Chapter 61: The Moonlight Mystery
**Thelma Zane’s POV **
My father had been growing increasingly uneasy about Carolyn, the southern Duke’s daughter. After observing her odd behavior, he decided to bring the matter to the Duke’s attention. However, when the topic was broached, the southern Duke reacted in an unexpected and rather frustrating manner.
“This is an insult,” he barked. “An insult to my daughter and me.”
Despite my father’s persistent reasoning and appeals, the Duke stood firm in his refusal to investigate Carolyn. His dismissive attitude seemed contradictory; while he claimed to protect his daughter, he showed little concern for potential dangers surrounding her. This dynamic between the Duke and Carolyn struck me as peculiar and troubling
Eventually, after much negotiation, the southern Duke reluctantly allowed the security department to conduct a discreet witchcraft inspection on Carolyn. The condition was clear: Carolyn must remain unaware of the investigation.
The operation was scheduled for the Moonlight Festival, a day filled with joy and celebration. However, my father had never mentioned that the inspection would take place during the float parade, which lasted from morning until night. This posed a significant obstacle, as the constant movement of the floats made it nearly impossible for the inspectors to approach Carolyn undetected.
Sensing that something might have gone awry, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
“Ladies,” I said, addressing my companions, “I must excuse myself to greet the southern Duke. The Queen has instructed us to extend her regards on behalf of the royal family, so we must not neglect our etiquette.”
Aldrich, always quick to pick up on subtle cues, immediately volunteered to join me. “I’ll come too. It wouldn’t be proper for me, as a noble, to ignore his presence.”
As we walked, Aldrich leaned in to speak in a hushed tone. “What’s going on? Is there something about the southern Duke that warrants attention?”
His intuition never failed to impress me. I shook my head. “It’s not him–it’s his daughter, Carolyn. She’s been exhibiting unusual magical fluctuations. The Lycan King suspects she might be under the influence of witches, so a secret investigation is underway.”
Aldrich frowned. “The float parade complicates things. There’s no way for the inspectors to approach her unnoticed.”
“Exactly,” I replied. “That’s why I need to find a way to address the issue.”
When we reached the Duke, he greeted us warmly “Happy Moonlight Festival, Sir Aldrich,
Miss Thelma.” He bowed courteously, fully embracing his role as the Moon Prophet for the day.
Carolyn, radiant yet cold, descended from the float to greet us. Her gown shimmered with pearls, and a diamond headband adorned her head–a picture of elegance masking a deeper mystery.
We exchanged pleasantries, though I intentionally prolonged the conversation in hopes that the float would move on without her.
“You look stunning today, Carolyn,” I remarked, admiring her intricate attire. “That diamond headband is exquisite. Is that baby’s breath? Such a unique design.”
Carolyn tilted her chin slightly, her voice laced with pride. “Thank you. It was a gift from my father for my sixteenth birthday. A renowned Italian jeweler crafted it exclusively for me.”
“And your brooch,” she added, her tone sharper, an opal moon–quite fitting for the occasion. Everyone gravitates toward opal during the Moonlight Festival, don’t they? A safe choice.”
I ignored the thinly veiled disdain in her words and changed the subject.
“Performing on the float must be exhausting,” I said casually. “Every year, even the royal. maids dread the task. Not everyone can endure dancing from dawn till dusk.”
Carolyn dismissed my comment with a haughty laugh. “Those weaklings are mere Omegas. I’m the future Alpha of the Southern Pack. Comparing me to them is laughable.”
Her arrogance was striking, and her blatant disdain for Omegas was offensive. It was a stark reminder of how far we still had to go to eliminate such prejudices.
Carolyn’s demeanor reminded me of Bernard–equally proud, arrogant, and condescending. Fortunately, Aldrich stepped in to lighten the mood.
“Would anyone like some moon fudge?” he suggested, gesturing toward a nearby clown. holding a tray.
The clown approached us with a jovial laugh. “Happy Moonlight Festival! Would you like some soft candy? We have cranberry and peach flavors.”
As we sampled the treats, the clown’s exuberance momentarily dissolved the tension. Carolyn eventually returned to her float, and we parted ways.
Back at the soda stall, I received a text from my mother. The inspectors had indeed detected magical fluctuations around Carolyn, but their findings were troubling. A powerful black sorcery shielded her, making it impossible to uncover anything beyond those initial traces.
“This is bad,” I murmured to Aldrich. “The magic is strong enough to evade detection. We’ll need the Duke’s cooperation to investigate further.”
Aldrich nodded thoughtfully. “We need to approach this delicately. He’s already on edge.”
As we strategized, I couldn’t resist asking, “By the way, how did you know the clown was a disguised inspector?”
Aldrich grinned. “I didn’t. But he kept hovering near us and didn’t offer his candies to anyone else. His behavior was suspiciously out of place.”
I stared at him in admiration. “You’re incredibly observant. I didn’t notice anything unusual about him.”
“Soldiers are trained to notice the little things,” Aldrich replied. “On the battlefield, staying alert can mean the difference between life and death.”
I
I couldn’t help but admire his sharp instincts. As the festivities continued around us, resolved to uncover the truth behind Carolyn’s mysterious behavior. Whatever secrets the southern Duke and his daughter were hiding, I would find them–and ensure that justice prevailed.
