His Cursed Luna

4. Nicholas’ Legacy

|| Penelope ||

“You look beautiful, Penny,” Bridget complimented.

“But, remember to stay away from all the eyes. It will be better if they are unaware of your missing wolf,” she looked a bit tense. This girl truly cared for me, and in the end, she even died for me.

I nodded with a sad smile. I would make things different this time, Bridget. I would listen to all your acquisitions seriously. Another sigh left my lips as I proceeded down the corridor towards the hall. I took steps towards the flight of stairs when a mysterious caprice built up inside me. My heart was racing for no reason. There was a distinct sensation in the air.

I hadn’t even realized when my feet carried me to the grand ballroom. The sight that greeted me was one of sheer opulence, almost suffocating in its extravagance.

The vast hall was bathed in a glow of flickering candlelight, thousands of flames lining the gilded walls, their soft light dancing against the towering silver ornaments. A thick royal blue carpet stretched endlessly across the tiled floor, absorbing the sound of footsteps like a dark, endless abyss. The air was saturated with the intoxicating scent of fresh roses, woven into the very fabric of the evening—delicate yet overpowering.

Above me, the skylight allowed the full moon to cast its ethereal glow upon the ballroom, its pale beams illuminating the grand crystal chandeliers that hung like frozen stars, refracting slivers of silver light across the marble columns. A soft, joyous melody played in the background, the kind of tune meant to enchant and enthrall. Every note felt intentional, designed to lull the guests into a dreamlike state.

And why wouldn’t it?

After all, tonight was a celebration for her—the beloved Princess of Goldenrealm.

My gaze flitted to the aristocrats standing tall, their postures exuding an effortless arrogance. Clad in the finest silks and adorned with glistening jewels, they radiated the untouchable confidence of those born into power. Their polished masks of civility barely concealed the greed, the hunger for influence, the silent wars fought through whispered words and deceptive smiles.

Then, the music faltered. A brief, almost imperceptible pause before the blaring sound of a trumpet shattered the lull.

I already knew what was coming.

“The Crowned Jewel of Goldenrealm, Princess Isabella!” the herald bellowed, his voice reverberating through the massive chamber.

A hush fell over the crowd, anticipation thickening the air.

Then, she appeared.

Bathed in golden radiance, Isabella stepped forward, the embodiment of regal perfection. Her gown shimmered under the candlelight, each delicate thread of gold catching the glow and making her appear as if she were wrapped in sunlight itself. Her brown curls cascaded in flawless waves over her shoulders, framing a face that was both delicate and commanding. With an air of practiced grace, she smiled—a smile that had been carefully honed, sharpened into a weapon.

Beside her, King William walked with an air of absolute authority, guiding her toward the center of the ballroom, where every pair of eyes eagerly followed. The moment was perfect, orchestrated down to the last detail. This was her night.

And I knew exactly how this scene played out.

Five years ago, I had walked straight into this carefully laid trap, my naïve heart leading me into the lion’s den. I had stepped into the center of the ballroom, congratulated Isabella with an open heart, and from that moment, my fate had unraveled.

Not this time.

The goddess had granted me a second chance, and I refused to squander it.

With quiet precision, I took a step back. Then another.

I melted into the shadows of the furthest corner, as invisible as the ghosts that haunted this cursed place. Hidden from their calculating eyes, from their cruelty wrapped in silk and honeyed words.

“Welcome, all my distinguished guests, to the hundred and fortieth Royal Ball of Goldenrealm. Today we have gathered here in honour of my beloved daughter, Princess Isabella Adalbert of Goldenrealm, who has entered the age of maturity. Thank you for spending your precious evening with us,” the Lycan King announced. Isabella stood there with pride and joy. Her stance was elegant; obviously, she had been trained for this moment.

The crowd applauded, cheering for the Princess as I stood in a corner, standing afar. A pang of sadness rose in my heart as I recalled my past life again!

The music started again as my uncle took Isabella to the dance floor. It was her first dance, a dance of honour and pride that I could never receive, and I knew a dance in this hall would only bring humiliation to me. They would make fun of my etiquette. Soon, others joined the dance floor as well. Giggles and happiness embraced the hall, making everything magical. Some nobles were wearing mask, as they wanted to conceal their faces. My eyes soon found the young and ambitious Alpha Elijah. He was watching Isabella like a hawk. I could sense possessiveness in his gaze. After all, they were mates, and I learnt it the hard way last time. A bitterness arose in my heart at his sight. I loved him, and he stabbed me to death in return.

I huffed as my mind went back to what had happened. I was brought back here somehow. Was it some kind of sorcery? Or did the Goddess help me? And what about the Lycan I saw last night? That part never happened in my previous life. Who was he, and why did I help him? Or was it a mere dream?

“A princess should never hide in a corner,” a sudden voice from behind made me jolt.

His warm breath touched my neck, making me realise how close he was standing. Before I could make a move, he suddenly grasped my hand and pulled me onto the dance floor. My heart skipped a bit as my brain tried to proceed with what had just happened.

A man in a mask appeared in front of my eyes. The long royal blue coat complimented his tall, muscular build. His expensive attire screamed royalty. His eyes and nose were hidden behind a gorgeous golden-blue mask.

“W-who are you?” I finally gathered myself. I didn’t remember this part happening last time. I was supposed to be cornered by the father-daughter pair, and then the Alpha King would suggest a trial between Izzy and me to choose the next crowned princess.

He ignored my question; instead, he remarked, “Quite skillful for a young princess.”

I knew I lacked etiquette when I was around this age in my past life; after all, I never got the proper training like Isabella, but the marriage with Elijah taught me a lot. I was ready to be his Queen, and hence I had to make myself perfect in every way possible. The stranger skillfully led me to the next phase of the song, and I followed.

“Why do you care?” I replied. He didn’t even ask me to dance. He had dragged me here. My eyes quickly tried to find the guards assigned to me. They were gone.

“I thought you wanted it since you were gawking at the dance floor,” he smirked.

Was he watching me? I knew I should be cautious, but my heart found solitude in his arms. His touch was familiar. I stared into his deep dark eyes, trying to find the answers. Did I know him in my past life? Was he another foe? Would he lead me to my demise? There was something different about him. A sudden realization hit me. I couldn’t smell his scent though I could sense his strong aura. I had no inner wolf, but the moon goddess still had given me the sense of a werewolf. As he spun me around, I sniffed his air. I hadn’t been mistaken. He had no scent at all!

“You have no scent!” I blurted, making him chuckle.

“Very good. I didn't expect anyone to pick up on my trail, so I have hidden my scent,” he responded casually.

“You can do that?” I was surprised again. I knew we could mask our scents, but hiding it completely was unheard of for any werewolf or even for the Lycans.

“You learn a thing or two when you are around for centuries,” he winked.

Centuries! How old was he? I tried to remember all the centuries-old people I knew in my past life, and none resembled him.

“Are you surprised, little princess?” he pulled me closer as he muttered. His breath fanned my nose, making me look into his full lips. Unknown and forbidden thoughts rose in my heart for no reason. I licked my lips again, wondering if I could run my fingers through his thick hair or kiss his juicy lips. What was I even thinking? That was absurd and highly inappropriate, and above all, any wrong step could push me to my end.

He chuckled again as he sniffed me. His expression changed when he asked, “what’s wrong with your wolf?”

I became speechless again! It was my secret. Fear and sadness rose in my heart side by side, making me tremble. Did he find out? A shiver ran down my spine. That was the reason behind my death in my last life. I was in a hall, surrounded by Royal Lycans, werewolves and nobles. It became difficult for me to breathe as well. I gulped, trying to find a comeback when I felt him touching the side of my face softly. A tingling sensation ran through my skin as my heart felt at ease suddenly. All my worries went away when I found myself staring into his eyes. What kind of magic was that?

“You are beautiful, princess,” he whispered.

I lost my words again.

“I can’t wait to meet you on your coronation,” he added.

I was surprised again. He knew who I was! As the firstborn of the former Lycan King, I was entitled to be the next Queen of Goldenrealm. But I knew that day would never come since I was never mentioned in this castle for the last ten years, since the day my father passed away. My Coronation led me to my end in the past life, and I never wanted it again. A pain surrounded my heart as I answered, “I doubt that will ever happen. I am only a forgotten princess of Goldenrealm.”

He stared into my eyes as if he could read my mind. Finally, a mischievous smile formed on his lips, “in that case, I can remind them of your status.”

With his words, the music stopped, and he pulled away. He kissed the back of my hand over the gloves and bowed, showing respect as he spoke loudly for everyone to hear, “it was an honour to dance with you, Princess Penelope Adalbert. I hope you could find it in your heart to forgive my sudden intrusion, Crowned Princess of Goldenrealm.”