Chapter SAGE


    80


    It''s been three days since we left the pce. And since then, we haven''t heard anything from Titus. Scott insisted that we wait for a few more days, but I couldn''t wait another day. We need to act now or else it might be toote. And that''s what I was afraid of I went out of my room and found ra and Scott in the kitchen preparing the table. "We need toe up with a n now." I told them with both of my arms ced on my waist.


    They both looked at me in unison before they turned their eyes onto each other. They remained silent as if they were still figuring out what I just said.dy it''s only been three days..."


    M


    "No, Scott. It''s s already been three days and we haven''t heard anything from Titus. Not even a signal or anything. Isn''t that rming?"


    "His Majesty was probably just being cautious. His priority to ensure your safety. Contacting you when things haven''t settled is dangerous, Scott replied.


    I blew a loud sigh of frustration. I wanted to insist on what I want, but I can''t deny the fact that Scott makes so much sense.


    Hook a a deep breath, my my chest tightening with frustration. "Can you at least tell me what happened?" I demanded, my voice steady butced with impatience. I need to understand why all of this is happening. Stop giving me the same bull crap about waiting for Titus. I need to know what''s going on now!" Scott remained silent for a few moments, his gaze fixed on me as if he were weighing his options, deciding just how much to reveal. His eyes scanned my face, gauging the seriousness of my demand. I wasn''t backing down. eded answers, and I wasn''t leaving this t them. Finally, with a heavy sigh of defeat, he relented.


    room until I got them.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    "When His Majesty discovered Annika''s deceit, he didn''t waste any time," Scott began, his voice low but clear. "He sentenced her to death immediately. Once his mind cleared of the chaos she''d caused, all he wanted was you. His Majesty wanted to find you as quickly as


    possible and and bring you back to the to the pce. He also dered you free of all charges.


    I blinked, my heart pounding at the thought. I hadn''t expected that


    "But, Scott continued, his expression darkening, "the Queen. She didn''t take it lightly. We all epted Annikat because it was believed she was His Majesty''s fated mate. It''s the one thing even the Queen couldn''t challenge. But when the truth came out, when it was revealed Annika has poisoned His Majesty, the Queen was furious. She insisted that it was time for His Majesty to declice her as his chosen Luna." brows


    My


    s furrowed as I tried to make sense of everything. "Okay, but that doesn''t exin why things have escted like this, or how the Royal Elders got involved."


    Scott sighed again, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the story he carried. "Because His Majesty refused. He outright rejected the Queen''s demand. He told her he would only have one Luna. And that Lu?a... is you."


    1 fell silent, my mind reeling. The words hit me with a force I wasn''t prepared for. Titus had refused the Queen, the woman he had married, and chosen me. ver truly considered what happened after we escaped the pce, too busy trying to stay alive and out of sight. Scott continued, his voice growing more somber. "The Queen didn''t take the rejection well. She went straight to the Royal Elders, iming His Majesty was jeopardizing the throne by refusing to fulfill his duty and take a proper Luna. The Elders. well, they were already on edge after everything that happened with Annika. So when the Queen made her case, they werepelled t to intervene."


    80


    Cho, that''s why the Elders are here, I whispered, the pieces finally falling into ce. The Elders were here not just to ensure the purity of the throne but to challenge Titus''s decision-to challenge me.


    "So.


    "Not entirely because of that. When His Majesty pardoned Annika and change his sentence, they consider that His Majesty was already swayed by a human which makes him deemed unfit to rule the throne." Scott confirmed.


    I swallowed hard, the weight of it all crashing down on me. It was because of me that Titus was being questioned, because of me that the Royal Elders were threatening his reign. The enormity of the situation settled over me like a storm ud, and t felt a pang of guilt. "I... I didn''t know, I murmured, my voice barely audible. 1 didn''t realize it woulde to this."


    "?


    Scott''s gaze softened. "None of us did. But now that you know, you understand why we must be careful. The Elders are powerful, and they won''t hesitate to remove His Majesty from the throne if they feel he''s putting the kingdom at risk. That" why you''re here, in hiding, mydy. Because you are a part of this of this now. The Queen she''ll do anything to secure her ce. I clenched my fists again, a swirl of emotions tightening inside me anger, fear, guilt. I thought escaping the pce was the hard part, but now I realized that the battle had only just begun "And what about Titus?" I asked softly. "What''s going to happen to him?"


    Scott''s eyes flickered with something I couldn''t quite ce-doubt, perhaps, or maybe fear. "That''s up to the Royal Elders to decide. But if they believe his refusal to take the Queen as his Luna is a threat.. they could remove him from power."


    I


    I stood there in stunned silence. Titus had defied the Queen for me, and now everything was at stake-his throne, his life, our future. I couldn''t sit here and wait while he faced that alone. But at the same time, rushing in headfirst could make things worse. The dilemma tore at me, pulling me in two different directions.


    "ver wanted this, I whispered, my voice trembling.


    Scott stepped closer, his expression solemn but resolute. "None of us did, mydy. But here we are. And now we have to face it together."


    The weight of Scott''s words hung in the air, thick with tension. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as the reality of the situation settled over me. ver wanted this-never asked for Titus to risk everything for me. And now, his reign, his future, was on the line because è of a choice he made, a choice that involved me. I swallowed I the lump forming in my throat, trying to find my voice. "We have to do something. I finally said, the tremor in my voice betraying the storm of emotions swirling inside me. I can''t just sit here and wait while the Royal Elders decide his fate. I won''t


    !


    .I


    Scott''s eyes softened, but there was an unyielding resolve in them as well. I understand how you feel, mydy. Believe me, I do. But if you rush back there now, you''ll be ying straight into the Queen''s hands. She wants you to act rashly, to make a mistake. That''s why His Majesty made sure you were brought here to keep you safe and out of reach.


    "But what if he doesn''te back?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. It was the thought that haunted me, gnawed at my soul with every passing second. "What if... they decide he''s unfit? What if they take him away?"


    Scott clenched his jaw, his expression hardening. That''s a risk we''re all afraid of, but it''s not a decision we can force. Right now, the best way to help His Majesty is to stay hidden, to stay out of the Royal Elders reach. If they find you, they''ll have even more ammunition to use against him."


    I pressed my hands to my forehead, the weight of helplessness crashing down on me. There has to be another way." I muttered, pacing the small room as my mind raced for a solution, any solution. thought Scott was going to insist that we stay still and wait for Titus. But it seems like he had been thinking about what I said


    "You''re right, mydy. We might not be able to go back to the pce right now to see what''s going on, but there''s nothing Chapter 80


    wrong with being prepared. We''ll start nning just in case something had happen"


    He stepped out of the kitchen and disappeared for a brief moment. When he returned, he was holding a rolled-up piece of parchment in his hand. Without saying a word, he quickly cleared the tes they had been arranging earlier, setting them aside with a sense of urgency "This is a detailed map of the pce, Scott said, unrolling the parchment and spreading it across the table. The intricateyout of the pce appeared before us in fine ink, showing every corridor, every chamber, and every hidden cor. "It includes the hidden passages as well. ra''s face lit up with a sudden idea. "That''s right! We can use the same passage we used when we tried to escape the pcest time," she suggested, her voice tinged with excitement.


    well.


    Scott, however, shook his head. "No, we can''t use that one. His tone was firm, decisive. "When you two escaped, the entire pce learned about that passage, including the queen. She''ll have guards posted there for sure. It would be too risky." ra frowned, clearly disappointed. Then what do we do?" she asked, ncing between me and Scott


    Scott''s finger traced a line along the map before stopping at a point far from the known escape route. "Here," he said, tapping a small, almost invisible mark on the parchment. This tunnel. Only His Majesty and I know about it."


    I studied t the spot he was pointing to, trying to memorize every detail. It was cleverly hidden, far from the pce''s main chambers and tucked away in a corner of the map that most people wouldn''t even think to check.


    "How sure are you


    is still secure?" I asked, my voice cautious but hopeful.


    that this passage is still secure?


    Scout''s gaze hardened, his jaw tightening. "As sure as I can be, mydy. It''s been kept secret for years. No one but the king and I have ever used it. If we need to get back into the pce without being detected, this is our best chance." "Alright," I said, the resolve building inside me. "We''ll keep this in mind. But what else do we need? We can''t just rely on one n. What if something goes wrong?"


    I nodded, feeling a a flicker roof, rolling supplies


    Scott gave a e a thoughtful nod,


    Cale


    ra stepped forward, her expression hardening with determination. I''ll prepare everything we need. We''ll be ready for whateveres."


    As Scott and ra started moving with purpose, gathering items, I couldn''t help but feel the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders. Every moment that passed was another moment Titus could be in danger. But at least now we had a n -away to act if things went south. It wasn''t much, but it was enough to cling to for now. The three of us shared a determined nce, knowing that this might be our only shot to rescue Titus-or at least, to fight for what was ours. The uncertainty hung over us like a storm cloud, but beneath it, there was a glimmer of hope. "We''ll be ready," I whispered to myself, steeling my resolve. "For whateveres next."