Chapter 49: The Queen’s Distraction

Chapter 49: The Queen’s DistractionSoft light streamed gently into the room as Leah drew back the curtains. She had already cleared the table and prepared the bath—now all that remained was to wake the queen. She stepped closer and tapped Ariana lightly. "My Queen," she said softly. Ariana, a light sleeper, stirred at once. Her eyes fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the light. She turned her head to see Leah standing by the bed, bowing respectfully. "Your bath has been prepared," Leah announced with a gentle smile. "After breakfast, we’ll head to the field. Mister John will be giving you another riding lesson today." Ariana nodded, lifting her hand slightly to sign, Thank you. Leah bowed again, replying warmly, "The pleasure is all mine, My Queen." With that, she gave a soft curtsy and quietly exited the room. Ariana exhaled. As soon as the door clicked shut, her thoughts drifted—straight to Zavren. Did he leave last night? Was he annoyed with her? The memory of his hands, his lips, and the things he whispered made her heart race all over again. She placed both hands over her chest, trying to steady her breathing and calm the wild thudding beneath her palm. But no matter how hard she tried... She couldn’t get him out of her head. She quickly stood, deciding that a warm bath might help calm her restless mind. As she walked toward the bathroom, she began to undress, her gown slipping off piece by piece until she stood completely bare. Without hesitation, she stepped into the tub, letting the warm water embrace her body. CLINK. CLANK. The soft sound of cutlery echoed through the quiet dining hall. Ariana sat at the table, eating in slow, polite motions. Zavren was absent. She had half-expected—maybe even hoped—to see him when she came downstairs. Had he left again? Why did she care so much? She fought the urge to ask Leah about him. She needed to calm down. This was exactly why she shouldn’t get attached. She couldn’t afford to forget how cold and heartless he could be. Refocusing on her plate, she forced herself to concentrate on the meal. Her thoughts wandered to the riding field instead. What would today bring? Her heart lifted slightly at the thought of Snow—her beautiful, intelligent horse. She already missed her. Just thinking about her made a soft smile curve on Ariana’s lips. Gracefully, she cut into the roasted, spice-rubbed fish and brought it to her mouth, chewing slowly, savoring the flavors. By the time she finished, she hadn’t eaten much. Leah, ever attentive, noticed. "I observed you ate less compared to other days. Did the food not sit well with you, my Queen?" she asked gently. Ariana lifted her hand slowly and responded with a calm smile, "Today’s meal was exquisite—if not perfect. I just didn’t feel like eating much." Leah nodded respectfully and bowed. That simple gesture brought a surprising calm to Ariana’s chest. She nodded back, and the two of them began walking side by side down the hall. As they stepped outside, a soft breeze met them, and sunlight spilled over the stone pathway. Ariana raised her hand and signed softly, her gaze drifting toward the garden where the morning sun bathed the freshly watered flowers in a warm, golden glow. "I read somewhere—I can’t quite remember where—but it said that morning sun provides... what was it called again?" She paused, her fingers hovering mid-air before continuing, "Ah, yes. Vitamin D. Do you believe that, Lady Leah?" Leah blinked, a little surprised, then nodded. "Yes, My Queen. I once suffered an illness years ago, and the local physician told me I was lacking in Vitamin D. While he gave me supplements and treatments, he also advised me to step outside in the mornings... so the sun could touch my skin." A slow smile curved on Ariana’s lips as she signed again, "Intriguing, isn’t it, Lady Leah?" Leah nodded with a small bow. "Very true, My Queen." Ariana inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling her lungs. It was time to return to the field. They finally reached the gates and stepped onto the open field. As usual, the fresh breeze welcomed them warmly, sweeping over Ariana’s skin and blowing her hair back. This time, her hair was tied into a neat ponytail to avoid any trouble—but still, a few strands danced gently across her face. As they walked further in, Ariana’s eyes landed on Mister John, who was already leading Snow out. His own horse stood on the opposite side, and just as he brought the white mare closer, the horse—who had looked rather bored—suddenly lifted its head. A soft, familiar whinny escaped its lips. Snow had noticed her. A smile curled on Ariana’s lips as she approached. She reached out and gently patted the mare’s head. Snow nudged into her palm, tilting her head as if asking for more. Ariana’s smile deepened. The horse even took a slow step away from Mister John’s steed, almost as though she were being deliberately picky. So she doesn’t like to share company, Ariana mused with quiet amusement. She turned to Mister John, who bowed respectfully. "Good morning to you, My Queen. I hope you had a restful sleep." Her heart skipped slightly at his words. Last night... Zavren... The memory rushed back without warning. Still, she nodded, lifting her hand to sign, "Very well. I’m looking forward to learning something new today, Mister John." He gave another respectful nod. "As always, it is an honor." Leah then stepped forward politely. "Mister John, the Queen will be changing now." "Very well," he replied with a kind smile. With that, Ariana walked alongside Leah as they entered the room, just as they had done yesterday, to change into her riding attire. Leah moved swiftly, handing Ariana her riding clothes as she stepped into the changing room. Compared to yesterday, getting dressed felt much easier—especially with the boots. This time, they slipped on without any struggle. She’d realized earlier that removing the straps while putting them on made all the difference. Thanks to a certain emotionless someone... Her cheeks flushed at the memory. Focus, Ariana, she scolded inwardly, shaking her head to chase away the lingering heat. She finally stood and stepped out of the room. "Queen Ariana, are you ready?" the attendant asked. Ariana nodded, and the lady gave a small smile before leading the way. Together, they walked back out to where Mister John stood waiting. Ariana’s eyes immediately found Snow—but the mare’s attention was elsewhere. Her head was lowered, completely focused on sniffing the grass beneath her hooves, as if it were far more interesting than anything else happening around her. "My Queen, if you don’t mind, we’ll begin now," Mister John said politely. "She will be riding with me." A deep voice cut through the air. Ariana’s body froze. Mister John’s gaze immediately dropped to the ground, as if he couldn’t even bring himself to look up. No one needed to tell her who had spoken. That voice belonged to only one man—her husband. The Alpha King. Ariana slowly turned, her breath catching in her throat. Zavren stood a short distance away, his striking presence impossible to ignore. A few strands of hair had fallen loosely over his face, only adding to the quiet intensity in his expression. ’What is he doing here?’ The question echoed in her mind, but she didn’t say a word. She remained exactly where she stood, watching. At the far end of the field stood a horse—jet black and towering, with an aura that was impossible to miss. It had a presence all its own, commanding attention just like its master. Of course it belongs to Zavren. Even the horse had power in its silence. Snow, who had been calmly sniffing the grass moments ago, suddenly lifted her head. Ariana blinked as her horse’s gaze shifted—fixating on the black stallion. Then came the sound. A low whinny. Ariana’s eyes widened. Did Snow just react to it? She turned quickly toward Zavren’s horse again, stunned. But before she could process what it meant, Zavren’s voice rang out—cold and clear. "Ryly." He called the horse’s name, and without hesitation, the black stallion began walking toward him with smooth, deliberate steps. The way the horse moved—so obediently and gracefully—told Ariana everything she needed to know. It was extremely well trained. She opened her mouth to say something—then closed it again, speechless. And then Zavren began to walk toward her. Each step was calm, measured, and purposeful. Graceful. Dangerous. Just like him. He stopped directly in front of Ariana, his presence towering and still. With a firm yet gentle touch, he tilted her chin upward, guiding her gaze to meet his. "The King would like to ride with the Queen," he said, his voice low—commanding—leaving no room for protest. Ariana’s eyes narrowed, her defiant gaze clashing with his. But Zavren’s lips only twitched into the faintest smile, amused by her resistance. "Go on," he murmured. "Say hello to Ryly." Her gaze softened despite herself. She nodded, curiosity overtaking hesitation. She had always been eager to meet the legendary horse—even if it did carry an aura that made others shy away. A creature revered and feared, Ryly had never allowed many near—not even among the royal guards. Mister John bowed stiffly, his body trembling ever so slightly. He had heard tales of the Alpha King’s presence—of the way his aura could silence a room—but experiencing it firsthand made every word of those stories feel like an understatement. "Good morning, Your Majesty... King Z–Zavren. It is a great pleasure to meet you," he said respectfully, voice carefully measured. Zavren’s cold gaze flicked to him in passing—bored, unreadable—as he walked past without pause. His words rang out, smooth and chilling. "Quite the contrary on my part."