Chapter 54 No Way!
Alpha Gideon sighed heavily, looking anxious and problematic.
“What’s wrong, my love?” Luna Rosie asked, observing her husband’s face.
“I just talked to my father and mother yesterday and they told me that they hadn't found a shaman or anyone who could perform the soul switch. They already did the initial search all over the country using public and private channels, but no one knows anyone who can perform such an impossible fate because a soul swap is unheard of. So…” His voice faltered, unable to say to his beloved wife that she might get stuck in Mira’s face and body all through her life.
“Noooooo! This can’t be!” Luna Rosie nearly choked on the piece of bacon lodged in her throat. She picked up the glass and drank the water quickly.
“I’m sorry, my love. But my parents promised me that they would keep looking here or abroad. Please don’t be disheartened,” he said gently, looking at her face briefly.
The expression on Luna Rosie’s face was pure sadness and misery after knowing that the search has already begun yet finding such a capable shaman is like finding a needle in a haystack. Tears shimmered in her eyes. She took a deep breath and said, "That's why I need to go to the doctor’s office tomorrow so the scar surgery can finally get started at the earliest possible time. I don’t want to live another day wearing Mira’s hideous face. I can’t endure it anymore!”
Alpha Gideon noted that his wife was getting emotional and a bit hysterical. “My love, calm down. Let’s finish our meal. Don’t worry, we will see the doctor for an appointment tomorrow morning. And even if you can’t get your body back I will still love you,” he assured her.
“You won’t find another wife, only me?” Luna Rosie asked him point blank, observing his reaction to her heartfelt question.
“Yes. We both know that my marriage to Mira was just a show so you can be with me anywhere I go and nobody would question our closeness. So yeah, I will not get another wife. I will not hurt you deliberately, my love,” he said reassuringly.
Luna Rosie felt calmer after hearing his assurance. Her anger gradually faded. She smiled, feeling good again, resuming eating her meal.
The couple finished their meal in silence.
After the meal was over, Luna Rosie opened the connecting door to ask for Lena’s help in bringing the tray to the kitchen downstairs.
But Lena was not in the room. “Where is Lena?” She asked the lazy fat pig standing near the window.
Mira turned around and replied, “She has taken her meal. She will be back shortly.”
Luna Rosie disappeared for a moment and reappeared, putting the tray on the table. “Tell Lena to bring the tray to the kitchen."
Done talking, she locks the connecting door again, making sure Mira and her husband can’t see each other. That’s how paranoid she feels about their situation. She wants them to have no contact with each other.
Alpha Gideon spent the rest of his morning resting and watching TV, while Luna Rosie was busy reading good reviews of Dr. Miranda Smith, a renowned plastic surgeon on her phone. She liked the reviews so far and was excited to see the doctor for an appointment.
The morning passed peacefully in the couple’s room.
Lunch time has come.
Luna Rosie utilized Lena’s help again to bring food upstairs to her room.
The couple ate their delicious lunch in comfortable silence.
After lunch, Alpha Gideon left the room to have a talk with his parents.
Luna Rosie was left alone in the room, sitting at the dressing table, staring at her scar-laden face in the mirror. The more she looked at her ugly face the more she wanted to cry.
Then she remembered that Mira told her she had been sexually abused. She considers Mira’s body dirty and broken. Unfortunately, she has no choice. She is in Mira’s body so she has to bear the unpleasant scars associated with her. Good thing she doesn't have access to Mira’s memories or else she will be haunted by her negative and horrific experiences in life. As she continued to stare at her ugly face her sadness and misery deepened.
Meanwhile…
At the Alpha King’s office on the third floor of the mansion, the royal couple were having a serious conversation with their son Alpha Gideon.
“Son, as of current time and date, we have not received any news about a shaman with such soul swapping expertise from our contacts abroad. Our informants all over the country are still trying to find that person or anyone that has that specific capability. Rest assured that if we find that person we will bring him here to our mansion right away,” Alpha King Samuel said reassuringly.
Luna Queen Rebecca breathed deeply. “Son, what will you do if we can’t find such a person? We can’t just parade your wife at public gatherings. But you do have a choice. You can always attend those events solo, without bringing your wife. Let’s just say she was sick or in no condition to attend the event,” she suggested calmly.
“Speaking of events, we have some events lined up such as the inauguration of the 15th story Your Home building you commissioned for the poor and homeless wolves wandering around the city. You commissioned it because you wanted them to have a decent place where they could call their own. You can’t be absent on that special day because without your hard work and effort the building wouldn't have been erected in the first place. You have to bring your pregnant wife with you to the event,” Alpha King Samuel said.
“And we also had a family event to attend, the grand wedding event of the Alpha King’s son in the south. It's a two-day affair. We have to attend the event of our closest allies. Since you are the heir to the throne we all need to attend it along with your wife,” Luna Queen Rebecca added.
Alpha Gideon released a deep sigh. His wife's scar surgery will not be done easily. So he needs Mira to accompany him on both occasions. If he told his wife about his intention, his wife would surely erupt in rage. She will surely oppose it!
This poses a big problem already.
Luna Rebecca saw the problematic expression on her son’s face. “What’s wrong son?” she asked worriedly.
“It’s my wife. She would surely go against Mira for attending those events with me. She is very jealous of Mira,” he responded wearily.
“I see…that’s going to be a big problem for you,” Alpha King Samuel commented.
Thick silence envelopes the office.
The trio was pondering over the difficult situation.
Luna Queen Rebecca finally broke silence. “If we think carefully, it's not hopeless at all because we have a solid alibi…”
“What alibi?” Alpha King Samuel asked curiously.
“Since Rosie is pregnant we can always tell everyone that she was dealing with pregnancy illness on the day of the event. For example...dizziness, vomiting, or fever and she was advised by the doctor to have bed rest for several months. That’s the best excuse we can give anyone during her absence,” Luna Queen Rebecca suggested.
Alpha Gideon nodded his head. “That’s indeed a good suggestion, Mom. Bringing Mira to public events will anger my wife. So in order not to hurt my wife’s feelings, it’s better not to bring Mira with me to public gatherings until the soul swap is resolved.”
"That's right!" Luna Queen Rebecca smiled brightly. “Thankfully we solved one problem today. End of discussion.”
“Alright, this meeting is adjourned,” Alpha King Samuel said, standing up.
“Wait, I still have some important matters to tell you,” Alpha Gideon stated quickly.
“What is it son?” Alpha King Samuel asked.
“Tomorrow, my wife and I will visit a plastic surgeon who is an expert in scar surgery to get rid of the scars on my wife’s face because she doesn't like wearing a veil on her face,” Alpha Gideon explains.
“That’s good, son. Don't forget to update us on how the appointment is going. Maybe I can call the physician myself to speed up the process,” Alpha King Samuel offered.
“Copy, Dad,” Alpha Gideon replied, standing up. “I’ll take my leave,” he said, moving to the door and leaving the room.
He returned to his room to discuss those important events with his wife. His wife already knew about these events in advance but due to the plague, the war and the soul swap, they had entirely forgotten about them.
He found his wife relaxing on the sofa, reading a book.
She put down the book on her lap and looked at him. “What have you discussed with your parents?” she asked curiously. She had a feeling they were talking about her.
“We were talking about two events that needed our presence soon,” he replied, dropping to the sofa and briefly looking at her.
“You mean the wedding of the Alpha King’s son of the South and the inauguration of the Your Home Building for the homeless?”
“Yup,” Alpha Gideon replied.
“Oh, I almost forgot about it,” she said gloomily. “But I can’t attend it with you because they will be wondering why I’m wearing a veil on my face, right?” she said, visibly upset. She already knew where their conversation was headed. It will lead to Mira. Will she feel okay if Mira represents her?
That was her husband’s silent question which he couldn't bring out in the open because he was worried that she would get mad at him.
Would she allow something like that to happen? She was sure Mira would be very happy to stand beside her husband and act like she was the real wife.
“Yeah, you can't wear a veil on those two occasions,” Alpha Gideon reminded her, avoiding her gaze at the same time. He won’t dare ask her the next question because he knows she will take it badly because of her jealousy.
Luna Rosie studied her husband's face closely. “I already know what your next question will be. Will I allow Mira to be there by your side as my stand-in?"
“Yeah, would you?” he asked, meeting her gaze directly.
“Hell no!” Luna Rosie erupted in anger.
“No way!” she added vehemently. She had been looking forward to being there by her husband's side to attend those public events. But because of the soul swap she will not be able to attend the wedding anymore.
It’s such a bummer!