Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 57: Useless Dreams

Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden knock. Lady Marianna entered the room, wearing a distressed expression on her kind face.

"I apologize for the interruption, Your Highness, but Her Majesty Queen Althea wishes to see you."

Lorelai let out a quiet groan and rubbed her stinging eyes, annoyed. "Thank you, Marianna, I will be right out."

She waited for her aide to exit the room and then spoke to the count again. "Lord Elion, we need to get this money one way or another. It is imperative that I gain access to the gambling station."

"I will do everything I can, Your Highness."

***

Lorelai took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever awaited her inside the queen's chambers.

Perhaps Althea would force her to endure another bloodletting session; however, since it was already late, the chances of that happening were slim. Yet, whatever it was that she wanted to tell the princess could not be any better.

"Lorelai!" Althea greeted the princess unexpectedly warmly, waving her long, elegant hand when she entered the room. "Come, my child, take a seat."

The queen motioned for her to take a seat on a sofa across from her, and Lorelai obediently accepted the invitation.

The princess felt uncomfortable. As always, her stepmother's room was dark and cold; her already weak body always trembled in the queen's presence, and the chill atmosphere inside her bedroom never failed to intensify that feeling.

Althea silently observed the princess for a while before finally offering her a surprisingly warm smile, her voice dripping like honey as she spoke. "You do not look well, Lorelai. Your pale complexion is almost sickly. I have also heard from the maids that your leg has been bothering you more than usual lately. Is that true?"

Those comments evoked nothing but a slight frown on Lorelai's face.

She wanted to tell her that between the Crown Prince's relentless torment and the queen's goal to starve her, the never-ending throbbing in her hip was the least of her concerns.

The princess, of course, decided against voicing that remark. After all, picking a fight with yet another member of the royal family was the last thing she needed now.

"It is tolerable, Your Majesty," Lorelai finally answered. "I am fine."

Althea snapped her long fingers, and a person emerged from the shadows behind her. It was a young maid whom Lorelai had never seen before, but since the queen liked to replace the help quite often, she was not in the least surprised.

The maid held a small silver tray with a cup of something steaming hot on it. She stood next to the princess and offered her the cup, which Lorelai accepted without hesitation.

"This is a herbal tea," Althea explained. "The apothecary said it is supposed to help you with both pain and stress. I am concerned for your well-being, so you will be taking it daily from now on."

This time, Lorelai's urge to snap at her stepmother was overwhelming. Yet, just like before, she had no choice but to bite her tongue.

"Drink it," the queen instructed, her eyes narrowing.

Lorelai looked at the hot substance inside the cup and sighed. 'It does smell like medicinal herbs... The queen has no reason to poison me right now, not before I marry the duke. I suppose there will be no harm in drinking it.'

She emptied the cup without a word and handed it back to the maid. The latter offered her a reserved bow and exited the room, leaving the two of them alone.

Time went by, but the queen remained silent; only her dark brown eyes continued to scan her stepdaughter's appearance as if looking for something specific. Tired of waiting, Lorelai rose to her feet and cleared her throat.

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"It's late, Your Majesty. May I be excused?"

Still quiet, Althea only nodded.

However, as Lorelai approached the door, the queen's voice reached her once again. "Starting tomorrow, there will be more guards in the princess's quarters."

The princess turned around, offering her a bewildered look. "I beg your pardon? Why?"

"Since the night when Duke Kalder could not find you, he has become concerned about your safety. You are his betrothed, after all. The lycan king's evident interest in you bothers me too. It is for your own good."

Lorelai frowned at the mention of Rhaegar while the queen continued. "I am worried too. I don't trust the beasts, and I want you to be safe. Duke Kalder will be sending his knights tonight, and they will be positioned throughout your quarters. Make sure to remember this."

The princess understood Althea's warning; what she really meant was, 'I know the lycan king is trying to get closer to you, and I don't approve of it. From now on, no one will be able to touch what belongs to us.'

With another heavy sigh, Lorelai bowed her head and finally left the room.

As she closed the door, she leaned against it helplessly and closed her tired eyes. 'Maybe it's for the best. I should focus on what I can do and let go of useless dreams.'