"Go and wait for him at the palace gates Bernard." King William ordered his aide.
"Yes my King."
Bernard and a few of the royal guards welcomed the Werewolf King.
"You're welcome King Adrian. It's good having you here." Bernard said as he gave a slight bow along with the royal guards that stood behind him.
Bernard raised his head to look at the king but a silver mask covered his entire face, his eyes could not even be seen.
It was said that nobody had ever seen his face as his face had been disfigured during the war and he looked so ugly.
And some people had said that he was cursed of some sort to never show his face again.
The people believed that it was the latter, which served him right as he was very ruthless.
Of course, they were baseless rumors but Bernard could not help but believe those rumors now.
The north king nodded not bothering to say anything and let his beta do the talking.
He didn't want to be here in the first place as he had piles of work that was waiting to be completed in his kingdom but he just decided to honor this invitation.
"It was nice of you to invite us, sir Bernard." The king's beta said.
"Please." Bernard said as he gestured with his hand to tell to come in.
They arrived at the grand hall where the ceremony would take place.
"The ceremony would start in a while, please make yourselves comfortable. If you need anything you can just call on the maids." Bernard said as he directed them to where they would sit.
"Please excuse me." He said with a bow and excused himself and left two royal guards behind in case the north king needed anything.
Half an hour later, the hall became filled up and the ceremony was about to start.
"King William Hawthrone, Queen Layla Hawthrone." The royal guard's voice echoed through the hall, announcing the presence of the king and queen.
A hush fell over the crowd, and all eyes turned towards the entrance. The doors swung open, and King William Hawthrone and Queen Layla Hawthrone majestically walked in.
Everyone in the hall stood up and bowed to give their respects.
The king, short with a slightly protruding belly. His regal attire was adorned with gold threadings.
Queen Layla, dressed in a black gown with intricate silver embroidery, radiated elegance and poise. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back.
Together, they walked towards the grand chair prepared for them.
The guests remained bowed, their heads lowered in respect, as the royal couple made their way to where they would sit.
With a wave of his hand, King William signaled the people to sit down.
King William remained standing while Queen Layla settled herself on the right side of the king.
"As we all know why we have gathered here today to celebrate this joyous occasion: our girls who have turned the legal age…" King William paused, surveying the room and then continued.
The hall had an upper floor which was reserved for the kings and other noble guests who were seated on the right side of the floor and on the left side, the girls of legal age sat poised.
Arielle listened to the king's speech but could not come to understand the reason for this ceremony.
Even if they wanted to hold a celebration for the girl's coming of age, it should not involve marriage, right?
She wasn't the only one that thought about it, some of the girls had questions also.
Arielle's gaze drifted to the girls seated nearby.
"Why do you think this ceremony is held Anna?" The girl whispered to another sitting beside her.
Anna shook her head, her brown eyes wide with confusion. "I don't know Bella. It is just confusing." Bella agreed.
"What do you think Emma?" Bella asked the girl sitting beside her.
"I asked my mother about it but she didn't give me a reply. She told me it is forbidden to discuss."
"My mother said the same. It's as if they are hiding something." Anna said, her voice barely audible.
Arielle listened to the girls. Forbidden?
It would have been easier if they were told the reason at least.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when the hall erupted into applause.
And with the concluded speech of the king, the ceremony began.
The girls were to present a talent they were good at and any man who found them attractive would come to take them.
Even though this concept was really confusing for some of the girls especially Arielle, there was nothing they could do except to go ahead with it.
Arielle noticed the eager faces of the men gathered below them. She coincidentally met the gaze of Davis, she offered him a polite smile and he nodded in response.
The first girl, Emily, began her talent showcase, skillfully playing a melodic tune on her flute. The hall erupted into applause as she finished playing.
The girls stood up one after the other to showcase their talents. Arielle felt nervous as it would soon be her turn.
On the other side of the floor where the girls were seated, a figure watched the scene unfolding below with zero to no interest.
The figure was shrouded in shadows, making it impossible to discern any defining features.
King Adrian lost interest in whatever was going on downstairs.
'Mate! Our mate is here Adrian! She is here!'
Behind the mask, Adrian snapped his eyes open. Did he just hear his wolf? His wolf, Kaelos, gradually lost the will to speak and has been quiet for some years now.
He also could not shift to his wolf form.
And this? This right now came as a shock to him. Mate?
'So now you are willing to talk?' Adrian asked sarcastically.
'Ohh! please. Did you not hear what I said Adri? Our mate is somewhere in this hall?' Kael said.
'Just keep quiet and stop saying nonsense. I am trying to rest here.' Adrian said to his wolf not believing the nonsense he was saying.
'I am going to come out if you keep ignoring me Adri.' Kael said.
'You can try.' Adrian replied sarcastically.
He thought his wolf would be weak, at least not as strong as him as he had not come out in years.
Kael didn't bother to talk again.
Arielle's turn approached, and she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She had chosen to recite a poem.
But before her was Chloe. Chloe had chosen to dance. She took her stance and the music began. Chloe's body swayed to the rhythm, her movements fluid and confident.
Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as she twirled and looked at Arielle. Arielle rolled her eyes in response.
The audience watched, entranced, with every step she took. When the music finally came to an end, Chloe took a triumphant bow, her chest heaving with exertion.
The hall burst into applause and Chloe smiled. She looked through the crowd, her eyes searching for a particular person. Her eyes finally landed on the person she was looking for, Davis.
Davis was the King's nephew and Chloe wanted to by all means get married to him.
Her dad had overheard Davis when he was speaking to his mother that he was going to choose Arielle, Edmund's daughter during the ceremony. He could not allow that.
Edmund was the King's favorite minister and even when the King denied it was not the case, Chloe's father did not believe it.
He hated the fact that everything he was getting before from the King, he no longer got ever since Edmund came into the picture.
If Edmund's daughter married into the royal family, he would be completely forgotten by the King. So, he had told his daughter to do anything possible to make Davis choose her.
His reason was a little twisted though.
Chloe who had always hated Arielle and was always in constant competition with her, it was not reciprocated though. She had no reason to object as she also liked Davis and she would not allow Arielle to get him.
Chloe smiled at Davis but the latter did not smile back and looked away from her.
Chloe's smile faltered as Davis looked away. A spark of anger ignited inside her. She knew Davis liked Arielle but she would make sure he doesn't choose her!