Seeds Of Suspicion

Seeds Of Suspicion
Amber stood by the window in the grand bedroom, tapping her nails against the marble sill.
Below, servants moved about like ants as they went about their daily chores.
Behind her, Helen stood before a mirror, tipping her chin up so a maid could adjust her purple scarf.
"You are silent today" Helen hummed. "What's on your mind, Am?"
Amber sighed before her lips curved into a sly smirk. "Something. Nothing. Everything."
Helen turned to her, lifting a delicate brow. "And what's that supposed to mean, little lady? You're speaking in riddles like that old moon prophetess"
"Do you hate the moon prophetess so much?"
"Back to the question" Helen's gaze was sharp. "What are you thinking of?"
Amber sighed again. "Nothing really. I'm just bored, that's all"
"Don't lie to me daughter dear. I know something big is on your mind. Spit it out"
"I don't know how to say this mother....but I think your assumptions may be correct after all" Amber said slowly.
Helen arched a brow but said nothing.
"I saw Arthur last night" Amber went on, taking her time to release the information. "Dead of the night actually, and he wasn't alone"
Helen stared at her blankly.
Her lips curved up with a smile that was too wicked to be on her pretty features. "He was with the redhead slave....the slave princess"
Helen was frozen for just a second before her eyes gleamed. "Oh really? Our darling Alpha talking to that filth at an unholy hour. What were they talking about?"
Amber shrugged. "Didn't hear anything much. Mostly whispers. But I could feel the tension that surrounded them"
Helen digested the statement slowly then dismissed the maid before she smirked. "Tension between Arthur and the slave girl? That's interesting"
"He was super close to her. And she had even glared at him with fire in her eyes"
"The nerve of that girl" Helen murmured. "So she's not the only one hiding something"
"They are both hiding the same secrets. And it's pretty big judging from their expression last night"
Helen walked up to her daughter and patted her shoulder.
"This is gold, Amber. If we can find out the little secrets they're hiding, it'll be perfect. The golden opportunity to rip Arthur of his title"
Amber glowed from pride. "So what's the plan?"
"We do nothing"
Amber blinked, thrown at her mother's words. "What? Nothing? I don't—"
"Let me explain" Helen cut in, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I don't want to get involved directly. I prefer watching the volcano erupt while I stand very far away. That's why I'll use someone else"
Amber's brows furrowed. "Who?"
Helen gave it a second's thought then replied, "Christine"
Amber was puzzled for a moment but chuckled when the confusion cleared. "You really are dangerous mother"
Helen gave a soft smile that didn't match the wicked glint in her eyes.
"We'll sow just the right amount of doubt in her to raise suspicions. She's pretty and stupid. And when she gets angry, she burns the whole place"
Amber nodded. "This will be fun"
Helen smirked then smoothened the wrinkles on her sleeves. "Change your dress Amy. We're going to have tea with the other women"
Under the warm glow of the sun, four women gathered in the garden to have tea around a delicate white table.
Flowers bloomed in pretty bursts of colour but there was nothing pretty about the moment.
Christine sipped her tea slowly with a curious look.,
Helen had called them for 'refreshments' but everyone knew this was no social call.
"What a lovely weather. Perfect for tea" Beth commented as they all sat down.
"A perfect day" Helen agreed with a small smile. "Unfortunately, not everyone in the palace appreciates it"
Christine raised a brow. "Anyone in mind?"
Helen's eyes flickered to Amber before she smiled. "Our darling Alpha, of course. Lately he's been so..... Moody"
Nicole scoffed dramatically. "He's just behaving like the Moon goddess had cursed him. He hasn't smiled in days. I tried to talk to him yesterday but he blew me off!"
Beth shook her head. "I don't think he was born with the ability to smile or laugh"
Amber chuckled softly. "That's a fun way to describe his mood"
Christine rolled her eyes. "He has responsibilities unlike the rest of us"
"It may be distractions" Helen offered casually, taking a sip of her tea.
"Distracted by who? Or what?" Christine asked.
"Women" Amber put in gently.
The air froze at the word. All eyes turned to her but one pair shot her a glare.
"Watch your mouth Amber" Christine said sharply.
"Why would she? Are you afraid it might be the truth?" Helen watched her carefully.
Christine pursed her lips and tightened her grip on the cup. "No. Arthur is too busy for such."
Beth set her cup on the table and reached for some cake. She asked, "How are you so sure he's busy?"
Christine's mouth tightened. "He has been busy. The council has been pressing him—"
"But he's not too busy to talk to a certain red-headed slave in the middle of the night" Amber announced, her eyes dropping to her cup.
Everyone froze for a moment.
Nicole was the first to gasp. "Is it who I'm thinking it is?"
Amber's lips curved into a slow, wicked smile. "The slave princess. Myra, I believe"
"Arthur isn't that type of man" Christine said quickly. "He wouldn't—"
"Wouldn't what?" Helen asked, her tone smoother than honey. "Wouldn't talk to a woman? Or wouldn't be tempted by one?"
"He won't—"
"Arthur is a man and a wolf" Beth interjected. "He has blood in his veins"
"And he is attractive" Nicole concurred, shrugging.
Christine's heart pounded. He couldn't..... He wouldn't.....
"Arthur cannot be tempted by the very girl he swore to destroy. She is our enemy"
"That makes it even more convincing" Helen said, planting seeds of suspicion little by little. "Don't expect too little from a woman who has nothing to lose"
Christine shook her head, refusing to believe. "Arthur wouldn't do that to me"
Beth chuckled coldly. "You of all people should know that men rarely resist temptation, especially when it comes in a fresh body"
"Speaking of which, I saw Myra slip out of his room a week ago. Didn't think much about it then" said Nicole.
Christine's heart twisted as their words sank in slowly.
Arthur and the slave? Suddenly, she had the urge to throw up.
"Arthur hates her" she insisted.
"Maybe. Maybe not" Amber hummed.
"Men like to taste different women. Maybe he's tired of you" Helen murmured. "Maybe he couldn't resist the allure of the slave-princess. She is a beautiful woman. The infamous beauty of Vespera"
Christine's fingers turned cold. She hated the slave-princess, but she couldn't deny the woman was exotic to look at.
Jealousy roared to life in her.
She remembered Arthur's sudden lack of interest and his brooding attitude. And the faint scent of lavender....... that could only belong to a woman.
The thin handle of the cup cracked under her furious grip.
She set it down and rose. "No one gets to take Arthur right under my nose. I am his personal mistress and I'll be Luna. I'll erase any potential objections"
Helen smiled down at her tea. "Of course. A true she-wolf marks her territory"
Christine didn't smile. She spun around and walked away, her eyes set in a dark glare.
Beth rolled her eyes then scoffed. "She's childish, don't you think? She has to accept the fact that Arthur can't have her as the only woman in his life"
Helen didn't reply to that comment. She stared off into the distance and smirked.
The seeds had been planted—hook, line and sinker.