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Healer Rhea's POV

As the carriage had started to grow closer to the Kingdom, Romulus had decided to switch his seat to the one beside Rhea, and did his best to transfer her gently against his chest—Hoping not to disturb her too much. But he did not want her to miss her first return into the Kingdom, and thus, he whispered her name ever so softly into her ear.

Rhea, still being frightened by that name, had grown startled by the sudden weight around her—But Romulus settled her with ease. "Relax, I simply did not want you to miss it...We're nearing the gates as we speak." The childlike excitement had blossomed every so quickly as she pushed herself to the window, and of course, Clive had thrown his head back in laughter.

"Is it good to be home?" He questioned, but Rhea truly did not know if she supported that notion of calling it home. No, these walls haven't been her home for a while, and it nearly became apparent that she had lived outside them for nearly as long as she had been in them.

Yet as they neared the furthest point, away from the markets and constant strain of ventures of the sorts, Rhea had finally taken a glimpse of the beautiful sketched door. One that was seemingly replaced, considering the damage that it had sustained.

So when the carriage had come to a complete stop, Rhea truly had been frozen in time. There was hardly a reminder to breathe, not when her chest had already ached so loudly.

"Amory..." Romulus whispered, catching that her reaction to return was one of pain and agony. But the female had wiped away her tears and offered him a smile. "I'm alright."

"You do not have to hide those tears from me, 'mory. I understand them completely. It has been too long and I wish to give you the grand tour." That had earned him a laugh, one that he had pleasantly adored hearing as he stepped out and waved to the guards that had arrived to greet him.

And considering that Welhiem was not there to dish out his own words of unwarranted wisdom, Romulus had decided it was best not to harbor him on the secret.

It was poorly executed, however, given that Romulus hardly wanted to stray that far from Amory. And while it hadn't meant much to a human, it did make a bit of a spectacle to the wolf population lingering about.

And Rhea, being fairly known of the customs of the Lycan counterparts realized that she would be heading into the wolf den, literally.

Thus she had fallen short of a step, and Romulus instantly turned down to see what the trouble was, but she leaned upward and whispered that it would be best to stand with Ray and Clive.

Thus, the King agreed, reluctantly, but agreed.

The two were all well and full of smiles, especially considering that the reunion between the two and four of them had been a long time coming—Neither had known of the survival of the other, and it had been all but time limited.

Though Clive mentioned that he would not hesitate to visit Red Moon pack to see them again, Ray, on the other hand, was a bit more reserved but still held up a thankful expression that his friends were safe.

"Is it your wound?" Clive questioned, and Rhea shook her head as eyes started to dart this way and that towards her—Given that she smelled quite heavily of the King. Damn them and their perfect noses!

"No, it's about image. I'm a new councilwoman, remember?" The boy nodded, even if he still didn't understand the length of this charade, he would play along with it regardless.

"Does that mean we're the same rank now?" Clive leaned in between the two, and Rhea had to hide her giggles behind her hand. Course that caught Romulus' attention as he turned back with a curious gaze, but she simply smiled brighter—With reddening faces.

However he had managed to withhold a snarl, felt as though it was hurting him internally, he had talked his wolf into this scenario—That the court must think that Rhea is Ray's female, or will be in the next coming weeks.

Upon arrival into the room itself, Romulus was stuck ahead of the rest and took the moment to speak with Beta Elias and Delta Lyall to secure all that was missed, in addition to giving them the finer details of what was going to happen.

Romulus had motioned his hand off behind him, but when he had turned around, he had caught the three humans standing in the center of the entrance hall, as Rhea was too busy basking in the details.

"Sir, is it truly wise to deceive the courts like this?" Beta questioned, and Romulus hummed in agreement. "Yes, because I know one word from a human female will not be enough. Even if she is Queen. Their actions need to speak louder, and this way, we can get to the bottom of it all." It seemed reasonable, but actually going through with it would mean deceit, and the Beta knew quite plainly that he wasn't that well-versed.

Lyall, who had been the first to make the strides towards the humans, had a gentle smile on his face—Seeing as how all he had to go off of Queen Amory was paintings for her youth. Yet in seeing her in person now, Lyall could see why the King held his appeal to the female.

She held her beauty outright, regardless of the scares peaking up above the cloak—Romulus' cloak—He noticed. "Ma'am, allow me to introduce myself. I am the Royal Delta, Lyall Thornbeck. Proud son of the previous Royal Delta, I am at your service whenever you need it." Rhea had been startled, as all she truly wanted was a handshake at most.

That is all she had expected, not a dedication from Romulus' Delta. Yet she started to understand it once again, if Romulus had proposed to her and became his Queen Luna—It was always the Delta's in the packs job to maintain care and security to the Luna.

That was the reason for his touching loyalty, and so soon?

"I am not sure if I deserve your service, Delta Lyall, but I thank you." She claimed, attempting to curtesy—Yet she couldn't manage as easily as she once could. Given that she sucked in a painful breath and clutched onto Ray's side following said action.

The male frowned at her curiously before his eyes flared in panic. "Ma'am, please don't think you must—"

"I am human and will stick to my culture's teachings, thank you. How else am I going to represent the humans?" It had earned her another smile, even if the male was eyeing her in worry. It would be some time before either he or Romulus would understand the lengths of her limitations.

And where stubbornness had outweighed either.

"Alpha, you're back!" A female shrieked, and while it had disrupted the peaceful greetings. It gave Rhea the understanding of what is truly happening in court, especially considering that the female had so casually come forward to the king and rubbed her cheek.

It was meant to signal a sense of greeting to those you are familiar with. And some feeble little urge in Rhea's heart had absolutely hated seeing the female so close to Romulus.

As if she was meant to be there.

"That is Lady Mariah, the court has deemed her their choice of Mate for the King." The Delta whispered, and the blazing heat in her eyes had overturned tenfold. Instead, the Royal Beta had taken the opportunity to come forth and pay his own respects, though this time both Ray and Clive had caught her before she could curtsy.

"I'm perfectly capable of—"

"Lillian made us promise, ma'am. And that's before we can get the rest to join us here." Rhea huffed impatiently but stood her ground and bowed her head instead. Given that was all that she was allowed to do. But the others, Dane specifically, were holding a promise they made that shortly followed the end of the Courtship Rhea had with Alpha Stephan.

To take care of those on the property, and it made her smile in thinking that everyone was in good hands while she was starting to make amends here in the Kingdom.

"You know the rules, no loitering in the grand entrance!" Mariah declared, all while following after Romulus as though she was tied to the end of his tail. "No loitering? What is a grand entrance for if not to greet one another?" Rhea questioned, leaving both Beta and Delta to eye one another as they lead the humans further into the castle.

Oh yes, they certainly understood their King's wait.

"That is the female who has eyes on the King?" Rhea whispered towards Lyall, and the male simply smirked. "You have no worries with this one, she is as dull as a paperweight."

"And almost as smart as one." The Beta finished, and once again Rhea had stifled a laugh into the cloak. Thus alerting Romulus, and neither of his right or left-hand men could ignore the aptitude his wolf had for the little human's display of happiness.

Was the King—Already bonded to her?

"Ah, where are my manors...Mariah, this is Lady Rhea, she is going to be joining my Council."

"To appease the humans? What an excellent idea. Perhaps she could be of some use." Rhea knew well enough when to bite her tongue, but goddess she couldn't deny that hearing her second name from Romulus was doing things to her.

Things she wasn't exactly aware of were happening.

"Are we sure these three are qualified, sir? I could find much more suited females for the position." Now that had ticked off Rhea, her drive towards academics was something that couldn't and wouldn't be ignored.

"I believe the King has already set his sights high enough. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to the trouble to bribe me so quickly to join the ranks. Besides, only humans could understand human quarrels." And at that moment, Rhea had already made enemies with one female.

Who was too struck with awe that she truly didn't have a witty comeback, or perhaps she did, given that she left Romulus' side and stalked towards her—Poor Lyall had already moved to intercept it, had Rhea not been the one to block his movements.

They didn't need to strike any hints, especially when this she-wolf was already eager to put Rhea into her place.

This is my damn castle! Rhea thought bitterly, and so she had simply taken a step forward to meet her at all ends. Thus causing Mariah to growl and take a step back, yet Rhea tilted her head.

This female was certainly more for show than an actual beast, good to know.

"My King, surely there is a much better option!" Mariah wined, and Rhea wasn't the only one to cover her ear at such a sound. "Questioning the King? Well, we are living in mad times...I would love to join you for a meeting in a bit, sir, but it's probably best I freshen up." She claimed, again with a tilted head as she caught the Beta's feverous glare in warning as she was on the way to bow.

Good goddess, could she not even curtsey without someone trying to stop her from hurting herself?
"That sounds like an excellent idea, Lady Rhea—I apologize for the hasty trip. Otherwise, we could have taken the scenic route. I'll call for you later in the evening, perhaps I can move around a few things during dinner. We'll save the tour for tomorrow. Now excuse me, I seem to have to speak to a court member about being kind to a newcomer." Rhea's eyes flared upon seeing Mariah being nicked away by Romulus' tight hold on her forearm.

"I didn't want to start anything, gods—I haven't even been in the castle for ten minutes!"
"It was going to happen regardless. And you are wearing the King's cloak." Rhea groaned at Lyall's comment and continued to move forward, only to fall short. "Where will I be staying?"

"The King has managed your rooms for months now, he was hopeful of your return." Her lips had parted and turned back to the ways that Romulus had gone off towards, disbelief had crossed over her face as her head had hung long.

"Come now, Rhea. You deserve all of this."

"I'm not sure I do, Clive. Would you two keep me company? I don't want to be alone right now." The Beta and Delta would have been perfectly accommodating, but Rhea's eyes flickered between the males beside her instead.

"The King wants you here, Lady Rhea. Do not forget that, even if the rest of the court will give your reason to believe otherwise." The Beta reminded, and thus, she took a sharp inhale and decided to move forward. "Well? I'm not supposed to know where I'm headed to!" She teased, and the males before her hurried to fix the status of their positions.

But even then, Rhea couldn't help but eye the newly vamped accents throughout the walls. It felt like home, but not.
It felt—colder—Than she remembered.
And while Romulus did say he wanted to give her the grand tour, that didn't stop the four males beside her point to the better half of it all.

Until she nearly tripped over her next step as her eyes caught something so damn horrifying that she swallowed thickly, her mouth gaping open and close—Trying to comprehend what was going on.

"How—How long has this been here?" She questioned, pointing up to it and the accuracy was uncanny. Given that it was a portrait of herself, but seeing herself so upscaled and enlarged with flowers just beneath it.

"I believe the King had it commissioned just a few years before his reign took over. His father was very considerate of his pushes for equality, as per your promise to one another." A tear escape her without notice, and so she hurried to wipe it away and follow in persist of the direction they had been working towards.

Up until Lyall had stood dutifully in front of it. And she was thankful that it wasn't her own room.

"Your maids will get word that you have arrived. If there is anything wrong with the room, Romulus will have it fixed. Get some rest, Rhea." The Beta deemed their final words with a bow, leaving the humans on their lonesome.

Leaving Clive as curious as possible, hurrying to get the door open and push through.

"Gods above!" He cheered, but Rhea was still touched by the portrait featured just down the hall—Her favorite flowers blooming so beautifully underneath. How could it get any better?

Those flowers?... The scent nearly knocked her to her feet, but it was such a comfort. Yeldas never grow in Red Moon, and it truly was the welcoming she needed once more.

Tunnel vision had worked her through to the window ceil and she inhaled the bundle with ease, the stress releasing with every inhale.

"Rhea, get your head out of the flowers and look! These are the royal apartments!"
"Royal guest apartment. But apartments, non the less...Is it true Romulus had these rooms prepared for me?"

"He said something of the sort during his return to the inn from his birthday. I believe your things are coming up as we speak." Rhea truly hadn't cared, not when there are multiple rooms to her name. And the largest damned bed she had ever seen.

It wasn't worth demanding another room, as she knew that any sort of position near the King would get a quality stay. But it would do well claiming the fact that traveling in her condition was irresponsible at best.

Even now, she was feeling the ache in her thigh as she lowered to the couch. And while she had reached for the pitcher, Ray beat her to it. "Don't give me that look, I'm supposed to be flirting."

"Flirting, not catering to my every whim."

"My arse may get bitten if the king saw me get too close...He's smitten with you, Rhea." Ray cheered, taking the seat beside her. But he had to call Clive from exploring her rooms, saying it was rude.

"Believe me, I'm curious as well, but my limbs have other plans." She claimed, taking off the cloak and ditching the cane off to the side.

From there, the three managed to discuss what would be happening, as well as all the information that had already been shared. In addition to prepping Rhea of who is on the courts and which families have the highest pull.

Being as young as she was, prior to the war, she truly did not need to even speak with the better half of them. Given her age, but also her rank...A princess was higher ranked than even the richest.

She was meant to rule, and they would always be placed beneath her, working for the cause.

Yet now she would need to have a different take on everything, given that she was simply a human advisor, female to boot. There was hardly a standing except for the King's favor and a fake relationship with Ray.

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Date: 06/22/23

Time: 3:10:

Words: 2926

Author's Note:

Rhea has met Mariah and let's just say she's not impressed!
Next chapter coming right up!