Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch-Chapter 234: Lysandra’s Legacy

Progenitor?

Son?

She could tell the gender of my child. Not Celia or Corvin could. Orianna smiled as if she could read my mind.

Drevon stepped into the light. "Progenitor?"

"He shall give rise to our family line. He’s our hope."

I inhaled sharply. First it was the warlocks and now them. They come and speak of my child’s future as if it were their own. I never liked it.

"So you’re here for my child," I said sternly. "Just like the warlocks, you have some twisted ideas."

"No... I’m here for both of you. You’re both the Winter clan’s treasure. Grandmother was heartbroken when she heard the news that you may be alive. I have never seen her that way..." She clenched her teeth.

I felt a sting in my chest at her words. They sounded so genuine.

"At first, we doubted your existence. Grandmother was not willing to take action. The same humans who took her granddaughter away now speak of the survival of her child. Imagine how she must have felt." A tear slid down her cheek.

I inhaled sharply. "And you? You were willing to take action. Do you realize what you did here? You killed knights and hurt the empire’s princess."

"I came to be the sacrifice."

"Sacrifice?"

"I took it upon myself to see if you truly exist, knowing it would cost me."

"Your actions are not justified!" I uttered bitterly.

"Consider it fair." She dragged her back to Drevon. "The ambush you did to end the war... I lost people I love."

"That was war," Drevon said sternly.

"You took Grandfather, too."

"A ploy made by Richard, he used me as much as he did your clan."

"Tell me you gave him a fitting death..."

Drevon said nothing back to her, but she inhaled as if she had gotten one, a satisfying smirk on her lips.

"I thank you, monarch. You can kill me for my crimes... It does not to me." She looked at me. "I have confirmed your existence."

"You said you’re not alone, are they within the empire?"

She chuckled. "There’s no need to be afraid, unlike me, she won’t indulge in a bloodbath. She gave up on that a long time ago."

"What do you mean?"

"My liege." Garrick came forward. "I bring urgent news."

"What is it?"

"At the border, there are snowblood requesting entrance into Valkanor. They claim they would like to see the monarch and queen in an official meeting."

"Official meeting?" Drevon said with clear irritation. "What kind of game are they trying to play here? First, they infiltrated my castle, and now they think they can make such a request?"

"I told you I acted alone, and Grandmother has no wish for violence."

"Why should I believe you?"

"She has grown tired. She wants a different peaceful approach as long as she meets with Eloise. You can either ride out there and kill what is left of the Winters and truly live up to your name as the terror of the snowbloods, or you give an old woman one last wish."

~•~

"Drevon..."

He halted his steps, but he didn’t face me.

I swallowed hard before I asked. "What are you going to do?"

It was obvious what he would do. I could feel it. Snowbloods were enemies to Lycans, and they were like oil and water. However, Orianna’s words kept plaguing me, because I believed everything she said. She committed a crime, but she only did what she thought was right.

"What do you want me to do?"

I was surprised by Drevon’s words, yet I was nervous to answer.

"The snowbloods have come here as diplomats. Orianna clearly acted alone to confirm my existence. If you ride out to kill them, you would seem irrational for doing it. They may have been the lycans’ enemies, but their appearance this way is not threatening."

Drevon sighed heavily. I came closer to him, placing my hand on his back and stroking gently.

"You can make any decision you want. No one will fault you, no one will question you."

He cast a look over his shoulder.

"Garrick."

"Yes, my liege."

"Accept their request."

"A-Are you sure?"

"The snowbloods are here as diplomats, not enemies."

"D-Drevon..."

"I know what your heart wants, my love. There’s no need to hide it from me."

My mouth hung open. Drevon placed his hand on my shoulders, a smile on his lips.

"You want to know about your mother’s family, and I cannot keep that from you."

~•~

I was extremely nervous, and my palms were sweaty. This wasn’t exactly what I imagined when meeting my mother’s family or any of the snowbloods.

Just like the lycans, I have read they were ferocious beasts who had no mercy for humans. But if there is one thing I have learned, it is that sometimes what we think we know is not always the truth; the best way to find out is to experience it yourself.

The large golden doors opened, and a small company of five stepped in. There was an elderly woman who led them, standing out from the rest of them.

She had silver hair styled neatly, with a few soft strands framing her face. Her blue eyes are sharp and calm. She was dressed in a deep blue gown lined with gold embroidery, with a high collar that framed her neck. Her cloak draped over her shoulders, lined with white fur.

She held a cane, but unlike Corvin, who used his for style, she used hers to steady her walk.

"I was hoping this would be my last day in this bloody realm," she spoke strongly. "Yet here I am in one piece, I should thank the gods that the monarch accepted us," she said, amused. "I’m honored you did."

I rose to my feet, and she flickered her gaze to me, eyes softening. "Look at you, you look so much like my Lysandra."

"Who are you?" was the only question I could utter at the moment, for I didn’t know what else to say.

I have thought of this moment a great deal, of a time I’d meet with the Winters, yet when it finally came to it, I was short of words.

"I’m Valestra Winter, your great-grandmother. But I can just be your grandmother. Whichever pleases you, my child."

"Orianna Winter came and made a spectacle in my empire," Drevon said, standing beside me.

"The news of your existence came as a shock to us, and Orianna acted on impulse. I assure you, I have no intention of starting a war. We have had enough of those, and even if it comes to that, you will surely outnumber us, and then we’ll be extinct. I do not wish for that cycle."

It was just as Orianna said, Valestra didn’t want blood. The tired look in her eyes was clear. She came within enemy territory, vulnerable and outnumbered.

I walked down the stairs to her.

"Eloise."

"It’s alright, Drevon..." I halted before her, and her eyes leveled to my bump.

A sad smile formed. "I hoped the news of you being pregnant was false."

"Why?"

"It’s all deja vu. Against my judgment, my husband sent my granddaughter away to marry some human. He said it was the only way to save our clan, but that became our doom instead. We were losing the war as well as everything. What’s the use now? I have lost everything dear to me."

Her breath shuddered. "If I could turn back time, I wouldn’t have let go of my Lysandra."

"My mother..." I said. "She didn’t deserve what happened to her; duty doomed her."

"As it did me." She reached for the locket she wore and took it off, and handed it to me.

Her hands were shaky, and I wondered if it was from the emotions or age. I never knew a snowblood would be so fragile.

"After everything, I took charge of what remained of the snowbloods. We have had enough of war, and I wish not to see blood spilled, but for Orianna’s sake, I ask that you execute me for her crime."

"W-What?"

"I’d take her place; she’s important to the Winters as much as you are. I do not wish to see any blood spilled."

I leveled my gaze to the locket, shakily opened it, and my breathing hitched.

"Is that..."

"Yes..."

There was a picture of my mother. She was beautiful, and she looked so much like me. It was like I was staring at a relic from the past.

"Your child is not just the progenitor."

I raised my gaze, and she cupped my cheek. "He’s the hope that snowblood and moonbloods can coexist without bloodshed."

"How can you be sure? Both sides have suffered so much loss. How could you possibly think my son will bring about this change?"

She smiled. "Because I have faith in the legacy my granddaughter left, and that legacy is you, Eloise."