Chapter 2
Before I could react, Alaric’s voice called out from behind me.
“Elira, stop right there.”
I turned to him, confused. “Is there something you need, Your Highness?”
Alaric raised his chin arrogantly. “Don’t pretend. I know you were reborn too. That’s the only reason you said all that to the
Queen Mother.”
He sneered. “As long as you behave yourself and don’t sabotage things between me and Lyanna, I’ll let you go.”
I clenched my fists, forcing down the hatred in my eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Your Highness. If there
is nothing else, I shall take my leave.”
But before I could even exit the palace, I was summoned by one of the King’s favored consorts–Annabelle.
Like Queen Isolde, she asked me to choose a fated match for Prince Alexander.
In my past life, I had owed him a great debt, so I did not refuse.
But when I examined his thread of fate, I couldn’t help but show a trace of sorrow.
Alexander had suffered from a cruel curse, one that doomed him to a life of solitude.
Annabelle looked at me anxiously. “Miss. Vethorne, what did you see?”
I glanced at Alexander with sympathy.
Catching my look, he gave a helpless smile. “Mother, don’t trouble Miss. Vethorne. I’ve always been sickly. Marrying any
woman would only bring her sorrow.”
“Well, at least you know your place,” came a smug voice.
Alaric strolled in, his arm wrapped around Lyanna.
Annabelle’s mood soured at once. She frowned. “Prince Alaric, what brings you here?”
Alaric touched Lyanna’s belly with pride. “Haven’t you heard? Lyanna is carrying my child. I came to share the good news.”
The color drained from Annabelle’s face.
Alexander’s inability to bear children had always been her greatest pain. Though the King loved Alexander, he had to
consider the future of the royal bloodline.
Now that Alaric had an heir, the throne would surely go to him.
Tears welled in Annabelle’s eyes as she turned to me, almost pleading. “Miss. Vethorne, please. I beg you–find a good match for my son. Let him bring hope to the royal family.”
Alaric burst into laughter.
Chapter 2
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“You’re joking, right? She’s a fraud. I just exposed her. And now she’s targeting Alex?”
“I’m telling you, don’t fall for her tricks.”
Alexander frowned. “Brother, you’ve misunderstood. Miss. Vethorne hasn’t said anything inappropriate.”
Alaric sneered at me. “Elira, you’ve got some nerve. Cozying up to Alex already and getting him to defend you?”
“You really won’t give up, will you? Always trying to worm your way into the royal family.”
I hadn’t planned to do anything more, but seeing the contempt in his eyes made me change my mind.
I couldn’t help Alexander with the matter of heirs, but perhaps I could try to shift his fate.
I removed a crystal bracelet from my wrist and solemnly placed it in Alexander’s hand.
“Your Highness, I have worn this since birth. Perhaps it will be of use to you.”
Just as he reached for it, Alaric snatched it away.
“You think a trinket like this can change his cursed fate? Don’t make me laugh.”
With that, he flung the bracelet out the window.
I nearly lunged at him in fury, but Alexander held me back in time.
“Thank you, Miss. Vethorne. I will take good care of it.”
He then ordered someone to retrieve the crystal bracelet.
Seeing he’d stirred no more trouble, Alaric left with Lyanna in his arms.
Chapter 2
