HIS FATHER'S LUNA

THE PRICE OF A DAUGHTER

Richard bowed respectfully. "My lords." The older of the two offered a sympathetic smile.

"Councilor Edwin." Richard recognized him immediately. One of Lord Victor Ashford's closest advisers.

"I heard about your wife." Richard's expression darkened. "News travels quickly."

Edwin nodded. "It does." He glanced toward the villagers listening nearby. "Walk with me."

Richard hesitated before following him toward the quieter edge of the village. For several moments… Neither man spoke.

Edwin broke the silence. "Tell me honestly." "How many misfortunes has your family suffered since Emma turned eighteen?"

Richard frowned. "I don't understand." "The first rejection." Edwin counted on his fingers.

"The second rejection." "Your harvest started failing." "Your livestock dying." "Your position as Gamma being stripped away."

He paused. "Now your wife's illness." Richard felt his stomach tighten. "What are you trying to say?"

Edwin stopped walking. His expression became unusually serious. "The High Priest has spent months studying ancient records."

Richard stared at him. "And?" "He found something..." He lowered his voice."...disturbing."

Richard's heartbeat quickened. "What?" Edwin looked directly into his eyes. "What if none of this is coincidence?"

Richard didn't answer. Edwin continued. "What if the misfortune isn't following your family..."

He paused. "...but one person?" Richard immediately shook his head. "No." "My daughter is kind."

"This isn't about kindness." Edwin interrupted softly. "It's about fate." Richard stood frozen.

Edwin took one final step closer. "Tell me, Richard..." "How many more signs must the Moon Goddess send before you realize..." "...that the curse entered your home wearing your daughter's face?"

Richard staggered back a step. "What... Did you just say?" Councilor Edwin Ashford sighed as though the words pained him to speak.

"I know Emma is your daughter." "I know you love her." "But love has blinded greater men than you." Richard's hands slowly curled into fists.

"My daughter is not cursed." Edwin remained calm. "Isn't she?"

He looked toward the distant village. "Tell me, Richard... before Emma turned eighteen, how many generations of the Rowan family ever suffered a mate rejection?"

Richard remained silent. Edwin nodded. "None." "How many Gammas in your bloodline were stripped of their rank?"

Richard's jaw tightened. "None." "How many Rowan women failed to awaken a strong wolf?"

"None." Edwin's voice softened. "Your family served the Grayson Kings faithfully for nearly three hundred years."

"You were respected." "Wealthy." "Honored." "Then Emma turned eighteen." Richard looked away.

"Her first mate rejected her." "People whispered." "The second rejected her publicly."

"Your reputation collapsed." "The nobles stopped trading with you." "The Council had no choice but to replace you as Gamma."

Richard clenched his teeth. "You had a choice." Edwin lowered his head. "The kingdom cannot follow a leader whose household is believed to be cursed."

Richard wanted to argue. He wanted to shout. Instead… He remembered every door that had closed in his face.

Every merchant who refused to sell to him. Every noble who crossed the street rather than greet him.

Every whispered insult aimed at Emma. Edwin watched the battle on Richard's face. Then delivered the final blow.

"And now..." "Your wife is dying." Richard's breathing became uneven. Edwin reached into his robe and withdrew a small leather pouch.

The sound of silver coins clinking together echoed between them. Richard stared.

"There are fifty silver coins inside." His eyes widened. That was more money than he had seen in months.

Enough for Helen's medicine. Enough for food. Enough to survive the winter.

Richard looked up. "What do you want?" Edwin smiled faintly. "Nothing for myself."

"The Royal Palace is looking for new servants." Richard frowned. "Servants?"

“Yes” "They need hardworking people." "They pay well." Richard's expression hardened.

"You want Emma." Edwin nodded. "Only because we believe distance may help."

"Distance?" "If Emma truly carries this misfortune..." "Removing her from your household may break whatever follows your family."

Richard's face darkened. "And if she doesn't?" Edwin spread his hands. "Then she earns honest wages."

"She sends money home." "Your wife receives treatment." "Everyone benefits." Richard looked down at the pouch again.

Helen's pale face flashed through his mind. Her cough. Her fever. The empty medicine shelf.

His hands began trembling. Edwin noticed. "You are a father." "And a husband." "Sometimes..." "The kindest decisions feel like the cruelest."

Richard closed his eyes. He hated himself "If she goes..." "Can my wife live?"

"The palace pays every month." Edwin answered. "And servants loyal to the Crown are protected."

Richard swallowed hard. "Will she ever return?" Edwin hesitated just long enough.

"If fortune changes." It wasn't a promise. Richard knew that. But desperate men often mistook hope for certainty.

Edwin placed the pouch into Richard's shaking hands. "Think carefully." Then he turned and walked away, leaving Richard standing alone beneath the ancient oak tree.

The walk home felt longer than ever before. The silver coins weighed like stones inside Richard's pocket.

Every step filled him with shame. Every step reminded him that he was considering sending away the daughter who had never once complained.

Emma… Who woke before sunrise every day. Who secretly skipped meals so her parents could eat.

Who sold her own jewelry after the second rejection to pay household debts. Who smiled even when the village mocked her.

Who still believed tomorrow would somehow be better. Richard stopped outside the cottage.

He couldn't go inside. Not yet. His hand rested against the wooden fence. His shoulders shook.

A quiet sob escaped him. "I've failed you..." He whispered. "I've failed both of you."

From inside the house… He heard laughter. Helen's laughter. Emma must have said something funny.

Richard closed his eyes. How could he walk in there… Knowing he was about to destroy the only happiness his daughter had left?

He remained outside for several minutes. Until the cottage door slowly opened. Emma stepped out carrying a basket of freshly washed clothes.

She smiled the moment she saw him. "Father." "I was wondering where you were. She stopped.

His eyes were red. His shoulders were slumped. Something was terribly wrong. She hurried toward him.

"What happened?" "Did you find work?" Richard couldn't answer. She looked down.

she noticed the heavy leather pouch in his hand. Her eyes widened. "You found work?"

Still… He said nothing. Her smile slowly faded. "Father..." "What happened?" Richard finally looked at her.

"Emma..." His voice broke. "We need to talk." Emma's heart sank. She had never heard him sound like that before.

Behind them… Helen called from inside the cottage. "Richard?"

"Emma?" "Is everything alright?" Neither of them answered. Emma looked at her father once more.

Fear settled deep inside her chest. Somehow… She knew. The moment he spoke...Their lives would never be the same again.

The silence between father and daughter felt heavier than the leather pouch in Richard Rowan's trembling hand.

Emma looked at his face, her smile fading with every passing second. She had seen her father angry. She had seen him frustrated. She had seen him broken after losing his Gamma title.

But she had never seen him... afraid. "Father..."

Her voice was gentle. "What happened?" Richard swallowed hard. His throat felt as though someone had wrapped iron chains around it.

"We should go inside." Emma glanced toward the cottage before nodding. Without another word, they stepped into the small wooden home.

Helen looked up from the bed, forcing another smile despite the exhaustion in her eyes. "You both look as though someone died."

Neither of them laughed. Her smile slowly disappeared. Richard placed the heavy pouch of silver onto the old wooden table.

The coins clinked loudly. Emma stared. Helen's eyes widened. "Richard..."

"Where did you get so much money?" Richard remained standing. He couldn't bring himself to sit.

"I met members of the Royal Council." Helen frowned immediately. "The Council?"

"What would they want with us?" Richard looked at Emma. Then away again.

"They offered... a position." Emma's eyes brightened. "A position?"

"You found work?" Richard shook his head. "No." "They're looking for servants." The excitement vanished from Emma's face.

"For... the palace?" Richard nodded. Emma remained silent. Helen slowly straightened herself despite the pain in her body.

"What does that have to do with us?" Richard closed his eyes. "They want Emma."

The room fell silent. Only the crackling fire could be heard. Emma looked from her father to her mother.

"Me?" "They'll pay monthly wages."Richard spoke quickly now, almost as though he needed to finish before losing his courage.

"Enough to cover your mother's medicine." "They'll provide food." "A place to sleep." "You'll be protected inside the palace."

Emma blinked several times. The palace. The royal palace. The place she had only ever seen from a distance.

It felt impossible. Helen was the first to speak. "No." Richard looked at her. "Helen—" "No."

Her weak voice suddenly carried surprising strength. "Our daughter has already suffered enough."

"We're not sending her away." Richard's jaw tightened. "And if we don't?" He pointed toward the empty medicine shelf.

"What happens when the herbs run out?" Helen lowered her eyes. Richard continued.

"What happens when I can't afford another healer?" "What happens when winter comes?"

No one answered. His voice cracked. "I am trying to save you." Helen whispered, "Not by sacrificing our child."

Richard slammed both hands onto the table. "I'm trying to save this family!" The sudden outburst startled everyone.

Emma had never seen her father lose control like that. He immediately regretted it.

His shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry..." He whispered. "I'm so tired." "So... tired."

Emma walked around the table and gently placed a hand on his arm. "Father..."

"You don't have to apologize." Richard looked at her. His eyes were wet.

"The Council..." He hesitated. "They've already made the arrangements."

Emma nodded slowly. "I understand." Richard frowned. "You... do?" She smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"If working at the palace means Mother can finally receive proper treatment..." She glanced toward Helen.

"...then I don't have anything to think about." Helen immediately shook her head.

"No." "Emma, you're only 18." "You deserve to build your own life."

Emma laughed softly. "My life isn't going anywhere." "It'll still be waiting when Mother gets better."

Helen's eyes reddened. "And what if it doesn't?" Emma reached over and gently wiped away her mother's tears.

"Then I'll simply build another one." Richard looked away. Every word from his daughter felt like another knife in his chest.

She wasn't complaining. She wasn't asking why. She wasn't blaming anyone. She was simply accepting the burden placed on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry." His voice cracked. "I promised I'd give you a better life." Emma hugged him.

For a moment, Richard froze. Then he slowly wrapped his arms around his daughter.

It had been years since they had embraced. "You already did." Emma whispered.

"You and Mother gave me a family." "Now it's my turn to take care of you." Richard shut his eyes. If only she knew...

If only she knew what he had allowed himself to believe beneath that old oak tree. He tightened the hug for one brief moment before letting go.

"When do I leave?" "The royal carriage..." Richard swallowed hard. "...will arrive tomorrow morning."

Helen gasped. "So soon?" Richard nodded. "They said the palace can't wait." Emma took a deep breath and forced another smile.

"Then I suppose I have a lot of packing to do." She picked up the empty bowls from the table as if nothing had happened.

As if she hadn't just agreed to leave the only home she'd ever known. Richard watched her disappear into the small kitchen.

His chest tightened. Helen looked at him. " "What exactly did those councilmen say to you?"

Richard remained silent. After a long moment, he whispered, "They said if Emma stays..."

He stopped himself. Helen frowned. "If she stays... what?" Richard rubbed both hands over his face.

"They said our family will never know peace." Helen's expression hardened.

"And you believed them?" "I don't know what I believe anymore!" His voice cracked before he quickly lowered it, afraid Emma might hear.

"I've watched everything fall apart, Helen." "I lost my title." "I lost our lands." "I can't even buy medicine for my own wife."

He looked toward the kitchen. "I don't want to believe them." "I don't." "But what if..."

His voice became barely audible. "What if they're right?" Helen reached across the table and grabbed his hand.

"They're wrong." "Our daughter isn't cursed." "She's the kindest soul the Moon Goddess ever created."

Richard nodded slowly. "I know." Yet even as he spoke those words… Doubt lingered in his heart.

That evening… Emma prepared dinner exactly as she did every night. She cooked. She cleaned.

She helped her mother take her medicine. She even laughed at one of Richard's old hunting stories.

She wanted tonight to feel normal. As though tomorrow wasn't waiting just beyond sunrise.

After Helen finally fell asleep, Emma quietly folded the blanket over her mother.

She leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I'll make enough money to buy the best medicine in the kingdom."

Helen smiled weakly in her sleep. Emma stepped outside. Night had settled over the little village.

Thousands of stars glittered above her. The cool breeze brushed against her face.

She slowly walked toward the old oak tree beside the cottage.

It had always been her favorite place. Whenever life becomes difficult… She came here.

She sat beneath the tree and hugged her knees to her chest.

"So..." She whispered to the Moon Goddess. "I guess this is goodbye." A small smile touched her lips."I'm scared."

She laughed quietly. "Actually..." "I'm terrified." She had never left her home. Never seen the royal palace. Never spoken to a prince.

Tomorrow everything would change. She closed her eyes. "I don't need riches." "I don't need to become somebody important." She looked up at the moon.

"Just..." "Please let Mother get better." "That's all I'm asking." A shooting star crossed the sky.

Emma smiled. Taking it as a good sign. She didn't know… That the Moon Goddess had already written a destiny far greater than anything she could imagine.

The next morning… Before the sun had fully risen… The sound of horses echoed through the quiet village.

Emma opened the front door. A magnificent black carriage bearing the royal crest rolled to a stop in front of the Rowan cottage.

Every neighbor stepped outside. Children stopped playing. Women whispered behind their hands.

Men stared in disbelief. "The royal palace..." "They actually came for her." Emma tightened her grip on the small cloth bag containing everything she owned.

One dress. One pair of shoes. A family photograph. And the wooden wolf pendant her mother had carved when she was a little girl.

A palace guard stepped down from the carriage. He looked at Emma. "Emma Rowan?"

She nodded. "It's time." Emma took one last look at her home. Then at her parents. She smiled through the tears threatening to fall.

Emma leaves everything behind and begins the journey to the royal palace.