The Betrayed Princess Rising (Lylah and Ezra) novel Chapter 294

Chapter 294

3rd Person’s POV

40

Finished

The same morning unfolded beneath a veil of cold, drifting mist when Lylah and Ezra arrived at Ivar’s

estate.

A lone car rested on the frost-bitten lawn-sleek, expensive, yet stripped of any crest or insignia. The sight alone was enough to make Lylah hesitate, her steps slowing as a quiet unease coiled around her chest.

If Commander Ivar already had guests, the last thing she wanted was to intrude upon them.

“Welcome please, don’t hesitate.” The maid emerged onto the terrace just then, her voice warm despite the chill. Her eyes widened briefly at the sight of Lylah-drawn to her beauty-but the moment her gaze shifted to Ezra, it dropped at once.

His Alpha aura pressed outward, unseen yet undeniable, like a storm held beneath skin. It stirred something primal, an instinct older than thought, and the maid bowed without meaning to.

“Is Commander Ivar receiving guests?” Lylah asked gently. “I came to wish him well for the New Moon celebration. But if this isn’t a good time, we can return another day.”

“Sadly yes, he is receiving visitors now,” the maid admitted, her voice softening. “And he doesn’t often welcome many at once.”

Relief flickered faintly across Lylah’s face, though it carried a quiet sadness. “That’s fine. We’ll come back another time.”

But the maid noticed the way her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, the way her fingers curled faintly at her side.

“Please don’t go just yet, lady” she said quickly. “I can ask him first. And…” Her gaze shifted to the box in Lylah’s hands. “You brought something for him, didn’t you?”

Lylah brightened slightly and opened it without hesitation.

Inside lay a shawl. Soft and thickly woven, the kind that promised/warmth even against the harshest winter winds.

“Oh…this is lovely,” the maid murmured, genuinely touched. “So warm. He’ll appreciate this.”

“I hope so,” Lylah said.

The maid nodded and accepted it without pause. Unlike certain extravagant offerings, this carried no weight of obligation, only quiet thoughtfulness. Something the old commander might actually accept. “Please wait here, I’ll bring it to him.”

The study smelled faintly of aged wood and smoke, Ivar stood before the tall window, his back turned, broad shoulders still as stone. Beyond the glass, the mist clung low to the earth, weaving through the towering pines like restless spirits.

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13:02 Thu, Apr 16 M

Chapter 294

Finished

“Sir,” the maid began carefully, stepping inside. “There are additional guests. Would you like me to invite them in to wait with Lady Cora and Alpha Rowan, or have them remain outside?”

“What did they demand?” Ivar asked, his voice low, edged with quiet curiosity.

“Nothing, sir,” she replied. “The young lady offered to leave if you were busy. They didn’t insist. They’re just waiting.”

There was a pause.

Slowly, Ivar’s sharp eyes settled on the pair standing beyond the terrace.

The man stood tall, power coiled beneath his skin like a leashed beast-the unmistakable dominance of an Alpha who did not need to prove his strength for it to be felt. Beside him, the woman adjusted a shawl around his shoulders.

“I think…” Ivar said at last, voice quieter now, “I’ll let them wait.”

Fifteen minutes passed.

Then thirty.

An hour.

Time stretched thin in the cold, yet not a single ripple of impatience broke the surface: no growls, demands, or restless pacing from them.

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