The Lunar Curse: A Second Chance With Alpha Draven-Chapter 38: The Seed of Discord

(Third Person POV).

Meredith returned to her bedroom with slow steps, her posture drooping beneath invisible weight. Her eyes seemed tired, her movements absent-minded.

Without a word, she sat at the edge of the bed, one hand reaching to press her fingertips against her forehead. A small sigh slipped from her lips.

She wasn’t bothered about Xamira’s boldness at the dinner table. Naturally, she was surprised, but not offended. She didn’t know children had it in them to be this curious and bold.

Still, her body carried the fatigue of the long day like a cloak too heavy to shrug off. And she made it obvious to her maidservants.

"I’m tired. I want to sleep," she murmured without lifting her gaze.

Kira, ever attentive, stepped forward. "You should change out of your dress first, my lady."

Meredith nodded and followed her silently into the walk-in closet. Within a few minutes, Kira helped her out of the gown and into a silk sleepwear set. The air around them remained quiet and unspoken, filled only with the rustle of fabric.

Back in the room, Meredith crossed to the bed and slipped beneath the covers, pulling the duvet up to her chin as she nestled her head into the pillows. She said nothing more, her eyes already drifting shut.

Azul, Kira, and Deidra exchanged looks from across the room.

"She seems very exhausted," Deidra whispered as she moved toward the side table.

Kira nodded in agreement. "It’s her first long journey. Her body probably isn’t used to this."

Just then, Azul’s eyes widened slightly. "Wait... we forgot something."

Kira turned to her. "What did we forget?"

Even Deidra offered a curious look to Azul since she couldn’t think of anything.

But Azul didn’t answer them immediately. Instead, she pivoted and quietly walked into the walk-in closet. Seconds later, she returned, holding the small ceramic jar of healing balm.

Kira and Deidra simultaneously mouthed an understanding, "Oh." They had both completely forgotten about it, coupled with the little bit of distraction that came from their Mistress’s exhaustion and immediate retirement to bed. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

Azul approached the bedside with gentle steps. Meredith lay perfectly still, her breath soft and even. Azul crouched beside her and dabbed the balm lightly on the scar along her cheek, careful not to wake her. Once done, she straightened and stepped back.

A minute later, the three maidservants moved toward the door. Kira and Deidra exited first, their footsteps fading down the hallway.

Azul lingered a heartbeat longer, then looked back toward the bed. "Good night, my lady," she whispered.

Then, she flipped the light switch, cloaking the room in darkness, save for the faint bluish glow that filtered in from the outdoor security lamps through the patio curtains. Then she slipped out and closed the door behind her.

A few seconds passed before Meredith’s eyes opened slowly. Her expression, unreadable.

Then she raised her left sleeve and gently wiped the healing balm from her cheek. She had been pretending to be overly exhausted, hoping they would forget. But Azul hadn’t.

With a long exhale, she shut her eyes again, allowing the silence to fold around her.

---

Meanwhile, in the other wing of the house, the pink-hued glow of Xamira’s princess-themed bedroom bathed the walls in warmth.

Wanda sat in a plush rocking chair beside the child’s bed, holding a colourful storybook in her lap.

The book ’Regina and the Bee’ rested open as Xamira watched her with bright eyes, cuddling beneath a blanket of soft pastels and floral embroidery.

Twenty minutes passed. Wanda closed the book with a gentle thump and placed it on the nightstand.

"All done," she said with a smile. "It’s bedtime now."

Xamira blinked up at her. "Can I ask you something before sleep?"

Wanda nodded easily. "Of course, dear. Go on."

Xamira sat up slightly, brows furrowed in thought. "Is Daddy’s new wife going to live here with us for a long time?"

Wanda’s instinct was to say no, but she caught herself almost immediately.

"Yes," she said instead, folding her hands on her lap. "Why? You don’t like it?"

"I don’t know," Xamira admitted, still unsure of her feelings. "But... what happened to her face?"

Wanda’s lips twitched at the corners. "Karma," she said.

Xamira tilted her head. "What’s that?"

"It’s when people get punished for doing bad things," Wanda said slowly, watching Xamira’s face.

"Is she that bad?" Xamira asked, blinking.

Wanda shrugged lightly, feigning indifference. "I wouldn’t know. She’s not my friend. I just met her."

Xamira looked thoughtful, her lips pursing. "Then I won’t be friends with people who do bad things."

Wanda reached forward and smoothed a hand over her head. "That’s a very wise decision, darling. If you play with people like that, you might become bad too."

Satisfied with how easily the seed of discord had taken root, Wanda leaned back. But she wasn’t done. She needed to set something straight.

"Xamira," she said softly, "don’t repeat any of what we have talked about tonight to others, alright? These are grown-up things. You’re still a little girl."

Xamira nodded obediently.

A darker smile ghosted across Wanda’s lips.

She leaned in again, her voice lower now. "And soon... your Daddy’s new wife will start taking your place. He won’t have time to read to you anymore. Or drop you off at school. Or even listen when you talk."

Xamira’s little face drooped instantly.

"He will be too busy with her," Wanda added in a whisper. "So, you must be very careful, okay?"

The doubt, the worry—Wanda could already see it flickering behind those innocent eyes, which was exactly what she wanted.

Then she reached forward once more and stroked the girl’s hair. "Don’t worry, darling. Sleep now."

Xamira turned on her side, hugging her stuffed bunny close.

Wanda leaned down, kissed her forehead, and readjusted the pillow and blanket. Then, she switched off the bedside lamp.

The room dimmed, falling into a quiet hush.

Wanda stepped out and closed the door carefully behind her.

As she walked down the corridor in silence, her lips curled into a satisfied smirk.

She couldn’t wait for the seed of discord to bloom into chaos.