CHAPTER 375: A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE QUEEN

"I’ll make sure you’ll never have to drink this poison," Edmund said softly as he placed the vial into her hand, gently but firmly closing her trembling fingers around it. "But, my wife, my love ... if the person who opens the door isn’t me, then you must drink it. I’d rather meet you on the other side than let you suffer any torment in this world."

He stood then, still holding her hand tightly, his gaze fixed on hers. "This poison is only for you," he added softly. "Don’t tell anyone you have it. Promise me. Do you understand?"

Primrose felt her heart pounding, fear and worry filling her chest. After a long breath, she nodded.

"Say it," he demanded.

She swallowed hard and whispered, "I understand."

"Good." Edmund pulled her into his arms for a moment, then kissed her deeply, sharing his saliva with her. When he broke the kiss, he pressed gentle, lingering kisses to the corners of her eyes and her forehead.

"Edmund!" The door was flung open. Leofric burst into the room carrying Lorelle in his arms. "Where’s the damn safe place for your wife?! Let Lorelle in too!"

Callen and Solene followed close behind. Solene’s voice was loud as she reported, "Your Majesty, the werewolves have passed the gate. They’ll be at the palace in less than five minutes."

Edmund’s face hardened. "Get every doctor here now," he turned to Callen. "Hurry!"

Callen didn’t waste a second. He rushed out and returned with Dr. Celdric and two other physicians.

Edmund opened the secret door to the underground chamber. "Take care of my wife," he said to Dr. Celdric calmly despite everything. "Make sure nothing happens to her or our baby."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Dr. Celdric replied without hesitation.

Edmund allowed the doctors to go down into the underground first, while Leofric handed Lorelle to Callen and said firmly, "If my sister comes out of that place with even a scratch, I’ll make sure to leave a big scar on your face." He added, "Do you understand?"

Callen went pale at his words, but before he could answer, Lorelle shoved Leofric away. "Shut up," she snapped. "They’re here to protect the queen, not me. Move your damn legs and go deal with those dogs. They smell disgusting."

She continued, "If I die not from my illness but because of them, my ghost will haunt you and torture you for eternity."

"Of course," Leofric replied, then added firmly, "I hope nothing bad happens to us, my sister."

Lorelle’s jaw tightened. For a moment, she wanted to slap him across the face for still calling her ’sister’ in a moment like this. But instead, she hissed under her breath, "Bastard."

She let Callen carry her down into the underground chamber. Before Primrose and Solene could follow, the balcony doors flew open with a crash, and Salem tumbled inside, looking horrified. "Holy shit! There are way too many burly men out there. What a nightmare!"

The instant his eyes caught sight of the hidden door, he bolted toward it. "Is this the hiding place?" he gasped, already half inside. "Can I go in too? Oh, thank you, Your Majesties, such kindness, truly!"

The corner of Edmund’s eyes twitched, but he stayed silent, a quiet signal that he didn’t see Salem as any kind of threat to his wife.

"Alright, get inside now," Edmund told Primrose gently, though his voice carried the weight of command. "I promise I’ll finish this quickly and come back to you."

"Edmund." Primrose reached up, cupping his face in both hands. She pulled him down until he bent toward her, then pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "I love you. Always."

A faint smile curved his lips, his eyes softening with unshakable devotion. "I love you too," he murmured. "More than anything."

With reluctant steps, Primrose entered the underground chamber with Solene. Before closing the passage, Edmund leaned close and whispered through the crack of the door, "May the Moon Goddess protect us both."

The heavy door sealed shut, and at once, the hidden chamber bloomed with light. Hundreds of magic crystals lined the stone walls, glowing in soft hues of white and blue.

The farther Primrose descended the stairs, the more crystals she saw placed along the way. She smiled faintly, her hand still clenched around the vial Edmund had given her, unwilling to let it go.

Edmund probably hadn’t wanted her to feel afraid in the dark, so he had made sure to place countless magic crystals throughout the underground.

Every sparkle of the crystals felt like his love surrounding her, wrapping her in a silent promise of safety.

As soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs, Primrose realized the underground wasn’t a dark, frightening tunnel at all, it was a spacious chamber, more like a hidden living space.

Several beds were arranged neatly along the walls, each prepared with clean sheets and blankets. Sofas and chairs were placed around for comfort, and in one corner, shelves were stacked high with dried food, water, and other supplies. There were even folded cloaks and spare bedding, ready in case more people needed shelter.

It wasn’t just a hiding place for her, but it was a safe haven, carefully built to protect everyone Edmund might want to keep safe.

"Oh, dear heaven, Your Majesty, did you know about this place before?" Salem asked Primrose, his eyes wide with amazement. Without waiting for permission, he had already grabbed a jar of dried meat from the shelf and was happily eating it.

Primrose shook her head slowly. "No ... I didn’t know. Edmund must have prepared all of this in secret." Her voice softened, filled with both wonder and ache. "He thought of everything for me."

Primrose made her way toward the couch, but a sudden cramp in her stomach made her stop suddenly, and a soft hiss escaped her lips.

Dr. Celdric immediately hurried over with the two human doctors close behind. "Please, sit down here, Your Majesty," he said, guiding her gently. "You’re likely under too much stress."

Stress? Of course, she was stressed.

How could she not be, when her husband was up there right now, fighting with everything he had to push back the werewolves clawing their way into the palace?

He had only just recovered from his fever, and yet he was already forcing himself into a battle.