[Third Person].
The won turned.
It was Helena who had spoken. She stood with her hands folded neatly before her, dressed with understated elegance—nothing ostentatious, nothing begging for attention. Yet the mont she spoke, the group stilled.
"Perhaps," Helena continued evenly, "it would benefit us to rember that a Queen’s worth has never been asured solely by her womb. Not by any competent reign, at least."
A hush fell around them. anwhile, Wanda’s eyes narrowed.
One of the won frowned. "And you are...?"
Helena inclined her head slightly. "Helena Aurelion."
The na landed like a stone dropped into still water, and several won straightened imdiately.
"Her uncle," soone murmured under their breath, "was King before Alderic."
redith’s gaze sharpened as soon as she learned of Helena’s identity.
Helena turned toward redith then, her expression softening just slightly. "Luna redith has already demonstrated care for the people, discernnt, and restraint. Those qualities, in my experience, are far rarer and far more valuable than rushing succession for the sake of appearances."
Wanda’s smile finally cracked. Before she could respond, Queen Loraina reappeared at redith’s side, her timing impeccable.
"Indeed," the Queen said coolly. "I would have thought that was obvious."
Her gaze flicked toward Wanda dismissively. The conversation dissolved almost imdiately.
Then Queen Loraina lightly touched redith’s arm and said, "Walk with ."
They moved away from the hall, toward a quieter alcove where artwork lined the walls—ancient tapestries, sculpted reliefs, paintings depicting past reigns and battles.
The Queen paused before one such piece, a depiction of a woman standing beside a throne, her expression unreadable.
"I see they are testing you already," Queen Loraina said calmly.
redith did not deny it.
"They will test you harder," the Queen continued. "Because you are new. Because you are different. And because so of them would prefer Wanda’s familiarity over your uncertainty."
She turned, studying redith closely. "But tonight, I wanted them to see sothing else."
"What is that, Your Majesty?" redith asked, a bit curious as to the real reason the Queen hosted this ball and invited her.
"That you are not alone," the Queen replied. "And that I am still watching."
Her gaze softened briefly. "Do not let their questions rush you into answers you do not owe. Power is not seized through children alone. It is secured through loyalty and perception."
redith inclined her head, understanding Queen Loraina’s intention. "I understand."
The Queen smiled faintly. "Good. Now enjoy the art. That, at least, is honest."
---
Later, as the won dispersed to admire the performances—string ensembles, dancers interpreting old legends, poets reciting verses of fallen queens.
redith found Helena standing alone near a marble column and approached, hiding her surprise at seeing her again, much more, here of all places.
Initially, she had thought Helena was from an average family, and had even intended to ask about her from the market won. But it turned out that she was from one of the Royal packs.
redith studied her more closely now, seeing past first impressions and simplicity.
"I owe you my thanks," redith said quietly.
Helena smiled, and offered a small nod. "I only spoke the truth, Luna."
"I did not realize you were from the Silvercrest clan," redith admitted.
Helena’s smile faded slightly. "Most do not, and I do prefer it that way."
After a pause, she added, "Your event, the one for the won. I understand that was not politics, but kindness. I recognized the difference."
A small silence followed, then redith said, "I would like to speak with you again, privately, after the ball."
Helena nodded. "Anyti."
Across the room, Wanda watched them with open displeasure.
---
Dinner was announced not long after; the won were guided into a grand dining hall where long tables were arranged beneath chandeliers.
The conversations continued, so cautious, so warm, and so calculated, but the earlier tone had shifted.
redith had weathered the first storm. At a quiet mont, she took out her phone and sent a brief ssage to Draven.
"The ball is going smoothly. When coming to pick up, bring Dennis along."
She hesitated, then added: "Trust ."
Finally, she slipped the phone away, her gaze lifting to Helena across the table.
The dinner continued to unfold beneath warm chandeliers and soft instruntal music.
Laughter drifted easily until Wanda Fellowes beca the centre of it.
One of the won leaned toward Wanda with a knowing smile. "It’s good you’ve always had such a close relationship with our next King," she said lightly. "You practically grew up together. I’m sure you will be favoured during his reign."
A few others nodded in agreent.
"Do rember us when the ti cos," another added, half-joking, and half-hopeful.
Wanda smiled—slow, smug, perfectly practised. She lifted her goblet, then lowered it again as if reconsidering. Then her gaze flicked toward redith across the table, and she let out a soft, almost reluctant sigh.
"Unfortunately," Wanda said gently, "I do not think so. Alpha Draven and I are no longer close. Not after he married."
She paused, as though weighing her words. "I no longer wish to place myself in situations that might bring trouble or subject to orchestrated disrespect."
The effect was imdiate.
Several won turned to look at redith. So faces showed open displeasure. Others carried thinly veiled judgnt.
One of them spoke without hesitation. "Miss Fellowes has always been like family to Alpha Draven. There was no need to sever that bond."
"Yes," another added. "Marriage should not require isolating a man from his closest companions."
Wanda lowered her eyes modestly, though triumph flickered beneath her lashes. She resud eating as if she had said nothing at all, her heart light with satisfaction.
redith remained silent. She let the words settle. Let the room breathe them in. Let the glances linger.
Only when the won finished speaking did she lift her gaze and set her cutlery down with calm precision.
"I’m afraid," redith said evenly, "that I do not understand what Miss Fellowes is referring to."
Her tone was gentle—too gentle to be confrontational, but too composed to be dismissed.
"I have never separated my mate from anyone. Alpha Draven is not a man who tolerates control, nor one who abandons relationships without reason."
She paused, then continued, her voice still soft, but sharper now—refined, deliberate.
"That said, I do believe a wise man would find it far easier to tolerate open disrespect toward his mate than to overlook soone who secretly harbours indecent feelings for him."
Instantly, her words landed like a slash, severing all in the room. Forks froze mid-air and goblets stopped moving.
Wanda’s face burned, heat rushing to her cheeks despite herself. The implication was unmistakable. The elegance of redith’s words made them all the more devastating.
The won who had spoken earlier quietly lowered their gazes and returned to their als, their lips pressed tight, and understanding dawning too late.
No one spoke again.
redith resud eating unhurriedly, her expression serene. And in her mind, a single thought settled with cool satisfaction:
’If Wanda so wished to go low to twist the truth and stain my na, then I would go even lower but more quietly and gracefully—and strip her mask away in plain sight.’
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