Chapter 11 Love's Lessons and New Horizons

•Ace's Office•

Ace's POV

I pushed open the door to my office, the hinges creaking softly. Eliana sat in my chair, her legs crossed elegantly, her eyes lighting up as she saw me enter. She smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. I scanned the room, noticing Ray's absence immediately. 

"Eliana, where's Ray?" I asked, my voice steady but laced with curiosity as I walked closer to her.

She leaned back in the chair, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. "He stepped out for a bit. Said he had something to take care of." Her gaze lingered on me, searching for something. "So, what did you and King Raymond talk about?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. The conversation with my father weighed heavily on me. "We talked about Ovelia," I admitted, my voice low. The words felt like stones in my throat. "Eliana… I need some time."

Her eyes widened, the color draining from her face. For a moment, she looked as though I'd struck her. "What?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

I avoided her gaze, the pain of this moment a physical ache. Ending a ten-year relationship felt like carving out a piece of my soul. "I need to… to figure things out," I amended, unable to utter the words 'break up' directly.

Eliana stood, her chair scraping harshly against the floor. She moved closer, her hand gently cupping my cheek. The warmth of her touch was a familiar comfort, yet it only amplified the turmoil within me. "Is this about Ovelia?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with a steeliness I hadn't expected.

"Partly," I admitted, my voice hoarse. "But it's more than that. I… I'm not sure what I feel anymore." The honesty felt both liberating and terrifying.

She searched my eyes, her own glistening with unshed tears. "If you need time, take it. But don't let that time be spent falling for someone else before you know what you want." Her voice was firm, a quiet strength underlying her words. She leaned in, her lips brushing mine—a kiss that felt both tender and final.

I kissed her back, the familiarity a bittersweet ache. When she pulled away, her voice was steady, though the pain was evident. "Promise me, Ace. If you find yourself falling for Ovelia, tell me. Then we'll end this properly."

I nodded, my throat constricting. "I promise."

She stepped back, a faint, sad smile playing on her lips. "I'll be back later," she said, her voice barely a whisper. She turned and left, her shoulders stiff with the effort of maintaining control.

Watching her go, the weight of my decision settled upon me. The silence felt deafening.

[Afternoon]

Ovelia's POV

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling like leaves in a storm. Lunch had been hours ago, and the quiet of the afternoon left too much room for my mind to wander. A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.

"Lady Ovelia, it's time to tend to your wounds," Ann said as she entered, her voice gentle and reassuring. She carried a tray of bandages and salves, her movements calm and precise.

I sat up slowly, wincing as the movement tugged at the gashes on my left arm. Ann approached, her hands steady as she began to clean the wounds. Her touch was firm yet soothing, and I felt a wave of comfort wash over me.

"Ann," I began, my voice hesitant, "what is love?"

She paused, her hands stilling for a moment before she looked up at me. Her eyes were thoughtful, a small smile playing on her lips. "Love?" she repeated, her voice soft. "It's like moonlight on a dark night, Lady Ovelia. It illuminates your path, even when everything seems unclear."

I frowned, trying to grasp her meaning. "Moonlight? How can something so intangible be so powerful?"

Ann resumed her work, her fingers deftly applying salve to my wounds. "It's more than a feeling," she explained, her voice warm with emotion. "It's a connection, an instinct. Like the bond within a pack, it draws you close to others, creating something unbreakable."

"It can," she admitted, her eyes meeting mine. "Loving deeply means opening yourself up to pain. It's like a storm—it can leave chaos in its wake, but it also brings growth."

"So why take the risk?" I pressed, my heart aching with every word.

"Because the joy that comes after the storm is unmatched," Ann replied, her voice filled with conviction. "Love fills your heart, makes you feel alive. It's worth every vulnerability, every scar."

I furrowed my brows, still unsure. "How do you know when you love someone?"

"It's in the little things," Ann replied, her gaze steady and warm. "Wanting to protect them, sharing your secrets, feeling their happiness like it's your own. It's instinctual."

I thought about Ace, about the way he made me feel. I hadn't felt those things with him, which meant I probably didn't love him. The realization was both relieving and unsettling.

"But what if they don't love you back?" I asked, the question spilling out before I could stop it.

"That's a possibility," Ann acknowledged, her tone softening. "But love is selfless. Sometimes, just caring for someone deeply is enough. We learn, even from heartache."

Her words settled over me like a heavy blanket. "It sounds… overwhelming," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"It can be," she said, her smile gentle. "Like transforming under the full moon—exhilarating yet terrifying. But without it, life feels hollow, empty."

I nodded slowly, her words resonating deep within me. "So love is both chaos and beauty?"

"Exactly," Ann replied, her eyes lighting up. "It teaches us about ourselves, our strengths, our weaknesses. It's the most vital part of being alive."

I sighed, feeling the weight of her words. "I think I understand… but it sounds so complicated."

"It is," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "But that's what makes it special. Embrace the journey. Love will find you when the time is right." She finished bandaging my arm and stepped back. "By the way, it's done."

"Thank you, Ann," I said, standing and wrapping my arms around her in a grateful hug. As I held her, I felt a bittersweet ache in my arm, but I could move it a little more now. Maybe understanding love was the first step to healing my heart, too.

"Lady Ovelia, aren't we going to bake a snack for Sir Ace?" Ann asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

I hesitated, then shook my head. "Not just yet. But, Ann, could I request a mini fridge in this room? Since you're not allowed to join me in the dining area, I thought it might be nice to enjoy snacks here together when we bake. Plus, any leftovers can be stored in the fridge."

Ann's face lit up with excitement. "Really, Lady Ovelia? Of course! I'll tell the head maid right away."

"And if it's just the two of us, could you call me Ovelia instead of Lady? It feels more friendly that way," I added, hoping to bridge the gap between us.

Ann hesitated, concern flickering in her eyes. "But, Lady…"

"Maybe you won't mind if I say it's an order?" I replied, my tone playful yet sincere. "I want you to see me as a friend, not your mistress, "

In truth, I had never had a friend in my life, but I had always longed for that connection, a feeling nurtured by the tales I read as a child.

She smiled a warm, genuine smile at me before wrapping her arms around me in a brief embrace, saying, "Okay, Ovelia, but only in this room."

I hugged her back, the warmth of the moment enveloping us. After a few seconds, we reluctantly pulled away from each other.

"Ovelia, I'm going to the maid's office to speak with the head maid about your request," Ann said, her tone tinged with urgency and happiness.

"Alright, thank you, Ann," I replied, feeling grateful.

With one last beaming smile, Ann exited my room. As soon as she left, I also stepped out, making my way to the palace terrace. I needed to breathe in the fresh air; I'd been cooped up in my room for too long.

As I walked, memories flooded my mind, bringing the familiarity of Ace's office closer with each step. As I neared it, the door swung open, and my heart raced with hope. Perhaps it would be Ace who would step out. But my anticipation quickly turned to disappointment when Eliana emerged instead.

Eliana approached, her smile bright like the sun. As she got closer, she leaned in, whispering, "Loser," followed by a soft, mocking laugh. Her words pierced through me a little but I brush it off quickly. I continued my stride toward the terrace.

•Palace Terrace•

The view from the terrace took my breath away. From this height, I could see almost the entire expanse of the Silverhowl Kingdom. The small houses and shops looked like tiny specks in the distance, and the figures moving below were indistinguishable—human or werewolf, it didn't matter. They all seemed to live in harmony, their lives intertwined in ways I couldn't fully understand.

I leaned against the railing, the warm glow of the afternoon sun bathing the kingdom in golden light. For the first time, I felt a longing to step outside, to explore the world beyond the palace walls. But fear gripped me—what if another werewolf was waiting to harm me?

I looked up at the clouds, my mind drifting back to the events of last night. It felt like a second life, as if I had been given another chance after narrowly escaping death at the hands of that black werewolf. I had run from the pain inflicted by my non-biological parents, only to find myself in a palace, married to a man who loved someone else. But maybe it was time to accept that this was my life now.

Even though my husband didn't love me and I had almost died, living in this palace wasn't so bad. They protected me because I was one of the humans who symbolized peace between humans and werewolves. I had Ann as my personal maid and friend, I ate delicious food, and I had expensive clothes and accessories. As for Ace… I wondered if we could just be friends. A part of me didn't want to compete with Eliana, but Ace was my husband. It didn't feel right to give up on him so easily. My head hurt just thinking about it.

I reached my hand toward the sky, as if trying to grasp the clouds. Maybe I should just go with the flow and let fate guide me.

"What are you doing here?"

I turned at the unexpected voice and found Ace standing near me, his expression a mixture of surprise and… something else. A hint of something softer than I'd seen before.

He reached for my hair, but I instinctively stepped back, a reaction that caught him off guard.

He sighed deeply as if the world's weight rested on his shoulders. "This morning, father spoke to me. He reprimanded me for what happened to you."

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air. I could see the conflict swirling within him.

"I saw Eliana leave your office earlier. She even called me a loser," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

A soft chuckle escaped Ace as he replied, "Are you jealous?"

I turned away, gazing once more at the houses and shops. Jealous? I'm not jealous, I just couldn't accept that she called me a loser.

He approached, placing a hand gently on my shoulder. It wasn't possessive, but rather… comforting. "Why didn't you bring me snacks? Didn't I tell you yesterday to find a way to make me fall for you?" His tone was teasing, but there was a warmth in his eyes that surprised me.

"My left arm hurts," I lied, but the truth was, I didn't want to bake. It felt pointless to compete against Eliana.

He studied my face. "You've been staring at the kingdom for a while. Want to get out of the palace?" His voice was soft, almost hesitant.

I turned to face him, gazing into his eyes, "Really?" I asked, my heart racing with excitement. "But I don't have any money…"

He smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. "It's on me." He gently cupped my face. "Isn't that how it should be? The guy pays for the date."

"Date?? Hmm, you mean a friendly date!" I corrected him, tugging at his hand.

"A friendly date," he agreed, his voice laced with a hint of something more. The uncertainty remained, but for the first time, a flicker of hope ignited within me.

I lead him out of the palace while holding his hand.

"That's not the way," he chuckled, directing me gently.

I paused, my face burning with embarrassment from my excitement. I glanced at him and smiled, making his cheeks flush in response.