Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch-Chapter 59: A Sharpened Emptiness

H-He’s leaving? Why?

"I don’t want to, Eloise," He said with a hint of pain in his tone, and it showed just as much in his eyes. "But it’s crucial that I must. A delayed shift has caused some imbalance."

Why is he beating himself about it? I could tell this sudden departure was about what happened that night. It was a simple mishap, yet he saw it as something unforgivable.

"Lucan and Osha will be here for you. A battalion of knights will be at your disposal. Do not worry, they are loyal. I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can."

Don’t go. A voice whispered in my head. Mine. Something I should have said out loud, but I didn’t, too weak to form words, or maybe I didn’t want to let him know how much his departure affected me.

"Will you give me a kiss?" he asked. "I want to feel your lips, Eloise."

I clenched his collar and pulled him closer. The back of my head was pressed into the pillow with his lips above mine.

"You don’t deserve this," I said, closing my eyes and bringing his lips to mine, locking in a soft touch.

He didn’t kiss me back as I hoped, and stayed true to his words about just feeling them.

My hand slid from the back of his hair and dropped to the bed as my last hold on exhaustion broke, and I surrendered to the realm of deep sleep.

As everything faded away, I felt Drevon’s lips on my forehead, saying something I was too far gone to hear.

~•~

I awoke when the sunlight illuminated the room, I tossed to the other side and placed my hand on the empty spot.

It’s still warm.

I opened my eyes, rubbing my palm on the sheets. Did he stay longer after I fell asleep?

I barely recalled the things he said last night. All I knew was he was leaving the castle for days...alone.

I sat up with a frown twisted on my face, my eyes catching a wide-sized box on the bed.

I scoffed. "Do you think a gift can make me forgive you for leaving?"

The nerve of this man!

A knock came from my door.

"Y-Your Grace, it’s Osha."

"Come in," I answered, taking the ribbons apart.

The door slammed shut, and Osha pulled aside the drapes around the bed.

"Good morning, Your Grace."

"Morning," I replied distractedly as I opened the box, and a gasp flew from me.

The box contained a large amount of jewelry and hair ornaments of different kinds, completely different from the ones I had, and they all had the same color as Drevon’s eyes.

I clicked my tongue. "This beast..."

"Your Grace, these are..." Osha gasped.

"A husband attempts to apologise for leaving. As if this will change anything."

"These are the royal jewelry!"

I blinked and veered my gaze to her. "What now?"

"Look, this style I recognize from the Dowager’s. The royal jewelry is specially made for the women of the Balthar!" Osha sat beside me and reached for a golden hairpin. "See?"

The style of the hairpin was unique indeed. It had a miniature Lycan’s head forged on the gold.

"Oh, the monarch favors you so!" Osha said dreamily.

I turned my gaze to the window. I wonder how long before Drevon comes back.

"Osha?"

"Yes, Y-Your Grace?"

"You’re aware the monarch is away for his shift?"

"Yes."

"Is it really crucial?" I asked even though I knew it was essential for Lycans.

"Certainly, Your Grace. Do not be sad, I’m sure he’ll be back soon."

"I’m not sad," I grumbled. "It’s not fair he has to leave after avoiding me for a whole week," I said irritably.

Osha giggled.

"What?"

"Nothing, it’s just you said you aren’t sad, but you’re lying, Your Grace."

I gasped. "How dare you!"

She giggled again, and I found myself smiling, but there was an empty feeling in my chest.

I had no idea why, and I couldn’t shake it off. The distance from Drevon had made this feeling sharper, and now he was gone for days, I pondered whether I could cope.

It’s just a silly feeling, Eloise. I tried to somehow justify this with my reasonable thoughts. It’s probably this way because what happened that night between us was still unresolved.

I took deep breaths. "Osha. Let’s get to work."

The best I could do was distract myself and focus on my path to power and get revenge.

~•~

My shoes echoed around the hall, as well as the metal clanking from the five knights behind. I didn’t want this large company, but Lucan wasn’t quite understanding me. He was highly focused on moving on with Drevon’s order to protect me at all times.

"Why are we going to the Princess’s wing?" Lucan asked beside me.

"I have something to discuss with her," I replied.

"Well, I don’t think the Dowager will be pleased when she hears about this. She made an order that no one should approach the princess."

"The Dowager is attending to matters while the monarch is away for a short time," Osha explained.

"It’s alright, Lucan. I wouldn’t have attempted this meeting if the Dowager hadn’t been busy," I said.

Turns out Drevon’s absence was needed after all.

Lucan sighed, more stressed than worried. "This would have been easier if you just stayed in the room. Roaming the castle is not right."

I pressed my elbow lightly against his side. "Relax, this is just me going to see my sister-in-law. It’s my duty."

"If you say so, Your Grace."

We passed through the courtyard, and I noticed how isolated this wing was, aside from my company, there was no one else in sight.

"The princess doesn’t have knights?" I asked, completely disturbed by this.

She was royalty, wasn’t she? There should be one in every corridor.

"I heard she has no knights, and only one handmaid," Osha said.

That is truly strange.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel