Chapter 191 Chapter 190
Rayena woke up the next morning, still feeling sore but game. She lay in the silence for a while but soon decided she didn’t want to spend her day being idle in the chambers. Calling for her morning ablutions, she had breakfast and decided to go on a walk around the palace. There were still so many places she hadn’t explored yet, and she wanted to see them now that she had the chance.
After dressing up, she wore her hair in a loose braid and picked up her basket containing her embroidery materials before stepping out of her chambers. The hallways were silent as usual, with barely anybody moving around—only the guards stationed in specific areas were what she spotted.
Passing by the King’s quarters, she stared at the huge archway, contemplating visiting him but quickly changed her mind. He might not be in the mood to entertain visitors, and she didn’t think it was ideal to intrude without being summoned. Besides, just because they had shared an intimate moment didn’t really make them that close, did it?
Rayena sighed, walking away. She didn’t have an answer for that.
She continued wandering around, a bit more familiar with the routes now, and ventured further into the palace, reaching places she hadn’t thought existed in the colossal building. Not wanting to get lost again, she promptly began retracing her steps when she ambled into a hallway Lylall had taken her to earlier. Spotting the familiar velvet drapes at the end of the hallway, she walked toward them, remembering this was where he’d shown her the picture of his late mother.
She’d gotten to the end and was about to start pulling back the drapes when another voice interrupted her.
“Excuse me, miss. But no one is allowed in this section of the palace.”
Rayena stiffened, looking back to see a guard standing several meters away from her, his face stoic. She instantly stepped away, heart beating fast in her chest.
“No one is allowed here, really?”
The guard nodded.
Rayena grew confused. But the king had brought her here before—right, when she still addressed him as Lylall.
“May I ask why?”
The guard shrugged. “The entire quarters here belong to the first werewolf princess, and the king never visits here, so naturally, nobody else dares to come either. It would be best if you left too.”
“Oh... thank you,” Rayena answered, bowing slightly.
The guard turned, briskly leaving the hallway—almost like he didn’t want to be caught there himself. And though Rayena knew she should follow after him, she chose to linger.
She spotted a door and went to it, hoping she could hide there to better explore the quarters. She reached for the doorknob and was surprised to see it open. Looking around to check if no one was watching, she swiftly entered and locked the door behind her.
The air inside the room was stale, musty, and dark, as every curtain was drawn, plunging the room into a depressive darkness. Suppressing a cough, she waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting filtering through the corners of the windows before looking around. She realized she was in a bedchamber—and from the style of the decor, a woman’s.
Could it be the late princess? Rayena wondered as she began walking around, careful not to make any noise. Her exploration led her to a table next to a window, with parchment papers and a dried bottle of ink still laid there, as if still in use. It didn’t seem like anybody entered this place to rearrange it after the princess, which was odd since she had died a long time ago—just before the current king was born.
She placed her basket down and picked up a paper, flipping through the dusty, almost crumbling thing. She quickly set it down and opened the drawers. There, she found more letters, some dried-up lavender sticks, and a leather-bound book. She picked up the book, and peering at the cover, she found the word Diary written across it. It must be the late princess’s personal journal.
Rayena’s heart skipped a beat, and a rational part of her told her to put it back. It didn’t feel right flipping through the personal musings and writings of someone deceased. But her curiosity got the better of her, and she untied the ropes locking the journal shut and opened a page.
“What are you doing!?” A voice boomed, and Rayena jumped, the book flying from her hands. She turned toward the direction of the voice and found Lylall standing at the entrance of the room—and he did not look happy. Rayena’s heart began to pound, cold sweat breaking all over her body.
He stalked toward her, glaring at her with eyes that glowed in the dark.
“What are you doing here!? Don’t you know you’re not supposed to be here? It’s off-limits!” he barked, his angry voice truly inspiring fear in her. She tried to speak, but no words would get past her lips.
“I—I’m sorry, I didn’t know!” Rayena cried, stumbling backward in terror, her entire body trembling.
Xenon paused amid another angry retort, his breathing ragged. “I... I was just looking around because you showed me her portrait, and I strayed too far,” she mumbled, her voice pathetically shaky.
Xenon heard her sniff, her eyes already filled with tears, the smell of her fear strangling him. A bucket of guilt upended over him, and he heaved a sigh. He was still messed up from the night before, and now he was taking it out on her. Running a hand through his hair, he glanced at her.
“I apologize for my outburst. I’m sorry for yelling. But you know you’re not supposed to be here. The closed windows should’ve been an indication.”
“I know...” Rayena answered quietly.
“Moreover...” he added softly. “I was having a bad day. It wasn’t your fault.”
“It’s okay. I shouldn’t have trespassed either,” she mumbled, fiddling with her fingers. Groaning inwardly, she let out a breath. This bad habit of hers needed to stop—it was getting her into more trouble than it was worth.
“Let’s go,” he murmured, and she instantly picked up her basket, running out of the room, with him trailing behind her. As they walked, Xenon fell into step beside her, and Rayena peeked a glance at him. He was definitely more on edge than she’d ever seen him before. His frown lines were deeper, his posture rigid, and there was that weariness around his eyes.
“What happened? Why are you having a bad day?” she asked softly, unable to hide her concern for him.
"I don't want to talk about it," Xenon growled through clenched teeth, his narrowed gaze fixed ahead. Rayena swallowed, her hands tightening on the basket as she led him back to her chambers.
"Um... thank you," Rayena mumbled, glancing awkwardly at him. He didn’t answer, but a muscle ticked in his jaw. Wanting to dispel the tense air, she brought out the handkerchief she had just finished embroidering and handed it to him.
The faint scent of lavender still lingered on the threads.