The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 466

Liora’s POV

I pulled my hood up as I stepped out of the car, tugging the fabric down low enough to shadow my face. The royal city was bustling on Saturday afternoon, people streaming in and out of shops and cafes, completely oblivious to the disgraced princess who was walking amongst them.

The witch’s academy spire loomed ahead of me, impossibly tall and narrow, like a giant needle piercing the sky. I had seen it from a distance my whole life, a permanent fixture on the city’s skyline, but I had never been inside before. Most people hadn’t been. The witches rarely let anyone inside. Even my father had only been there once on necessary business, and that was before I had even been born.

Up close, it was even more impressive. The exterior was made of white stone that almost seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, catching purples and blues and deep greens depending on the angle. Narrow windows spiraled up the tower, and at the very top, I could just barely make out a glowing orb that pulsed with an ethereal light.

The entrance was a set of massive wooden doors carved with symbols, with a sign that read: “No Entry Unless On Urgent Business”.

I hesitated. This business felt pretty urgent, so I pushed one open, surprised to find that it was unlocked, and stepped inside.

The moment I did, I felt the magic wash over me like walking into a strong wave at the beach. The force of it made me stumble back, clutching the door handle, gasping for a moment before I could breathe properly. A magical boundary, likely to keep the rabble out. Thankfully, my royal blood allowed me to step through.

Upon entering, I froze, mouth hanging open in awe.

The lobby was cavernous, to say the least, with a ceiling that stretched up so high I couldn't even see where it ended. Floating candles drifted lazily through the air, casting warm light across the polished marble floors. A grand staircase curved upward to my left, and to my right, a long hallway disappeared into shadows.

“May I help you?”

A low voice made me jump, whirling around. A woman in dark robes with a white veil covering her hair and face was standing in the shadows by the doorway, as if she had been there the entire time. She stood stone-still with her hands hidden in the long sleeves of her robes, and although I couldn’t see her face, I got the distinct feeling that she was judging me.

“I need to speak with the council,” I said. “It’s urgent.”

A long pause. She didn’t move. “The council does not take visitors.”

I pushed my hood back, revealing my face. “Is there any way they would make an exception for Princess Liora?”

The woman didn’t even seem to react. “No.”

“Please,” I said. “It’s about the King. I think someone’s using black magic on him.”

The woman’s shoulders stiffened. I could feel her eyes wandering me, hesitating. I held my breath and waited.

Finally, she said, “The council is aware of your... situation.” She paused, and I sensed she was choosing her words carefully. “They are not interested in entertaining your conspiracy theories.”

“Conspiracy theories?” I blurted out. “They’re not theories! Something is wrong with my father—”

“The King himself has made several decrees about you.” Her voice was cold now. “He has warned us about your lies and manipulation.” She paused, then opened the door, flooding the chamber with light. “You should leave.”

I stared at her. With the sunlight hitting her veil, I could just barely make out her facial features through the thin fabric. She looked young, maybe even younger than I was.

“You can’t seriously believe that,” I whispered.

She just opened the door wider.

I huffed and stepped through. Outside, I leaned against the stone wall and tried to think. I could wait for someone to come out, try to catch them before they disappeared into the city. It was a long shot, but I was running out of options.

“Go home,” the witch said, picking up her skirt and continuing down the steps, with the other women trailing behind her. “And don’t come back.”

The pressure intensified, forcing me to remain in place. It was only once the witches were out of sight that I could finally move again, like the pressure had been released. I turned, looking up at the spire for a moment, then turned and walked back to my car.

Once inside, I slumped against the steering wheel and closed my eyes. That was it. My last real chance at getting help, at finding answers, and I had been thrown out like garbage.

I didn’t know what to do now. Go back to campus? Hide in my room until Bianca and that witch came to drag me to Falcon’s Reach?

Or… there was always Callum’s offer. But it terrified me too much to consider right now.

Suddenly, a knock on the window made me jump.

I looked up to see a figure standing outside the car, wrapped in a dark cloak with the hood pulled up. They gestured for me to roll down the window.

I hesitated, then cracked it open. “Can I help you?”

The figure pushed their hood back, and I blinked in surprise.

Mrs. Oakes.

“Liora. We need to talk,” she said. Her voice was low, urgent, and she glanced over her shoulder at the spire reaching overhead. “In private.”