” My jaw became tense. There was no way I would just doze off after drinking
JOHANNA.As I struggled to open my eyes, I heard the sound of chains clashing against each other. Finally, I was able to open my eyes again to see myself in a cage. “What should this be called?” My eyes bulged as I glanced at the chain used to hold me like a criminal.I could recall how I was saved from being attacked by a cougar, and then the two men came to me and forced a substance into my nose, and then I lost it. I looked around, and the surroundings were strange. “Is this still the wood?” I contemplated even still, and I couldn't give myself an answer to that question.I looked through the tiny openings of the cage. “Hey!!!” I screeched the moment I set my eyes on a man standing like a soldier at the side. “Hey, you over there. Come get me out of here.” my voice raised. How dare those men bring me here? Why will they chain me this way like a criminal as if they don't know my status?Did I invade their territory? Even if I did, that shouldn't be a reason for them to do this.My e
JOHANNA.The wood felt haunted. It was supposed to be a peaceful area for hunters, but it seemed something evil was in the air. As I walked, I glanced around to be sure of my steps. My heart skipped each time I heard a sudden sound.I knew, deep down, that I was taking a very big risk, but I had to do it. That's what it takes to be the Supreme Heiress. If indeed a building stays in this woods and is haunting my people, then I'm sure they are waiting for their rulers to take care of it for them.Until I entered the deepest part of the wood, I didn't set my eyes on a hunter or a farmer. Everywhere was serene. The only sound that could be heard was that of a singing bird.I halted to take a deep breath for once. I leaned on a huge tree, still darting my eyes around. “Why do I feel like such a building can't be in the woods? I've already gone so far, but I've not caught a glimpse of that.” I thought, but the other side of me insisted that a building like that exists. “I've spent more than