# Chapter 4: The Shadow That Trembled Before the Queen
Hello everyone, it's me again! How are you all doing? Today I will continue to walk with you and review Chapter 4 of *"Forgotten Wife: Let the Traitors Kneel Down"*. If you thought the previous chapters were intense, then hold on tight, because this chapter is packed with simmering fury, hidden enemies, and a terrifying glimpse into the dark forces swirling around our beloved queen. Let's not waste another second—let's dive right in!
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Alfonso, the Duke of Vampel, stood before King Alessandro with his hands clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles had gone white. Every fiber of his being burned with rage, but he knew better than to show it in front of the monarch. He had to swallow his pride, bend his head, and mutter a bitter farewell.
"I appreciate your majesty's kindness," he forced out through gritted teeth. "I'm sorry to have interrupted you. I won't take up any more of your time. I'm leaving."
But as he turned to go, Alessandro's voice stopped him cold. It wasn't loud, but it carried the weight of a sword's edge. "Duke, I hope you keep your daughter under control. Although she was once my fiancée, April is my wife and my queen. An offense against her will be taken as an offense against me. And you already know the price for treason."
Alfonso bowed lower. "I know, your majesty. I promise my daughter will not commit such impertinence against your queen again."
"I hope so," the king replied, his eyes unreadable.
As soon as Alfonso left, Gabriel, the king's trusted confidant, stepped forward with a grave expression. "It seems to me that the duke may cause problems in the future," he said quietly. "He has accumulated too much power, and he believes himself superior to everyone. He only bows his head out of prudence. Do not be surprised if he betrays you." Alessandro nodded slowly. "I already know that. He never truly supported me as king. He supported Cassian. But things changed when I suffered my leg injury." Gabriel understood. "Hence the hasty naming ceremony for Prince Cassian." "That's how it is." "We should keep an eye on him." "Yes. Send men to watch him, and make sure he doesn't notice. I don't want to put him on guard. When this war is over, I'll deal with him personally."
Meanwhile, Alfonso stormed out of the royal palace, his mind a hurricane of fury. He was so blinded by anger that he wandered aimlessly through the palace gardens without realizing it. The path twisted and turned until he found himself somewhere unfamiliar. Just as he was about to turn back, he spotted a figure approaching—and his blood ran cold.
It was April, the princess of the Kingdom of Laios, the woman his daughter had once tormented, the woman who was now queen.
Something inside Alfonso screamed at him to run. He barely had time to hide, pressing himself behind a stone pillar covered in thick, concealing vines.
As April passed by, his entire body trembled violently. He nearly collapsed to the ground. A strange, suffocating sensation clawed at his chest. He felt as if some part of him was being crushed.
April paused in the hallway, her brow furrowing. Her light magic had stirred, sensing danger. She looked left, then right—but saw nothing except her waiting maid. Perhaps her imagination was playing tricks on her. She shrugged it off and continued on her way.
Alfonso remained hidden until her figure vanished around a corner. Even then, his body would not stop shaking. He stumbled to his carriage, his face pale and slick with sweat. A servant, alarmed at his appearance, asked, "Duke, are you alright?"
"Get me out of this place," Alfonso rasped.
When the carriage arrived at his mansion, Victoria was waiting at the door, practically buzzing with impatience. She had been waiting to hear good news, desperate to know if the king had lifted her punishment.
"Father, how did it go?" she asked, her eyes shining with hope. "Did Alessandro revoke my punishment? Will I be able to attend the ball in a few days?"
Alfonso's head was buzzing with a sinister static. He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe. He snapped. "Shut up! I don't feel well!"
Victoria flinched. "Do you want me to call a doctor?"
"No! I just want to be left alone. No one dare interrupt me, or I'll cut your throat."
Victoria stood frozen in shock. Her father had always been kind and accommodating to her, no matter what trouble she caused. He had never once raised his voice. This was a side of him she had never seen.
Alfonso staggered to his office and slammed the door behind him. The moment he crossed the threshold, something terrible happened.
A shadow as thick as ink oozed out from his body and collapsed on the floor. It writhed and twisted, as if in agony. Alfonso stared at it, completely terrified and unable to understand what was happening.
Then, from the bare wall, a door seemed to appear out of nowhere—a dark portal between worlds. From it stepped a young man of about eighteen years old. His handsome face was framed by striking red hair, but his expression was an indecipherable mask. Cold, cruel, utterly unreadable.
He looked down at the writhing shadow at his feet with disdain, then fixed his icy gaze on Alfonso. "What is this? What have you done to the darkness?"
Alfonso threw himself face-down on the floor, trembling. "I haven't done anything, your majesty, Prince Enzo. I just went to the palace, and when Princess April passed by me, the darkness inside me shuddered. It was as if it was afraid of her."
Enzo's eyes narrowed. "Why would the darkness shudder at the sight of that useless bitch?"
"I don't know, your majesty, I truly don't know."
Without another word, Enzo produced a small bottle and sealed the writhing shadow inside it. He tucked it into his bag before tossing Alfonso another vial containing a handful of black stones.
"I'll give you this," Enzo said, his voice like ice. "But you had better not let this happen again. My father will not be pleased if this occurs a second time."
Alfonso scrambled to open the vial and grasped the black stones tightly. Thick darkness seeped out from them and enveloped him completely. In an instant, all his pain vanished. He felt renewed—whole, powerful, and no longer afraid.
He bowed low. "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, Prince Enzo."
Enzo's eyes glinted. "Don't let this happen again, or you'll pay dearly for it."
Then the prince turned and vanished through the doorway, leaving Alfonso alone in his office.
Enzo reappeared in a vast throne room, where a man of immense power awaited him—his father, Vritra Venobich. Enzo knelt briefly before speaking. "Father, I have visited Duke Alfonso Vampel of the Kingdom of Cosset. The darkness within him was expelled from his body."
Vritra's expression flickered with disbelief. "That can't be possible."
"If I hadn't seen the darkness writhing at his feet, I wouldn't have believed it either," Enzo admitted. "He said the darkness inside him began to writhe after he ran into my older sister in the royal palace."
"Is that bitch still alive?"
"It seems so. And apparently, she has won the king's favor."
"I heard a ball is being held soon. Send them a small gift and observe everything that happens."
"As you wish, father."
"Keep a close eye on that bitch. Make sure you see what she does. She never possessed any power... but I would like to confirm something. And make certain that any gifts you send go directly to her when they are presented."
Enzo smiled, a predatory curve of his lips. "I will do so, father."
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This chapter is a true turning point! We see the storm gathering around April from multiple directions: the humiliated Duke Alfonso, his reckless daughter, and now the mysterious and terrifying Prince Enzo and his father Vritra—beings who seem to have a far darker connection to April than we expected. The image of darkness actually *fearing* April sent chills down my spine. There is so much more to her than anyone knows, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Reader's Impressions & Star Rating:
This chapter masterfully blends political tension with supernatural terror. We see the cracks in the enemy's armor, but also their desperation to understand April's hidden power. Prince Enzo is a fantastic villain—cold, calculating, and genuinely intimidating. The pacing is tight, and the plot thickens with every page. Honestly, this is one of my favorite chapters so far, and it leaves me hungry for more. I give this chapter a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5 Stars.
Next Chapter Prediction:
I predict that during the upcoming royal ball, Prince Enzo or one of his agents will send a "gift" directly to April, hoping to test her powers—or perhaps even curse her. But April's light magic may react unpredictably, shocking everyone in attendance and revealing a glimpse of a power that even she doesn't fully understand yet. The king will grow more protective, and Duke Alfonso will have to decide just how far he's willing to go down the dark path Enzo has set for him.
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