Chapter 95: Chapter 95

“I don't want to stand before him or any Remusian arsehole,” was Avril's reply to Verona. The girl shrugged and walked to Avril's armoire. She flung the doors open and scanned through the dresses hanging there.

“Get out of my room, Verona,” Avril grunted and stepped out of the bed.

“I don't think you should wear anything fancy to see the Alpha. You're feeling like a bitch right now, so wear black.” She pulled out a short sleeved, knee-length ball dress with tiny black stones on the skirt, and laces on the upper part.

“I don't feel like a bitch. I am a bitch,” Avril replied and made her way to the bathroom.

“That's the spirit,” she heard Verona say behind her.

After showering and feeling less like a ghost, she reentered her room in a pink bathrobe. Verona had left the dress on her bed, and she got dressed reluctantly.

She stepped down to her living room, and found Gia setting the table. The maiden looked up and gasped, the jar of orange juice almost spilling over in her shaky hands.

“Hi, Gia,” Avril said with a managed smile. Gia stood upright and dropped the jar. She sniffed and exhaled.

“It's so good to see you're back, my lady.”

“Thank you.”

Avril reached the dining table and took a sit.

“I'm so sorry about what Aria did. She...she...” Gia's voice shook and she exhaled to calm herself. Avril looked up at her without a word, her long hair swept to one side of her shoulder.

“i don't know what happened. But Aria would never have testified against you. She loved you so much. Something must have—”

“I know,” Avril interjected.

“You do? You believe she never would have worked against you?”

Avril nodded.

“Someone had blackmailed her and the blacksmith. I'll get to the root of this matter. I hold nothing against aria.”

Gia finally began to cry. She was always the professional one that the sight put Avril off.

“Thank you so much. You're too kind to us.”

Avril smiled and Gia bowed her head before walking away sobbing silently. She had been so scared for her mistress when she was arrested. She and Aria had been so shocked and scared. All of a sudden, Aria got missing and her next appearance as she heard was in court to testify against her mistress.

Gia was greatly relieved and happy to see Fiorella back alive, but she was scared she would punish Aria greatly for testifying against her.

Verona joined Avril for breakfast and they ate silently, though Avril was very grateful for her presence. They rounded up just in time as the Palace guards arrived at her door. Verona walked with her outside, and noticed how her friend turned stiff in the presence of the guards.

‘These past few days have made me despise them so much,’ Avril thought for Verona to hear. Verona in turn brushed her arm against Avril's soothingly.

They walked out on foot through the Prince's quarters, and a few people were seen peeping out at her—including servants.

As they passed close to the palace of the Prince, Avril refused to look. She had not come to terms with the fact that he had known her all these months. Had been her very island wolf who had been her all. But he said he didn't know her ever.

The icy thought bit deep into her heart and she winced audibly. Verona didn't bother telling her to keep her shields up this time even though one or more of the guards might read her.

Last night when she arrived after Camper's call, Avril had started crying again. She had to cradle her and listen to all her out-pours before making her shower for bed.

They reached the Grand Palace in six minutes, and Verona stopped in front.

“Be strong, okay? And try not to show any vulnerability.” Avril nodded to that. Verona smirked and went to stand afar off. The guards took Avril inside and walked her up the stairs to the throne room. The doors were opened by the guard's standing there and they moved inside. That was Avril's first time in the magnificent hall, but she wasn't there to admire the beauty yet.

The King Alpha sat in his golden throne, a sceptre in his hand. His white hair shone against the brightness of the hall and he looked dazzling. There was no smile on his face, but rather his eyes scrutinized Avril with every step that she took. The guards in the room were the only ones apart from him. No officials, no right-hand man, his Beta wasn't even there.

The guards got her to thirty feet away from the king and bowed. She gave a curtsey. They then left her and walked to stand guard by the door.

“Fiorella,” the king drawled as he pierced her with his eyes.

“Or should I say, Avril.”

She exhaled and bowed.

“Whichever works for you, your Majesty,” she responded.

The Alpha sat upright and watched her.

“Is it true? What my son claimed.”

Avril made sure her face was neutral.

“You did not believe him?” she asked in return.

“He hasn't been himself for the past few decades. I am not certain he's to be trusted one hundred percent, with how bipolar he has become of course.”

Avril sighed.

“If you did not believe your own son, your Majesty, I doubt you would believe a mere human,” she responded.

The Alpha smiled, his emerald eyes glinting.

“What happened on the island, Fiorella? What happened to my son?”

His voice seemed authoritative, but behind it Avril could sense despair.

“I cannot say anything, when the prince himself hid it for two years from you. I believe he should be the one to confide in you first.”

“You are tricky. I admire that. Now, listen to my request of you.”

An order, not him asking it of her. But an order.

“You are not permitted to speak a word of that incident out. We have decided to keep it silent until further notice.”

Avril wanted to laugh and say she never spilled the news herself. But kept quiet.

“Word would spread that you have been released suddenly. People would ask questions and wonder why. The more they see you, the more they feel restless. The more they take matters into their own hands. The more you become prey.”

Avril gulped down without a word. She did not like where this seemed to be going.

“The current state of the prince would be kept secret, too, until further notice. I don't want any word of truth seeping out the Palace walls, so the two people involved should be kept away and apart.”

“What are you insinuating, your Majesty?”

“You are relieved of your role as my son's concubine. And you would be taken outside the kingdom, to live where you belong until there's a decision to bring you back. Or not.”

Avril felt her head spinning, but didn't let it show.

“Is the prince aware you're sending me away?” she asked with her chin raised.

The Alpha smirked, the resemblance to his son coming out fully.

“No. This is to prove if you really are what he claims you are to him. This...is a test. And it's not over until it's over.”

Avril stood without a word, surprised yet curious as to what in Remus was going on.

“You are dismissed,” he ordered while still peering at her like he, too, could read her mind.