Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 17: Painful Procedure

Lorelai stood before the expansive doors leading to the queen's bedroom, tightly gripping her fingers around the gilded handle of her cane.

The soaring feeling of anxiety made her heart beat faster and she felt like suffocating as the air filling her lungs was clearly not enough to satisfy her needs.

'Why did she call for me while having her beauty procedures? This has never happened before.'

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Whenever Althea was busy receiving her "treatment", no one was allowed to enter her bedroom until she was done. No matter what. Therefore, such a sudden change in her own rules made the princess feel like something was entirely wrong.

'It is almost as if last night has completely changed the path our lives were supposed to take on...'

She knew that this way of thinking was ridiculous, but she could not help it.

In any case, whatever the reason for this invitation was, Lorelai knew that it could only mean trouble for her. Meeting Althea face to face had never once been pleasant.

With a struggling deep breath, the princess finally knocked on the door which, as if by magic, was opened almost immediately, inviting her to step inside.

The queen's bedroom greeted her with overbearing darkness once again, however, this morning, her room seemed even darker than before, with the long velvet curtains drawn tightly, creating a rather threatening ambiance in the already cold and scary place.

Walking slowly through her stepmother's bedroom, Lorelai finally noticed Althea.

Stretched dramatically over her usual spot on the plush sofa, even through the thick veil of darkness, the princess could not ignore the queen's appearance.

She did not look good.

Her skin looked as white as a crisp new sheet and compared to it, her long, straight, red hair, carelessly scattered all around her thin body, reminded her of a waterfall of blood.

Even the lines on her face seemed to have deepened, making her look like she had aged ten years overnight. Althea had never looked so bad as long as Lorelai could remember it; especially not after the beauty procedures.

Behind the sofa stood one of the ladies the princess noticed when she was sneaking back to her room. She was wearing the same black and blue tailored uniform, same sleek hairdo pinned at the back of her head, and her eyes stared back at Lorelai, as dark as coals.

"Good morning," Althea greeted her stepdaughter in a cold, surprisingly weak voice. "Take a seat."

She pointed her long white finger to the sofa opposite from her and fixed her eyes on the princess, carefully observing her every move as the latter followed her command.

"You will have your bloodletting today."

Lorelai almost jumped to her feet upon hearing Althea's cold words.

She had completely forgotten about that procedure, but most importantly, she found it completely unnecessary. At least today. No, today, she felt absolutely fine and did not need it.

"Your Majesty," she began meekly, her hands trembling in anticipation to object the queen. "I don't... I don't think it will be necessary today. I had a good rest last night and I am not having any headaches today either... Perhaps, we could skip it this time... Since I am feeling alright..."

Her brave and yet weak attempt to counter Althea made the queen let out a subtle scoff which was then followed by a rather loud cough that immediately put a shade of deep irritation on her face.

Her thin red brows knitted together and a long blue vein cut Althe'as wrinkled forehead in half.

She was mad. And she did not like to be mad.

Lifting her body slightly on the sofa, the queen locked her deep brown eyes with Lorelai's and parted her dry lips.

"The doctor said you need to do it once a week, Lorelai. It is for your own good. And since you are about to get married… Lord Kalder needs at least a semblance of a healthy wife or else he will not be happy."

The princess chewed on her lower lip, her gaze lowered to the floor under her feet.

Of course, he would not like it. Nobody likes a damaged doll. Especially since Duke Kalder had paid quite a high price for her.

Lorelai had no choice. Defying the queen would only cause her more trouble. Thus, obediently, like a well-trained dog, the princess folded the sleeve of her left arm and stretched it toward the queen, exposing her smooth, ivory skin.

Satisfied by her docility, Althea motioned for the woman behind her to proceed and the latter complied with a silent nod.

Lorelai shut her eyes tightly even before the woman approached her.

She hated to do this. She hated it so much.

It was always so painful and exhausting that after it was done, she always felt as if the life itself was drained from her already weak body.

Today, too, there was no exception. Just yet another day filled with unfathomable pain and suffering for the sake of someone else. Of something else.

She endured it as much as she could while Althea watched the blood flow through the thin golden straw and into the small bowl, her dark eyes shining maliciously in the somber darkness.

Once the procedure was finally over, the other woman bandaged Lorelai's arm and set the bowl filled with her blood away, returning to her previous spot behind the queen's sofa.

Lorelai wanted to leave.

Her head was spinning and she felt as if she was about to be sick.

She carefully rose to her feet, leaning on her cane for additional support, and offered Althea a small bow.

"May I be excused, Your Majesty?"

The queen remained quiet for a while, then finally replied.

"The Continent Union Event... You are going to be responsible for the guests arriving at Erelith."

For a moment, the princess felt quite surprised by her stepmother's decision, but she was too weak to express her opinion. It was easier to just agree.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She hoped that it was now over but Althea had something else to add. "The beasts... This time, they are coming too."