His Forsaken Luna-Chapter 27: Personal Life & Duty

"The Princess has not left since."

No. She would not dare escape again. Or would she?

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After almost dying from the thick tension tightening around my throat, my day resumed like normal. Margarette arrived and tutted at my manly appearance, wearing a baggy long-sleeve shirt, breeches and knee-length boots, hair tied back in a high ponytail again. I shrugged it off like usual, and she turned her attention to Theo, giving him tasks to do.

Tasks she should be doing. "Theo needs to rest more-"

"More?!" Margarette interrupted, astounded while looking between us.

"He has been punished," I add quickly, annoyed that I have to explain myself. Again, my only peace was slowly diminishing in this palace.

Rubbing at the back of my neck, I frown slightly as a small tingling sensation zapped down my spine and suggest nonchalantly, "Perhaps you can give him some menial tasks that do not require a lot of effort or reopen the wounds on his back."

"That would be tending to you, Your Highness," Margarette snorted and covered her mouth, glittering eyes flicking between us. She’s already made up her mind about what to report back to Deyanira.

I am growing tired of such games. They have been going on for too long. "Hmmm, then let him do that." I shrugged.

Theo almost sputtered with wide eyes, fully aware of what I was suggesting, while Margarette’s mouth dropped open. It was rather comical. But I’d already made up my mind. "Why don’t you take a few days off?"

Margarette’s jaw slammed shut. "I cannot do that, Your Highness-"

"You will still be paid," I add softly, fully aware of her circumstances.

"Really?!" My maid squeals, hands holding mine.

Soren took a step in our direction, scowling, but I shook my head once and enjoyed the sudden brightness in Margarette’s dark brown eyes. "You mean it?" She whisper-shouts, excited.

I look to the window, not quite liking that excitement and admiration directed at me though. It was an uncomfortable feeling, something I am not used to. "The snow is yet to pile high. You should spend time with Annie. She must miss you."

Margarette squeezed my hands, hers almost as soft as mine. "Thank you," her whisper is full of emotion I rarely hear from her. "Truly."

I clear my throat. "Leave before I change my mind." My gaze is still on the light snowfall. In less than a few months travel across the kingdom will be too brutal for the likes of me and Theo to venture through. We are only two Weres—make that one real Were.

Margarette dips in a low bow in deference, her gaze on the ground. It was something she rarely did unless we were in the company of others of great importance, like my brother. The door clicks quietly shut behind her, and my shoulders relax, my mind already spinning. I’d given us a few days to prepare.

I glance at Theo, who is unaware of how quickly I am thinking of leaving here. All I need to do is return to the Huntsman and get the map, stock up a bag to flee with and then we can be gone. Hopefully, before Margarette is back. She should not be punished for this.

A small part of my heart still pinches at the idea she will no longer have enough to support her sick youngling. I hope she has saved at least some of the gifts I’d given to her over the years.

"I don’t like her," Soren hisses from the other side of the room. "I never have."

"Oh!" Theo clapped his hands once, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So he speaks?!"

The corner of my lips tugs up slightly at Theo speaking my thoughts aloud. Soren glowered back at him.

"Of all people," I drawl, eyes slowly rising to meet Soren’s. "I did not believe you to be one to judge."

"She is hardly your servant, Your Highness!" Soren thrust his hand towards the servant’s door Margarette left through before it clapped loudly against the side of his thigh, where it dropped.

So dramatic. I refrained from pinching the bridge of my nose. "She has enough going on." I turn my back to him and grab a thick hide coat from my wardrobe, flinging it on. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Personal life and duty should be separate," Soren muttered. I feel his gaze roaming over my back.

Arching my brow, I look over my shoulder. "Is that what you do?"

Soren’s jaw tightened.

Theo whistled, then began flicking off imaginary lint from the top of the chaise when Soren glowered at him. Before Soren says anything more, I turn away from him dismissively and lean close to Theo, dropping my voice, "I meant what I said. Rest. I will get the map tonight."

Theo nodded, though his lips were a little pouty. "Rest." I pointed at the sofa, stern gaze on him, command in my tone.

"As you wish." Theo bowed his head. There was nothing mocking about it, which I found odd. He then, almost a little rigidly. I frowned, unsure of what to make of it, but then I felt Soren’s stare burning a hole in the side of my face, and I decided to leave before more drama unfolded.

𓆩:*¨༺✧ ♛ ✧༻¨*:𓆪

The kitchen was always free at this time of the day. The servants had already cooked breakfast and lunch and were now taking their own breaks. How did I know this? Because of the times when I was young and had been locked up without any food.

Little did Deyanira know I snuck out of the windows in my nightgown, barefoot, almost suffering frostbite on a few toes, to rummage through the kitchens. This was a frequent punishment, one of the reasons I was smaller than most northern Weres. It was probably her plan—I looked weak, so I must have been weak.

Margarette was new then and had tried to sneak food into the room at first, but Deyanira always managed to find out, and my newfound friend had been punished severely—her boy had been taken away and sent into the warrior academy. She never helped since.

Sneaking out of the kitchen with a satchel of rations, I whistle and stroll down the hallways, trying and failing to look nonchalant. Soren trailed behind me, revealing who I was if the hair and eyes weren’t clues enough.

At least we were walking down one of the servant hallways, so I wouldn’t be running into any nobles, a certain Southern Alpha Prince or the wicked Queen Mother, who most certainly would never be caught down these corridors.

The entire time, Soren doesn’t comment. He’d been with me many times when I was in my teens, needing more food when it was scarce in my palace. Once Alaric commented on seeing my ribs and spine through clothing, the punishments stopped.

On our arrival to my little palace, I stopped as a hooded man strolled away from the entrance, tipping his head at me, hood and scarf concealing his features. Soren was about to chase him down, but the man had already leapt over the wall. Some guards leapt over in their wolf forms in search of him.

I frowned, slowly looking back at Theo, holding a large scroll and box, staring after the man who was long gone. Unlike my guard and slave, I knew who he was and where he’d come from.

Kjartan, one of the friendlier guards, rushed up to us. "Did he do anything to you, Princess?" He asked, eyes roaming over me.

"No." I shook my head, looking dumbfounded as I hid slightly behind Soren, pinching his hand to remain quiet. I shared a look with Theo before adding, "I have no idea who that man is."

Kjartan released a breath and nodded, the beads on either side of his goatee tinkling slightly. "That is good to hear." His eyes flashed, and then he bowed his head. "I must go, Your Highness. Please go inside while we deal with the intruder."

"Take care, Kjartan." His cheeks flush a bright red before he bows again and rushes away.

Once the doors slam shut behind me, Soren and Theo turn to me expectantly. I subtly pass the satchel to Theo, take the parcel and scroll, and manoeuvre around them.

"Princess," Soren calls to me, marching after me and, in two long strides, is in front of me again, blocking my path.

"He is from The Huntsman," I blurt out before he can try and interrogate me or report anything to my brother.

Soren narrows his eyes at me. "And you stopped us from telling Kjartan this because...?"

"He delivered something I forgot last night." I shrugged, though I did not feel nonchalant about the whole ordeal.

How did Sverre know where I lived?! Was it that obvious I was the Princess? Was it really worth one of his men almost dying?

Soren swore under his breath. "They are not good men, Princess." He reaches for me, but I step aside.

"Believe what you want." I squeeze the box to my chest in one hand, unsure what Sverre has sent me. "Now, if you please, I would like some time alone with Theo."

Soren steps closer. "Princess..." He glared at Theo behind me and then continued. "I think we should talk."

"Tomorrow," I say firmly, holding his gaze. "You are dismissed until then."

Soren steps back like I have slapped him. "You cannot dismiss me, Your Highness. I am your knight, sworn to protect. I cannot leave you, especially after someone has snuck into the palace," he snaps, jaw clenching and his back ramrod straight as he looks down at me.

"Then you may protect me from outside the room," I replied icily. "I wish to be alone with Theo."

Soren’s gaze flicks past me to the slave at my back, eyes darkening more than he stiffly bows his head, stepping aside. I walk past him, waving my hand forward for Theo to step in line beside me. The clinking of armour echoes behind us as we return to my study and close the door on him.

I would feel guilty, but we needed to plan this escape and the sooner, the better. There is tension in the palace, I can feel it. It has nothing to do with my heat and the three Weres I have somehow gotten tangled up with. Although the drama hasn’t helped.