?Chapter 868:


    My breath caught in my throat. Had I misheard? How could they possibly be here?


    A sudden chill washed over me. My body stiffened, and my mind turned utterly nk.


    Before I could even process my thoughts, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the banquet hall. Then, in a sweeping,manding presence, three regal figures stepped inside.


    One nce. That was all it took to freeze me in ce.


    There was no mistaking it—those were the three princes! They had trulye!


    A rush of panic surged through me. My heart pounded so fiercely that I feared it might burst from my chest. Instinctively, I lowered my head, hoping—praying—that I wouldn’t be noticed. “Greetings, Your Highnesses.”


    At the same time, the surrounding officials rose in unison, bowing respectfully before the three royal figures.


    Cody, ever the sycophant, hurried forward with a deep bow, his face stered with an ingratiating smile. “Your Highnesses, what a great honor it is to receive you today. Please forgive me for failing to wee you properly.”


    Bryan cast him a sidelong nce, his voice as cold as the steel of a de. “The king received your letter and is concerned about the situation here. He sent us to investigate. We will be staying in Marehelm for a while.”


    Staying for a while?


    A wave of unease crashed over me. Why now, of all times? Why did they have to be here too? What was I supposed to do?


    Cody, still brimming with ttery, gestured toward the seats of honor. “Your Highnesses, you must be weary from your journey. Please, have a seat.”


    I couldn’t stop myself from stealing a quick nce at them.


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    It had been so long since Ist saw the princes, yet time had done nothing to dull their striking presence. They were still as tall, as imposing, as effortlessly regal as I remembered. But now, there was something different—something subtle. Beneath their noble airs, faint traces of fatigue lingered on their faces. Was it merely from the long journey… or was something else weighing on them?


    As they settled into their seats, yton’s gaze swept across the room, his sharp eyes assessing everything. Then, his expression darkened. His gaze had locked onto the children.


    “What is going on here?”


    A sly glint flickered in Cody’s eyes. Without hesitation, he twisted the truth to suit his agenda.


    “Your Highness, you may not be aware, but the Mayor of Marehelm, Dayton Pierce, has always harbored an unusual sympathy for the Wizard n. He even had the audacity to skip this banquet—one meant to celebrate the defeat of the Wizard n! Instead, he sent only a mere officer in his ce.”


    He paused, shaking his head with mock disappointment before continuing. “He sought only to rid us of these half-breed children, offspring of wizards and werewolves, as a show of loyalty. But the officer the mayor sent? He hesitated! If that isn’t suspicious, then I don’t know what is.”


    The moment those words left his lips, the three princes turned their gazes to Alden.


    My heart sank to my boots, and a cold sweat broke across my skin.


    I’d gone to great lengths to disguise myself with the magic potion. My face was different. They shouldn’t see through me. They couldn’t. And yet… a terrible tension coiled in my gut. I desperately hoped they wouldn’t notice me.


    I shrank further into my seat, willing myself into invisibility.


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