RAVETHORNE🐺

Chapter Twelve

An Unlikely Freinship

Lady Consort Elissa Duskmere

A Lady of House Ravenor

"Greetings, Grand General."

I offered a graceful curtsy before raising my eyes.

The Grand General of House Ravenor sat at the head of a long oak table, his posture as rigid as the fortress itself. Spread before him was a detailed map of the kingdom, marked with miniature banners and carved wooden figures. His attention remained fixed upon it as though the fate of nations rested beneath his fingertips.

Only after a long silence did he speak.

"Has your stay in House Ravenor been to your satisfaction, Lady Consort?"

His voice was calm, measured, and impossible to read.

"Entirely, Grand General."

A smile touched my lips.

"I especially adore the gowns."

I hesitated.

"There is... only one small matter."

His fingers paused over one of the tiny banners.

"Speak freely."

I drew a quiet breath.

During the morning meals, I could not help but notice that Lily possessed enough jeweled ornaments to rival a treasury.

Meanwhile...

My collection was embarrassingly modest.

If I was to become the future Lady of House Ravenor, surely I deserved jewels worthy of the title.

"There are not nearly enough jewels to complement all the beautiful dresses."

The words escaped before I could reconsider them.

For a heartbeat, silence lingered.

Would he think me vain?

Perhaps.

But House Ravenor was among the wealthiest noble houses in the kingdom.

Surely they could spare a few necklaces.

"Very well."

His expression never changed.

"Crest shall see to it."

It took every ounce of discipline not to grin from ear to ear.

Wonderful.

Lily would soon require darker shades simply to shield her eyes from the brilliance of my new jewels.

The Grand General returned his attention to the map, calmly shifting several miniature flags into new positions.

"You and Theoren will represent House Ravenor at this year's Crimson Hunt."

My heart skipped.

"The Crimson Hunt?"

"Crest will explain the customs and proceedings."

He moved another banner.

"And Princess Nyxa has requested your presence at the palace."

At that, I straightened.

"Your escort has already been arranged."

A smile slowly spread across my face.

So Nyxa had kept her promise.

More importantly...

No one within the fortress—not Lady Isolde, nor Lily—could question my departure.

It was an official summons.

I offered another respectful curtsy.

"Thank you, Grand General."

Receiving no further response, I quietly withdrew from the chamber.

As I walked through the vast halls of House Ravenor, my thoughts became hopelessly tangled.

The Crimson Hunt.

One of the kingdom's most prestigious—and most dangerous—traditions.

For the first time, I would attend not merely as a noblewoman...

But as House Ravenor's Lady Consort.

And...

Theoren would be there.

Not that we would be alone.

Hundreds of nobles would attend.

Still...

It would be the first gathering we shared together.

A foolish part of me dared to hope.

Another reminded me not to expect too much.

After all...

The man had scarcely looked at me the last time we met.

---

Shires

Instead of turning toward the palace, my carriage rolled through the bustling streets of Yorkhaven before stopping outside one of the city's most beloved eateries.

Shires.

Exactly as planned.

I adjusted the elegant mask covering my face before stepping gracefully onto the cobbled street.

If anyone intended to recognize me...

They would fail.

The mask concealed everything except my eyes.

Pearls and tiny gemstones traced delicate patterns across its surface, shimmering each time sunlight touched them.

My gown, however...

Was another matter entirely.

Its pale fabric glistened like freshly fallen snow, embroidered with countless crystals that caught every flicker of light.

The moment I entered the establishment...

Every conversation ceased.

I smiled beneath my mask.

Then came the whispers.

"Who is she?"

"She looks like a goddess."

"Look at that dress..."

"Could she be a princess?"

"No princess would dine here."

"Perhaps the daughter of some wealthy merchant."

"She's absolutely breathtaking."

Their astonished voices drifted through every corner of the room.

I lowered my gaze modestly...

Though inwardly, I was positively delighted.

I did so adore being admired.

Princess Nyxa

The whispers beyond the curtains told me everything.

She had arrived.

I sighed.

Such a show-off.

This was supposed to be a discreet meeting.

The curtain was drawn aside, and Lady Consort Elissa stepped into the private chamber.

For a brief moment...

I almost forgot to speak.

She looked breathtaking.

Her porcelain gown shimmered beneath the afternoon light, while the jeweled mask concealed everything but her bright, mischievous eyes.

I folded my arms.

"This was supposed to be a low-key meeting."

She looked at me innocently.

"It is."

She lifted her hands dramatically.

"No one recognized me."

I blinked.

"They were only staring at your dress."

She smiled proudly.

"I know."

I shook my head in defeat.

There was simply no winning against Elissa Duskmere.

"Did you bring the book?"

"I did."

She reached into her satchel and placed the old leather-bound book before me.

I carefully opened it.

The brittle pages crackled beneath my fingertips.

Immediately, recognition stirred within me.

Ancient script.

Lines upon lines of symbols I had seen only in the oldest palace archives.

Unfortunately...

Recognition was not understanding.

"What does it say?" Elissa asked, leaning closer.

I slowly turned another page.

"I don't know."

She frowned.

"You can't read it?"

"It's written in the Ancient Tongue."

I sighed.

"I recognize the language... but I was never taught to read it."

She slumped back dramatically.

"So this entire meeting was for nothing."

She raised a hand toward one of the attendants.

"In that case..."

"I might as well enjoy myself."

"The cooks at House Ravenor are terribly strict with desserts."

"I've been craving buns for two days."

I couldn't help smiling.

She truly was impossible.

The attendants hurried away to prepare the table.

Then something she had said caught my attention.

"Back home?"

I repeated quietly.

"You called House Ravenor home."

She paused.

A flicker of surprise crossed her face.

"Did I?"

She gave a small shrug.

"It just... slipped out."

For reasons I couldn't explain...

That made me strangely happy.

Perhaps she was beginning to find her place there.

I closed the book.

"What happened after I lost consciousness?"

She answered almost too quickly.

"A Ravenor knight appeared."

"He rescued us and escorted me safely back to the fortress."

I studied her carefully.

Something about the answer felt incomplete.

The palace admitted only Royal Knights.

How had a Ravenor knight entered unnoticed?

"You're hiding something."

She immediately tore apart another warm bun.

"I'm hiding absolutely nothing."

She spoke through a mouthful of bread.

"You worry too much, Nyxa."

"You should try eating more."

"It's difficult to be suspicious while chewing."

I sighed.

She was deliberately changing the subject.

And somehow...

It worked.

"Have you heard of the Crimson Hunt?" I asked.

She nodded enthusiastically.

"I'll be attending for the first time."

"There'll be so many beautiful gowns."

I couldn't help laughing.

Only Elissa would think of dresses before danger.

Her smile slowly faded as she noticed my expression.

"What?"

I lowered my voice.

"You must never repeat what I'm about to tell you."

She immediately leaned closer.

"Theoren Ravenor's mother..."

"...died during the Crimson Hunt."

The color slowly drained from her face.

"Died?"

"At the games?"

I nodded.

"My mother told me they were demonstrating the strength of one of the Crown Beasts."

"It suddenly went berserk."

"It killed everyone in its path."

Her voice became barely a whisper.

"Including Lady Ravenor."

Silence settled between us.

"That's horrible."

"And no one ever talks about it."

I gave a bitter smile.

"The palace has always preferred to bury its tragedies."

"Secrets are easier to keep than guilt."

She nodded thoughtfully.

Then she asked the one question I always dreaded.

"And your mother?"

I looked down at my hands.

"The Queen had her executed."

Elissa's eyes widened.

"They accused her of stealing the Queen's precious gems."

There it was.

The familiar ache.

The wound that time had never healed.

"Did she truly steal them?"

The question escaped her gently.

I looked up so suddenly my chair scraped against the floor.

"No."

The word came out sharper than I intended.

"My mother was many things..."

"But she was not a thief."

"She wasn't vain."

"She died for a crime she never committed."

The room fell silent.

My breathing slowly steadied.

"I'm sorry," Elissa whispered.

I closed my eyes briefly.

"So am I."

She hesitated before asking,

"Why didn't you seek revenge?"

A small smile found my lips.

"When Mother died..."

"That was all I wanted."

"My father stopped me."

"He told me revenge consumes the one seeking it long before it destroys the guilty."

"If I had lived only for revenge..."

"I would never have survived."

Elissa was unusually quiet.

Then, as though determined to chase away the sadness, she tilted her head.

"You're incredibly beautiful."

I blinked.

"What?"

"You simply suffer from an unfortunate lack of fashionable clothing."

Despite everything...

I laughed.

"Not everyone can be you."

She sat a little straighter.

"No."

"They certainly can't."

We both burst into laughter.

For a little while...

The weight of kingdoms...

The horrors beneath the palace...

And the ghosts of the past...

All disappeared.

There were countless storms waiting beyond those walls.

Countless secrets yet to unravel.

But as I looked across the table at the woman who had stumbled into my life beneath the palace...

I realized something I had not felt in many years.

Since the day my mother died...

I had found a friend.