I followed Maya down the marble corridor of the royal wing, my heart hammering against my ribs. The formal introduction was about to happen, and I had to pretend I barely knew the man who had held me in his arms until I fell asleep last night.
Maya knocked on the heavy oak door. A deep voice answered from within, and we stepped inside.
The Alpha King sat behind his desk, head bent over documents, a cup of coffee steaming beside his hand. His dark hair fell across his forehead as he wrote. Maya and I stood there, waiting. I studied him, memorizing every detail. This was the man I woke up beside, whose face I saw first thing every morning now.
He set down his pen and lifted his gaze. His expression was blank, cold even, as if we had never met. "Yes?"
"The new Royal Designer, Your Majesty. She will introduce herself," Maya said, bowing her head slightly. She glanced at me, and I nodded.
"Good morning, Your Majesty. I am Aurora Bluey, the new designer for the royal household." I bowed my head, keeping my voice steady.
"I think you mean a returning member of the court. Welcome back, Miss Bluey. It is good to have you here again." His tone was formal, devoid of warmth. No smile touched his lips.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Maya led me out, and I felt his eyes on my back until the door closed behind us. Only then did I allow myself to breathe normally.
We walked to another wing of the palace. "Prince John Hudson is the Alpha King's younger brother. He oversees all creative projects for the kingdom," Maya explained as we approached his office.
She leaned closer and lowered her voice. "He is handsome like his brother, but the Alpha King is far more appealing. Prince John, though, he has a reputation. Women fall at his feet, and he does not say no to any of them."
She knocked, and Prince John called out, "Enter."
His office was bright with afternoon sunlight. When we stepped inside, he looked up from his desk, studying us both with sharp green eyes.
"Good morning, Your Highness. I am Miss Bluey, and I have returned to serve the royal household," I said.
Prince John nodded. "Welcome back. Your timing is perfect. We have much work ahead."
Maya introduced me to the other two designers I would work alongside. One was male, one female. They greeted me politely enough, but I sensed something beneath their smiles. Something cold.
My workspace was separate from theirs, a small studio with tall windows overlooking the palace gardens. I had just begun unpacking my supplies when my phone buzzed.
I apologize for the coldness earlier. That was difficult for me.
I smiled and typed back. Everything is fine. I understand.
Less than an hour later, someone knocked on my door. A messenger informed me that all royal designers were summoned to meet with Prince John immediately.
I made my way to the council room. Several people were already seated around the long table. I took an empty chair and waited. Prince John entered first, and we all stood. Then the Alpha King walked in, and everyone rose again, including his brother.
My breath caught. He wore a dark suit that emphasized his tall, muscular frame. His commanding presence filled the entire room.
"There is a competition coming," Prince John began once everyone sat. "The Royal Artisan Tournament. All of you will participate. You must prepare your best design concepts and present them to me for review. After assessment, we will select the strongest design to represent our kingdom."
"You mentioned this before, Your Highness. We have been working on designs already. I believe we have everything under control," a woman said sharply. Lily Ambrose. She had been one of the designers I met earlier.
The Alpha King sat silently, observing. His gaze moved from face to face, lingering on mine for just a moment. I kept my expression calm, though my pulse quickened.
"The designs submitted so far are inadequate. They lack the quality I expect. I want each of you, all three designers, to create individual concepts and submit them for evaluation," Prince John said firmly.
"Stanley and I were assigned to this project from the beginning. It should remain the two of us. Miss Bluey just arrived. She needs proper training on our methods before participating in something this important," the male designer said. Stanley, I assumed.
"Exactly. Including her now suggests you doubt our abilities, Your Highness," Lily added, her voice tight.
I said nothing, but I understood what was happening. They wanted me excluded. We had barely spoken, yet already they were working against me. Ryan must have poisoned them against me before I even arrived.
I was here because the Alpha King insisted. I did not come to compete for glory or recognition. I only wanted to work, to do what I loved.
"We are aiming for the gold medal. Miss Bluey is part of this team now, and she will contribute to this project. If the three of you fail to meet my expectations, I will bring in a fourth designer. Am I clear?" Prince John's voice cut through the room like a blade.
Lily and Stanley exchanged glances, their expressions hardening. They were not happy. Ryan had been right, then. The royal family was already favoring me. Their lives here would become difficult with me around.
They would need to act quickly. They could not let me take over the department. After what happened to Ryan, they had learned to be cautious. They had to move carefully.
"Miss Bluey, I want to see your design concept first. I need to evaluate your skill level," Prince John said, turning to me.
"Of course, Your Highness. What is the theme of the competition?" I asked. The Alpha King's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched me.