ROYAL BLOOD 👑

Chapter 22: Moonlit Revelations

Lysander's smile widened at her words, his eyes glowing with affection. "I've never felt this way about anyone before," he repeated, his voice low and intimate. "Being with you feels like... like coming home."

Tears prickled at the corners of Elara's eyes at his words, her heart overflowing with love and gratitude for the man lying beside her. "I feel the same way," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

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As the day unfolded, Elara found herself falling into the familiar rhythm of life in the village, the events of the previous night lingering in the back of her mind like a sweet, cherished dream. With Lysander gone back to his duties, she decided to lend a hand to Amara, who was busy collecting eggs to sell at the market.

Together, they made their way to the chicken coop, the early morning sun casting a warm glow over the landscape. The air was filled with the sounds of birdsong and the gentle rustle of leaves, creating a peaceful atmosphere that filled Elara with a sense of serenity.

As they approached the coop, Amara greeted the chickens with a cheerful whistle, her hands deftly gathering the freshly laid eggs into a basket. Elara followed suit, her movements slow and deliberate as she carefully inspected each egg for any imperfections.

As they worked together, Amara couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "So, how was your date last night?" she asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

Elara felt her cheeks flush with warmth at the mention of their date, but she was hesitant to divulge too much information. "It was nice," she replied, her voice tinged with bashfulness. "We just spent some time together, talking and enjoying each other's company."

Amara raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with Elara's vague response. "Just talking, huh?" she teased, a knowing smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "I bet there's more to the story than that."

Elara chuckled nervously, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a suitable response. "Well, you know how it is," she replied evasively, avoiding Amara's probing gaze. "Some things are better left unsaid."

Amara's grin widened as she sensed Elara's discomfort, but she didn't press the matter any further. Instead, she changed the subject as she remarked, "Well, at least one of us had a perfect night, huh?"

Elara glanced up, her brow furrowing in confusion at Amara's comment. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity as she continued to gather the eggs, oblivious to any underlying tone in Amara's words.

Amara let out a melodious laugh, her demeanor brightening as she waved off Elara's question. "Oh, nothing," she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Just joking around. You know me."

Satisfied with Amara's response, Elara simply nodded, turning her attention back to the task at hand. In her mind, she was still lost in the dreamy memories of the previous night, unable to focus on anything else.

They decided to bring the eggs to the market, Amara's excitement was palpable. She practically skipped ahead, her basket swinging cheerfully at her side. Elara followed, a smile playing at the corners of her lips as she watched her friend's infectious enthusiasm.

The journey to the market was a familiar one, the winding streets lined with quaint shops and bustling vendors. Along the way, they exchanged playful banter and shared snippets of gossip, their laughter filling the air with a sense of camaraderie.

As they set up their stall at the market, Amara chatted animatedly, "Did I tell you about the time I accidentally sold a dozen eggs to old Mrs. Thompson for half price?" Amara chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she recounted the story.

Elara laughed along with her, shaking her head in amusement. "You never cease to amaze me, Amara," she replied, her tone affectionate.

Meanwhile, a group of children had gathered around their stall, their eyes wide with curiosity as they inspected the eggs with eager fascination.

"What's the biggest egg you've ever seen?" one of the children piped up, his voice filled with wonder.

Amara grinned, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Well, let me tell you, I once found an egg so big, it was almost as tall as me!" she exclaimed, her hands gesturing wildly for emphasis.

The children gasped in awe, their imaginations running wild as they envisioned the giant egg Amara described.

Amara winked at the children, her laughter ringing out like music as she spun tales of dragons and knights, weaving a tapestry of wonder and excitement that captured their imaginations. Elara couldn't help but smile as she watched her friend, her heart swelling with affection at the sight of Amara's infectious joy.

As the children dispersed, their pockets filled with imaginary treasures and dreams of far-off adventures, Amara turned to Elara with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Well, that was certainly entertaining," she remarked, her voice laced with amusement as she nudged Elara playfully. "I do believe we've missed our calling as storytellers."

Elara chuckled, her spirits buoyed by the lively atmosphere of the market. "Perhaps we have," she agreed, her gaze sweeping over the bustling crowds with a sense of contentment. "But I wouldn't trade this for anything."

As they busied themselves with arranging their stall, a middle-aged woman approached, her expression solemn yet determined. Elara's curiosity was piqued as she noticed the locket the woman placed before her, its design eerily similar to her own.

The woman's eyes bore into Elara's with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine, her gaze unwavering as she spoke. "This locket," she began, her voice low and measured, "it is no ordinary trinket."

Elara's curiosity deepened, her fingers itching to reach out and touch the gleaming emerald nestled within the delicate silver frame. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The woman leaned in closer, her breath warm against Elara's ear as she whispered, "It is said to possess great power, to bring luck and fortune to its bearer. But be warned, child, for with great power comes great responsibility."

Before Elara even had a chance to interject and mention her own similar locket, Amara interrupted the woman with a dismissive wave of her hand. "We're not interested, thank you," she said curtly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The woman's gaze flickered with annoyance, but she quickly composed herself, a tight smile plastered on her lips. "Of course, my dear," she replied smoothly, though there was a hint of irritation in her voice. "But should you ever change your mind, you know where to find me."

With a curt nod, the woman turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Elara exchange puzzled glances to Amara. "That was strange," Elara commented, her brow furrowing in thought.

Amara shrugged, "Just another con artist trying to make a quick sale. She's been trying to pull that trick on unsuspecting customers for weeks now," she remarked casually.

Elara's eyes widened in disbelief, a mixture of shock and indignation flooding her senses. "But what about the locket?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion. "It looks so similar to mine."

Amara chuckled softly, shaking her head in amusement. "It's just a coincidence," she explained, her tone reassuring. "She probably saw your locket and thought she could use it to her advantage. But trust me, hers is nothing more than a cheap imitation."

After watching the woman disappear into the crowd, Elara let out a sigh of relief, grateful that they had avoided being taken in by her deceitful scheme. She glanced at Amara, who wore a satisfied smirk, clearly pleased with their narrow escape.

"Good riddance," Amara muttered under her breath, her tone tinged with disdain. "I can't stand those con artists preying on unsuspecting folk."

As they resumed their tasks at the stall, Elara found herself lost in thought, her mind wandering back to her own locket tucked away safely in her room. She hadn't worn it since her breakdown a few days ago, but now she couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to the woman's claims about its supposed powers.