Chapter 38

Chapter 38 Believe the ones you trust

CA SSANDRA

“Mommy, look! Erika taught me how to make a paper crane!”

When I entered our bedroom, Finnick came charging toward me, his little arms extended out in front of him. His normally serious gray eyes were wide with excitement and his l*ps were curled into a happy grin.

He presented me with the little crane and I held out my hand to accept it. He set it there gently and then looked up at me with glee.

“Wow, baby!” I exclaimed with genuine excitement. “This is incredible. You did such a great job!”

“Thanks, Mommy!” he replied, and then I turned to Erika.

“Thank you,” I mouthed, and the maid winked back at me. Her warm eyes were friendly as she smiled and for a moment, I remembered what it was like to know her as a child. She’d taught me the same thing when I was young and the tiny crane in my hands reminded me of happier times.

A week had pa*sed since the viper had attacked Asher in the garden. These days, I returned to my quarters earlier than I did before. The Alpha King/repeatedly dismissed me sooner than expected due to Pack business he was reportedly busy with, but I had the sense that there was more to it than that.

There was definitely some awkwardness between us after what had happened. that night. Neither of us had acknowledged it, but I didn’t mind. I was relieved to not address/our actions or face his questions at all.

Besides, getting dismissed from the Alpha King’s study early meant I got to spend more time with Finnick and Erika before she finished her hours for the day.

Requesting Erika’s care had been risky, but at the end of the day, I didn’t regret

it at all. Finnick adored the maid more than anyone here in the palace, and it was nice to have her around, even if she didn’t know my true identity.

“Would you care for some tea, Ca ssandra?” Erika asked me as I closed the door. behind me, and she gestured at me with a teapot. “I’ve just brewed some. It’s nice

and hot.”

“That would be wonderful,” I said with a smile, and then I joined her and Finnick over at the small table in the corner of the room. Erika was always so kind and attentive to everyone and their happiness.

She poured me a hot cup of tea, and when the jasmine-scented air filled my nose, I let out a contented sigh.

“Someone I knew long ago loved jasmine tea too,” Erika remarked with a small

smile.

My stomach suddenly turned and a lump formed in my throat. But I managed to stay calm.

“Oh?” I tried to say in a casual manner.

Erika nodded. “Yes. It was her favorite tea. I prepared it for her nearly every day. I miss her dearly.”

“Who… who was she?” I wondered though I knew the answer.

The maid got a strange look on her face, almost as if she was going to cry. “A young woman, not much older than yourself. She was like a daughter to me. But her name is unspeakable here in Merliscire. In all of Anemond, in fact.”

“What happened to her?” I asked quietly.

Erika’s lower l*p trembled and her warm eyes grew apologetic, like she was embarra*sed to be sharing something so personal. I leaned forward and placed my hand on her arm.

“You don’t have to tell me-” I started to say, but Erika shook her head.

“It’s okay, Ca ssandra,” she a*sured me. “I don’t mind. It’s just sad, that’s all. The poor girl got caught up in some trouble and then… well… she perished in that horrible fire.”

The sight of my old nanny tearing up tugged at my heartstrings. I wanted to reveal myself right away, but I knew it wasn’t safe. Yet I couldn’t help but ask more questions.

“Are you referring to Cora Felix?” I whispered and Erika blinked at me with surprise.

“Yes,” she said, and then she frowned in confusion. “How do you know about her? Aren’t you from the Wild Crawler Pack? The one that’s at the very edge of the Wegalla border? I’m surprised you’d know her name-”

“I heard it from others,” I spoke before she could continue questioning me. “Back when it happened, I mean. It was all anyone could talk about those days.”

“Yes, it was,” Erika agreed quietly, and then she dropped her head in sorrow. “They didn’t ever find her b*dy. Did you know that?”

“I didn’t,” I replied. The sight of the maid so upset was nearly enough to bring me to tears but I held them back. Beside me, Finnick seemed confused, but he didn’t ask any questions. He simply sipped at his tea like a polite gentleman and played with his crane.

“Can I ask you a question?” I asked her, and when she nodded, I continued. “You seem sad about her pa*sing, but from the way others spoke about her… wasn’t she a terrible person? I heard awful things about her wanting to use the king to save her guilty family.”

Erika shook her head and her gray-streaked blonde hair flared around her. “No, those were just terrible rumors. The Felix family, they were never evil, and neither was Cora. Her family never would commit a crime and she would never try to manipulate the king for her own gain. Besides, sweet Cora loved the king too much. to ever use him for her own gain. No matter what they say, I don’t believe the rumors for a second.”

This time, I had to turn away to keep Erika from seeing the tears that started to spill down my cheeks. My tough exterior was cracking. I wanted to tell Erika everything. I wanted to scream out that I was Cora Felix and that I loved her just as much now as I did back then. I wanted the woman to hug me as she’d done in the old days.

But I couldn’t.

So, I took a deep breath and turned back around. My nails dug into my palms at my sides until I decided to try the tea. Perhaps the jasmine flowers would help calm my nerves.

“Mommy, why are you sad?” Finnick asked quietly, and he gently tugged on my

sleeve.

I searched my mind quickly for an excuse.

“I… I’m just moved, sweetheart,” I explained after I took a sip of tea. “Cora Felix’s story… it’s rather sad. I’m not sure that I believe she was guilty either.”

“Really?” Erika whispered, and when I nodded, she finally smiled again.

“Really,” I confirmed, and then I turned to Finnick. “What about you, Finnick? What do you think?”

Finnick considered the idea. I could practically see the gears within his mind turning as he searched his brain for an answer. He set his crane down on the table and then faced me directly.

“I would believe her,” he said thoughtfully.

“You would?” I asked.

Finnick nodded. “Dominic told me once that it’s important to believe the people you trust and cherish no matter what.”

“That’s wise advice,” I agreed, and then I leaned over and k*ssed Finnick’s head. “You’re such a kind soul, Finnick.”

“Both of you are,” Erika remarked, and then she smiled warmly at us. We didn’t say anything more after that, but something in my soul felt better than it had in

years.