Chapter 59: A Seat at the Table of Secrets

Chapter 59: A Seat at the Table of SecretsAriana sat beside Zavren in the large dining hall as the maid gently put the final touches on the dishes. The old lady sat across from them, accompanied by three ladies and three men—supposedly her children and their wives. "I cannot express my joy at seeing Alpha Zavren here. You rarely visit, and coming now is quite a shock. Counting how many times you’ve been here in the past few years, it’s not more than the fingers on one hand," she said, raising her hand to emphasize her point. A soft laugh broke the tension, and Ariana smiled at the lady’s words before they all began to eat. Lord James sat beside his wife, Lady Emma, and then spoke. "Oh, Mother, you didn’t inform us that the king would be arriving," he said. As the First son, his voice carried a calm authority. His wife smiled softly, her eyes mostly fixed on Ariana. "I thought getting married would bring some sense to a place that lacked it, but I was wrong. Didn’t you hear my earlier words? I was surprised too." A soft smile graced his wife’s lips as she spoke quietly, "Mother." Ariana realized that they all had brown hair, but in different shades. Zavren’s gaze moved to her as he asked, "Do you want more meat?" Ariana nodded with a smile. Zavren carefully cut the meat on his plate and gently placed a piece on hers. The hall fell silent. All eyes stared in shock—even the old lady, who hadn’t expected such a gesture. A slow smile finally graced her lips. A soft chuckle escaped her as she gently wiped her lips with the napkin gracefully. "Here I was, afraid I wouldn’t live to see you tie the knot. But once again, thank you—my thoughts have been quenched. It was always tied, just waiting for you to touch it." Zavren’s lips curled into a smirk, his expressionless eyes calm as usual. "All praise goes to my gorgeous wife, who made that possible." Silence fell again. Even Ariana, who was about to cut the meat, froze halfway. She turned to Zavren, a soft smile forming on her lips. "I see," the old woman said with a smile, her eyes fixed on Ariana before quietly shifting back to her plate. The second lady, who had been observing closely, spoke up, "I haven’t heard her speak." The room grew silent once more. Ariana’s body froze, her heart skipping a beat at the words. Her lips trembled slightly. "She is mute," Lady Emberg said softly. The woman’s eyes widened. "I... I apologize, Queen Ariana," she said, lowering her head. Her body trembled slightly under Zavren’s cold gaze. Just as Lady Emberg was about to speak, Zavren’s voice rang out, low and sharp. "I suppose your pronunciation of my wife’s name leaves much to be desired. Aria... Ariana—that is the correct way to say it. Besides, would you be needing anything else from her voice? Perhaps it could grant you the beauty you so clearly lack." Gasps echoed in the room. Lady Emberg’s eyes widened in disbelief. No one had expected such biting words from the king. The woman’s face paled, her thick makeup now smudging awkwardly under the weight of embarrassment. Her light brown hair and matching gown suddenly looked awkward—like they no longer belonged in the same room. A heavy silence followed. No one dared to speak, still reeling from the king’s merciless remark. Ariana was perhaps the most surprised. Though she knew the lady had likely spoken out of mere curiosity, she couldn’t help but feel her heart warm at Zavren’s words. "The food is... q-quite lavish today," Lord James stammered, trying to break the tension. His wife quickly nodded in agreement, her hand gently brushing his arm in support. "Mother, I heard you inspected the dishes yourself today," Lady Emma added with a smile, trying to redirect the conversation. "Seems like you took this gathering very seriously." Lady Emberg smiled quietly. "Oh yes, I made sure everything was just right. Despite these old legs, I seem to have more strength than you younglings," she said with a light chuckle. Soft laughter echoed through the hall. Ariana’s eyes moved across the table. The third lady remained calm and reserved, while the two other men sat silently. They hadn’t spoken a word, but their composed demeanor told Ariana something else. They knew the king better than the rest. It was then she noticed—yes, they were twins. The resemblance was striking. One of the women finally spoke, her voice polite. "Alpha Zavren, Mark and Luke have been learning swordsmanship. They look up to you—you are the greatest in the Kingdom of Eltones." Ariana took a sip of water, then turned to Zavren, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. Zavren’s lips curled into a small smirk, noticing her reaction. "Not just the kingdom," he said, his gaze resting on Ariana. "In history, I must say." A proud smile bloomed on her lips. Something about the way she looked at him stirred pride in his chest—silent but undeniable. He then turned back to the table, his expression returning to its usual calm. "They may visit the castle if they want more training. I’ll speak with Zekel—he might be their training guide." The twins’ eyes sparkled with excitement and disbelief. Zekel, Zavren’s brother, was known to be the second-best swordsman in all of Eltones—only behind Zavren himself. "We are very thankful for this, Your Majesty," they both spoke in unison. Zavren gave a curt nod as Ariana smiled. ’They really are twins—not just in body, but mind and soul,’ she said to herself as her smile widened. "Alpha Zavren, how about spending the night here? It would be my greatest pleasure," Lady Emberg said with a gracious smile. Zavren turned to Ariana, who gave a soft, gentle nod. "My wife agrees, so why not," he replied calmly. A pleased smile settled on the old lady’s wrinkled face. The dining hall fell into a respectful silence, the clinking of cutlery the only sound. Soon after, Zavren and Ariana quietly retired to their room. *** Lady Emberg stood on the top-floor balcony, her gaze lost in the distance. Beside her stood the butler—an elderly man, the oldest in the household. There was a faint crease of concern on the lady’s face. "Lady Emberg, something seems to trouble you," the butler said gently. "May I suggest you speak your mind? Worry doesn’t sit well with age, as they say—the less you worry, the prettier you remain." A faint smile touched Lady Emberg’s lips. "Thank you, Butler, for your words... but I don’t believe I’ve heard that saying before. Where did it come from, if you don’t mind me asking?" The man gave a slight bow. "I made it up just now, my lady. I hoped it might lift your spirits. After all, every saying must start somewhere—passed from one to another." As he hoped, a soft laugh escaped her. "Oh, Butler... your dry humor somehow ends up making perfect sense. You know, even when something sounds like complete nonsense, there’s always a bit of truth buried in it." "You are very correct I am worried, Butler. The human—the one the King has married..." Lady Emberg began, her voice low and thoughtful. "In all my years, I have never felt such power. And yet... she is human. A human should not be capable of holding such a force." She moved forward slowly, her fingers trailing along the edge of the sunlit railing, inspecting for dust—though it was perfectly clean. "Do you suppose it’s the Alpha?" The butler asked then added. "Perhaps the power simply belongs to him, and being seated near him gives the illusion." The woman shook her head slowly. "No, Butler. I felt it myself. It wasn’t the Alpha—it was her. The power is dormant, still sleeping... and that is what makes it even more dangerous. Because something that strong—unawakened, yet undeniably present—is a threat beyond measure." The old man watched her carefully, his expression unreadable. Then he spoke, his voice soft, almost wary. "Do you think... she is truly human?" A gentle breeze stirred the air around them, and the sun had begun to dip into the horizon, casting the first shadows of evening. Lady Emberg turned her head slightly, her expression sharp. "Sometimes, Butler, I wonder if you and my son James share the same strain of stupidity. The only difference is—James is just a little more foolish than you." The butler scratched the back of his head awkwardly, managing a sheepish smile. "As always, my lady, your compliments are... humbling," he said, offering a small smile. He knew all too well—Lady Emberg had not changed. She never sugar-coated her words. In that way, she and the King were alike: sharp, direct, and impossible to read. "She is human. I can tell by her scent," Lady Emberg said, finally shifting her gaze to the butler. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You’re not doubting that... are you?" The butler immediately bowed, deep and respectful. "No, Lady Emberg. Your wisdom surpasses all," he replied with quiet conviction. And he meant it. She had always seen what others missed—her observations ran deep. If something troubled her, it was never without reason. It was a warning. "I fear that once her power awakens from its slumber..." she paused, her voice turning cold, "Eltones will fall into chaos." The butler’s eyes widened. Lady Emberg’s face grew grave as she added, "Because the child she is carrying... holds that same power too."