Chapter 227 Are You in Love with Bernard?

“Maelis, go downstairs. We’ll meet you there,” Bernard said.

He waited until her footsteps faded, then turned to Elara.

“Silverheart, what…”

“Shhh.” Elara pressed a finger to her lips.

Bernard stared at her.

A chuckle slipped from her throat as she slid the gun back into her hand bag.

“Relax. I’m just taking precautions in case she’s another Rivena.”

Bernard let out a breath and rubbed a hand over his face.

“Why are you so surprised?” Elara asked. “The king ordered me to wear a bulletproof vest and carry my new toy in case I need to defend myself.”

“I’m not surprised.” Bernard shook his head. “I just didn’t know you brought your toy with you. Besides, there’s no need for it. This estate is surrounded by security warriors.”

“I know.” Elara’s smile faded. “Emma’s estate had security too, and the shooting still happened.”

“Oh, my Moon Goddess, I completely forgot what I was saying,” Bernard said.

“You were talking about Brandon coming back…” Elara prompted.

Before she could speak, Bernard pressed a finger lightly against her lips.

She blinked at him, then laughed softly.

“Are you okay with that date?” Bernard asked.

Elara nodded. “Yeah.”

The date didn’t bother her. With The Royal Event Planners, everything could be ready within seven days. All she wanted was a simple royal mating ceremony and a honeymoon at their new estate.

Bernard drew back when her device started ringing.

She glanced at the screen and smiled.

Emma.

“Good day, Moonheart,” she said the moment she accepted the video call, mimicking her sibling’s tone.

Emma burst out laughing.

“Aren’t you?” she asked.

“Of course.” She smiled. “The High Luna jokingly asked if I’m pregnant because every time she calls, I’m either sleeping or tired. Did you tell her?”

“No, but you said after the royal…”

“Yeah.” She cut in. “I’ll tell them everything when I get back.”

“Emma, please come back. I miss you guys. The kingdom is so boring!”

Emma laughed and shook her head.

“Boring?” she echoed. “You live in a palace, Elara. If you’re bored there, that’s a personal problem.”

Then her smile softened.

“But we miss you too. Once we’re done here, we’ll come back. Just try not to turn the whole kingdom upside down before then.”

“Easy for you to say. At least something interesting is happening where you are. The outing, the games, and the way my sibling can’t stop doting on you. No wonder you’re so relaxed.”

“Were you the one who drifted apart from the love of your life? At least you and Bernard still talk and see each other on screen. Brandon and I spent winters apart before we finally found our way back to each other.” Emma said.

Elara pointed a finger at her.

“You should’ve studied law, Queen Luna Emma.”

Emma burst out laughing.

“When are you two becoming mates?”

“We hadn’t picked a date yet,” she said and looked at Bernard.

He was already watching her.

She read the look on his face and laughed.

“But we just chose the third week of February.”

A loud scream exploded through the device.

Emma had clearly been waiting for that answer.

“I’ll be there, live and direct. Just don’t expect the same Emma.” She smoothed a hand over her outfit and smiled. “This time, you’re getting Luna Emma—the mate of Alpha Brandon Oliver.”

“If I’d known, I would’ve pushed the mating date to next week.” Elara rolled her eyes.

Emma grinned. “Why next week? Why not tomorrow?”

Elara stared at her for a second, then burst out laughing. Emma joined in.

“Emma, your book is making waves all over the world. I’m just imagining how big your account is right now,” she said.

“Honestly, I’m grateful to your sibling. My co-pilot,” Emma said, and they giggled.

“Where is he now?” She asked.

“He is sleeping,” Emma responded. Elara turned her head when Maelis appeared in the doorway.

“Emma, I’ll call you back. I still have something very important to discuss with you.”

“Is something wrong?” Emma asked.

Elara shook her head. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just curious about something.” She glanced away for a moment. “I’ll tell you later.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting for your call.”

She dropped the device on the table and stared at Maelis. She looked around and saw Bernard standing behind the window with his hands in his pockets. She slowly got down from the table and waved at him. He began to walk towards her.

“Please, I need to speak with her alone.” Elara glanced at Maelis before looking back at Bernard. “I’d rather you not stay around. Once I’m done talking to her, we can decide our next move.”

She folded her arms.

“And I’ll handle the domestic workers. Hiring staff is my responsibility.”

“Alright.” Bernard nodded. “Meet me in our private lounge.”

He turned and headed for the stairs.

Elara watched him go, then motioned to Maelis with two fingers.

“Search her,” Elara said to one of the security warriors.

The warrior stepped forward and scanned her with a handheld security device. After a thorough check, he looked at Elara and gave a single nod.

“She’s clear, My Moon Princess.”

“Come with me.”

Maelis fell into step behind her.

They walked into the living chamber. She sat down on the sofa and gestured to her. However, she kept staring at the lustrous cascades of her golden hair. She shook her head as she tried to shake off whatever was on her hair she was staring at. She shrugged when nothing fell off.

“What is it?” She asked.

“Your hair is messy. Would you mind if I pinned it very well?” She asked.

“Sure,” she lifted her shoulders in a shrug.

Maelis moved closer to her and removed all the hairpins she had on her hair. Her hair fell in curls over her shoulder. She brushed the hair with her fingers and began to pin her hair up. She looked at her and smiled contentedly and Elara grimaced.

“Sit.” She pointed at the sofa.

Maelis lowered herself into the seat and crossed her legs. She was about the same height as Emma.

“How are you?” she asked.

A bright smile spread across Maelis’s face.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m sorry we had to search you. Please don’t take it personally. The safety of everyone in this estate comes first, so every new face goes through the same security check. I hope you understand.”

Maelis smiled gently and dipped her head.

“I understand, My Moon Princess. You have nothing to apologize for. You’re only protecting your family and everyone under this roof. If I were in your position, I would have done the same.”

A faint smile touched Elara’s lips.

“I’m glad you understand.” She glanced toward the freshly trimmed flowers outside. “And thank you for cutting the flowers.”

Maelis glanced toward the garden.

“I love gardening.”

“Why did you choose to work here?”

“The Frostbanes take good care of their domestic workers.”

She folded her arms.

“What would you do if I gave you a dismissal letter but kept paying you every week?”

The smile slipped from Maelis’s face.

She looked down at her hands.

“I would go home sad,” she said quietly.

“Even if your name stayed on my payroll?”

Maelis shook her head.

“No. I want to work and earn my pay.”

“Why did you choose to remain unmatched?”

Maelis rubbed her thumb over her fingers.

“I loved my mate.” Her eyes dropped to the floor. “I still do. I can’t love another.”

A slow breath left Elara’s chest.

“Do you have a pup?” she asked.

Maelis nodded.

“Yes.”

“Alright, tell me about him. Or her,” Elara said.

The smile that had returned to her face faded again.

Maelis shifted on the edge of the sofa. “It’s a long story, my Moon Princess.”

Elara leaned back against the plush cushions. “Then summarize it.”

Maelis dropped her gaze to her hands. “I… I can’t.”

Elara planted a hand on the armrest and rose from the sofa.

“Then this conversation is over. Go freshen up, and when you leave, don’t look back.”

She turned toward the door.

“Please, wait.” Maelis hurried to her feet and stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

“Go on. Talk,” Elara said.

“It’s just that he reminds me of my late mate.” Her fingers tightened around each other. “I wasn’t ready for this, but I don’t have much choice. And the truth is, I wasn’t a good mother to my pup after his father died.”

Her gaze dropped to the floor.

“He left the country.”

“Why haven’t you been a good mother to your pup?”

Her fingers twisted together in her lap.

“When I was grieving, I blamed him for his father’s death.” She lowered her eyes. “It wasn’t his fault, but I blamed him anyway.”

She swallowed hard.

“I said a lot of things to him. Later, I forgot them.” A bitter smile touched her lips. “He didn’t.”

Her gaze dropped to the floor.

“Joel swore he wanted nothing to do with me again.”

“Joel? Is that your pup’s name?”

She nodded.

A tear slipped down her cheek. She brushed it away and stared at her hands for a moment.

The lounge fell quiet.

“Which country is your pup living in?” she asked.

“Austria.”

She lifted her head suddenly.

“Princess, please don’t sack me.” She leaned forward in her seat. “I want to serve you and Bernard. Please.”

Elara narrowed her eyes.

“You can work here on one condition.”

“What condition?”

The answer came so quickly that it almost tripped over itself.

“I want to ask you a question, and I want nothing but the truth.”

“Alright.”

“I know you joined Bernard’s team because of him. At the sports ground that day, I saw the way you looked at him. I saw it again today.”

The living chamber fell silent.

Elara leaned forward.

“Are you in love with Bernard?”