Chapter 26

Chapter 26 Merliscire Palace
CA SSANDRA
I peered up at the clock at the front of the car. The display read noon, and despite the ride being long, it seemed like it should have been much later.
When I peered out the window, a strange feeling formed in the pit of my
stomach.
Merliscire Palace. It was just as magnificent as ever, with tall, pillars
constructed of white marble that glinted with specks of gold, a surplus of long windows, and expansive balconies that gave a beautiful view of the
perfectly-manicured grounds. The gra*s was a lustrous shade of emerald, and the driveways were paved in rich red brick.
At the front of the palace was an enormous gold fountain. It was in the shape of a wolf with its head raised high toward the moon. It had been crafted centuries ago and was meant to pay tribute to the Moon Goddess. The water splashed high into the air and shimmered on its way down.
Anemond may have been the source of my nightmares, but I couldn’t deny. there was something beautiful and magical about the palace.
The car pulled up the drive and stopped right at the marble stairs that led to the entrance hall. The moment I caught sight of the stairs, a memory struck me.
I remembered the first time my father had brought my brother Ector and me to the palace. Even back then, we were both awestruck by the sight of it and its luxuriousness. When we’d first stepped foot inside, Father had told us to not wander or look about, as it would be impolite, but we couldn’t resist. We’d never witnessed a beauty such as the Merliscire Palace before, and we likely never would again.
I was pulled back to reality when Finnick began to stir. His eyes blinked open slowly and then widened when he realized where we were.
“We’re here?” he breathed, and then his l*ps curled into a grin. His innocence
touched something deep within me, and for a moment, I felt like I was a young girl again. How I wished this place hadn’t tainted my life in the way it had, so I too could feel excited about this place.
“Yes,” I said simply, and then I helped Finnick with his seatbelt. Marco, meanwhile, couldn’t have moved faster. He undid his own seatbelt with ease and then launched himself out the door. Asher got out silently as well, and as Finnick and I climbed out of the car, I watched the young prince embrace his father.
Asher gave him a brief hug and then carefully pulled away from his son and turned to the se rvants who’d just arrived. He flashed them a stern expression, and they immediately went to the trunk and began to unload our luggage. I watched the exchange in awe. It wasn’t impolite exactly, but the scope of Asher’s power was impressive to see.
I looked around at the se rvants to see if I could recognize any of them, and yet, none looked familiar. Perhaps the Alpha King had brought in a whole new crew when he’d been coronated, or perhaps, I just couldn’t remember any of them. After all, I hadn’t visited the palace all that often in the first place, even before my father was framed. Asher had never liked meeting me at the palace, He preferred to come to me instead at Rosepetal, the mansion I’d moved to after we’d discovered we were
mates.
Asher always liked to refer to Rosepetal as “our home”
But in the end, it turned out to be my prison and the place I nearly lost my life.
When Finnick tugged at my sleeve impatiently, I pushed away my thoughts of the mansion and returned to the present.
“This is amazing, Mommy,” he whispered, and I smiled down at him.
“It is,” I agreed in an equally soft voice. “Now, stay close to me, baby. This place is big and I don’t want you to get lost.”
Finnick nodded. “Okay.”
A few minutes later, the head of the se rvants appeared and led us into the palace. Se rvants held the doors open for us, and as we crossed through and into the entryway, the weight of everything crashed over me.
We approached the marble staircase, and as I followed the se rvants and Asher, the pain of my injuries flared slightly. I hadn’t taken any medicine today, and it was definitely making things difficult. But, I pushed the pain aside and focused on my surroundings. The childlike side of me reveled in the nostalgia and wanted to see how the palace of my childhood had changed, but the more rational part of me couldn’t stop remembering the bad times.
Right here in Merliscire, Asher’s father, the former Alpha King, had sentenced my father to lifelong imprisonment and then banished my brother..
Here, the Alpha King was at his highest power and ruled over Wegalla as an absolute authority. I couldn’t let my nostalgia forget that.
“Bert, come here,” Asher summoned the head se rvant to him once we reached
the first level.
Bert was a middle-aged man with wrinkles that lined his tanned cheeks. His eyes were a deep warm brown, and his smile was kind. He approached the Alphal King dutifully and asked what he could do to a*sist him.
“Prepare a room at once for Healer Cas sandra and her son,” Asher commanded. “And then call the Chief Healer to my study.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Bert answered, and then after a pause, he softened his. voice. “Lady Adalyn is waiting for you, Your Majesty. She wishes to have lunch with
you.”
The Alpha King frowned for a moment and then shook his head. “Tell Lady Adalyn that I’ll need to deal with some business first. However, Marco will join her.”
He patted Marco on his shoulder. “Bert will lead you to your mother.”
“But I want to stay with you, Daddy!” Marco insisted, and he tugged on his father’s shirt.
Asher shook his head again. “No, you need to go to your mother.”
Marco didn’t want to accept this answer and started to whine. Meanwhile, Asher’s frown only deepened. His gray eyes flashed over to Bert, who understood the expression immediately.
“Come with me, Your Highness-” Bert pleaded, but Marco wasn’t having any of it. The young prince pouted, stamped his foot, and pointed at Finnick.
“If he’s going to follow you, so am I,” he declared, and his eyes shot daggers at Finnick.
I stood there in shock until I realized what was happening. There was a reason. Marco was constantly giving my son and me sour looks.
Was he jealous? Was he worried Finnick would steal his father and his attention away from him?
I was slightly amused, but at the same time, a bit worried. It was said that children could always sense something adults couldn’t. All I could do was hope that. Marco’s trait of jealousy came from his mother. Adalyn was the embodiment of jealousy and insecurity.
Footsteps on the marble suddenly rang out, and a figure approached, as if my thoughts had summoned her.
“Asher, are you here?” a sweet voice called out.
Adalyn appeared before us, clad in a red silk dress. When she reached the Alpha King, she took his hand in hers and smiled. Her brilliant amber eyes. glimmered as she gazed at Asher lovingly, but that excitement faded when she noticed me.
“Who is this?” she asked in a surprised tone. “Do we have a guest, darling?”