Even when the guards offered to help, I turned it down, numbly. With my mind still far off at the thought of Jasmine.

Couldn't believe she had been with me all this while.

Just the thought of it made me upset...

Hated the fact that I couldn't do anything to help her. Nynaeve had to explain that what I requested for was virtually impossible. A re-incarnation could happen but certainly not the exchanging of lives or souls cause the Moon Goddess wasn't the devil.

"You almost died." someone gritted out. I realized it was Alcander that had said those words. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? Leaving at the last moment?"

"I-"

"That was because of the catastrophe attached to unbinding the spell." Nynaeve cut me off, with a stern expression directed to Alcander.

"The Queen doesn't have to explain her reasons for staying that long, Alcander."

My hands clasped around the chest more tightly, with my brows cringing in hurt. My face, held a saddened expression, yet, I stubbornly forced my words.

"He is indeed right. I met my late little sister...but that didn't mean I had to endanger the life of my pup." I spoke, with my head up high, yet swallowing. "Or any of you, and I apologize for letting my emotions get the best of me."

"Thank goodness! My brother got himself a sensible bride and Queen." Alcander retorted with a relieved expression.

I could see Nynaeve withholding a snarl, giving me eye contact on what she should punish him with.

"It's okay, Nynaeve." I said, with a weak and half-hearted smile. "One shouldn't take offense to all things,"

Her hands dropped and Alcander gave her horse a pat. A puppy look beheld in his eyes afterwards. She scoffed, riding forward.

Alcander stroke his horse, chasing after her.

"Grant me the honor of riding with you, milady." he smirked at her, saying.

"Can see you never give up." she muttered back.

"Give up? No! Not until you become my Queen, Nynaeve. Imagine the powerful nation we'll make with you by my side."

"It's a political proposal then?" she expressed half-wittedly.

"Absolutely not, just stating the benefits. But in truth, I love you–"

"Don't say words you can't hold, boy." Nynaeve replied firmly.

It was then I realized.

Couldn't place my finger on it but he seemed to have a soft spot for her.

I wondered if she requited his feelings? Or was it a one-sided love?

...

It begun to snow exactly when we arrived. I found myself exhaling vapors of visible air at the cold weather. Luckily, we were at shelter and it won't affect my pup in anyway.

I saw the awed expressions, as I entered the castle with the legendary chest in my hands. I could also hear whispers circulating.

"I-is that the chest no one could ever find?"

"Oh my, Queen Ava found it!"

"I heard she was the chosen one, could this be what the prophecy meant?"

I smiled at their whispers, which I could obviously hear with my wolf hearing. To some extent, I was delighted at myself.

"Your awesome and dignified Highness!" That dark skinned lady, which I recognized to be the head of the Kitchen cried out.

"Your awesome and dignified Highness!!!" The entire palace cried after her, bowing down.

Caspian had not arrived yet and from the look of the weather, he wasn't arriving soon. One's instinct would be to take a nearby shelter at the slightest weather threat.

I knew I had to make this decision.

For the safety of all... of my growing pup.

I placed the chest right at the center of the throne room, removing my sword from the sheath. Piper, who was fast asleep throughout the journey back, was woken instantly.

"What do you want from me, Ava?" she asked, in an innocent tone.

"I want you to open the chest, with the skills wielded unto you." I breathed out in reply.

"Are y-you certain I should?" she muttered, stammering in a bit of a scare at why I was choosing her to.

"Sure." I replied her, interlocking my hands with hers for a brief moment, in front of everyone.

I knew I was putting her in spotlight, which meant everyone would begin to envy her as from now. But, this was my Piper.

I couldn't be ashamed of her being by my side? Even if it would amount to sending a number of guards to protect her, I was willing to do that.

"I need a hair pin then."

I narrowed my eyes, knowing she always had a pin with her. It dawned on me immediately.

Piper's hair was loosened in a princess style it was packed in, thanks to me of course.

I snapped my fingers. One of the servants ran forward with a hair pin on a gold platter. I took a hold of it, handing it to Piper, who's hands were shaking terribly.

She was nervous.

"Here, it's okay." I whispered faintly. "They don't bite. They won't harm you," I added.

"Promise?" she let out, in a tiny voice.

"Promise."

As I returned those words, she began to work. She battled with several layers of the lock and when an opening sound was heard, everyone gasped.

My hands went to the handle of my sword that instant.

"Piper, step back." I seethed.

She did as I said, immediately and a guard rushed forward to open the chest completely.

I could hear the thuds of a beating heart, the minute the chest was opened. And, for an instant, I found myself pondering as I walked over to the heart of the legendary King Teta.

Would Caspian be okay with it?

Eliminating his father while he was away?

But then I remembered my pup, and the danger that could befall us if he wasn't eliminated.

"Yahhhh!!!!"

I extended my sword to destroy the one thing that had tormented us, since.

"Stop!"

Some voice yelled.

"Huh?" I let out, looking towards where it came from.

"I know you feel indebted, Ava. You're the said Queen and the chosen one but you don't want to do that, trust me." Some lady spelled out with her head held up high.

I noticed her features as she walked towards me. Her hair was dark just like mine, skin, milky. With her red lips and beautiful posture.

Dominance.

A woman who knew her worth. I could feel the power she emanated at each step.

"Who is she?"

I squeezed out, taking caution not to talk without inquiring.

"Lady Ada, the potential Queen for the beast. She is known for her solidity and firmness in character," Cassandra rushed by my side, whispering.

"Long ago, she had to leave the castle because she was given a mission to an infamous district. She was the one who sent Nymph princess away with her tactics in the past."

"Really?" I replied, thinking about it. "Who wielded this amount of power to her?" I wriggled my brows asking.

"Her father, Simon, an adviser to the royal emperor and his best friend."

...

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