CHAPTER 157: CONNECTING THE PIECE

Ariana’s body arched as she opened her eyes. Where was she? She looked around and realized that no one was there—she was in something like a dark room her throat felt dry.

"Aria."

Her heart stuttered as she heard his voice—h...her husband’s voice.

"Z...Zavren," she whispered hoarsely as she tried to stand, but her legs wobbled. Yet she forced herself up despite the pain. The kind of pain that shot through her knee was unbearable, yet she still stood.

She needed to see her husband.

She could not make out anything, as the room was so dark—so dark that she raised her hands to feel around, not wanting to hit any wall.

"Z...Zavren, w...where are you?" Her heart squeezed in her chest as she tried her best not to fear, even though her body was trembling deeply.

Her eyes watered as she gulped hard.

"Aria, where are you?"

She moved her legs quickly as she tried to follow the voice she had just heard, trying her best to keep up.

"I...I can’t see," she managed to whisper again, this time more faintly. Her breath began to shorten; she tried to gasp for air as she spoke, her breathing growing more and more rapid. Her legs wobbled slightly, yet she kept walking toward his voice—her husband’s voice.

"You can do this, Aria."

She was finally catching up to him; his voice was growing near.

"Z...Zavren, speak again. I need to catch up with your voice," she whispered softly yet crackly as tears ran down her face. She had missed her husband dearly, and this war had brought fear into her heart. So many things had happened, and the only thing she wanted now was to wrap herself in his arms—that alone would bring her so much joy.

"Aria, I am coming."

Ariana smiled as his voice finally came close. She looked up, though she could not see his face because of how pitch-dark the room was. And then—the light came. Ariana’s eyes closed and opened as she tried to adjust to it. She raised her head back up, and her body jolted backward.

Her ex-husband stood there. His face calm, yet his eyes looked dead. Fredrick hands moved to Ariana’s throat. Her lips parted as she tried to gasp for air, but it was like she could not breathe. A creepy laugh left the man’s lips, echoing around the empty room.

"Oh, Aria... it seems like you are already deeply in love with this husband of yours. Hmm. And pathetic to think—I am not dead."

Ariana tried to push him away, but his hands tightened even more. She took another gasp and then...darkness.

Her breath left her body as she fell to the floor.

♧♧♧

Ariana’s lips trembled as she gasped gently for air. That dream had rushed into her brain too realistically again. She knew it did not feel like a dream at all—in fact, it was too real.

She could still feel the pain around her neck when she woke up, which was why she had drunk water. The fear was slightly visible in her eyes.

Stephanie, who noticed her sudden calmness, spoke softly, worried something was wrong with the Queen.

"Your Grace, please... are you okay?"

Ariana nodded gently, then turned to Stephanie as silence fell. The reason Stephanie knew about Ariana’s ex-husband was because of the letter she had wanted to read—the same one Lord Zekel had been trying to hide from her.

"Luna Ariana, I apologize for not saying anything earlier, but I felt it was not in my place to speak about matters like that," she said softly as she lowered her gaze. She could not help but feel like a bad friend.

Of course, there were times she wanted to ask Ariana, but she never knew how to do it without crossing the line or touching a sensitive topic. So she decided to leave it—after all, she wasn’t supposed to know everything. That was what she told herself to feel less guilty.

Ariana was silent. She waited for Stephanie to continue. She had no idea Stephanie knew anything about her ex-husband. But she could see it...that look Stephanie gave earlier. It wasn’t the expression Ariana expected, and the way she turned her head had said enough.

"A letter was sent to Lord Zekel on the day of the Luna Celebration."

Ariana’s eyes widened slightly. She hadn’t expected it to be that long ago. Yet she still waited for Stephanie to continue. Stephanie’s eyes rested on her silky nightgown as she began to fidget.

"That day, I overheard them...him and the guard talking about him and so I entered his room out of curiosity. I wanted to check the letter, but he stopped me before I could, a.and I slept in his room."

Her face burned with embarrassment as she continued. "I could not read the letter until recently. Not really recently, Your Grace—maybe a month ago, or three weeks and some days, before I came to the duplex with mo..." Her throat hitched as she took a few deep breaths.

Ariana’s eyes were calm and soft as she looked at her. Her face was patient and reassuring, waiting for her to finish.

"That night, before the departure, he had left the letter on my desk. I found it before packing, and so I kept it with me. I read it recently. I already knew months ago it was about you—your ex-husband..but I never knew the content. I read the letter yesterday after much curiosity."

Ariana’s lips parted slightly in quiet disbelief. She wondered what the letter said. And why her husband’s brother had something to do with it. Her mind was restless. Stephanie’s gaze finally met hers, almost pleading.

"It’s okay. I have to admit, if I were in your shoes, I would have done the same. I wouldn’t have wanted to cross boundaries either. But you telling me this now makes me grateful. The fact you didn’t deny it but chose to share it proves how good a friend you are. Thank you," Ariana whispered with a small smile.

Lady Stephanie returned it with the same genuine smile.

"Thank you, Luna Ariana. If I may ask... is it okay if I tell you what was written in the letter?"

Ariana’s body trembled. She knew at this point she needed to fight her fears. She remembered the allegations that had followed her in the village—the false rumors that she had been the reason for her ex-husband’s death.

That scar ran deep. Even worse was her father, who she thought would defend her, but instead agreed with the rumors.

Stephanie took a deep breath. The Queen needed to know the truth.

"It was a love letter, Your Grace."

Ariana’s breath caught as Stephanie continued.

"A love letter written to his lover."