Chapter 60: Kariv is Back

A month passed.

The preparations for Qazaethel and Dawn’s wedding had been finalized, and the day came. They’re getting married now. The palace had been transformed into a vision of splendor, with flowers imported from every corner of the kingdom and silks draped from every archway.

Servants rushed through the halls, their arms are laden with decorations and trays of food, their voices were a constant hum of activity. The air was thick with the scent of incense and blooming jasmine, and the sounds of musicians practicing their instruments drifted through the corridors. It was a celebration fit for a sovereign, a union that would be witnessed by nobles from across the land.

Every concubine, including Eiravelle, got the invitation from the palace. The invitations had been delivered by royal messengers, each one was sealed with the sovereign’s crest and written on parchment so fine it seemed to shimmer in the light. Eiravelle had received hers in her chambers, her hands are trembling slightly as she broke the seal.

She had read the words three times, her eyes are lingering on the formal language, the elaborate calligraphy, the promise of a grand celebration. She had never been invited to anything before, not really. And now she was being invited to the wedding of the sovereign herself, the alpha who had chosen her as a concubine. The thought was strange, unsettling, and she did not know how to feel about it.

Even Qazaethel’s children received invitations. They lived in various parts of the palace, each with their own households and their own lives, and the messengers had been sent to every one of them.

Some accepted with quiet grace, others are with visible reluctance, but all of them knew that attendance was not optional. To refuse an invitation from the sovereign would be an insult, and no one could afford to insult Qazaethel.

Even Kariv.

Kariv, who just finished spending time with solitary, was finally out. The months of isolation had not been kind to him. He had been confined to a small chamber, cut off from the world, forced to confront the consequences of his actions. His once-pristine appearance had suffered; his hair was longer now, his face was thinner, his eyes are carrying a darkness that had not been there before.

He had spent his days in silence, replaying his mistakes over and over in his mind, nursing his resentment like a wounded animal. And now, finally free, he was not pleased to know that the sovereign is taking a phoenix empress.

He crumpled the paper and threw it away, but since it had magic, the paper smoothed itself and returned to fly in the air. The invitation hovered in front of him, pristine and mocking, its golden letters are catching the light. No matter how many times he threw it, it would not stay away. The magic was persistent, unyielding, just like the mother who had sent it.

"WHY AMA IS BEING LIKE THIS?! SHE WAS ALWAYS CRUEL!" Kariv yelled and knocked the nearby table down. The table crashed to the floor, its contents are spilling everywhere—cups, papers, and a vase that shattered into a hundred pieces. The servants who had been attending him flinched back, their faces are pale with fear, but none of them dared to speak. They had learned, over the years, that Kariv’s temper was dangerous when provoked.

His omega father, Kai, was sipping his tea. He sat in a nearby chair, his posture was relaxed and his expression was calm. He had seen his son’s tantrums before, had weathered them with the patience of someone who had learned to pick his battles.

He set his teacup down with deliberate care, the porcelain clicked softly against the saucer.

"Son, please. Calm down. It’s not the end for both of us. As long as the sovereign is not having a child with the Phoenix empress, we can still ensure that you will get the crown heir title," he said.

Kariv calmed down when he heard that. The words were like a balm on his wounded pride, a reminder that all was not lost. He took a deep breath, forcing his hands to unclench, forcing his heart to slow. "But how can we be so sure that it will be the outcome, Opa?" He asked. He was clearly worried, his mind was already spinning with possibilities, with plans, and with fears.

Kai was confident when he put the teacup down. He had spent decades navigating the treacherous waters of the Solkanaian harem, had survived purges and political upheavals, and had learned to read the currents of power with unerring accuracy. "I will take care of it. You focus on getting back your public image. You must show to the sovereign that you have come to your senses and had finally reflected on your mistake. If she sees that you have learned your lesson, she might give you a small semblance of favor."

Kai explained it calmly, his voice was smooth as silk, and hearing that brought a wide sinister smile to Kariv’s lips. The smile was not pleasant. It was the smile of someone who had been humiliated, who had suffered, and who was now planning his revenge.

"You’re right. And by that, I can finally go back and make Arielle and Eiravelle pay for what they’ve done to me!" Kariv uttered.

But Kai shook his head. "No! That’ll be a bad move. The sovereign took your former fiancée as her concubine."

Kariv was so shocked to hear that. The words hit him like a physical blow, and for a moment, he simply stared at his father, his mind was refusing to process what he had just heard. "What?! Ama did what?!" His voice cracked, rising in pitch, disbelief and fury warring for dominance.

"You heard me right. Your ex-fiancée was your Oma’s new concubine." Kai said, and he felt problematic. The situation was more complicated than he had anticipated, and the complications were mounting with every passing day.

"She was so desperate to be part of royalty, what the hell!" Kariv didn’t even know if he was gonna laugh, mock Eiravelle, or be angry about it. All he knew was mixed emotions.

Rage, yes, but also a strange, twisted satisfaction. Eiravelle had always acted so pure, so innocent, so above the petty ambitions of court life. And now she had done exactly what he had always suspected she would—she had climbed into his mother’s bed at the first opportunity.

"That desperate whore, it turns out all she wanted was to cling to wealth and power too." Kariv said, his voice was filled with so much contempt. The words tasted bitter on his tongue, but they also tasted like vindication.

He had been right about her all along. She was nothing but a social climber, a manipulator, an omega who would spread her legs for anyone who could give her what she wanted.

"I know, so you must be careful if you want revenge against that omega. I heard that she is also pregnant with the sovereign’s child." When Kariv heard that, he was shocked.

The words echoed in his ears, drowning out everything else. Pregnant. Eiravelle was pregnant. Pregnant with his mother’s child. Pregnant with a potential heir to the throne that should have been his. The thought made his blood boil, made his vision blur with rage.

Fuck, she refused to pleasure me yet she spread her legs for my mother just because she is the sovereign. How quaint, such a cunning omega. The words ran inside Kariv’s head, and he was heaving in a fit of rage now. His hands are clenched into fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms, and he had to fight the urge to destroy something else.

The servants had already retreated to the far corner of the room, their faces were pale with terror, and even Kai had leaned back slightly, his calm demeanor was flickering with a hint of concern.

"Don’t worry, Opa. I am back... And I’ll surely get my revenge on Eiravelle." He said, like an ultimatum. The words were a promise, a vow, and a declaration of war. He would not rest until he had made her pay. He would not rest until he had taken back everything that was rightfully his. He would not rest until Eiravelle and everyone she loved had been brought to ruin.

Kai watched his son, his expression was unreadable. He had raised Kariv to be ambitious, to be ruthless, and to do whatever it took to claim what was his. But there was something in Kariv’s eyes now that gave him pause. Something wild, something uncontrolled, and something that could easily spiral beyond his carefully laid plans.

But Kai did not voice his concerns. He simply nodded, reaching for his teacup once more. "Good. That’s the spirit. But remember, patience is key. We cannot afford to be reckless. We must move carefully, deliberately, and strike only when the time is right."

Kariv nodded, though the words barely registered. He was already lost in his fantasies of revenge, in visions of Eiravelle begging for mercy, of Arielle’s face twisted with anguish. He had waited months for this moment, had spent endless days in isolation dreaming of the day he would be free to act. And now that day had come.

He took the invitation that had been floating in the air, smoothing it flat against his palm. The golden letters are still glinted in the light, the sovereign’s crest was mocking him. "I suppose we have a wedding to attend," he said, his voice was cold and steady.

Kai nodded. "Yes. And you will be on your best behavior. You will smile, you will congratulate the happy couple, and you will show everyone that you have changed. That is the first step."

Kariv smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. "Of course, Opa. I understand."

The wedding would be the perfect opportunity. All eyes would be on Qazaethel and Dawn, the happy couple, the future of Solkanaia. No one would be watching him. No one would suspect. And by the time they realized what he had done, it would be too late.

He would make them all pay. Every last one of them.

***

The day of the wedding dawned bright and clear, the sun was rising over the palace like a blessing from the gods. The streets surrounded the palace and lined with citizens hoping to catch a glimpse of the ceremony, and the palace itself was a whirlwind of activity.

Servants rushed to and fro, carrying armfuls of flowers and silver trays laden with delicacies. The great hall had been transformed into a wonderland of silk and gold, with garlands of jasmine and roses draped across every surface. Musicians played from a raised dais, their melodies floating through the air like birdsong.

Eiravelle stood before the mirror in her chambers, staring at her reflection with a mixture of trepidation and resignation. She had chosen a simple gown of deep blue silk, one that flowed gracefully over her growing belly without drawing too much attention to it.

Her hair had been arranged in an elegant twist, and a single pearl adorned her neck. She looked every bit the concubine, poised and composed, even though she felt nothing about any of this. She had learned that when there are gatherings, people are always there, waiting for her to make a mistake.

Arisia and Ariphale’s angry words, along with her parents, replayed in her mind. She was afraid to become a laughingstock in this gathering again, and even disgrace Qazaethel. She doesn’t want that, especially this is her new life.

Saye stood behind her, adjusting the folds of her gown, her expression was kind but concerned. "You look beautiful, Lady Eiravelle," she said softly. "Are you ready?"

Eiravelle took a deep breath, her hand was drifting to her stomach. "I don’t think I’ll ever be ready," she admitted. "But I don’t have a choice."

She followed Saye through the corridors, her footsteps are echoing in the marble halls. The closer she got to the great hall, the louder the sounds of celebration became.

She could hear the murmurs of the assembled guests, the lilting notes of the musicians, and the occasional burst of laughter. She could feel the weight of expectation, the sense that she was walking into something she could not fully understand.

She did not see Kariv among the guests. She did not know he was there, lurking in the shadows, watching her with cold, calculating eyes. She did not know that her presence at this wedding had sparked something in him, something dangerous and destructive. She did not know that the life she had tried so hard to build was about to be threatened once again.

But for now, in this moment, all she could do was walk forward and survive.