Chapter 39: A Voice That Wasn’t Hers

Chapter 39: A Voice That Wasn’t HersDays had passed. Still, Zavren hadn’t returned. Ariana sat silently in her chair by the window, staring up at the moonlight. It was bright tonight—strangely bright. The way she sat, someone would think she was trying to count the countless stars. She didn’t even know how long she’d been there. At least it was a starry night—and that alone was a good sign. She tried to stay calm, reminding herself that her husband was a strong man. But even with that truth, the ache in her chest only deepened. Why was she worried? She’d tried to tell herself it was her duty as queen to be concerned for her husband. But even that seemed like the most unconvincing thing she’d ever said to herself—even though she was trying to believe it. Wasn’t she supposed to be relieved that he wasn’t here? Wasn’t that what she told herself after failing to convince herself otherwise? Yet... her heart ached. Anxious thoughts refused to leave her mind. She hugged her arms to her body as the thin nightwear did little to shield her from the cold air hitting her skin. Her hair flew gently, her golden eyes glowing. If someone were to see her now, they might have mistaken her beauty for that of the goddess of the night. Over the past few days, Ariana had learned so much—about the palace, the people in it, and the quiet struggles that often went unnoticed. One of the most important cases she’d handled was the one involving the maid who had nearly been expelled. Ariana had brought the matter to a close with fairness and compassion. But she didn’t stop there. Realizing how demanding palace life was, she introduced a shift system among the maids—allowing them to rotate roles. This way, some could have time off to visit their families and loved ones, even if only for two days. It was a small change, but a meaningful one. And for many, it was the first time they felt truly seen by their queen. What shocked Ariana even more was discovering that the royal guard the red-haired maid had been secretly involved with... was the very same man Zavren had shot with an arrow that day. She wrapped her arms around herself tighter, rubbing gently as if that would calm the goosebumps rising along her skin. She could’ve shut the window, but for some reason... she didn’t. She rubbed one foot over the other, trying to warm herself. Just as she moved to stand, the clouds cracked— followed by the softest drizzle. Her eyes narrowed. There had been no sign of rain when she sat down. The sky had been still, clear... too still. Now, this sudden drizzle felt out of place—unnatural. Had she not been paying attention? Then suddenly— "Ariana..." A whisper. She froze. The breath left her lungs as her heart slammed against her chest. Slowly, stiffly, she turned, eyes darting across the empty room. Had she thought that? No. It didn’t feel like a thought. It was too clear—spoken, not imagined. But it hadn’t echoed inside her head like normal mind-speak. This voice... it had come from outside..or inside. And yet, not quite. She stood rooted, listening. Waiting. Nothing. The silence now felt heavier than thunder. Her breath caught as her gaze swept the room again, slower this time. Every shadow felt like it watched her. A chill crept down her spine. W..What was that voice? Was it the pregnancy? A symptom she hadn’t read about?A delusion? She didn’t know. But whatever it was... it left her shaken. Quietly, almost mechanically, she walked to the window to shut it—at least that would lock the voice out... or maybe... lock it in. ’Walk to the bed. Lie down. Shut your eyes. Sleep,’ she said to herself, repeating the words in her head like some boring chant. The very moment the latch clicked, thunder ripped across the sky—and the drizzle turned into a heavy downpour. She returned to bed, her limbs tense, still repeating the chant. Lying down slowly, she pulled the covers close and shut her eyes, trying to silence her racing thoughts. But even as the rain poured outside, her heart remained restless. * * "No matter what happens, Ariana, know that you are special." A woman spoke sweetly, her voice like honey. Inside a quiet room, a lady with golden-blonde hair sat gently brushing the hair of a small girl who shared the same shimmering locks. The girl looked no older than seven. "Mother, then why do the children run away? I just wanted to play with them," the girl’s soft voice trembled as she nestled closer. "Their papa and mama told them not to come near me because I... I am a witch. And I was left to play alone," she added, her voice breaking. Her mother turned her to face her, eyes warm and full of love. "They don’t know beauty when they see it. After I’m done with your hair, I’ll play with you. What game would you like to play?" "Mother, I want to play the clapping game," the girl said eagerly, smiling wide as she turned her face happily to look at her mother’s eyes. Her mother quickly pulled the brush away so it wouldn’t mess up her already smooth hair. "Then we shall, my beauty," her mother smiled softly. The girl nodded, then pulled her mother into a tight hug. "I love you, Mother," she whispered. "I love you too, my little one..." her mother replied tenderly. COUGH... Suddenly, a harsh cough broke the moment. The mother coughed again, clutching her chest. The little girl pulled away, worry flooding her eyes. "Mother, are you—?" Coughing again, the woman’s hand trembled—and blood appeared, staining her palm. "Mother..." Tears welled up in the girl’s eyes as she reached to hug her again. But the room around her began to dissolve... fading into nothingness. "Mother... Mother..." The little girl was left alone, screaming—alone in a dark, empty room.... "Queen! My Queen..." Ariana jolted awake, her body trembling. Leah stood nearby, face quiet and worried, staring at Ariana’s pale face, sweating form—her lips trembling, eyes wide with fear. When Leah had entered, she hadn’t expected to find the queen struggling so visibly—mouthing words she couldn’t quite make out. The sight filled her with unease. Ariana tried her best to calm herself. She hadn’t dreamt of her mother in a long time. It was a dream that used to repeat... but she’d thought it had stopped. So why did this one scare her more than usual? Why did it feel like it had shaken her to her core? Leah immediately left and soon returned with a glass of water. She handed it to Ariana, who took it and gulped it down. She held her chest as it heaved up and down. "Your bath is ready, Queen Ariana," the lady bowed softly before leaving. Ariana nodded and moved to the bathroom to get ready for the morning. She pulled away her nightgown as she walked into the bathtub. The warm water swallowed her feet. A sense of calmness enveloped her as she sat. She realized she was sweating more than usual—her hair had even stuck to her skin. She used her hand to spread some water gently as the soft sound whispered through the bathroom like some ancient lullaby. She hugged her body tightly again. And once more... Zavren came to her mind. She released a tired breath. Why was she even getting worried? This was Zavren—the Alpha King whose excitement sparked at the mention of war, whose eyes glinted at the smell of fear, whose lips curved at the sight of blood... Still, she couldn’t help but worry. But was she worried about him now... or about the dream? That realistic dream she’d just had. If not for Leah... she wondered what would have happened. Her body shivered. "Ariana..." A soft voice whispered again. Ariana’s head whipped around the bathroom, her heart thudding. B..But who was that? Her body ran cold as she quickly stood. *** Ariana sat alone in the dining hall, surrounded by silence. She had grown used to moments like this ever since his absence. Being alone had become familiar. Over the past few days, she’d kept herself busy—thanks to the long list of tasks Leah had written out to help her stay occupied and avoid boredom. Surprisingly, everything she needed had already been approved by His Majesty, which hinted at Zavren’s prior involvement. That realization had shocked her. Leah must have told him ahead of time before handing her the list. After finishing her meal, Ariana picked up the glass of water and drank it in one go. It was then she realized how un-ladylike she looked at the moment. Thankfully, no one saw that. Since that day, she hadn’t seen the little boy again. She had wanted to ask about her several times but always held back. Still, she figured she might ask Leah about it later. She then turned to Leah and signed, "About the to-do... what’s next? What will I be doing?" Leah smiled gently. "Next on the list is horse riding, Queen Ariana." Ariana’s body stilled. Horse riding? Her heart skipped. She didn’t know how to ride a horse—not even a little.