Chapter 89: Struggling with the betrayal
Mabel glared at her husband, King Raidan, who held a wedding invitation delicately between his fingers.
"Look, darling," Raidan said, unable to hide the joy in his voice. "Gabriel sent us the first wedding card. Isn’t that wonderful?"
Mabel’s expression darkened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Wonderful?" she scoffed. "There’s nothing wonderful about it. I will never accept Amelie as the daughter-in-law of this family."
Raidan’s smile faded as he exhaled heavily, his shoulders sagging. "Mabel, please. You’re only hurting yourself, and Gabriel. I’ve told you before, you shouldn’t place your trust in baseless fears. We have no proof of what the late high priestess said."
Mabel crossed her arms tightly. "And yet we believe in the Moon Goddess without ever seeing her," she snapped back. "Believe what you want, Raidan. Attend their wedding if you wish, but I will not be a part of it." Without waiting for a reply, she rose from the couch and left the room.
Left alone, Raidan stared at the invitation in his hand, a deep frown etching his face. "This isn’t right," he muttered under his breath.
At that moment, Butler Lester stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, if I may," he began cautiously. "Perhaps you should consider seeking the help of a witch. I understand you have always been wary of superstitions, but... Her Majesty has been consumed by the same fear for years. Consulting a witch might offer reassurance. If a witch confirms that these worries are unfounded, it may finally soothe the Queen’s heart."
Raidan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It’s not a bad suggestion," he admitted. His mind drifted back to the day Gabriel was born, the day a powerful witch, the High Priestess herself, had delivered a prophecy. It was that prophecy Mabel had clung to ever since.
"But would Mabel even believe the words of a witch I bring?" Raidan asked, more to himself than to Lester. "It won’t be easy to change her mind after all these years."
Lester gave a silent, understanding nod and retreated, leaving Raidan alone with his troubled thoughts.
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