Chapter 56: A Royal Invitation
**Thelma Zane’s POV**
“Isn’t this the perfect opportunity?” I said with a laugh, looking at my friends. “Don’t worry
much. The King and Queen have been hoping I’d invite some friends over to the palace. What do you say? Come on, let’s make it happen!”
Despite their initial hesitation, they eventually gave in, though disbelief lingered on their faces.
Dorothy, however, remained quiet. I couldn’t gauge her feelings, so I turned to her and asked “What about you, Dorothy? You know the palace is welcoming and friendly, right?”
After a brief pause, she nodded in agreement, and I felt relieved.
As we parted ways at the school gates, I reminded them, “Tomorrow morning, the official of rites will deliver formal afternoon, and we’ll all
Vitations to your homes. Be ready by the head to the palace together!”
This was my first time inviting friends to the palace, and the excitement bubbling inside me was hard to contain. My parents immediately noticed my enthusiasm when I got home.
“Is there good news?” my mother asked, her voice warm and gentle. “You’ve been smiling like a kitten playing in the sun.”
I took their hands–my father’s with my left and my mother’s with my right–and cheerfully said, “I invited some friends from school to spend a few days at the palace! They’ll arrive tomorrow afternoon. Can I borrow the royal tailor to make them some gowns?”
Both of them looked pleasantly surprised. “Of course, you can,” my father said. My mother added, “We’re thrilled to hear you’ve made good friends at school. They must be wonderful young ladies.”
I spent the rest of the evening telling them all about my friends, and the conversation flowed easily, filling the night with warmth and laughter
The next day, after the invitations were sent out by the official of rites, I found myself pacing in the garden. A strange nervousness crept up on ine, and I couldn’t shake it.
“Come on, Thelma,” I muttered to myself. “You’re friends with these girls at school. Why are you so uneasy now? Everything will go perfectly fine!”
Still, I couldn’t help the fluttering in my stomach It didn’t help that I had postponed my training sessions with Aldrich. There were so may secrets I wished I could share with my friends, especially about my love life, but for now, those thoughts had to remain locked away.
by afternoon, my friends arrived at the palace, wide–eyed and brimming with curiosity. They resembled a flock of excited birds flitting from one corner of the grand hall to another.
“Moon Goddess!” Avril exclaimed breathlessly. “I can’t believe I’m actually here. This place even more magnificent than I imagined.
‘Did you see the guards at the gate?” Mara chimed in, her face lit up with excitement. “The looked so handsome in their uniforms. I bet all the boys back at school would turn envy.”
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Their awe and chatter made me laugh. When they asked nervously if they needed to formall greet the King and Queen, I reassured them. “There’s no need to be so formal. This isn’t th town hall! You’re here as my guests, so relax.”
I added, “The Lycan King is usually busy with work and doesn’t have much free time, but th Queen might invite us to dinner tonight.”
Avril’s eyes widened in alarm. “Dinner with the Queen? Oh no! I won’t be able to eat a bite. I’l be too focused on not clinking my fork against the plate!”
Dorothy chuckled at her dramatics, her usual stoicism softening for a moment.
We spent the afternoon exploring the palace grounds, including the sprawling garden. The girls were captivated by the lush greenery and vibrant flowers, taking countless photos.
“I’m going to tell my future grandchildren that I once stayed at a palace,” Mara declared with a mischievous grin. “I’ll even pretend I was a duchess. I can’t wait to see their expressions! Avril rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. You don’t even have a boyfriend, let alone the potential for royal lineage.”
As we were laughing and teasing each other, an unexpected figure appeared the Southern
Duke
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” I greeted him, bowing slightly to maintain my royal disguise. The girls quickly mimicked my actions, their movements awkward but endearing.
“Good afternoon, Miss Zane. How have you been?” the Southern Duke asked, his voice warm and polite.
“Thanks to your concern, everything is going well,” I replied.
We weren’t particularly familiar with each other. I had only met him once during his official visit to the Lycan Pack, where he had come to discuss diplomatic matters with my parents. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he excused himself and walked away.
As soon as he was out of sight, my friends let out audible sighs of relief.
“is this what it feels like to meet a noble?” Mara whispered. “He’s so commanding. Even though he was sitting, I felt like I couldn’t look directly at him.”
Dorothy nodded in agreement, a rare inocent of her sharing someone else’s awe.
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“Not all nobles are like that,” I explained. “The Southern Duke is an exception. He served in the military when he was younger and was a renowned soldier. That’s why he carries such an intimidating aura.”
Avril seemed thoughtful. “Carolyn is his daughter, isn’t she? It’s hard to believe they’re related. She always seems so delicate and soft, nothing like her father.”
“Well,” I said with a smile, “fathers often spoil their daughters. It’s part of their charm. A kind father’s love is truly one of life’s greatest blessings.”
In the evening, my mother invited everyone to dinner.
Avril and Mara, in their excitement, dug out their most formal outfits from their luggage. They looked like they were preparing for a grand awards ceremony.
“It’s just a regular dinner,” I said, trying not to laugh. “There’s no need to go overboard. It’s not a ball, you know!!
After some convincing, I managed to get them to wear simple yet elegant floral dresses to the banquet.
My mother, always gracious,
welcomed my friends with open arms. In fact, she seemed even more affectionate toward them than she usually was with me, which made me feel just a tad jealous.
“Thank you for being such wonderful friends to Thelma,” my mother said during the meal, raising her glass in a toast. “I was worried she might struggle to adapt to school life, but knowing she has you by her side puts my heart at ease.”
The girls blushed, clearly unused to such direct praise, and I couldn’t help but smile. For the first time, it truly felt like I was blending the two halves of my life–the royal and the ordinary -into something beautiful.
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