Chapter 58
AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS had gone by, Helga's days were consumed with assisting Siegren in arranging all the necessary details for the early arrival of the Narva delegation. At first, she felt uneasy about the news that the Lycan King of the neighboring country would be visiting sooner than expected, after all, it meant she had to be cautious to avoid her true identity being revealed.
Since their return to the palace, the days had been quite peaceful despite their busy schedules. Everyone had settled into a routine, with Siegren being the most active. Not a day went by without him leaving the palace or attending meetings and inspections. Because of that, Helga found herself missing him more than usual, but she couldn't deny the positive impact his activities were having on his image and reputation in Verdantia. The public opinion of him was growing as he became popular among the masses and citizens of the capital because he stopped wearing a mask-the negative rumors about him was slowly fading away and was replaced by rumors of his love life and affection for Queen Luna.
Everyone was talking about how different he was from the previous Kings and the recent incident where he had rescued children from being sold at an auction, people began to see him in a different light. His actions had earned him admiration and lessened the fear they once had of him. And with news of him and his Queen opening a charity school for underprivileged children spreading, Verdantia was starting to feel like a more benevolent place than ever before.
Although most of the changes were positive, Helga couldn't shake the feeling that everything was becoming too easy and predictable. She enjoyed working with Siegren and fulfilling her duties, but a lingering sense of unease surfaced inside her as she wondered if this comfort was only temporary. It felt like the calm before the storm. Even so, Helga tried to remain optimistic and hopeful even if deep down, she knew that something big would eventually happen.
"Your Majesty, may I come in?" Helga asked as she knocked on the door, making Siegren look up from his work, a smile breaking out on his lips.
"You may,” he said, and with that... Helga entered his study.
"I was wondering if you would like to have lunch together," she proposed as she walked towards Siegren's table. "It's been quite some time since we last had a meal together."
"Right," He nodded in agreement, setting down the pen he had been holding and checking the clock for the time. Realizing it was almost noon, he pushed his chair away from the desk and motioned for her to come closer. Helga tilted her head in confusion but obliged nonetheless, placing her hands on the backrest of his chair before settling onto his lap as he pulled her in closer.
"I need to recharge first," he muttered, inhaling deeply as he nuzzled his nose softly against her neck. His arms were wrapped around her waist, possessively claiming her as his own. They rarely had any time alone these days, and he missed her warm and soft touch, her delicate scent that always brought him comfort, and her sweet taste that tantalized his senses. He sighed contently before planting light kisses over her shoulder, savoring the familiar feel of her skin under his lips. But it wasn't long before his wife responded eagerly, wrapping her
own arms around his neck and pulling him into a passionate kiss on the lips.
"Are
you
tired? Do you want me to give you a massage?” Helga offered, causing him to let out a low chuckle.
"As much as I wanted to, I'm afraid it wouldn't just end with a massage." he teased which made her cheeks turn bright red. His playful remark caused her face to flush bright red. She huffed in response and pouted playfully before reaching up to kiss him again.
"What a naughty king," she mumbled before they both shifted their attention to the door at the sound of a knock.
"Queen Luna, the mead you had cooked has been served," the head maid announced, causing Siegren's eyes to widen.
"You cooked?" he looked at her in surprise and Helga nodded, feeling a bit shy about it. She had some spare time earlier and decided to make a meal for her hardworking mate, who had been holed in his study since yesterday afternoon.
"Yeah, let's go." "With a bright smile, she gracefully slid off his lap and took his hand in hers, telling the head maid that they would be right there. As she led him out of his study, Siegren couldn't help but fixate on their intertwined fingers. The question Ezra had asked during the race suddenly resurfaced in his mind, causing him to ponder whether he was truly in love with Helga or if it was just the mate bond influencing his feelings. Regardless, one thing was certain: being with Helga made him happier than he had been in a long time. "H-how does it taste?" Helga anxiously asked as Siegren took his first bite of the meal she had cooked. Her heart raced with nerves ever since they entered the dining hall, afraid that her cooking skills wouldn't impress the Alpha King who was used to having professional chef prepare his meals. She thought that maybe she was getting ahead of herself for doing something so silly. However, when Siegren's face lit up with satisfaction at the taste of her food, all her worries melted away and she could finally relax.
"It's delicious, I didn't know that you could cook," He savored the taste of the food and complimented her cooking skills. He then eagerly took another bite before turning to her with a look of anticipation. It was the first time someone other than the royal chef had prepared a meal for him, and the fact that his wife had gone through the trouble of cooking for him made his heart flutter.
"Uhm well," Helga smiled awkwardly as she scratched her cheek, "I became a maid once or twice, remember?”
Siegren's body froze, every muscle tensing as the air around them grew still and silent. His mind raced, trying to process what she had just said, while his throat tightened in a sudden dryness. Without thinking, he reached for his glass of water and took a long gulp, hoping to alleviate the tension building inside him. How could he possibly respond to her words? Just as he was about to speak, Beta David graciously entered the dining hall, breaking through the awkwardness that had settled between them. With a polite smile, the Beta approached Siegren, providing a welcome distraction from the tense moment.
"I apologize for interrupting your meal,” he said, glancing at Helga who gave a slight nod, signaling that it was okay. But then David's next words would surprise her, "A report just came out stating that rogues have attacked one of the Incarnadine main factory sites."
"Were there any casualties?" Siegren asked, his eyes fixed on Helga before looking at David.
"There haven't been any so far, but the damages were severe." David explained, “It looks like the Queen's prediction is already coming true. What do you want to do with Miranda? When are you planning on capturing her?"
"I have a suggestion," Helga chimed in, causing the two to turn their heads towards her in interest. "At the upcoming hunting festival, I propose we expose Miranda's disguise. That would give us a justifiable reason to apprehend her. After all, it's common knowledge that using magic is strictly prohibited in Verdentia.”
Siegren and David exchanged a knowing glance, both of them silently agreeing. As the new Luna of Incarnadine, they couldn't simply arrest Miranda without a valid reason. That's why Helga's suggestion seemed like the perfect solution-it was logical and believable. With this plan in place, no one would question their actions, especially after witnessing firsthand how Miranda's appearance would change once Helga put her plan into motion.
"All right, let's do that." Siegren agreed with a nod and then turned to David. "Call their Alpha and ask if they need any help for the sake of appearances. I have no doubt that their pack leader would reject any help from the Royal pack anyway,"This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
"Yes, Your Majesty." David bowed slightly. "I'll take my leave; please enjoy your meal."
As soon as David's footsteps faded, Siegren turned to face Helga. Her eyes were distant, lost in her thoughts. She couldn't have predicted that Karma would strike the Incarnadine this sooner after Ezra and Miranda married each other. The attack on their main factory site by the rogues would surely cause an uproar within their pack, it was one of their primary sources of income, after all. The consequences would be devastating for Ezra and his family, who had already suffered significant losses. It was a blow that would leave them scrambling to recover and rebuild what they had lost.
"Are you worried for them?" Siegren's voice interrupted Helga's thoughts, jolting her back to reality. Her attention then shifted to him, who had a concerned expression on their face, clearly worried about how she had reacted.
"Not really," she shook her head with a bitter smile, "I knew a tragedy was looming on their pack, but I didn't want the innocent kids to get caught up in it.”