Chapter 739: Chapter 739: Her True Intention
If Violet had ever thought she had it bad with the Free Fae’s unwelcoming nature, then Annequin had it far worse.
The party that had once been vibrant was gone, replaced instead by uneasy murmurs. Every head in the hall turned toward Annequin as she approached the dais.
Yet the foreign Fae Queen did not look bothered in the slightest. Her steps were confident as she walked through the parted sea of Fae, completely alone, without even a single guard at her side.
Violet couldn’t decide whether it was blind trust or sheer stupidity. Or perhaps Annequin was simply confident that no harm would come to her.
Violet knew her mother would never strike an outsider lightly—at least not without cause—but even so, the display was unsettling.
Annequin stopped at the foot of the dais and, for the first time since entering the hall, inclined her head. It
"Queen Annequin of Astaria," she said clearly, her voice carrying through the vast hall, "greets Queen Seraphira of the Free Fae."
The moment the name Astaria left her lips, the air shifted.
A ripple of murmurs swept through the Free Fae. Heads leaned together while the whispers grew louder, and incredulous. They had always known, in theory, that other Fae realms existed beyond their barriers, but knowing and seeing were not the same thing. To have another Fae queen standing on their sacred ground felt unreal. If not invasive and dangerous.
Queen Seraphira rose from her throne and the movement alone was enough to quiet the hall. She descended the final step of the dais and stopped at its edge.
Her gaze rested on Annequin.
"You may rise," Seraphira said.
Annequin straightened immediately, lifting her chin as she met the Free Fae Queen’s eyes.
Seraphira turned then, not to Annequin, but to her people.
"I know this moment is unsettling," she began. "I know many of you are confused, even angered. But this was always inevitable."
The murmurs lowered, though they did not disappear entirely.
"The barrier that kept us hidden has fallen," Seraphira continued. "And when walls come down, visitors will follow whether we welcome them or not. But Queen Annequin has come not with armies, nor demands, but with an open heart, to honor the debut of our princess. That, at the very least, deserves acknowledgment."
Annequin in question remained still, her expression unreadable.
"We have lived in secrecy for generations," Seraphira said. "And while it has kept us safe, it has also kept us unseen and unknown. Tonight is proof that the world beyond us exists, and that change, while uncomfortable, is not always a threat.
"So let us show the Queen of Astaria who the Free Fae truly are. Let her witness the beauty, the magic, and the strength we have preserved all these years. That is all I ask, free Fae."
Silence followed her words. Then, slowly, the tension eased just enough.
Some of the Fae straightened, their expressions thoughtful. A few nodded, moved by their queen’s conviction. Others, however, remained stiff and distant, arms crossed, and their eyes wary as they watched Annequin.
The divide was clear.
Queen Seraphira returned to her throne while Rhara directed Queen Annequin toward her assigned seat among the honored guests.
Violet’s gaze never left the Astaria queen and she nearly rose from her seat when she realized where Annequin was being led.
No. No, no, no.
Whether it was terrible timing or cruel fate, Annequin was guided directly to the row reserved for the cardinal alphas. And worse—far worse—she was placed right beside Asher.
Violet’s jaw tightened.
Annequin settled into her seat with infuriating ease, her armor glinting beneath the lights. Then, as if she had planned it all along, she turned her head and offered Asher a smile on acknowledgment.
Asher merely tilted his head in polite recognition before looking away, his attention returning firmly to his brothers.
That should have been enough but it didn’t stop Violet’s fingers from clenching around the armrest of her throne, her grip so tight a crack was heard.
Queen Seraphira turned instantly. "Violet?"
"Nothing," Violet bit out through gritted teeth, her knuckles white.
Seraphira studied her daughter for a moment longer, then looked away. She had enough problems to deal with at the moment.
And as if summoned by tension itself, Baron chose that moment to speak.
"It’s quite funny," he said loudly, amusement dripping from every word, "how you’re suddenly all for embracing outsiders, when you were vividly against me pushing the same notion in the first place."
Seraphira’s cold gaze snapped to him. "At least I am acting in the best interest of my people, unlike you who would gladly invite external forces to unseat me, regardless of how that damages the Free Fae."
For a heartbeat, they stared at one another, eyeball to eyeball.
Then Baron threw his head back and laughed loudly. "You always did love having the final word."
Seraphira did not rise to it. She turned away, dismissing him entirely, her attention shifting back to the party, or rather, to the foreign queen now seated among her people.
Annequin sat comfortably, observant, and unreadable.
Seraphira frowned deeply. She could only hope she had not just welcomed a blade into the heart of her court.
Meanwhile, the cardinal alphas were busy discussing amongst themselves when Annequin, who had been left alone all this while, finally spoke.
"Aren’t you curious about me?"
At once, the cardinal alphas stopped talking, and all four turned to her with expressions so synchronized it was almost comical.
Then, as if planned, they ignored her entirely and went right back to their conversation.
Annequin scoffed. "So this is how it will be, then?"
Asher was the one who finally answered. "You’ve already told us you’re the Queen of Astaria. Any other important information that would reveal your true intentions is something you’d never give freely, so there’s no need to ask especially when we’ll find out ourselves."
He added flatly, "And our mate gets jealous easily so we’d rather not upset her. So enjoy your stay, Queen Annequin of Astaria."