Chapter 86 Dark Energy
Last night, the Alpha King didn’t return, so Althea had slept alone in his bedchamber.
Today, she woke up early and had breakfast with Melva and Elsa in her room. It would have been nice to eat outside or in the dining hall for a change, but Althea knew how quickly rumors spread.
It was safer for everyone to believe she was either under house arrest or confined in the cursed cottage. That way, it also protected Gavriel’s reputation from rumors that he was softhearted when it came to her.
Althea knew all too well how quickly words spread, she could sense it clearly whenever she read the thoughts of the servants bustling about and passing near her.
“Did the plants I requested already arrive?” she asked Elsa, her eyes bright with excitement.
“Yes, My Lady. Although a few from your list are still unavailable,” Elsa replied. Althea nodded, satisfied enough.
After finishing their meal, Althea eagerly stepped outside. As usual, her three personal guards followed behind her. But just like the day before, she couldn’t read their thoughts, which still unsettled her.
‘Why is that?’ she wondered with a frown. ‘I feel fine now, and I’m certain my inner energy has already been replenished. So why can’t I still read them?’
However, the moment she stepped through the Moonwell Cottage gates, that unease disappeared.
Her lips curved into a wide smile at the sight of the herbs and plants she had requested.
Without hesitation, she immediately got down to gardening, her hands busy with soil and leaves, while Rudy and the others began building a greenhouse for her.
By afternoon, new furniture arrived. Althea shook her head with faint amusement at the nervous glances of the servants. They moved so quickly, as if staying even a minute longer inside the Moonwell Cottage might kill them.
“Are you planning to sleep here too?” Melva asked curiously as a bed and mattresses were carried into the three smaller bedchambers.
There were actually four rooms in total, but Althea had already decided against using the second-floor chamber where Rizza had died. That one she left empty, untouched.
Instead, she chose the rooftop chamber. According to Elsa, it had been where the Alpha King and Rizza often worked together, since Rizza enjoyed painting and crafting. The room was spacious and filled with light—perfect for Althea to make her own.
“Why not?” Althea answered with a wide smile. Surprisingly, no one had bothered her the entire day before, and she could only hope today would be the same.
“Well…” Melva hesitated, glancing around uneasily. “For some reason, I feel uncomfortable inside. I can’t quite explain it but—”
“There’s a dark energy that lingers here,” Althea said softly, cutting through the silence.
Yesterday she hadn’t noticed it since her body had been too focused on restoring her inner strength. But now, with her energy settled, she could see it clearly. A faint, black haze drifted around the cottage like a restless shadow, clinging to the air. It wasn’t alive, yet it refused to fade completely.
“It feels like a remnant,” she murmured, her gaze following its slow, ghostly trail.
“For real?!” Melva exclaimed, brushing her arms quickly as if a sudden chill had run over her skin.
“Yes. But don’t worry—it’s harmless, Melva,” Althea assured her calmly.
Melva leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Can you… can you see ghosts too?”
Althea chuckled softly. “No, it’s not a ghost. There are just remnants of dark energy here. They can cause sickness, so it’s no wonder people thought the place was cursed. But I’m planning to cleanse it later.”
“Or maybe not,” Althea murmured with a frown. A part of her couldn’t help but wonder where that energy had come from. Still, she realized it served a purpose. It was the very thing keeping the Queen Mother and Lady Ava away from the cottage.
“But you said it would cause illness,” Melva pointed out with a little pout. “What if we get sick, My Lady?”
Althea chuckled, her tone calm and reassuring. “It seems to feed only on fear, Melva. Tell me, are you afraid right now?”
Melva froze, her lips parting in hesitation. Althea could see it—the way the faint black haze curled around Melva’s frame, restless and hungry. Just like earlier, it clung to the servants who had carried the furniture, each wisp drawn to their quiet unease.
“Don’t be afraid, and you won’t get sick,” Althea explained gently. “Just relax. Treat this cottage as nothing more than an ordinary place, and you’ll be fine.”
Melva let out a shaky breath, then straightened her back. “Alright then. I’ll cut you some melons,” she said with a small smile before heading toward the kitchen.
Althea watched her go, and sure enough, the shadowy haze slowly drifted away from Melva, fading into nothingness. A quiet sense of relief passed through her.
“Melva,” Althea called softly. The maid turned her head. “Could you also bring me some spare clothes? I plan to sleep here, especially if the Alpha King doesn’t return tonight.”
Melva nodded quickly and set aside the knife she had just picked up.
With that settled, Althea stepped outside and climbed up to the rooftop. The humid air brushed against her skin. From there, she began arranging the space, moving things around. This rooftop would be her place. The perfect spot for her to train.
She pulled out her blank codex and opened it across her lap. Slowly, her hand began to move, writing down spells she remembered from her mother’s teachings. Each word she inscribed was like reclaiming a piece of herself that had long been lost.
“I think I should focus more on creating a portal,” she murmured. After all, that portal was her key to freedom. And yet, the thought of leaving Gavriel filled her with unease.
It’s probably because of the mate bond, she told herself with a shrug. But deep down, she knew the truth… she was already growing attached to the Alpha King.
Althea closed her eyes and gave her head a quick shake. Setting the codex aside, she rose from her chair—only to suddenly clutch her chest as a sharp pain struck. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor.
Thump… Thump… Thump…
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, heavy and unrelenting.
She darted her gaze around the area, breath quickening, before gasping out, “Who’s there?!”