Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle
Chapter 133: It’s time to leave the palace.

Chapter 133: It’s time to leave the palace.

"You are the reason," Kisha continued, her voice cracking with emotion. "You’re the one responsible. And if something isn’t done soon... you might also be the one who ends up killing her."

Rhys raised an eyebrow, letting out a scoff as he placed his hands on his waist. "What exactly do you mean by that?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Are you saying I’m responsible just because I refuse to visit the princess’s chamber? I haven’t even stepped foot in there, and already the queen is angry. That’s why I’m here asking what the problem is. Why does a fight between the queen and the princess have anything to do with me?"

"My princess loves you!" Kisha suddenly burst out, her voice trembling, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "Can’t you see that? The queen... she’s only using you to satisfy her desires. She has other concubines too. You’re all just tools to feed her lust!"

Rhys gave a hollow laugh, one eyebrow arching higher. "And your precious princess?" he said, voice laced with bitterness. "What’s the difference between her and the queen? Isn’t she just trying to use me too? That’s what women in power do, isn’t it? Use an innocent man until there’s nothing left of him. But it doesn’t matter anymore...I’ve already chosen the queen."

"No, it’s not like that!" Kisha protested, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. "My princess loves you, truly. It’s not lust....it never was. It’s real. She cares for you in a way that no one else does."

She wanted so badly to tell him the truth about Anaya’s condition, but she wasn’t allowed to. He had to remember everything on his own.

"Uhm... do you know someone named Sorayah?" Kisha asked suddenly, her brows knitting in confusion. She wanted to see if Rhys could at least remember her since it appears he loved Sorayah. "You always call her by the nickname ’Princess,’ even though she’s not actually royalty."

"Who’s that?" Rhys asked, folding his arms across his chest as he looked at her skeptically.

Just then, a harsh cough echoed from behind them, drawing both their attention. Kisha gasped and turned, hurrying to Anaya’s side as the frail young woman stirred from her rest.

"You’re finally awake, Your Highness," Kisha whispered softly, helping Anaya to sit up gently. Her voice was tender, her touch careful.

Rhys turned toward the door, not sparing them a second glance. "Well, now that she’s awake, I guess it’s time for me to leave," he said coldly.

"Wait!" Kisha called out, rushing toward him. She held out a delicate jade pendant in her hand....the one that had marked the beginning of all the misfortune. "Her Highness said I should give this to you."

Rhys turned slowly, eyeing the pendant with suspicion. "And why is that?" he asked, his voice low and guarded. "Is this supposed to be a love token? I’ve already said I belong to the queen now."

"No. It’s not a love token," Kisha explained earnestly, still holding the jade out to him. "The princess is simply grateful. You saved her life that day. You brought her to her chamber on time so that she could be treated. This is her way of saying thank you. She knows you won’t visit her, and we’re leaving this pack tomorrow anyway... But she hoped you would keep this pendant with you. Just as a friend, if nothing else."

"You women are so complicated," Rhys muttered with an exasperated sigh. He dragged a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "Fine. I’ll take it. I don’t want to be seen as heartless."

He snatched the jade pendant from Kisha’s hand and turned sharply on his heels, disappearing through the exit without another word.

"He’s gone, Your Highness," Kisha whispered as she returned to Anaya’s side. She gently stroked the princess’s back, comforting her all while writing the words with her fingers on her back. "I’m afraid he won’t remember anything not while he stays in this palace. But... I hope the jade pendant might stir something. Some memory."

"I hope so too," Anaya wrote with her finger on Kisha’s back, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. "But I fear... it may already be too late. Let’s leave this pack tomorrow. I thought my aunt loved me, but now I see her affection was a mask from the very beginning."

*****

Meanwhile, back at Lupien Palace...

Sorayah clenched her fists, doing her best to control herself. Every part of her wanted to rip the mask off Dimitri’s face, to see what he was hiding beneath it. But she resisted. She needed to stay focused.

Just as she walked out from his chamber, away to gather her thoughts, after some time, in the night, a maid approached.. one from Concubine Arata’s quarters.

Now, Sorayah found herself seated stiffly before Lady Arata, the sharp scent of spiced tea lingering in the air.

"You’re finally free from palace punishment," Arata said coolly, lifting her teacup with grace. "You’ve returned to your rightful place as a servant of the Beta Lord."

"Yes, my lady," Sorayah replied, swallowing hard. "I’m glad to be free again."

"And now that you’re free..." Arata leaned forward slightly, eyes glinting with quiet cunning. "What’s your next move? Lady Mira is still walking freely in this mansion flexing her power as if nothing ever happened."

"My next plan," Sorayah said with unwavering resolve, "is to become the Beta Lord’s concubine. I already carried his child once....though it was taken from me. Once I have that position, I’ll do everything I can to become his favorite. Only then will I have the power to bring Lady Mira to justice for what she did to Lily."

She reached forward, boldly clasping Arata’s hand. "I need your help too, my lady."

Arata’s expression softened, just a little. She gently patted Sorayah’s hand.

"Of course, Sorayah. I wouldn’t support you otherwise. Mira must pay for Lily’s death."

She paused, then added, "But keep your eyes on the new girl....the one the Beta Lord bought from the sex slave market. Strange, isn’t it? You haven’t seen her around at all."

’Oh gods... what was her name again?’ Sorayah blinked, horrified. ’How could I forget her? I rescued her from Dimitri’s clutches, brought her here... and then forgot about her? Have I really been that consumed with everything else?’

"Where is she now, my lady?" Sorayah finally asked, her eyes wide with concern.

Arata’s lips curled into a smirk. "I’m afraid she’s become Lady Mira’s personal maid."

Shock hit Sorayah like a blow to the chest. "What?! She’s not meant to be a slave! She was only staying with me temporarily!"

"Oh well," Arata said with feigned sympathy. "She broke Lady Mira’s prized flower vase. It was a rare piece...supposedly worth millions in gold. That girl shattered it. Now, even if she serves as a slave for the rest of her life, it won’t be enough to repay the debt."

’That bitch!’ Sorayah creamed internally, her anger flaring. ’She’s using that as an excuse. That girl doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.’

"How could she request the delivery of a flower vase that expensive without any proper safety measures in place?" Sorayah exclaimed, rising abruptly to her feet, her voice trembling with outrage. "It’s obvious she only wanted an excuse to punish that girl! I’m going to see her ladyship Mira now."

"And get the girl killed," Arata chimed in with a cold scoff, setting her teacup down with a deliberate clink. "Come on, Sorayah. You’re smarter than this. Stop disappointing me. Just so you know, I had to personally intercede to save that girl’s life. Her Ladyship Mira actually intended to have her executed."

"It was only after a great deal of pleading and reasoning from me that she finally agreed to keep the girl alive...as a slave."

Sorayah’s hands clenched at her sides, fury rippling through her in waves. "That woman!" she hissed. "She couldn’t harm me directly, so she targeted someone under my care instead!"

"Indeed. That’s how she plays the game," Arata said coolly. Then, with a tone that was half sincere and half mockery, she added, "Anyway, I’ll be looking forward to the day the Beta Lord crowns you as his concubine."

Sorayah gave a silent nod, her jaw tight, and turned on her heel, striding out of the chamber without another word. The moment the door closed behind her, the expression on Arata’s face twisted into something far more dangerous...venomous, calculating.

She stood and walked slowly to the window, her arms wrapped loosely around herself as if cradling something precious.

"It’s time to leave the palace," she said quietly, her gaze distant, but her voice laced with certainty. "Let my beloved know. The pieces are finally in place. The drama has unfolded just as I planned. Before this child in my womb begins to show too much, we must disappear."

Her words were directed at her personal maid, who had been standing silently beside her.

"Yes, my lady," the maid responded with a respectful bow, then turned and swiftly left the chamber, leaving Arata alone with her thoughts.