Midnight Shadow

Prince Ryker's face burned with embarrassment as he glared furiously at the guard, but the guard didn't seem to mind him.

In fact, the guard's expression seemed to had turned even more stoic, as if he was completely unimpressed by Ryker's behavior.

Ryker nervously glanced around the throne hall, his eyes darting randomly from one ornate tapestry to another, as if searching for a distraction from his own embarrassment.

He forced a laugh, trying to play off his earlier behavior as a joke, but it came out sounding awkward and insincere, meeting the dead silence of everyone in the throne room.

Ryker had been searching for ways to outshine Zulin, to show that he was worthy of the throne as well.

As a member of their extended royal family, his father was Kael, one of the noble leaders of Azuraea and the king's younger brother.

Ryker had always felt overshadowed by Zulin's natural leadership and bravery.

He had tried to prove himself countless times, and was given opportunities to do so, but every attempt had ended in failure.

But witnessing Zulin's strange abilities that very day, Ryker saw an opportunity and was very glad he had followed them on that journey.

He decided to start with spreading rumors and half-truths, raising the suspicions of the people, which had actually succeeded on.

Astrid had struggled to maintain her composure, trying to contain her amusement at Ryker's absurdity and the awkward embarrassment he had brought upon himself.

She cleared her throat, amusement still dancing in her eyes. "You see, they didn't see anything. Nobody saw anything. You are the delusional one here," she said, her voice measured.

"I want to make something clear, Prince Ryker. We all know that he's always drunk, he loves to indulge himself in pleasures and drinks. Maybe he was actually intoxicated when he saw what he claimed to have saw and actually Prince Ryker would like for you to actually come explain to us what exactly you saw that day."

"How dare you?" Ryker retorted.

"How dare me?" Astrid shot back, her voice firm. "I'm just telling you to actually say what you're claiming. Say it and give us some proof. What exactly did you see that day? How do you know that she really isn't human? What exactly did you see that day? And you're asking me how dare me?"

Astrid's gaze swept the throne room, her eyes locking onto the assembled nobles and advisors.

"Wait. Is there anyone else here who agrees with me? That Ryker should actually come explain to us, come make us understand very well what he actually saw on that day? Don't we kind of deserve an explanation?"

The room fell silent, and then, in a wave of movement, the noble men and the king's advisors nodded their heads in agreement with Astrid.

They turned to Ryker, their faces expectant, awaiting his explanation.

"Alright Ryker," one of the advisors urged, "tell us what you saw. Give us some proof. We need to understand why you're making these claims."

Ryker took a deep breath and began to explain what had happened on that fateful day. "I saw Zulin run with an inhuman speed when the wolf attacked her," he said.

Astrid's eyes narrowed, and she shot back, her voice sharp. "Was she supposed to sit there and let the wolf attack her? Or wait for it to bite her before reacting?"

Ryker's face flushed, and he looked flustered, unsure of how to respond. But then, he regained his composure and continued, "And she wasn't able to cross the running lake."

The room fell silent once more, with all eyes fixed on Ryker, as if waiting for him to elaborate.

However, it seemed that nobody actually believed him, or they were struggling to understand the reality of his claims.

Ryker, sensing their skepticism, spoke up again. "If you don't believe me, then let's verify it," he suggested. "Let's conduct a test on her. Take her back to the running lake, or call upon the priest to examine her. If she's truly human, then she should pass any test you give her."

He turned to Zulin "Stand the priest if you dare!"

"I have nothing to hide." Zulin affirmed.

Ryker's words hung in the air, as the room's occupants exchanged uneasy glances.

Astrid's eyes narrowed, her expression unreadable, while the king's advisors whispered among themselves, clearly uncertain about how to proceed.

Astrid made to speak up again after inhaling a breath, "We really don't have to do this, it's–"

But she was cut off by the king's deep, calm, and elegant voice, which swept through the silence like a gentle breeze.

The room fell still, as if the very air was charged with anticipation.

The king's voice was the confirmation everyone had been waiting for, and all eyes turned to him, eager to hear his verdict.

Queen Vynessa however, remained silent, letting her husband take control.

As the father of the princess, his opinion carried significant weight, and his silence until now had only added to the suspense.

The king's low, authoritative voice swept through the silence calmly.

"To put an end to these rumors and prevent further speculation, I agree that we should investigate these claims. Let us summon the priest to examine the princess and determine the truth."

The throne room remained still, as the weight of the king's words sank in. "Send for the priest," the king continued.

"He will come to the palace tomorrow, and we will gather the villagers to witness the examination. Let them see the truth for themselves, and let us put an end to these rumors once and for all."

His words were met with a mixture of nods and whispered conversations, as the people in charge, already knowing themselves, began to make preparations for the events that would unfold the next day.

As the gathering dispersed, the king's gaze fell upon Zulin, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and reassurance.

Her eyes met his, and without a word, she nodded, conveying her confidence that she had nothing to hide.

She was certain of her humanity, and the unusual events that had transpired earlier could be attributed to sheer reflex when the wolf attacked.

With a silent understanding, Zulin had turned and retired to her chambers, accompanied by Astrid.

The king, meanwhile, remained seated with his personal advisors, the queen and men of the inner chambers - which included Keal- Ryder's father, delving into discussions about the latest reports on the kingdom's affairs and the unfolding developments.

*

*

As the day wrapped up it's shift, and made way for the darkness of the night.

The moon cast its silvery glow over the palace grounds, Astrid and Zulin sat together beside a serene lake, its gentle waters lapping softly against the shore.

The sound of the lake's gentle flow blended with the sweet chirping of crickets, creating a soothing melody that filled the evening air.

Astrid, with her deep indigo eyes shinning and silvery lavender hair styled in an elegant updo as always, listened as Zulin recounted the details of her journey.

Astrid wore a flowing white gown, its delicate lace and intricate embroidery shimmering in the moonlight.

Her rosy pink lips twitching slightly whenever it got to a point where Zulin would mention Ryker.

Zulin's raven black hair, adorned with subtle little curls, cascaded down her back, framing her golden eyes and natural red lips. Her golden dress shimmered in the moonlight, perfectly complementing her eye color.

As they chatted and laughed together, the tension of the day's events slowly dissipated, replaced by the warmth and comfort of each other's company.

Over dinner, they talked and giggled, their bond as sisters and princesses strengthened by their shared experiences and secrets.

Sooner, the king and queen joined Astrid and Zulin beside the lake, having been informed by a servant that their daughters were deep in conversation.

The servant had been tasked with summoning the princesses, but upon finding them engrossed in their chat, he had decided to report back to the king instead.

The royal family sat down together, enjoying dinner and each other's company as they talked and laughed into the night.

The king and queen were delighted to see their daughters getting along so well, and the warm atmosphere was a balm to their souls.

As the night drew deeper,, the stars began to twinkle above, and the moon reached its zenith, casting a magical glow over the palace grounds.

The family reluctantly decided it was time to retire. They bid each other goodnight, cherishing the moment they had shared together.

But, this might be the last time they would sit together as a family, enjoying each other's company without the weight of the world upon them.

Now, thinking back to the hindsight of that evening, it seemed all the more precious to Astrid, a fleeting moment of peace before the storm.

The memory of their laughter and conversation would be etched in her mind, a bittersweet reminder of happier times.