“Sorry, shouldn’t have said that, you’re just you, my one and only Lima.”
He whispered as he buried his face in the crook of my neck, his voice filled with over flowing emotion.
“I can’t lose you, thank you for making me realise that.”
In that moment, something shifted between us.
It was as though the bond we shared, the one that had been arranged by the Moon Goddess, had grown even stronger.
I could feel it, a connection that went beyond words, beyond the physical.
It was as though our souls had aligned, and I knew that Leo felt it too.
His wolf, Lorne, was close, and I could sense Lena, my own wolf, radiating happiness.
Before I could say anything, a staff member approached, informing me that I needed to wait in the lounge area while they tallied the scores and prepared for the awards ceremony.
I nodded, reluctant to leave Leo’s embrace, but knowing I had to.
I whispered something in Leo’s ear before we parted, a matter for him that only he could understand.
He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine as he turned and walked away.
In the lounge area, I was surrounded by the other pianists, many of whom came over to express their admiration for my performance.
Their words were kind, but I couldn’t help noticing the way Aria stood to the side, her expression bitter as she watched me.
Her attempt to undermine me had not only failed but had also left her isolated, the other competitors giving her a wide berth.
Time passed slowly as I waited, the tension building with each passing minute.
Finally, the staff returned, announcing that the results were in and the awards ceremony was about to begin.
My heart raced as I stood, the weight of the moment pressing down on me.
As I walked toward the stage, the other competitors following behind, I felt a surge of nerves.
But I pushed them aside, focusing on the sense of accomplishment that still lingered from my performance.
Whatever the outcome, I knew I had given it my all.
The ceremony began, and as I stood there, waiting for the results, I couldn’t help but glance over at Leo, who had taken a seat in the audience.
His eyes were on me, filled with a love and pride that made everything else fade away.
In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the competition, not the sabotage, not even the outcome.
All that mattered was the bond we shared and the knowledge that, no matter what happened, we would face it together.
The tension in the auditorium was palpable.
The room, filled with eager spectators, judges, and contestants, was on the verge of announcing the winner of the most prestigious award in the piano world.
There were six prizes to be awarded: three special prizes in addition to the gold, silver, and bronze.
As each prize was announced, I watched as fellow competitors, some with smiles of victory and others with bittersweet acceptance, ascended the stage to receive their awards.
Finally, only the gold medal remained, and it was down to just two people: Aria and me.
10:34
The Luna Marked with Lies, The Queen Crowned by Revenge
39.7%
Chapter 92
My heart pounded, not because Aria had outshone me—her performance was good, but it was clear to anyone with a discerning ear that, if it wasn’t for her father’s underhanded maneuvering, she wouldn’t have even qualified for the finals.
My real fear was whether the gold medal would remain unclaimed for yet another year, as it had so many times in the past.
Would the judges decide that neither of us deserved it?
Aria approached me, her smile as polished as the gleaming stage lights.
“Why so tense, Elizabeth?” she asked, her voice dripping with feigned concern. “You don’t really think you have a chance at winning, do you?”
Her words were sweetly venomous, perfectly poised for the cameras that were undoubtedly capturing every moment.
I matched her smile with one of my own, though the steel in my eyes couldn’t be hidden.
“You bribed the staff to tamper with my sheet music, didn’t you?”
I asked quietly, my tone betraying none of the anger simmering beneath the surface.
Aria’s face registered mock surprise, as if she were hearing something utterly shocking.
“Is that so? I had no idea,” she replied, her voice layered with false innocence.
I was about to press her further when the host’s voice boomed over the speakers, drawing everyone’s attention back to the stage.
The room fell silent as the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.
The host paused dramatically, letting the tension build, before announcing, “The winner of this year’s gold medal is… Elizabeth Martin!”
The words took a moment to sink in.
When they did, a wave of sheer joy washed over me, almost overwhelming in its intensity.
The crowd erupted in applause, the noise a cacophony of cheers and clapping, while I stood frozen, disbelief and elation warring within me.
As I made my way to the stage, the lights overhead seemed to shine just a little brighter, the flashes of cameras blinding as they captured the moment.
I reached the center of the stage, my heart soaring as I prepared to accept the trophy.
But just as my fingers brushed the golden award, a voice cut through the applause.
“Wait!”
