For the first time the king and queen were seen outside and they were seen together which only meant that this would create a bigger headline than it needed to be.

"Ease," Xavier's voice thundered, making her jump slightly. Her hand came on her waist and calmed her down. Her heart slowly started to return to normal.

Everyone eased and once again the entire attention went to them before Xavier nodded and they all resumed their tasks. The hustle and bustle of the crowd was still there but it had quietened down significantly. Now she felt unsure if you wanted to go to the market or not knowing well that everyone would have one ear out listening to them.

"Come," he took hold of a hand and started to pull her forward.

At times like these Adaline was grateful for his presence because he was assertive and It helped her in making decisions where she was indecisive.

He pulled her closer to make her walk beside him before leaning down in her ear, "Browse and survey, if you like anything that catches your eye you tell me before walking to visit. Is that clear?"

"Crystal." She muttered back, knowing he would.

He did. Straighten the back and guide her through the crowd which did part and move out of their way on their own without having to be told.

It was not uncommon for royal family members or any of the ministers of the court to come to the north and whenever they did, the only demand from them was to be treated normally yet the shifters felt at unease. Their beasts demanded respect from their superiors so there was only so much that they could follow up.

Adeline eyes move from stall to stall. For now she focused on the ones that were on the left. She gasped and stopped at the sight of something familiar. "Stop!" She whispered harshly to Xavier before pointing to the particular stall. "There!"

He nodded and guided her there. "How much is this for—" Xavier asked for the price before realising what Adeline was pointing at.

It was a rose pendant. "You want this?" He pointed to that and she nodded.

Without asking any questions Xavier paid the price even though the seller refused to take money from him. Once the pendant reached Adeline's hands after Xavier paid for it she felt tears building up in her eyes.

It was so familiar. It felt exactly the same.

"What is it?" She was turned around as Xavier

asked her while staring into her tearful eyes. "If you do not want it, no worries, I'm sure the shopkeeper will take it back from me."

She chuckled and sniffed after that. " No, no," she sniffed and shook her head. Just as she opened her mouth to tell him why she was trying, Adeline realised that she was still in a public place where everyone could hear every word that she spoke.

She let her lips slightly as she looked around everyone before turning back to Xavier, "do you mind if we go somewhere—"

"I understand," was all he said before she found herself sitting in a good cafe where Xavier finally allowed her to take off the jacket and the muffler.

Xavier came back from the front where he ordered, "Now tell me and before you worry this place has a sage Lightened up which means that no one will be able to hear our conversation even outside of the establishment."

She nodded and placed the pendant on the table in between them as her fingers slowly traced the edges of the rose carved out. "This is exactly like what my mother had."

He did not speak and let her talk. Talking of a dead relative was hard especially when it was a parent.

"Even though I wanted to keep the pendant when she died, my father told me that it was one of the things that she cherished most and I do not know if he believed in the afterlife or not, but we just thought of burying it with her."

Xavier glanced at the pendent. "And this one appears to be the same?"

She nodded.

That could not be just a coincidence. After everything that happened, Xavier had long stopped believing in coincidences. Especially something like this had to be planned.

But he did not have the heart to tell her that. He watched as his mate with tearful eyes traced the edges of the rose. This could be cursed for all he knew but he did not have the heart to take it away from her.

What to do?

There was no way that he could call a trusted person all the way to the north to inspect if it was correct or not. Neither could he have the exact one made by the time she would notice it and he was sure that Adaline would notice the pendant missing very quickly.

"I don't think you should wear it here," he spoke carefully as her eyes moved to him, "With the amount of clothes you are wearing, it would not make sense to have a pendant or jewellery because it would be buried underneath."

She glanced at the pendant. It would not.

"Also," he traced the chain, "the gold needs to be polished. Would you mind if I give it for polishing to the Royal jeweller before you wear it?"

Adelene knew that she did not really have a problem. This was not a direct present form her mother or having any sentimental value attached to being passed down generations so it was completely fine if someone polished or changed to something about the pendant.

"Yeah, sure." She nodded and slid it over to him to avoid crying any further.

The waiter brought out their drinks and placed them in front of them just as Adeline caught Xavier placing the pendant in his handkerchief before placing it in his pocket.

What was that about?"