The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 653: Wanda’s Remains

[Third Person].

Meredith changed out of her bloodstained gown. A simple printed dress replaced it, clean and unremarkable.

Xamira followed quietly at her side as they entered the palace. The banquet had ended—only a few servants remained, clearing the last traces of the night’s celebration.

Meredith stopped somewhere first before heading to her chambers alone. As soon as she walked in, Azul and the others bowed.

"Your Majesty."

"Rise," Meredith ordered.

Just then, Azul stepped forward. "His Majesty came looking for you earlier," she reported.

"I see." Meredith gave a small nod. And since there was nothing more to say, she dismissed everyone.

Azul bowed again and withdrew with the others, leaving the corridor empty.

Meredith stood there for a moment, then turned and made her way to the bathing room. Once inside, she removed her dress and stepped under the water.

The scent of blood still faintly lingered on her skin. She reached for the floral-scented soap and washed carefully, unhurried but thorough, until nothing but a soft, clean fragrance remained.

When she finished, she stepped out and wrapped a towel around her hair, drying it as she moved. She brushed her teeth, applied a light perfumed cream to her skin, then dressed in her nightgown and robe.

After fastening the sash, she left the room without hesitation. Her steps led her directly to Draven’s chambers.

Draven was in the sitting area, seated on the sofa with a plate in one hand. He was midway through his meal with a piece of steak rested on his fork, and he looked up to see her. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.

Meredith made her way straight to him. Without asking, she took the fork from his hand and guided the piece of steak into her mouth. At the same time, she lifted her other hand and pushed her damp silver hair back from her face.

Draven didn’t stop her. Instead, he shifted slightly, making room as she sat beside him.

"I came looking for you earlier," he said.

"Azul told me." Meredith chewed, then swallowed. "I went for a stroll."

His gaze lingered on her, then he leaned closer. Slowly, he drew in a breath near her neck, his eyes closing briefly as he inhaled. Then he leaned back again. His expression changed.

"I smell blood on you," he said. "Did you kill someone?"

Meredith remained calm. She set the fork back onto the plate, then picked up the glass of wine. Her movements were steady, unhurried.

"I encountered something unpleasant," she said. "And dealt with it."

Draven held her gaze as silence stretched between them for a moment.

Meredith shifted slightly under his stare. "What are you looking at?" she asked with a faint crease between her brows.

He leaned in again, his voice lower this time. "I’m making sure Valmora hasn’t taken over my Queen."

Meredith let out a soft chuckle. "She would be offended by that."

Draven’s lips curved slightly. "She can’t blame me."

As if to demonstrate her discontentment, the matebond stirred. Then, a low, irritated surge pushed through. Both of them felt it.

Meredith’s chuckle deepened as Draven exhaled softly, amused as the night settled over them.

***

Morning arrived quietly over Stormveil as sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the royal dining hall.

The atmosphere was calm, almost deceptively so.

Meredith and Draven sat beside each other, eating in silence. The faint clink of cutlery was the only sound between them. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Draven cut into his food with steady movements, his expression composed, though his gaze occasionally lifted toward Meredith. She, on the other hand, seemed unusually quiet—more withdrawn than the night before.

Then, suddenly, her cutlery came to a soft stop. The sound was subtle, but it broke the rhythm of the room.

Draven looked up and met her gaze.

"I have something important to tell you," she said with a calm tone.

Draven studied her for a brief moment, then nodded. "Go ahead."

A short pause followed, then she confessed, "I killed Wanda Fellowes last night."

Draven froze in shock, along with the piece of pancake in his mouth, as he stared at her. His brows tightened slightly, his eyes searching her face as if trying to determine whether she was serious or joking.

But Meredith’s expression didn’t change. There was no hesitation or tension. Only certainty.

"And by now," she continued evenly, "her family should have received her remains."

That was when Draven’s cutlery slipped from his hand. The faint clatter echoed across the table.

For the first time, genuine shock crossed his face.

---

At the same time, across the city, breakfast had already begun at the Fellowes Residence.

Levi sat at the table, eating in silence, his expression unreadable. A moment later, Reginald entered the dining hall and took his seat at the head of the table.

"Where is Wanda?" he asked in a firm tone. "Why hasn’t she come down yet?"

Levi didn’t look up. "I don’t know."

Reginald gave a slight nod, then picked up his cutlery and started eating. Levi resumed as well, although his mind briefly wandered back to the previous night—to Wanda, and his jaw tightened slightly.

After what she had done—after that risky, shameless attempt, he had no interest in seeing her. When the banquet ended yesterday, he left immediately, took his own car, and returned home without looking back.

He hadn’t checked on her. He hadn’t bothered to. And even now, he still didn’t.

Minutes passed, then Reginald set his cutlery down and turned to a servant nearby. "Go and call her. I will not tolerate a daughter who acts as she pleases."

"Yes, sir." The servant replied and hurried away.

The room fell quiet again. Then, moments later, the servant returned, his steps hesitant. "Sir..." he began nervously. "Miss Wanda did not return home last night."

Instantly, both men stopped eating. Levi’s brows furrowed slightly while Reginald’s head lifted sharply. "What?"

Then, he turned to Levi. "Did you not come back with your sister?"

Levi shook his head. "No. We left separately."

A faint unease crept into the room. Just then, Levi reached for his phone on the table and dialled Wanda’s number, his expression tightening as the call rang.

The call rang for a while but eventually disconnected. Levi dialled Wanda’s contact again. However, before it connected, another servant hurried in, holding a phone.

"Sir," she said quickly, "Miss Wanda’s phone... she left it at home. She went to the palace without it."

Reginald’s expression darkened immediately. "What level of insolence is this?" he snapped. "Staying out all night without returning?"

His voice rose, sharp with anger. But even as he continued, a guard suddenly rushed into the room.

"Sir," he said urgently, slightly out of breath. "You have to come with me."

The tension shifted instantly. Levi’s eyes narrowed. At the same time, Reginald stood. "What is it?"

"Sir, you have to see this for yourself." Something in the guard’s tone was enough.

Without another word, both Reginald and Levi followed him out. The two servants trailed behind them, unease visible on their faces.

As soon as they stepped outside, they saw a wooden coffin resting in front of the residence.

Reginald’s expression twisted in anger. "What nonsense is this?"

On the other hand, a cold feeling settled in Levi’s chest. Something was wrong.

"Open it," Reginald ordered sharply.

One of the guards stepped forward. His hands hesitated briefly before he lifted the lid. For a split second, no one reacted. Then the servants screamed with their hands over their lips.

Inside the coffin, Wanda’s body lay in pieces. One of her hands had been severed and placed beside her. Her torso—split cleanly in two.

The brutality of it was unmistakable.

The guards instinctively stepped back.

Reginald’s face drained of all colour as the shock hit him all at once. His body swayed, then he collapsed.

"Father—!"

Levi caught him just in time, his own expression shaken, though more controlled. But his grip tightened.

His eyes remained fixed on the coffin, on what was left of his sister. And in that moment, pain exploded in his chest.