Exchanging Vows: The Swapped Wife Is a Top Shaman

Chapter 31: Chapter 31

Ivy’s Point of View

A week passed.

Seven days of lying in bed. Seven days of medicines and bandages and careful rest. Seven days of Luna Helena fussing over me like a worried mother hen.

But finally, I was healed.

I stood before the mirror in my room, examining myself. The burns had faded to faint pink marks. The weakness had left my limbs. My spiritual energy had fully replenished.

I felt better than I had in months.

Nell entered with fresh tea. "Young Madam, you look wonderful this morning."

"I feel wonderful." I stretched my arms above my head, relishing the freedom of movement. "Any news from outside?"

Nell set down the tray, a small smile playing on her lips. "Actually, yes. The servants have been talking about Young Master Bastian."

"Oh?"

"He’s finally able to walk again. Barely." Nell’s smile widened. "He still needs two people to support him whenever he moves. The physicians say his recovery will take at least another month."

I laughed. Actually laughed out loud.

*Good thing I didn’t marry that waste. His body can’t even compare to mine.*

Nell looked startled by my reaction, but she didn’t comment.

"Is there anything else you need, Young Madam?"

"Yes, actually. Send word to Luna Helena that I’ll join her for breakfast this morning."

"Right away."

She hurried off, and I began preparing for the day. Nell had laid out a simple green dress that matched my eyes. I dressed quickly, pinned up my hair, and made my way to Luna Helena’s residence.

The morning air was crisp and fresh. Birds sang in the gardens. Servants bowed as I passed. Everything felt lighter somehow. Brighter.

The bond was broken. Bastian was no longer tied to me in any way. That Chapter of my life was finally, truly closed.

Luna Helena greeted me warmly when I arrived.

"Ivy! Look at you!" She clasped my hands, her eyes shining. "You’re practically glowing. The physician was right. Your recovery is nothing short of miraculous."

"I feel like a new person."

"Come, sit. I’ve had the kitchen prepare all your favorites."

We settled at the breakfast table. Servants brought out dish after dish. Steamed buns. Congee with preserved egg. Stir-fried vegetables. Fresh fruit.

I ate carefully, paying attention to every bite. Every flavor.

This time, there was nothing wrong.

No bitterness hidden beneath the sweetness. No medicinal undertone. No silvervine root.

Interesting.

I had suspected as much. Whoever was tampering with the food wasn’t doing it every day. There had to be a schedule. A pattern. Someone was being very careful not to raise suspicion.

I filed the information away for later investigation.

"I spoke with Alpha Alaric about finding a tutor for your father," Luna Helena said between bites.

I looked up. "And?"

"Unfortunately, he also recommended Professor Aldwin. He’s truly the best scholar in the kingdom." Luna Helena sighed. "But his illness has worsened. The physicians say he may not survive much longer."

My heart sank. And then immediately lifted.

Professor Aldwin. Spirit Wasting. A condition only a shaman could cure.

"That’s unfortunate," I said carefully. "Is there no hope for him at all?"

"None that the physicians can see. They’ve tried everything." Luna Helena shook her head sadly. "It’s such a loss. All that knowledge, all that experience, soon to be gone forever."

"Perhaps I could visit him. Pay my respects before..." I let the sentence trail off.

Luna Helena looked surprised. "That’s very thoughtful of you, Ivy. But are you sure you’re strong enough for social visits?"

"I feel fine. Better than fine." I set down my chopsticks. "And if Professor Aldwin truly is dying, it seems wrong not to at least acknowledge his contributions to the kingdom."

"I suppose that’s true." Luna Helena considered for a moment. "Very well. I’ll arrange an introduction. But please, don’t overtire yourself."

"I won’t."

We finished breakfast with lighter conversation. Pack gossip. Upcoming festivals. The latest fashions from the capital.

But my mind was elsewhere.

Professor Aldwin was my key. If I could heal him, he would owe me a debt. A powerful, connected, respected scholar who owed me a favor.

The possibilities were endless.

After breakfast, I returned to my residence. But instead of resting, I summoned everyone.

Ash. Stone. Blade. Wolf. Shadow.

And Nell.

They gathered in my private sitting room, standing at attention. Five elite warriors and one loyal maid. All of them watching me with curious eyes.

I studied each face in turn. These people would be crucial to my plans. Everything depended on their loyalty.

Time to find out where that loyalty truly lay.

"I have a question for all of you," I said slowly. "And I need an honest answer."

They waited in silence.

"Are you my people? Or are you Alpha Alaric’s people?"

The question hung in the air. Heavy. Loaded.

Ash exchanged glances with the other guards. Nell shifted nervously on her feet.

Several seconds passed. The silence stretched.

Finally, Ash stepped forward. As the leader of the guards, it was his place to speak.

"Young Madam." His voice was steady. Certain. "Alpha Alaric assigned us to serve you. From that moment forward, we became yours."

"That’s not what I asked."

Ash met my eyes without flinching. "We understand, Young Madam. You want to know if we would report your activities to the Alpha. If we would spy on you for him."

"Would you?"

Another pause. Longer this time.

"No." Ash’s voice was firm. "When a guard is assigned to a master, their loyalty transfers completely. That is our code. Our honor. We do not serve two masters."

"And the rest of you? Do you agree?"

Stone nodded. "We are your swords, Young Madam. Point us where you will."

Blade spoke next. "Your secrets are our secrets."

Wolf simply grunted his agreement.

Shadow, the youngest, bowed his head. "I live to serve you, Young Madam. No one else."

I turned to Nell. "And you?"

"I’ve been with you since we were children, Miss Ivy." Nell’s voice was thick with emotion. "You’re more than my mistress. You’re my family. I would die before I betrayed you."

Something warm bloomed in my chest. Gratitude. Relief. Hope.

"Good." I clasped my hands behind my back. "Because I’m about to do things that must remain secret. Things that cannot reach the ears of Alpha Alaric or Luna Helena. Not because they’re my enemies, but because knowledge is dangerous. The fewer people who know, the safer we all are."

Six heads nodded in unison.

"From this moment forward, you will help me keep these secrets. You will guard them with your lives. You will speak of them to no one, under any circumstances."

Ash dropped to one knee. The others followed immediately.

"We swear it," Ash said. "By our blood and our honor. Your secrets are safe with us."

I looked at them. My people. My loyal followers.

For the first time since arriving at the Silvermoon Pack, I felt like I had real power.

Not borrowed power. Not conditional power. But power that belonged to me alone.

"Rise," I commanded.

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