ROYAL DARKNESS (MASKED)(18+)

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

I could sense the disbelief in Corvus's eyes as I delivered the news. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I held such immense importance.

Everything was moving too fast. My life was a labyrinth of secrets, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't fully comprehend it all. Just a few days ago, I discovered the shocking truth: I am a Vedan, and Vedans were believed to be evil. Adding to that, my father turned out to be the king of an entire kingdom who despises me deeply. And now, to my surprise, I've learned that Vedans are actually guardians, and I am supposedly their reincarnated queen.

My mind was a whirlwind of unanswered questions, each one gnawing at me, longing for an answer that, unfortunately, seemed out of reach. Zephyra, who I had hoped would shed light on these mysteries, had chosen to withhold most of the answers, redirecting me to Reagan instead. But why? I couldn't help but wonder.

"This just doesn't add up," Corvus blurted out, perching on the bedpost before landing on my lap. "How could you possibly be the Empyrean Vedan queen? If that were true, your Godmother would have  known. Could she have deliberately kept it a secret?"

"We both know that my Godmother is the master of secrets, so I wouldn't be surprised if she did," I said.

"It all makes sense now," Corvus said. "The reason she was so adamant about protecting you, the gods' decision to have your mom sacrifice herself to save you, and even the Dragon King's interest in you—everything falls into place now."

I took a deep breath, trying to make sense of Crow's words, and he was right—it all truly made sense. Every single thing fell into place now. I collapsed onto the bed, closing my eyes tightly, trying to process the reality of the situation. It was all too overwhelming, and I needed a moment alone to gather my thoughts.

As if the universe wasn't interested in granting me peace, I heard a soft knock on my door. Drawing in another deep breath, I opened my eyes, still feeling lost in my thoughts, and connected my vision back to Corvus. With a weary tone, I said, "Come in."

A couple of maids peeked inside the room before entering and gave a slight bow. "His Majesty requests your presence for breakfast this morning," one of the maids said.

My heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. I couldn't help but think, "As if my day wasn't already bad, now I have to be in the same vicinity as that Dragon King and have breakfast with him."

I let out a deep sigh as I stood up, and Corvus settled on my shoulders. The maids bowed again, showing the way. I followed behind them, feeling nervous with every step. As we walked down the wide hallway, I admired the elegant paintings and intricate ornaments decorating the walls.

We finally reached the large dining area, resembling the one where I had my meal the previous day. The Dragon King sat firmly in his chair, his face concealed behind a formidable bronze mask, and a splendid buffet adorned the table.

As all the maids and other people in the room departed, it was just the two of us and Corvus. The atmosphere felt tense, and he looked as intimidating as ever. I knew that behind that mask lay a formidable presence, a true monster.

I settled into my chair, while Corvus took flight, perching high up on the ceiling, giving me an unobtrusive view of the whole room. It wasn't precisely the view I wanted right now, but I understood Corvus's intention to provide some privacy. It was evident that the king and I had much to discuss.

He reached for his bronze mask, setting it aside as he revealed his face. However, due to Corvus's position on the ceiling, I couldn't see the king's face at all. Instead, my view was limited to the middle of our heads and the entire dining room beyond.