Beauty in the beast world-Chapter 312: The inner tribe

[FOX TRIBE]

Lexi walked into her mother’s chambers, "You called mother?"

An older woman with features similar to Lexi’s turned back after she completed placing the last scroll in the wooden holder. Lexi was not surprised. Her mother loved reading old scrolls. Although there was a common written language in the beast city, their fox tribe had their own way of keeping records. It helped to maintain secrecy. Only Fox royals and some chosen witch masters were privy to these ledgers.

"You only come when I call for you," said the older woman.

Lexi frowned at those words, "I’m sorry Mother, I didn’t realize that you were lonely. I’ll visit more often"

"I’m hardly lonely with all these scrolls to read" Her Mother dismissed her daughter’s placating words, "But that is not the problem, Lexi. It is your actions that have left me worried. You stop facing me when you do something wrong"

Lexi felt like she was hit with a blunt weapon on her head as her mother added, "What did you do, Lexi?"

She swallowed, "I have done nothing, Mother" There were many blunders that she had committed after coming back to the Fox tribe. She didn’t want to admit to things when she was not even sure what her mother was talking about.

"Lexi" Queen Sarah cautioned her daughter, "I know when you are lying. His Majesty’s aide, what you did to him was horrible" When she had heard about strays infiltrating the tribe, she was left shaken. But knowing that no one from her tribe got hurt, she relaxed. That peace though didn’t last long. Soon after that attack, she heard about Xavier’s aid getting detained as a traitor. At this point, an investigation was due.

She used her intel to secretly find out the truth regarding that matter and the result of it made her blood run cold, "Your vile accusations killed an innocent, Lexi" Tears started to stream down Lexi’s face as her mother continued, "How could you?"

"I....."Lexi choked on her tears. It was hard knowing that her mother knew of her dirty deeds.

"The King will not take this sitting down and you know it" Sarah felt fear course through her veins, "You betrayed your brother of all people" Xavier was ruthless when something or someone wronged him. Sarah still remembered the little cub who beat his friends when they broke their promise of playing with him and went by themselves. When she scolded him for it and asked for an explanation, his reply was simple and yet left her terrified, ’They should be thankful that I didn’t kill them’ Most of the other younger beastmen had trouble getting along with Xavier after that incident. However, there was someone who defied that, the young prince of the Lion tribe. The two of them got along weirdly well.

"For now, I somehow stopped him from investigating further by sending his aide back to his home tribe but this is not the end" Queen Sarah knew it, the future where Xavier learns of this truth, "Lexi, I beg you, please don’t anger your brother"

"I didn’t mean it, Mother" Lexi at last decided to say her side of the story, "I fell into someone’s trap and wanted to get out of it"

"So you decided to make an innocent a scapegoat?" the more she talked, the more her patience grew thin, "This is not like you, Lexi. I did not raise you as a cruel person yet you are making choices that harm others. Even back then, you listened to your father’s whispering to turn your mate a stray. Why do you keep making these choices?" Her little girl was born a Princess, yes she was proud and haughty but never evil. Nonetheless, she couldn’t help but ask, "Have I done wrong in raising you, daughter?"

"Please, don’t say that Mother" Lexi panicked, "You are the best mother I could ever have" This was what scared Lexi the most. Her mother blamed herself for things she had not done. After her father’s involvement with Xavier’s birth mother, Queen Sarah was broken. She tried her best to do her duties as the Queen and a mother even amidst those hectic times and never made Lexi feel alone. Her parent’s relationship healed only superficially after that incident as the wound was too deep to treat fully. The female who gave birth to her brother left their family in shambles. That and her father’s obsession with the Sapphire of Wish led to their downfall.

Queen Sarah walked toward her daughter before hugging her crying figure, "There there, don’t cry dear. Everything will be alright" fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

That made Lexi cry even louder, "No, Mother nothing is right, I have sinned" She had sinned by killing an innocent, she sinned by betraying her brother’s trust, and at last, she was still sinning by taking back her stray mate. He was gone, he was not his old self anymore, and yet she kept him around. Lexi had a hunch. She would die for this last sin. Her brother was keeping quiet for her sake as allowing a stray beast inside a tribe was a big crime. His authority kept her safe from the judgment of the council and tribesmen. But she was not sure when his grace would end. Her brother was unpredictable.

’Knock Knock’ Lexi came out of her drowning thoughts when she heard someone knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" She asked wiping her tears.

"A guest has arrived seeking His Majesty’s audience, Your Highness," a guard said across the closed door.

Lexi quickly made her way toward the door opening it, "Who is it?"

"It is Prince Noah from the Lion tribe, Your Highness"

She looked back at her mother before excusing herself, "I have to look into this matter, Mother"

"Go on, do your duty. I will be right here" The queen gave her permission, "Come to me when you are free" As a dowager queen, she was exempt from any inner tribe duties unless the king commanded otherwise.

"I will do so, Mother", Lexi said and out of the room into the corridor. As she walked towards the guest receiving room, many thoughts swirled inside her mind. She was trying to figure out Prince Noah’s reason for suddenly visiting their tribe. Maybe, it was to invite her brother to his coronation ceremony. It was long due. It has been several days since the passing of the late King Leonard, so it made sense for the prince to ascend the throne and solidify his reign as soon as possible. Empty throne attracted trouble.

After some time, she finally reached the guest receiving room. Straightening her back, she took a step inside.

"Prince...Your majesty" She bowed. He was a king now, coronation or not.

"Princess, Lexi" Naoh returned the greeting with a nod. And without wasting any time, he addressed his reason for the visit, "I want to meet King Xavier. I am in a hurry"