Adolph kissed her cheek before standing and offering her his hand. “It’s getting late, darling. Let me escort you back to your room.”She nodded and took his hand, warm and giddy. The cool air of the night felt warm around them, cozy and romantic. The moonlight that spilled through the tall windows filled the night with an ambiance that made her draw closer to Adolph. When they reached her door, Adolph pulled her close. Her breath stuttered as she got close enough to share air with him and pick out every strand of blue in his eyes. “I don’t… want to let you go, just yet.”She worried her lip, “O-Okay.”He smiled, dragging his lips against hers and whispering, “Is this okay?”Laurel nodded, her stomach flipping and filling with butterflies as he kissed her gently and leaned into her. He groaned, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. She gasped and he slipped his tongue between her teeth, licking into her mouth with a ticklish zing of pleasure that went straight to her stomach and poo
Basil frowned into the distance. He’d been sitting in the same position for at least an hour, thinking and letting out little frustrated sighs. It had been a full day since the confrontation in the ballroom. She knew that he went to talk to Adolph about Laurel again after that, but he hadn’t said what they’d discussed. It was unnerving and only added to Delia’s current stress. The vial Eden had given her was burning against her skin, tucked safely in the bust of her gown. She hadn’t dared to leave it in her room where someone could find it and get suspicious. “I’m having doubts,” Basil said softly. “About… my mother and father’s relationship.”Delia slid closer, seizing upon the chance, “Why?”“… a feeling,” Basil said, making Delia’s stomach jolt in fear. “Just… an instinct I guess.”He sighed as Delia tried to calm her heart. Adolph had impeccable instincts. Was there a chance that Basil had inherited some of them and they were waking up now? Why now? She thought of Eden’s cold
On the day of her wedding, Laurel found herself unable to stop smiling. Raven, Irene, and the rest of Adolph’s cousins had come to her chambers to get her ready for the traditional luna’s brunch held with the female members of the family. They brought the sash of gold embroidered with lunar flowers, smiling as Raven fastened it over her shoulders and explained the significance of the sash and the brunch. “It’s to be the last meal you eat as just a gift to the king from the moon goddess,” Raven said. “Hence the lunar flowers. Once you’re married, you’ll wear a sash with both azaleas and luna flowers.”She chuckled, “I can see why you told him this all might be a bit much to take in.”Raven grinned, “You’re taking all the pomp, circumstance, and tradition well.”“… is it too late to change something?”“What sort of change?” Irene asked. “I was thinking that…” Laurel’s face burned. “Maybe I could have nine roses if it’s not too late?”Irene’s eyes twinkled with mischief and Raven smil
After brunch, they retired to the bridal suite. Delia sat at the back of the room, refusing to help Laurel, though it didn’t seem as though she was expected to help. It didn’t matter to her other than to irritate her. There should have been news about Adolph being ill by now, but since there wasn’t, she could only imagine that Adolph would fall to the poison before the ceremony. She’d used the entire vial after all. She didn’t know what Tina was planning, but she doubted that Laurel would make it long after the ceremony either. With both of them out of the way, she would be the luna. Basil would be king, but the entire plan would be complete. Would Eden be happy? Would he reward her? She grimaced, thinking of Tina. There was no way the woman wouldn’t remember her hint about Basil’s heir. Maybe she should have saved a bit of poison for her as well. Raven watched Delia out of the corner of the mirror as she helped Irene do Laurel’s makeup. Lily and Sarah managed the curling of Laurel
“Laurel!” Adolph screamed, drawing her close. His voice trembled as she remained limp in his arms. “Laurel!”Chasel’s blood ran cold as panic and fear rippled through the room. He let the fear pass over him and turned to the nearest knight who seemed frozen in shock. Lynn looked like he was going to be sick. Sam’s teeth were bared, furious and helpless.“No one leaves the castle ground,” Chasel said. Sam’s head snapped to look at him. “Everyone from the guests to the lowest stable boy is to be confined on-premises. Close the gates and every path out of the castle.”“By your order,” Sam said with a stiff nod before running to spread the order. He turned to Lynn who was tense and staring at him, awaiting orders. “Spread the word, the Imperial City is on lockdown. No one leaves the city until the culprit is caught. Don’t spook the citizens. The culprit may attempt to escape during the panic. I want barricades erected and guard posted on every major and minor road out of the city within
A shudder went through the room at the mention of treason. The kingdom’s law regarding treason was one of the harshest laws they had: death by drawing and quartering. The last time someone had been accused of treason, the king left their body scattered until the wild beasts consumed every piece of flesh and refused to let the traitor’s family hold any form of funeral rites. In that man’s defense, the traitor had murdered his luna. Chasel knew that if Adolph had to follow in his father’s footsteps in that way, he wouldn’t stop at drawing and quartering. The late king had been a fearsome man, but he had come into the war a lot older than when Adolph had gone in. He hadn’t been so steeped in blood that his aura and scent had begun to smell of it. Chasel shuddered.“So says His Majesty,” Chasel said, calling forth a resounding salute of acknowledgment from the guards in the hall.Chasel approached Adolph slowly, taking stock of how he shook and the glints of red light in his eyes. It
Delia and Tina had retreated to Delia’s room after the ceremony, but Delia wasn’t sure how long they had before being brought in for questioning. Tina panted and wrung her hands as Delia tried to figure out where she would manage to hide the empty vial she’d been carrying all day. It might not be poison since Adolph seemed unaffected at the ceremony, but she wasn’t going to chance being caught with it if she could help it. *Eden’s grey eyes glinted through the shadows as he followed Adolph and the priestess up the stairs and Delia rounded the corner trying to reach the stairs to her room.*His expression had been neutral, but his eyes had been furious. She worried her lip. What if he decided to pull her from the mission? It wasn’t her fault! He would understand once she explained the situation. She had no idea what was going on or how Adolph was completely fine! Maybe it hadn’t been poison, and she’d misunderstood what he meant by advance in which case none of this had anything to d
Adolph walked into the room where they brought Maria and took a steadying breath, hearing her weep. He sat across from her and offered her a handkerchief. She took it with a little whimpering cry. “Y-Your Majesty… Is she okay?”“The priestess has said she will recover with time.”She nodded stiffly, “That’s… That’s good. I… After this I… I wish to tender my resignation.”Arthur tilted his head, “Have you passed on the recipes?”She sniffled, looking up at him with confusion, “The imperial jam’s recipe is recorded in the archives, of course.”“Not the imperial jam,” Adolph smirked, “*Your* petal jam recipes.”She blinked as he relaxed into his seat, “I’m not prepared to start eating someone else’s petal jam, Maria, so I can’t allow you to resign.”“B-But…” She sniffled. “I… Someone… I… I didn’t see it.”“I’m not worried about what you didn’t see. I’m worried about what you did.”She nodded, “I-I understand. W-Where should I start?”“The poison has been determined to be crimson oleande