Chapter 39

Chapter 39

The wedding was followed by a grand after-party, which drew in a large crowd. Many guests hailed from wealthy families within the Alpha clan of the Rema Kingdom, and even some council members from the Urzua Kingdom were present. Yet, my brother remained as stubborn as ever, not even a shadow of him had appeared at my wedding.

As I sat on the golden royal chair meant for Troy and me, I stared down at the wine flute in my hand. The orchestra played a gentle melody that encouraged couples to dance in the center of the hall. Glancing over at Troy, I noticed him staring blankly ahead. We had spent some time dancing, but my sore foot eventually led me to ask Troy for a break.

Despite the many faces in attendance, my eyes kept drifting back to Troy, wondering if I could ask him about the one person I was truly hoping to see.

"What is it?" he asked, noticing my gaze. I bit my lip and set the wine flute down on the table in front of us. "Did you… not invite Zander?" I asked cautiously. His expression immediately darkened as he turned to face me.

"Why would I invite him? He wants you dead, Elisaria," he replied with emphasis. I nodded, understanding his point.

"But… won’t your council members wonder why your only cousin, Zander, isn’t here?" I pressed, curious. His eyes narrowed as he looked at me. "I don’t care," he replied flatly, picking up the wine flute I’d been holding earlier and finishing the last of my drink. I snorted at his nonchalance; he didn’t seem to realize that sharing my wine might be considered bad etiquette, especially on our wedding day.

"And stop thinking about another man, Eli. We just got married," he added firmly. I looked at him, watching as he turned his attention to the dancing couples. Why did he sound so possessive? And why did I find myself smiling because of it?

"What, you want me to focus only on you tonight?" I teased. His lips twitched, though he tried to maintain a serious expression as he glanced my way.

"Would you?" he asked, his brows drawn together. I moved a little closer, taking in his intoxicating scent that seemed to wrap around me. How could I ever forget how irresistible his smell was?

"Do you want me to?" I whispered. He clenched his jaw, and my eyes widened as he suddenly gripped my wrist and pulled me up from my seat. John noticed us and approached.

"Is something wrong, Your Majesty?" John asked.

“Keep entertaining the guests. My wife and I need to rest now,” Troy’s tone was brisk.

“But—”

“We’re leaving,” Troy cut him off, leading me out of the hall without a backward glance. I was too stunned to speak as he guided me through the corridor. It was empty, with everyone back in the hall enjoying the festivities. Troy opened a door, pulled me inside, and without hesitation, kissed me with a fierce, heated intensity. A soft moan escaped my lips as his kisses deepened, my hands finding their way to his chest as his fingers traced paths along my body.

"You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this, Elisaria..." Troy murmured against my jawline, each kiss setting my skin alight. I tilted my head back, my lips parting at the rush of sensation. I wanted to tell him I felt the same, but no words came; I was completely overtaken by the passion in his embrace.

After a moment, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the bed. His kisses paused as he slowly unzipped my dress from the back, his intense gaze locked on mine. My vision was hazy, but I couldn’t look away from him.

"Did you miss me?" he asked softly, holding my jaw and pressing a tender kiss to the tip of my nose. His touch sent a wave of warmth through my chest. Instead of answering, I cupped his face and kissed him passionately. He returned my kiss with equal fervor, guiding my dress off until I lay fully bare before him. He paused, letting his gaze linger over my body as I felt the undeniable evidence of his desire.

"You are breathtaking, Eli," he murmured, quickly shedding his own clothes. I helped him, and the moment he was undressed, he pressed me onto the bed. I gasped as his kisses trailed from my lips to my jaw, down my neck, until his mouth found my breast. My back arched at the heat of his touch, a soft moan escaping as his hand teased one nipple while his mouth lavished the other.

“Troy…” I gasped as his tongue brushed over my chest. My body shuddered when his hand slipped down, teasing my sensitive spot, and the sensation he was building left me breathless. I was panting beneath him as he shifted from my breasts, his mouth traveling lower until his tongue found my most sensitive area. I nearly cried out as he teased my clit, my hands clutching his hair as I struggled to hold onto my senses. His expert movements sent me soaring, and once he seemed satisfied, he replaced his mouth with his own need.

“I’m going to make you come over and over tonight, Eli,” he promised, pressing into me with a powerful thrust. My lips parted, and his mouth captured mine as he moved, muffling my moans with every intense rhythm.

True to his word, I found myself calling his name throughout the night, over and over in every way he desired.

By morning, I felt sore all over. Looking around the room, I realized Troy had already left. When Mariel came in to help me dress, I asked if she knew where he was, but she had no idea. I felt a flash of irritation—this wasn’t how I imagined waking up on the first morning after our wedding. For reasons I couldn’t entirely explain, his absence left me feeling unexpectedly frustrated.

After breakfast, I decided to explore the palace. As I wandered through the halls, I noticed a large portrait near the grand staircase. It was part of a series of family portraits, and at the end was one of Troy’s family. There stood his father, Terrence Evans, the former Alpha King of Rema, beside his mother, Queen Luna Ariella Evans. In the center was a young Troy, around ten years old, looking endearing in his royal attire.

I found myself staring at Terrence Evans, unable to shake a suspicion that he might be connected to my mother somehow. I’d long suspected there was a bond between them, one rooted in my mother’s love for him—a love that had eclipsed what she felt for my father. Perhaps this was also why my brother resented Troy and the Evans family, choosing to lay the blame for our parents’ deaths on Terrence, despite the lack of clear proof.

Just as I was about to move on, something on Terrence’s neck caught my eye. I leaned in closer, my brows knitting together in confusion. Was I seeing this right? Did Terrence Evans really have a tattoo on his neck?

"Is that a tattoo?" I wondered aloud.

"Yes," a voice answered from behind, nearly making me jump. Mariel seemed just as startled as an older man suddenly appeared behind us. He bowed politely. "Apologies for the sudden intrusion, Your Majesty. I am Fernando Evans, Alpha King Troy's uncle," he introduced himself.

I blinked in surprise. Fernando Evans… then that must mean he’s Zander’s father.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Uncle Fernando,” I said respectfully. Fernando chuckled.

"No need to call me 'uncle,' Your Majesty. Simply 'Fernando' will do. You are Queen Luna; I don’t deserve such formalities," he replied, then glanced at the portrait beside us. "You were curious about the former Alpha King’s tattoo, weren’t you?" he asked. I nodded.

"That is the renowned Gladius Lunae, the 'sword of the moon,'" he explained. I examined the tattoo more closely, realizing with surprise that it resembled the tattoo of Zander’s crew—though there was a distinct difference. The Gladius Lunae tattoo depicted a sword with a cross pendant on the hilt and a gem at its center, while the emblem of Zander’s men was simply a plain sword, resembling a katana.

“It’s a tradition among the royals of Rema to bear tattoos. Each generation is required to have one. The crown prince, or the heir to the throne, must have the Gladius Lunae, while the second prince or princess receives the Eques Ensis or the Knight’s Sword. We then pass these down to our children,” Fernando explained.

Does this mean I noticed those tattoos on Zander’s men because both Zander and Fernando have them? If so, does that mean Troy has one too?

“Does that mean Troy also has the Gladius Lunae?” I asked. Fernando nodded.

“Yes, but I’m not sure where he chose to place it,” he shrugged.

In that case... if a witness saw the Knight’s Sword, which one of them—Fernando or Zander—could be responsible for my parents' deaths? But why would Fernando share details about the tattoo with me, especially knowing the tension between the Evans and Fosters?

I studied Fernando closely. There was something enigmatic about him. What was he up to? Were my suspicions valid? Did he want me to question Zander… or Troy?

“Eli,” I nearly jumped at the sound of Troy's voice. I turned to see him striding toward us, his eyes locked on Fernando with a piercing intensity. In an instant, he took my hand and positioned me behind him, confronting Fernando directly.

“What are you doing here?” Troy demanded, fixing his gaze on Fernando. Fernando smiled in response. “I just wanted to meet my lovely niece-in-law. I didn’t have the chance last night since I didn’t receive an invitation,” he replied. Though his tone lacked sarcasm, I could sense the tension between them.

“That only means one thing, Fernando. I don’t want you here,” Troy stated firmly, pulling me away. But before we could exit, Fernando spoke up again.

“My dear nephew, do you really think you can bury the past? If your father were alive, he wouldn’t allow you to marry her; he would have chosen to marry her mother instead,” Fernando remarked, his words hanging heavily in the air. A wave of anxiety washed over me. If I were unaware of anything, those words might have felt meaningless. But I knew there was a connection between Terrence and my mother.

So… was that connection I sensed actually a love affair between Terrence and my mother?