Chapter 239

There was another knock at my door and Miriam's head peaked in, interrupting our quiet moment.

"I apologize Miss Shana, but the King has requested to see you again," Miriam said, her eyes looking between Lucas and I.

I couldn't help but frown, confused as to why the King would want another meeting with me so soon, but I agreed.

I turned to Lucas with a small smile and he leaned in, giving me a lingering kiss goodbye.

"Be careful," he whispered against my lips, quiet enough so that Miriam wouldn't hear.

I nodded and got up to follow Miriam downstairs.

This time, Miriam led me in a different direction, guiding me toward the North Wing where the royal family resided. My footsteps echoed through the empty halls, and I couldn't shake the feeling of entering a realm shrouded in mystery.

I knew that many people weren't allowed to travel in this wing, and I felt like an intruder.

Miriam was silent as she walked ahead of me down a long hallway adorned with intricate tapestries. Something about the decor here felt different than other parts of the palace.

Miriam finally guided me to a set of elegant double doors that opened into a breathtaking sunroom.

The warm sunlight spilled in, casting a golden glow over the room's tasteful furnishings.

I was startled when I noticed I wasn't there alone, and the guest wasn't the King.

At the end of the room sat a woman I hadn't seen before, dressed in a regal dark green gown.

She seemed engrossed in a book, her glasses perched on her nose. The quiet rustle of pages turned as she looked up at our entrance.

"Your Highness," Miriam bowed respectfully, and it was only then that I realized the woman before me was the Queen.

I quickly curtseyed, keeping my head lowered. "Your Highness, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Oh please, stand and come sit," the Queen gestured graciously. I noticed that, unlike Prince Alexander and the king, the Queen spoke with perfect fluency and no noticeable accent.

I had to admit, I didn't know much about the Queen, and I suddenly felt incredibly intimidated.

For some reason, I felt a greater need to impress her than I had for the Prince or the Alpha King.

I followed her orders, taking a seat on a plush couch adorned with intricate embroidery.

The Queen gestured to the book she held, a romance novel with an elegant cover. "Sometimes, I have to fill the dull quiet hours in the day with literature. This has somewhat become my reading room."

"It's a beautiful room," I commented, marveling at the sunroom's serenity. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, this?" She flashed the cover of her book, revealing a familiar-looking mischievous smile. The cover featured a couple lost in a passionate kiss.

"I like to read romance," she said with a shrug, entirely unembarrassed. "What about you, Shana? Got any guilty pleasures in the book department?"

I chuckled, feeling a shared sense of amusement. "Well, I've been more of a fantasy and adventure kind of reader."

"Ah, the escapism types," she said, leaning back with a knowing smile. "Can't blame you. Real life gets too real sometimes."

I nodded, appreciating her humor. "Exactly! Romance is a bit too close to reality sometimes, I guess."

She laughed, the sound echoing through the sunroom. "You're telling me. Sometimes, a good fictional world is the best escape. Keeps you away from the drama of palace life, too."

"Palace life does have its fair share of drama," I agreed, recalling the morning's events. "But unfortunately, I haven't had much time to read lately. I've been pretty busy with school and..."

"Yes, of course, you have many things on your plate, my dear," the Queen nodded knowingly.

"One day, when you'll find that the time passes by too slowly and you have fewer and fewer things to do, reading will be a good companion for you."

I nodded, giving her a friendly smile. "I suppose that's something that I get to look forward to."

"You've been on a tour of the palace, yes?" she asked keeping her full attention on me.

I nodded. "I have. Prince Alexander showed me around the castle last night, and this morning he took me to go see the royal gardens."

"Ah, yes. I've heard that you had your eye on the gardens since you arrived. I've heard that it's your favorite," the Queen smiled knowingly. "It was my favorite when I first came here too, but now… it's much too overrated."

"That's funny. Your son said the exact same thing," I smiled back, recalling Prince Alexander's teasing remarks.

The queen rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, my son. I'm sorry you've had to meet him and spend so much time with him already. He's such a little devil, isn't he?"

I couldn't help but chuckle, finding the Queen oddly relatable. Not wanting to say anything negative about the prince, I replied diplomatically, "He has a lot of... personality."

"That's a nice way to put it," the Queen chuckled. "He's always been that way, ever since he was a child. I think he gets it from me. Don't get me wrong, his father can be relaxed, but Alexander has a certain way about him."

"He was always this... playful?"

She nodded. "Oh yes. I think since Alexander spent a lot of time growing up alone in the palace, he came up with creative ways of expressing his personality. He was always pulling pranks on everyone to have some fun. He's a big jokester."

"If you need anything, I'll be just outside," Miriam excused herself, leaving the Queen and me alone in the sunlit room. The Queen closed her book and set it aside, turning her full attention to me.

"I hope you're adjusting well to life in the palace," she began, her gaze thoughtful.

"It's... quite different from what I'm used to," I admitted, trying to choose my words carefully.

The Queen nodded in understanding. "Palace life is an acquired taste. It takes time to become accustomed to its rhythms and intrigues. But you, my dear, have added a new layer of excitement to our routine. The White Wolf, they say."

I bit my lip nervously, unsure of how much the queen knew about my situation. "I'm still trying to understand what it all means."

The queen leaned back, a gentle smile gracing her features. "You'll find your way, Shana. In the meantime, if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. Adjusting to this life can be overwhelming, but you're not alone."

"Thank you, that really means a lot," I replied, and I fully meant it.

Something about the queen made me feel comfortable.

She exuded a rare tranquility, a sense of ease that I wasn't used to in the midst of the palace's grandeur.

Her assurance and self-possession easily put others at ease, and I found myself drawn to the genuine warmth in her gaze.

"Anyway, I had to meet you for myself," the Queen said, putting the book down on the table in front of her. "Everyone has been whispering about you all day, and I started to feel left out."