Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

The council hall was cold and more quiet than usual.
Maybe it was the stone walls…
Or maybe it was the eyes of the eight elders staring at me the moment I walked in beside the king.

Their eyes sharpened, eyebrows raised, their surprise not even hidden, it was clear that they didn't want me here.

Elder Rowan, the eldest of them all and an accomplice to elder Elduran stepped forward first.

“Your Majesty,” he greeted the king before turning to me slowly, confused and questioning . “Why is… the Luna here? She was only meant to attend the first assembly, for introduction.”

The king turned to me, waiting for me to answer, just like the wimp I knew he was, I was mistaken to think he could ever change.
This was my moment to choose who I wanted to be in this life.

To make decisions that would prevent me from dying all over again.

I stepped forward.

“With respect my elders,” I said, steady but as respectful as I could be , “I want to be involved in the decision-making for the kingdom. As the Luna of Highgale."

silence filled the room, they made eye contact with one another.

Their shock was unmistakable.

Elder Merek blinked. “You never showed interest before. You barely spoke in council.”

He was another accomplice, although he was killed after they found out that he was a double spy for another kingdom aside from Moonshroud.

Because the old me was a puppet…
Because I was naïve…
Because I trusted the wrong people…

But this me?
This me was done being powerless and pathetic. Was done seeking the approval of everyone around her.

“I care now,” I said calmly. “And I have a duty to the kingdom.”

The Elders turned to the king.

“Your Majesty,” Elder Elduran asked, “do you accept this?”

The king’s lips parted, but instead of answering, he looked behind him.

At Adrian, seeking for permission like a God-damned fool. I didn't even get why he was on the throne if he knew nothing, why did they need to go through all this stress if he is incapable.

Why can't they just make him step down, he already does everything they say, where they just following protocol or were they using him too.

Adrian's eyes met the king, then slowly shifted his eyes to me.
Suspiciously.
In this life he didn't know what I would do next, he didn't know why I did the things I do and it made him angry.

“Why?” Adrian asked, voice calm but his eyes were sharp. “Why this sudden interest?”

I didn’t hesitate.

“I am an alchemist,” I said simply. “His Majesty has agreed to bring the High Alchemist from the Silver Province to help me sharpen my skills.”

That caught everyone’s attention.

The Elders straightened.

“You are an alchemist?” Elder Merek asked, startled. “Truly?”

“Yes, and as the Luna I would love to use my skills for the betterment of this kingdom , " I said with a bow. This was bait they would never pass the opportunity to use me with such powers.

But this time I would be using them.

“Show us,” Elder Elduran demanded gently.

My pulse stopped, but I nodded.

I lifted my hand, it was one of the only tricks I could do well

The faint golden energy that lived beneath my skin stirred, responding faster than I expected. I drawed another alchemist formula on air.
A soft glow rose from my fingertips, swirling like tiny sparks of sunlight.

Not dangerous, just for show

The Elders leaned forward, surprised and amazed.

One whispered, “Remarkable…”

Another murmured, “This is rare… very rare.”

Elder Elduran clasped his hands.

“The kingdom has few alchemists. We have not produced a new one in years. Your gift is a blessing.”

They began discussing among themselves excitedly:

“She could train the youth.”
“She could strengthen our defenses.”
“She could restore our archives.”

The Elders continued murmuring amongst themselves, impressed, surprised, confused , all at once.
My little demonstration had shook them, though they were excited, they also didn't know what to expect.

Then Adrian stepped forward.

“Since the Luna is… gifted,” he said, folding his hands behind him looking all noble , “perhaps we should consider giving her a more formal role in the kingdom.”

The Elders looked up sharply.

“A role?” Elder Rhem asked.

“Yes,” Adrian continued, voice thoughtful but eyes sharp. “We have few alchemists in the kingdom. And even fewer with real potential. Shouldn’t someone like her be placed where her talents can be… directed?”

Directed.

The king didn’t seem to notice the double meaning.

“I believe her role as Luna already places her close to the heart of the kingdom,” the king said, trying to sound firm.

But Adrian wasn’t finished.

“Then perhaps,” he said , “she should continue and join all future councils.”

The room stood still.

The Elders exchanged wary looks.
The king looked at him already loving the idea but just because it came from his dear brother
And Adrian… Adrian was watching me.

He was already calculating how to use my skills, my influence and my position.
Not because he trusted me…
But because he wanted access to everything I should not yet know, to everything he doesn't know that I know.

Elder Vyra cleared her throat.

“That is a major step, Prince Adrian.”

“Indeed,” Elder Maron added. “Only those who understand the intricacies of rule and stability can partake in these discussions.”

Adrian smiled.

“One way to learn… is to be present.”

He was pushing me forward, but not for my sake.
He wanted me within reach.
He wanted to watch me, study me, control me and use me as a weapon.

It was manipulation that he was making look like kindness, his specialty.

“Is that what you want, Annabelle?” Elder Rhem asked carefully.

I swallowed.

“Yes,” I said. “I want to understand how decisions are made. As the Luna, I want to contribute.”

Adrian’s smile widened.

“Then let her,” Adrian said. “Let her learn. Let her serve her kingdom.”

The king glanced between us both. As confused as he always was, but he wouldn't dare question his brother.

I glanced at Adrian and caught smiling to himself.

Not just any regular smile.
A thinking smile.
A plotting smile.

Like he had just discovered a new weapon, he was plotting something else, something new, and unfortunately…
I was a tool.

A new tool.

A new opportunity.

Before I could do anything else , the large doors of the council hall creaked wide open from the outside.

The guards turned straight,then startled, bowing instantly.

The Elders fell silent.

Adrian’s smile grew wider, more real, less plotting, more warmth

The king looked happy too, what a fool

And my heartbeat increased inside my chest.

Because stepping through those doors was the last person I wanted to see.

The woman whose shadow had destroyed my first life.

The woman whose approval I chased and never got.

The woman who plotted my death and then watched me die, the woman I hated more than I hated Adrian, the woman who decided I had no use and tossed me aside.

Adrian’s mother. Grand Queen Trinity

Her presence was pure evil dressed in silk linen, calm on the outside, deadly on the inside. She even plotted her way to the palace, so some say she was a witch, others say she was a ghost, I believe all because she definitely wasn't a normal werewolf.

Her eyes landed on me.

And she smiled, the same smile Adrian had on his face a while ago.

A smile that said she was ready to tear my second chance apart all over again.