The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 88: Prepare

Visit him at dusk?

It wasn’t as if she even had a choice, but she still wanted to go.

"This is wrong." She whispered to herself.

"What is wrong?" Her sister’s voice came from the bed.

Claire nearly jumped. "Not you, dear. I was just thinking aloud."

Rory patted the space on the bed beside her. "You can tell me about it. Did something bad happen?"

’No. But it is about to.’ She wanted to say.

"What makes you ask that?"

Aurora struggled to sit up with a grunt.

"You’ve been standing at that window and talking to yourself for the past hour. I don’t need to be told that something is wrong."

"I thought you were asleep."

"I was. But your mumbling woke me up."

Claire covered her mouth instinctively. "Forgive me - I did not realize."

Rory patted the space beside her again. "Come sit."

Sighing, Claire obliged her.

"I’m making very stupid choices, Aurora. Choices I know I will regret soon enough." She rubbed her eyes.

Instead of asking questions, Aurora pulled her down and cradled her head.

"Father always said that you’re an over-thinker - that’s why you never have any fun. Why don’t you just... not think so hard before you make decisions."

Claire gasped. "Are you asking me to be reckless?"

Aurora chuckled. "Of course not. I’m asking you to stop living as if the very air you breathe has to be calculated."

"Calculated? Is it that serious?"

"Very, very." Rory chuckled again.

Claire joined her, inching closer.

"I’ll be joining the King on his trip to his home in Glenwood."

"Oh, really?" The excitement in Aurora’s voice was unmistakable.

Claire lifted her head to look at the little gremlin’s faces arching a brow.

"Why are you so excited about it?"

Rory blinked. "I am?" Wearing a more serious face, she asked, "How long would the King be staying?"

Claire shrugged. "I don’t know for now."

"I hope you find time to enjoy your stay there, Claire. I’ve read of its beauty in some of my old books."

Her brow arched higher. "You’re not coming?"

Rory nodded. "I don’t want to limp around like an invalid. If I should ever visit such a place, I want to run around without restriction."

Biting her lower lip, Claire laid a hand on her sister’s leg beneath the sheets.

"You’ll be better soon. I’m sorry for allowing this to happen to you, Rory."

Aurora covered her hand with her smaller one.

"You didn’t want this to happen. None of us did. Stop blaming yourself, it makes me sick to hear it."

Claire coloured. "You’re becoming a sharp-tongued young lady." She pinched her sister’s cheek playfully.

"And you, Claire, are becoming very secretive."

Claire touched a hand to her chest.

"What an accusation!"

"But since I am yet to be an adult, I would not bother you to tell me anything you’d rather not tell me." Rory said with a little pout.

She knew the game her sister was playing - and she wasn’t falling for it. At least not that easily.

"I wish you would come to Glenwood with me." She murmured, tugging at her sister’s hand.

Rory indicated her limp with a sad smile. "I’m bedridden currently. What good would I be to anyone there?"

Claire withdrew her hands.

"Your mind is quite made up."

"It is."

"I’m also sorry about not being able to bring the lemon cakes."

"It’s fine. Maria fed me a nice fruit cake."

Maria. Part of her didn’t like the way that maid was attaching herself to her innocent sister.

"She’s very kind." Claire said, averting her gaze.

"Very kind indeed. She will be returning this evening once all her duties have been done. If you wait longer, the two of you can meet properly."

Properly?

"I’d rather not." She stood up.

"Whyever not?"

"I have to pack my dresses for the trip. We journey to Glenwood at dawn."

"So soon?"

Claire nodded.

"Promise to come and see me before you leave."

Claire leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "I promise."

She left the room for hers quietly, her footsteps thudding softly on the floor.

She wasn’t sure what exact time she was to return to the King’s service.

Just as she was about to pack her dresses, a brief knock revealed Lara and her girls.

How nice.

The shock of their charm oils still hadn’t worn off. It made her wonder if the King was attracted to her because he found her irresistible... or their mysterious charm oils played a role in his interests.

"The night will tell..." a mischievous voice in her head whispered.

"We heard about your trip to Glenwood with the King." The freckled one said, laying down her basket of skin ointments on the bed beside Claire’s gowns.

Claire looked at her, trying to suppress a smile.

"This is your chance to pour all your charm on him, my lady. By the time you return, that dried up sack of bones would no longer have a place in this castle."

She winced at the deliberate reference to the King’s bride-to-be.

"Cassia! Mind your tongue!" Lara scolded, turning a bucket of steaming water into the wooden tub.

The quiet one unwrapped a new silk chemise and laid it on the bed before her, clearing her gowns out of the way hurriedly.

Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the sheer fabric.

It was the definition of seductive, regardless of the fact that it was to be worn underneath her gown.

On top of the chemise, the girl laid a green lace gown above it. The bodice of the gown was cut low, not too low to be considered indecent, but lower than anything she usually wore. Lower than anything the King arranged for her.

"You lot must be insane. This was funny at the beginning, but it seems I’m the only one laughing."

Lara dropped the bucket on the ground with a soft thud and moved to stand directly in front of her. The sky outside was darkening with the coming dusk.

The freckled one took a candle stick and began lighting the candles, lighting the hearth last.

"You have what no other woman has, my lady. You’d be

foolish not to take full advantage of it."

"And what’s that?"

"His attention."