Chapter 45: The Burden of Secrets
**Dorothy’s POV**
“Thelma, Thelma! Please be okay.”
As I paced anxiously, her name repeated itself in my thoughts like a prayer. Memories of her warmth, her kindness, and her radiant smile flooded my mind. Without realizing it, I slipped into a strange trance, the world around me shifting in inexplicable ways.
Time seemed to halt.
I saw the flutter of a butterfly’s wings slow to a crawl, like a mechanical toy winding down. The soft rustle of the wind stilled as if the air itself had frozen. Then, suddenly, unfamiliar figures appeared–shadowy shapes moving at an unnaturally fast pace, their forms flickering like a film played in fast–forward.
And then, I understood.
For the first time, my prophetic ability awakened, flooding my mind with a torrent of chaotic images and sensations. The weight of it all made my head spin, and I struggled to grasp even fragments of what I was seeing. Amid the confusion, a few details came into sharp focus before the vision dissipated like smoke.
“Thelma…” I whispered, her name trembling on my lips. “And Sir Aldrich.”
A bitter smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “It’s a love story destined to shake their world,” I murmured to myself. “But it’s also one that could cost them their lives.”
**Thelma’s POV**
The evening sunlight filtered through the curtains as I stretched, feeling more refreshed than I had in days. The exhaustion from endless meetings and sleepless nights had vanished, replaced by a comforting sense of peace.
A knock at the door roused me from my thoughts.
“Miss Thelma,” a servant called softly from the other side, “there is a young lady here to see. you. She says her name is Dorothy Hyeres, and she’s your classmate from Sivir Academy.”
Dorothy?
The name surprised me. Dorothy wasn’t the kind of person to seek out company. Quiet and withdrawn, she often avoided social interactions, preferring solitude to the company of others. I had tried on several occasions to befriend her, but my efforts had always been met with polite indifference. Why would she come to see me now?
“Please escort her to the guest room,” I replied after a moment’s hesitation. “Tell her I’ll be with her shortly.”
“Chupper–ki. The Borden of Bacjetu
I quickly washed up and straightened my hair before hurrying to meet her. As I entered the guest room, I found Dorothy sitting on the edge of the sofa, her posture tense and uneasy.
“Good evening, Dorothy,” I greeted her with a warm smile, though I couldn’t hide my curiosity.
To my surprise, she whispered, “Good evening, Thelma.”
The sound of her voice startled me. In all in my presence.
e time I had known her, Dorothy had never spoken
“Are you alright?” I asked, sitting down beside her. “I heard there was some trouble at school last night. I hope you weren’t hurt.”
Dorothy lowered her head, her voice barely audible as she muttered, “I’m fine… I’m fine…
But something about her tone seemed off.
Before I could press further, she hesitated and then asked, “Can we talk privately?”
The request caught me off guard, but I nodded without hesitation. Waving the servants away, I assured her, “It’s just us now. Whatever you need to say, don’t worry.”
She fidgeted with her hands, her gaze fixed on the floor. For a moment, I thought she might change her mind, but then she took a deep breath and said, “Can you promise to keep what I’m about to tell you a secret? I don’t mean to be rude, but this… this might be hard to believe.”
I couldn’t help but laugh lightly. “Of course, Dorothy. We’re friends, aren’t we? Friends keep each other’s secrets.” Then, with a playful grin, added, “We are friends, right? Or is this one sided?”
Her head snapped up, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a flicker of emotion in her eyes. After a long pause, she nodded. “Yes. We are.”
Her affirmation filled me with a quiet joy, but the seriousness in her expression reminded me
this wasn’t a casual visit.
Taking another deep breath, Dorothy began, “There’s something you need to know. I’m not… I’m not a pure werewolf. My father was a wizard. I’m mixed–blood.” She hesitated, as if weighing her next words carefully. “And last night, the chaos at school… that was my fault. My witch’s blood and my wolf were at war, and I lost control.”
Her confession hung in the air, heavy and unexpected.
For a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. Then, it hit me–the palace. Dorothy had been brought here. Could it be that she was being punished for something beyond her control?
“Are they going to-” My voice broke. “Dorothy, are they going to hurt you? Is that why you’re here?”
Her eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly shook her head. “No, no! The Lycan King has been very kind to me. He brought me here to protect me. He’s giving me a safe place to stay until everything calms down.”
Relief washed over me, and I slumped back into my seat. “Thank goodness,” I muttered, “I was ready to storm my father’s office if they were treating you unfairly.”
Dorothy’s lips quirked into a faint smile, but it quickly faded.
“There’s more,” she said quietly. “Because of my father’s bloodline, I’ve inherited the ability to see the future. And today… my first prophecy came to me.”
The weight of her words settled heavily between us.
“It’s about you,” she added, her voice trembling slightly.
“About me?” I asked, leaning forward. “What did you see?”
She hesitated before asking, “You’re in a relationship with Sir Aldrich, aren’t you?”
My heart skipped a beat. How could she have known? We had been so careful, keeping our relationship hidden from everyone.
I panicked for a moment, unsure of what to say, But Dorothy’s sincerity and the trust in her eyes calmed me.
“We’ve been keeping it a secret,” I admitted, my voice low. “Only you know now. Please, Dorothy, you can’t tell anyone.”
She nodded solemnly. “Of course. We’re friends, and friends keep each other’s secrets.”
Her reassurance eased my nerves, but the seriousness in her expression remained. Whatever she had seen, it wasn’t trivial. I braced myself, knowing the truth would change everything.
