Chapter 334 - 68: Unexpected Arrival

Two days after her meeting with Magistrate Jonathan, Aurora was leaving Silvercrest.

She had been awake long before sunrise, but by the time she reached the courtyard, the household staff had already started moving her things. A few trunks were loaded into the waiting supply wagon while the horses stood nearby under the grooms’ watchful eyes.

Rosanna was waiting near the fountain, stamping one white hoof against the cobbles as Aurora approached.

"I know," Aurora murmured, running a hand along the mare’s neck. "I’m coming."

The mare huffed loudly.

"You’re very impatient this morning," Aurora remarked.

When a nearby groom laughed under his breath, she caught his eye.

"Something funny?"

"No, Your Highness."

"Good."

She had barely pulled on a single glove when Elara called out from a few yards away, sitting comfortably atop her horse and looking far too pleased with herself.

"You’re actually leaving."

"I’m starting to regret allowing you to come," Aurora replied, turning to her.

"You say that now," Elara grinned. "And yet you still let me pack."

"That was my first mistake, though I made several others after that."

Aurora shook her head. Elara had somehow managed to make herself useful during the preparations while simultaneously acting as a complete nuisance.

Mostly a nuisance.

The heavy double doors swung open before Aurora could finish her gloves.

Queen Celeste walked into the courtyard, dressed in dark tailored trousers beneath a knee-length cream coat and a fitted black blouse. Small diamond earrings caught the crisp morning light as she stopped a few feet away.

"You’re up early," Aurora smiled.

"I could say the same about you," Celeste noted, her gaze drifting toward the loaded supply vehicles.

"I’ll be fine, Mama."

"I didn’t ask whether you’d be fine."

"You were about to."

Celeste sighed, though her eyes softened.

"You’ve become very difficult."

"Become?"

Behind them, Elara made a quiet choking sound.

Celeste shot her a look.

"Don’t."

"I didn’t say anything!" Elara protested, pressing her lips tightly together.

Aurora smiled, preferring this version of the morning. For once, nobody was debating politics or territorial disputes. It was just the three of them before breakfast, save for the fact that Aurora was moving to a new city and Elara had decided to make the entire departure an event.

Footsteps echoed near the courtyard entrance as King Vance appeared.

His eyes calculatedly assessed the supply wagons, the horses, and finally his daughter.

"You’re ready."

"I’ve been ready for an hour."

Vance glanced at Elara.

"You’re going too?"

"I was invited," Elara replied, straightening in her saddle.

Aurora raised an eyebrow.

"I don’t remember inviting you."

"You didn’t have to."

"I see," Vance murmured, looking between them.

Celeste folded her arms.

"You should be grateful she’s going. Without her, you’ll probably spend the entire journey talking to yourself."

"I don’t talk to myself!" Aurora insisted, though Elara snorted loudly in response.

Aurora turned her glare on her friend.

"You’re very close to being left behind."

"You wouldn’t."

"I might."

Vance cleared his throat, halting the bickering.

"Are we going to do this all morning?"

"No," Aurora said, stepping toward Rosanna. "I’d rather leave before you change your mind."

"My mind about what?"

"Nothing."

She went to mount, but her father took a step forward.

"Aurora."

The teasing atmosphere in the courtyard faded.

Vance walked closer and reached up, gently adjusting the collar of her riding coat, just as he used to do when she was a child too impatient to stand still.

"BloodMoon is different from Silvercrest," he said quietly. "Visiting and living somewhere are not the same thing. It has its own families, its own rules."

"I’ll manage," Aurora replied softly.

"I know you will."

The answer surprised her.

"Be careful."

Celeste stepped up beside him.

"Send word when you arrive. And don’t disappear for three days just because you’re busy settling in."

"I wouldn’t do that intentionally," Aurora conceded with a sly smile.

She caught the persistent worry lingering in her mother’s eyes and softened.

"I’ll be fine, Mama. I’ll call."

"And Aurora?" Celeste added. "Try not to get arrested."

Elara burst into laughter, and even Vance’s mouth twitched.

"I have never been arrested!" Aurora protested.

"I’d like to keep it that way," Celeste replied smoothly. "Go, before I give you a list of instructions long enough to reach BloodMoon."

Aurora swung into the saddle, smiling as her parents watched her.

Beside her, Elara fell into line.

Behind them, the first supply wagon pulled out as the heavy iron gates swung wide.

Aurora looked back just once to see her mother raise a hand in farewell, then she turned Rosanna forward into the mountain pass.

The initial stretch through the narrow pine slopes was quiet, but by midday, the mountain path opened into a broad, bustling highway filled with timber wagons, cars, and commercial traffic.

The air grew warmer as they descended into the lowlands, and by late afternoon, they met their transport team at the edge of an old oak forest.

Trading their horses for the back seat of a dark sedan, Aurora settled into the soft leather, resting her elbow on the window frame as the scenery transformed from quiet farmlands into the dense, vibrant outskirts of BloodMoon.

Silvercrest was clean, orderly, and open.

BloodMoon was crowded, loud, and delightfully rough around the edges.

Lights stretched out along the riverfront where vendors packed up stalls and tavern patrons laughed in the evening air.

"You’re doing that face again," Elara noted, leaning back in her seat. "Like you’re about to get away with something."

"Maybe I am."

The car crossed the historic bridge as the last strip of daylight faded.

Climbing toward the wealthier district, the bustling crowds gave way to quiet, tree-lined boulevards and imposing stone estates.

Finally, the vehicle slowed as it approached Bloodmoon Property.

Across the boulevard from the main Hall stood the property Aurora had bought: four stories of pale stone rising behind tall iron fencing, with sprawling gardens and ivy curling along the grand facade.

Aurora stepped out of the car, the warm evening air carrying the scent of damp earth.

She stood at the base of the front steps, her heart beating a little faster against her ribs.

"You actually did it," Elara murmured, joining her. "Are you nervous?"

"Maybe a little," Aurora admitted, looking across the boulevard toward Dane’s house.

Its high windows were dark from this angle, but the thought of who was inside made her smile.

Before they could go inside, the rhythmic click of hooves echoed up the lane.

A bay stallion rounded the corner carrying a familiar figure in a dark riding coat.

Lord Ramon.

Dane’s father.

He reined his horse to a halt, his eyes taking in the idling cars, the servants unloading trunks, and finally Aurora standing on the steps of the grand manor.

His expression tightened instantly.

"Princess Aurora. What brings you here?"

"Lord Ramon," she greeted smoothly, taking a step down. "I live here."

Ramon’s jaw shifted.

"You bought this property? Across from us?"

"I did."

"Does your father know about this?"

"He helped arrange the purchase," she replied, enjoying the sudden flash of disbelief across his features. "My mother knows as well."

Ramon stared at her, glancing toward his house before looking back.

"This is going to be a problem. There are strict rules regarding noble properties in this district."

"Then I’m sure you’ll tell me all about them," Aurora said coolly. "I’ll be waiting."

Before Ramon could respond, the heavy latch of an upper door clicked open across the street.

Aurora turned toward it.

High on the second-story balcony, a tall, broad-shouldered figure in dark clothes stepped out into the night air.

Even at a distance, the sight of him made Aurora stop breathing for a fraction of a second.

Dane.

He leaned against the stone railing, his eyes locking directly onto her across the boulevard.

"Oh, you’re in trouble," Elara whispered behind her.

Aurora didn’t answer.

A slow, unstoppable smile spread across her face as she looked up at him.

After four long days, she was finally seeing him again.

And this time, she wasn’t leaving his sight.