She walked in proudly, her heels making quite a majestic entrance.
My maid and I bowed to her respectively.
"Get out." She said and my maid left the room quietly.
"It seems you're not ready for the day."
I raised my head. She was clad in a beaded gown and had golden jewelry from her head to her toes.
"Forgive me, Your Highness, my maids informed me, but I never thought it would be so early," I replied, covering up for my maids.
"It's fine, dress up and don't keep me waiting. We have a lot of places to attend," she replied and strolled out.
She seemed unusually nice but I was alert.
I heaved a sigh and wondered how the day was going to be. I had my shower and got dressed. My maids did an amazing job with speed, and I was pleased.
I was led outside and on our way to the chariot, I saw baskets of flowers, bottles of honey, gallons of milk, and other magnificent things.
"Are those for someone?" I asked curiously.
"They are for rite you and the Alpha will do tomorrow. It's a very interesting practice." One of them answered.
I was excited about the activities but not the marriage. We got to the chariot and I marveled inwardly.
It was a very beautiful chariot compared to the buses and cars we used in my era; it had two horses in the front and a coachman controlling them. It had back seats and the coachman seat.
It was painted blue and it looked majestic even though the horses were healthy and strong.
The queen regent was already inside, sitter with two of her maids.
"Here you are." She said as she saw me. "Come on in ."
My maids helped me into the chariot and two of them followed me.
"We should start moving." She commanded the coachman, and he nodded, then entered the chariot. Ten guardsmen secured our chariots as they followed us on horses.
The castle gates opened and they made way for us. I looked back to check if Lorien was watching me, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Don't worry, the Alpha will soon join us, so don't panic. I can't do anything to you," she said as she noticed my movement.
I felt relaxed and breathed in silently.
We eventually got away from the castle, and we headed to the people's residence. They screamed and acknowledged us as they saw us. I don't think I'd be returning to my real body cause the way the people treated me was different from the way I was treated in my other body.
I felt respected as both the old, young and the children came out to acknowledge us.
The streets were very spotless and straight.
"Duskbane was the heart of Magnus's empire; he resided here then before things changed, and they divided the empire into kingdoms. My husband did his best and secured this kingdom and some other but he did not secure all."
I listened attentively as she talked and waved to the people.
I looked to my side and saw both kids and aged people. They all cheered happily and I waved back. I saw a bigger-looking, tattered, and weak; I immediately removed my ring and threw it at him.
He became joyful and bowed down to me continuously. The people saw this and began commending me.
"You don't do that, or else you'll end up giving your jewelry to them." The queen regent reprimanded me silently.
"I'd rather give them all my jewelry than watch them suffer," I replied and noticed she was not really pleased with my reply.
"Lorien has done an amazing job changing some things, but he can't do it all; nobody can do it all."
"Then we start from somewhere."
She looked at me and smiled. "You just accomplished your first test, Well done."
"First test?"
"I have to test the Alpha's mate if she is suitable to truly be his wife. My mother-in-law did that for me, too," she explained.
"I see."
We headed to the market and I was amazed.
"Do you know why we werewolves rule humans? They have few werewolves among them but do you know most are humans and can't shapeshift."
"I did not know but I thought so. I guess it's because werewolves are stronger and will be able to protect the inhabitants of Duskbane?"
"Good! Magnus welcomed both humans and werewolves. This made us different from the other kingdoms."
The queen looked at the maids and they got down obediently.
"Where are they going?" I asked.
"Most locals show gratitude by giving gifts. Lorien refused to accept them, but they would not stop, so I took charge."
I nodded, learning new things about duskbane.
She leaned towards me and whispered.
"The only reason I've not killed you is because Lorien hired a skilled Sherlock to keep an eye on our activity."
I moved away from her quickly, my ear could not believe what they heard. I looked around for help but it was the people celebrating us and the guardsmen protecting our chariot.
"Where is Lorien?" I asked through my teeth so the people wouldn't suspect anything wrong. I should have known she was pretending.
"I lied to you to make you feel comfortable. He's not coming here,, but his Sherlock is around here somewhere watching us." She replied as she adjusted her dress.
A Sherlock? He knew his mother was up to no good but I was also alert.
"So if he did not send the Sherlock, you would have killed me?"
"Without thinking twice. I did not even know we had a Sherlock on our tail until my shadow informed me…
"What!" I said in shock and immediately changed my expression and waved to the people. They were shouting anyway, so they couldn't hear our conversation except the guardsmen, but they had helmets on their heads.
"You're as guilty as your son," I murmured silently.
"I've been trying to get rid of you since, but you just find one way or the other to escape," she said and grinned mischievously.
"When did you try?" I asked, making sure she spilled the beans. Then I'd tell Lorien about it all.
"The shadow of the past that messed with your head. Well, Caelum wanted you alive so I had no choice but to withdraw reluctantly."
I wished Lorien was here to hear this, my heart raced as I heard those words. She was the one teaching Alistair, she was the root of the crisis.
"So you work for him? Are you not ashamed of yourself? Do you know how Lorien will feel when he hears this?" I asked and watched as her facial expressions changed.
"Oh no, he's gonna kill me. He will behead me!" she looked at me and laughed. "You think he will believe you? Come on, Seraphina, I thought you were smarter than that?"
I never thought Seraphina had so many enemies and they were so close to her. But because she was too weak to face them, I guess God gave her a second chance.
"But you worship Magnus and claim to be religious….
"Oh, here they come." she interrupted and the maids entered the chariots, each holding baskets of fruits, silk fabric, and other expensive things.
The queen regent stood up immediately.
"The Alpha's wedding preparation will begin tomorrow, my dearest people; please do well to join us in this joyous celebration as we join the queen-to-be and our beloved Alpha together," she announced, and they all applauded happily.
"The Alpha's mate wants to share a word with you all," she added as she took her seat.
But my mind was disturbed, what would I say? I thought as I stood up slowly.
"Umm. Well…
"You're so beautiful, your majesty." A pregnant woman yelled and they all commended me. That gave me confidence and I beamed sweetly.
"Thank you dear citizens of duskbane. I'm so glad you all are ready to accept me as your new queen and I can't wait to be your dutiful queen and serve you well. I promise to eradicate evil and serve justice with a candid mind."
They all cheered merrily.
"And if an injustice is done to you, you were raped, threatened, or cheated. If anyone dares mistreat you whether it's a royalty or a common man, please do not hesitate to reach me. If you can't come because you're scared or someone uses their royal position to threaten you, please write a letter and deliver it at the castle's gate. I'll look into it myself, no one will be treated unfairly." I added and looked at the amused regent.
They all applauded loudly and cheered my name as we turned to leave for the castle. I felt good after delivering that speech and wished God would give me the strength to deal with the oncoming matters.
"You did well Seraphina." The queen regent said as we headed back to the castle.
"I learned it from you, my queen," I smirked silently.