JASMINE’S POV
Once I had left the presence of the Queen, I took in heavy breaths.
I could hardly believe what had just happened.
It seemed the Queen had mistaken me for someone else.
Although the queen looked extremely beautiful, her face was sad.
One I wish I could take away from the woman.
The other woman with black hair had called the Queen mother, which meant she was her daughter.
The other girl with fire-red hair, just like mine, referred to the Queen as grandma. I believed that was Princess Coral’s daughter.
I had met the entire royal family, all except the King.
I had heard so many things about them: the good, bad, and ugly.
But I had never heard that the Queen had lost one of her daughters.
Since I also had red hair, it made sense why the Queen saw a resemblance.
Maybe her daughter had red hair.
I felt pity for her.
I sighed, and then I went on with my chores.
More and more packs came into the castle.
It was a circus, with the servants trying to help them into their room.
I tried my best to avoid Alexander.
I was scared of him. He had my secret now and could use it at the slightest inconvenience.
I then remembered the instructions my father had given me.
I should call up the bird, Qitania, to get information.
I had been in the pack for almost two months and had not given them any feedback.
My father must be angry by now.
"Qitania," I said.
It was currently late in the morning. There was an old abandoned clock tower, and I could go there by sunset, where the owl would find me.
I returned to my work and came across Lisa, giving me dory stares.
Mya was quiet, and the other serving girls ignored me.
I went to my quarters and found Loren mixing potions in anger.
"Is everything alright?" I asked him.
"No, it’s not!" He hissed at me. "Those bloody packs and their Alphas have come, and then along with them came their numerous ailments."
"Why do they ask you for medicine?" I asked.
"Because I’m the best." Loren boasted.
All healers were the same.
"But I can’t find Lyrun." He said. "It’s a plant for treating
"I know what it is, sir," I said softly.
It was a medicine that had many potent powers. As strong as it was, it was scarce.
Lyrun, I knew, could be found growing in the corpse of a dead Lycan.
Hence, where the name came from.
But lycans were rare, and so the plant itself was scarce.
It was used for everything, but most of all, it could help cast evil spells.
He looked at me and then grunted. "The last one I had, I mistakenly gave too much to Alpha Riddick. And now the Queen wants it to treat herself."
My eyes widened.
"The Queen?" I asked, my eyes following him as he picked through the different bottles.
"Yes." He replied. "She has been my patient for a while now."
The Queen looked healthy when I met her but was only sad.
"What’s wrong with her?" I asked him.
"She went weak in the mind after losing her daughter. Had dreams and hallucinations." He said this as he peered through his glasses while mixing the potions. "You do know the Queen lost her first child, don’t you?"
I had just found out a few hours ago.
"Well, it affected her for a while, and I treated her." He said. "She got better, and I was able to cut the medicine. But then her arrival today came with news she wasn’t doing too well."
It was all my fault.
I had been the reason why the Queen had fallen ill.
She had seen me and believed I was her king’s lost daughter, and instantly, her sickness had returned.
"If I had known that the Queen would be unwell, I would have never given that Riddick my medicine. What a waste!" Loren was annoyed.
I paused as I watched Loren scurry around, trying to make a substitute for Lyrun.
I knew it was my fault that the Queen had fallen ill.
The least I could do was help her get better.
Something came to mind, and then I snapped my fingers and hurried out.
"Hey, where are you going?" Loren asked, confused at my sudden flight.
I didn’t reply as I hurried down the stairs.
The chains at my feet weighed me down, or I would have already reached my destination by now.
I rushed down the halls and towards the back door.
Once I reached certain places, I had to stroll to avoid letting anyone hear me.
Then I made my escape out of the castle and towards the forest.
I followed the route I knew, and I was in my secret swamp after a while.
I slowly removed my dress and gently walked into the magical pool I had just discovered.
I still had no explanation as to why and how it had healed my injuries.
A little turtle swam, and I gently traced its beautiful margined back.
Then I turned to do what I had come here to do.
Completely naked, I dove down into the clear swamp.
According to some legend, Urma told me that Lyrun could be found on the sea’s surface or in a pond.
Any pure water habitat.
I hoped this one was pure; after all, it looked like
It had been untouched by people.
I swam down, my hair flying over my head, and I withstood the pressure.
There were fish, some even squid, and other sea creatures.
I didn’t bother them, and they didn’t bother me either.
I looked around, searching for the Lyrun, hoping that I would find it.
I couldn’t see it.
After a while, I was eventually about to give up, and just as I was about to swim up, a large crab rose from where it sat and swam away.
Right before me was Lyrun.