The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate
Chapter 222: Palace Ordeal

Chapter 222: Palace Ordeal

The ride to the palace had been shrouded in an unsettling silence, and the weight of their conversation lingered in the air.

Esme’s mind was consumed by the daunting task of breaking the news to Donovan about the tragic loss of his own warriors. The thought of delivering such devastating news to him filled her with a deep sense of sorrow, and it lingered in her heart like a heavy burden.

Just what exactly was the true bearer made of? From what was exposed, he didn’t seem to bear a mark, not even a single one. Considering how many years has passed since the true bearer existed, it must have given him more than enough time to wield the curse without facing the necessary consequences for his actions.

But... if the true bearer had been cursed for a long time, what were the odds that the ones who made him what he was were still alive? He would have gotten rid of them if they knew the best possible way to end him, wouldn’t he?

The sound of Orion’s gentle knock on the carriage door broke the somber silence, snapping her back to reality, and his soft voice called out to her. "Luna, are you awake?"

Esme hadn’t even noticed that the carriage had come to a stop. She turned to glance at Revana, who was resting her head on her shoulder, already fast asleep. In the quiet stillness, Revana’s usual stern demeanor had relaxed, revealing a hint of vulnerability. The sight of her already asleep relieved Esme, and she didn’t want to disturb her. She was grateful that Revana could finally find some much-needed rest.

Given her condition, it was exactly what she needed.

"Open the door," Esme said, and Orion quietly complied. As the door creaked open, the warm sun rays poured in, making Esme squint. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, and when they did, she was met with Orion’s worn-out appearance.

His eyes looked sunken, his skin pale, and his usually composed expression was bellied by weariness. The dark circles under his eyes and the fatigue etched on his face spoke volumes about the long, sleepless night he had endured, staying up and keeping watch over them in case they got ambushed on the way.

"We’re near the palace," he said, his voice laced with a hint of tiredness. "But... Everyone is exhausted. We’ve found another safe place to stay, and security will be tighter from now on. You should eat something and freshen up before we head to the palace. I’m sure Revana’s wounds need proper cleaning too. Atticus and I can head to the market if you need anything. But for now, we thought it’d be better if you rest here for a while."

Orion’s gaze shifted to Revana, who was still sleeping soundly, before settling on Esme. Since their cursed marks were covered by their clothing, Esme knew they’d be fine here.

But if she were to be honest, she didn’t want to rest at all. She wanted to head to the palace, worn out and dirty, and make Lennox see the reality of the situation. She wanted him to understand that everyone was a victim, not just his people. If he still had a shred of humility, he would make peace with Donovan, and a new beginning would be possible for all of them.

"How close are we to the palace?" Esme asked. Orion glanced ahead before turning to Esme.

"I’d say roughly in about thirty-minutes or so," he replied. He then quietly stepped back when Esme descended the carriage. She approached the back of the carriage, where the remaining warriors lingered, already stretching their limbs.

She could sense their fatigue and despair. They had been running for what felt like an eternity, trying to divert the true bearer’s attention, and the loss of their comrades must have taken a toll on all of them.

"I understand that everyone is currently tired and overwhelmed," Esme began. "But we need to keep moving. We can’t let our friends’ death be in vain. We have a mission to complete, and we mustn’t stop until it’s achieved. I trust we can do this, so please, let’s push ourselves, even if it’s just for today. It’s a thirty minute ride to the palace from here. Rather than prolong our stay, let’s put an end to this once and for all, and know where we truly stand."

The warriors looked at each other, their expression uncertain. They were all exhausted, both physically and mentally. But they understood, to a point, where Esme was coming from. They already knew it wouldn’t be easy, but they also knew there was no time to slack off either. They had come too far, and the memories of their fallen comrades renewed their strengths.

"We can grab some food first though, right?" One of the warriors asked, raising his hand, and Esme immediately nodded to his question. Food was necessary, and even though everyone else didn’t seem to have any interest in taking anything, she would force them to eat.

While some of the warriors left to grab some food, Atticus, who had been riding the carriage all night, looked like he was about to collapse. He’s never been this tired before, and even though he hated to admit it, a part of it came from witnessing the true bearer with his own eyes. He was afraid, especially after watching how his comrades’ lives were easily taken.

"Hey," Orion, who was busy feeding the horses, glanced at Atticus who had already gotten down from his horse. "Join the others in the second carriage, and get some rest. I’ll take it from here."

"I’m fine."

"I wasn’t asking. Go." Orion said, and Atticus hesitated. He knew Orion was just as stressed, but since Orion had a higher rank than him, his authority was too great to disobey. He reluctantly moved aside, letting Orion take the lead and attend to the horses.

Inside the carriage, Esme gently cradled Revana’s head on her lap, allowing her to rest comfortably. One of the few benefits of being linked to the true bearer was their accelerated healing rate, a perk that far surpassed that of regular werewolves.

The realization sent a shiver down her spine, leaving Esme to wonder about the true bearer’s extraordinary healing abilities.

It took a while before the carriage lurched forward, and Esme felt a surge of relief wash over her.

As the palace gates came into view the more they drew closer, Esme’s breath caught in her throat. She steeled herself, recalling her previous escape from this very place she had grown to despise. But now was not the time to let her emotions get the better of her.

"You can do this, Esme," she whispered to herself, drawing in her inner strength.

As the carriages reached the main gate, the guards patrolling the entrance halted, their eyes fixed on Esme as she stepped down from one of the carriages. She approached them with a sense of urgency, barely allowing them to utter a word.

"I’m here to see your king," she said, answering their question before they could even ask. "I have a pressing matter to discuss with him and the royal council, and I’m sure he’s expecting me. If you need to confirm, then please do so quickly."

At her words, the two guards exchanged skeptical glances, their faces a picture of disdain as they eyed her from head to toe. "Listen here, you can’t just waltz in here and demand for an audience with the king. Aside from that, you’re not dressed to see the king, so please kindly take your leave."

"Do you think I’d journey all the way from the North and not see the king?" Esme’s eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "You have no right to kick me out since the King himself sent me a letter requesting I be here today. Do your job and open the gates for me."

One of the guards stepped forward and uttered in a serious tone. "The Queen has already given us orders, and I’m afraid you are not welcomed here. Do yourself a favor and leave, else we’ll be forced to make you leave. Your choice."

Before Esme could retort, a sweet, taunting voice pierced the air, making Esme’s skin crawl. "What’s going on over there?" Emily asked as she approached, her beautiful face a mask of malice as she emerged from behind the gates, flanked by three maids. Esme’s fists clenched at her side at the sight of her, but she unclenched her fist, pushing aside anger, since she had more focusing tasks at hand.

Meanwhile, Emily’s eyes raked over Esmeray’s disheveled state, her voice dripping with concern. "Good heavens, what happened to you? Did you get mugged? Beaten? Raped? On your way here? What a poor, pathetic thing you’ve become, Esmeray Montague."

Esme’s fist clenched once more, and she attempted to rein in her anger. She took a deep breath, maintaining her cool. "Emily–"

"You’ll address me as Queen Emily," her eyes flashed with a hint of warning. "Don’t forget your place around here. Because you conquered the North doesn’t give you any rights over here, got that???"

Esme said nothing at first, but her voice was soon laced with sarcasm as she responded. "Oh, forgive me, Queen Emily. I forgot that I was speaking to a goddess incarnate. The king, your husband, is expecting me, and I have the letter he sent to prove it. Your guards informed me that you gave orders to deny me entrance, despite knowing the significance of today’s meeting. As a Queen, are you aware that you are interfering in the decisions made by the king and his court?"

Emily’s laughter was filled with ice. "Interfering, you say? Even if the guards did let you in, you wouldn’t find the king. He’s... indisposed, shall we say. And I’m not sure he’ll deign to see you again. Maybe never. So, take your leave, Esme. You’re not welcomed here. From where I stand, I hold true power over you, Esme, so you better listen to my orders and run along now, before I order my guards to bundle you out of here."

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