Chapter 220: The Package

~Rhaedon~

Even after Aveline had walked out and the sound of her footsteps faded down the hall, her words remained stubbornly lodged in my mind.

"Thank you."

She'd said those words a couple of times before, but today's had sounded the most sincere. Her voice had softened in a way unlike her, and her expression... I'd never seen her make such an expression before.

It stirred something deep in my chest.

Exhaling in a controlled manner, I stood from where I'd sat for the past ten minutes without touching the food on my plate and made my way out of the dining hall. The guards stationed at the door bowed as I walked past them, but I barely acknowledged the gesture, my mind lingering on the same woman it seemed to return to more often than not as of late.

"Greetings, Alpha Rhaedon."

Lars's voice reached me as I stepped into the passage leading toward the garden.

I turned in the direction of the sound and my eyes landed on him.

He wasn't alone.

Behind him stood several servants carrying boxes wrapped in gift paper that drew my attention.

"What's the meaning of this?" I questioned.

"Gifts, for Her Highness," Lars informed me. "The nobles seem to have taken a fancy to Her Highness and sent all this for her after the banquet."

My eyes lingered on the gifts and I withheld a frown.

I could sense several Alpha pheromones clinging to them, far more than Omega.

"Store it away."

Lars's eyes widened.

"Huh? These are for Her Highness. Don't you want to inform her first?"

I glanced at him.

"I am her husband and rightful Alpha. If I say discard it, you don't question my authority, Lars."

He straightened immediately, a shaky smile appearing on his lips.

"Of course... Alpha Rhaedon."

He turned toward the servants and began quietly giving them instructions to take everything to storage.

As the servants started walking away, each bowing as they passed me, my eyes dropped to the flower pot Lars was holding.

"And that?" I questioned.

As though only then remembering it was still in his hands, his gaze snapped down to the pot.

"Ah, this,” He muttered and held the flower pot up, a smile lingering at the corner of his lips.

"Her Highness's head maid, Daisy, handed it to me earlier. Lavender, to be placed in your office by Her Highness." He said, and my mind immediately returned to earlier that day.

She'd kept her word.

Though, I saw no reason for her to bring me something like this when it had never had any effect on me.

"You don't like flowers. Shall I have this put with the rest of the gifts?" Lars asked.

My gaze lingered on the lavender for a long moment before I finally spoke.

"Leave it in my office."

Lars looked slightly caught off guard by my answer, but he quickly recovered and nodded.

"Understood,” he said. "Then please excuse me. I'll take my leave."

He bowed and turned to leave, but I stopped him.

"Have Raban come to my office later today."

He raised a brow.

"The jeweler?"

My expression hardened.

"Are you making it a habit of forcing me to repeat myself, Lars?"

He stiffened before letting out an awkward chuckle.

"Apologies, Alpha Rhaedon. I'll inform him at once."

With another bow, he turned and walked away and I continued toward the garden.

In the quiet of the garden, my mind drifted back to the dining room—to the feeling of Aveline's skin beneath my lips and the warmth that had settled deep in my chest when I'd tasted her blood.

My fingers clenched at my side.

I refused to touch the place where that strange sensation lingered, where, for the first time in what felt like forever, the frost around my core had felt as though it had been fed.

Aveline was proving once again to be the Pandora’s box I had thought her to be.

Except this time, for some reason, I felt that box no longer held anything capable of harming me.

~☆~

~Aveline~

"My lady, you have a package."

Daisy announced it as she walked over carrying a box with what appeared to be a letter resting on top.

I flashed her a smile when she placed it down.

"Thank you, Daisy."

She smiled happily and stepped aside.

I grabbed the letter first.

The royal dungeon's crest immediately caught my eye, and the corner of my lips twitched.

Without hesitation, I tore open the seal and pulled out the letter, unfolding it as my eyes moved across the words.

\[By the decree of His Majesty, Emperor Valerius Ashkaar, your unsupervised visit to Maribel Briar has been approved!\]

The letter—or rather, what it confirmed—made my lips stretch into a smile.

Whatever it was that Rhaedon had offered Valerius Ashkaar, it seemed to be far more useful than I'd imagined if he was cooperating this much.

Was it safe to assume that he wouldn't become an issue for the time being?

I didn't linger on the thought. Instead, my eyes drifted toward the small package.

I raised a brow in mild curiosity before reaching for it. When I opened it, my eyes landed on a dark purple pouch.

… I don't remember placing a commission for any jewelry.

I took the pouch, unsealed it, and poured its contents into my palm.

Two vials landed in the center of my hand, accompanied by a hyacinth.

My gaze moved from the flower to the vials.

I frowned for a second, then it clicked.

Ah.

This must have come from Eryndor.

I held them up and examined them.

This had become my downfall in my past life. Now it was going to become Maribel's.

I gently placed the vials back into the pouch.

"Thank you for bringing this to me, Daisy," I said. "You can return to your quarters for tonight."

She bowed.

"Good night, my lady."

With that, she turned around and walked away, gently closing the door behind her.

Once she was gone, I grabbed the box and pulled open the drawer of my vanity, only to freeze.

Lying untouched for an entire month was the potion Eryndor had mixed for me.

I hadn't taken it because, no matter how many times I'd tried to convince myself otherwise, I couldn't bring myself to trust him enough to drink something he'd prepared.

Even now, staring at the vial, I felt no differently.

Exhaling softly, I placed the box inside the drawer and shut it. Then I stood and made my way toward my bed, sinking into the mattress.

Silence surrounded me as my gaze settled on the pendant hanging above my bed.

The first phase of my revenge was so close.

I raised my hand toward the pendant as though reaching for it, only to slowly curl my fingers into a fist.

I just need to make sure nothing gets in my way now.

Turning onto my side, I buried my face in the sheets, intending to sleep since I had an early day tomorrow. But for some reason, the bed didn't feel as comfortable as I remembered.

And the scent...

It was different.