Page 15 of Alpha's Impostor Bride

My small smile fades. “What did she do?”

“What are Everence seeds?”

“What?”

She puts her hands on her hips, looking irritated. “Everence seeds, Cedric. I took your mate to the villages nearby, and she asked Harriet if she could get some Everence seeds. Is that a thing in the East?”

“I’ve never heard of them. Maybe you should talk to a botanist.”

“Whatever they are, she’s trying to fuck around with our ecosystem. You should have a word with her.”

I study Bella. “You don’t like her?”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “I don’t give a crap about her.”

“What else has she done?”

“Nothing yet, but I don’t like her asking Harriet questions. If she needs something, she should come to me. I don’t trust her, Cedric.”

This conversation is starting to annoy me now. “I’ll have a word with her. Have you shown her the books?”

“I gave her the castle’s budget. She’s going over it. Not that she knows anything.” Bella rolls her eyes. “She seems like an airhead. Look, if you want her to be queen, just put her in a corner and tell her to look pretty. The castle is running just fine without her interference.”

A soft growl leaves my lips. “Careful, Bella. She is still the queen. I expect some level of respect.”

Bella makes a face, looking away. “If she were deserving of respect, I’d give it. She’s not a pure blood. She’s some maid that you found and brought here.”

“Bella!” I raise my voice sharply. “I know I’ve given you a lot of loose rein around here, but at the end of the day, you are an advisor to the queen. Remember your place.”

Bella scowls. “Fine. But I don’t like her interfering with the castle when I don’t know what her intentions are. Tell her to watch herself.”

She storms out of the room, clearly unhappy.

Bella was the previous butler’s daughter. We grew up together, so we’re quite familiar with each other, but she has always been a little bit arrogant. After managing the castle for so many years, she probably doesn’t like sharing the authority, but she has no choice. I didn’t bring Vivian here just to sit on her hands and look nice. She needs to make herself useful. From what I’ve heard, she did receive some level of training, so maybe she has some skills.

There’s only one person who might know what is going on in that woman’s mind.

When Harriet arrives, her expression is strained.

“Is something wrong?” I get to my feet.

She shakes her head. “It’s nothing. I was attending to the queen.”

“Why do you smell of blood?”

Harriet hesitates. “She had a small accident.”

My wolf sits up in concern, and I slam it back down. “What happened? What’s wrong with her now?”

Harriet gives me an aggrieved look. “Nothing you need to worry about.”

It’s obvious from her expression that she’s not happy with me. After my parents died, it was Harriet who looked after me, so her disapproval stings.

I clear my throat and say, “Bella says that Vivian is looking for—”

“Leanna,” Harriet says abruptly. “That’s her name. You can take everything else away from her, but don’t take her identity.”

The tightness in her voice makes me pause. I can be rude to anybody, but in front of Harriet, I don’t want to raise my voice.

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