Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch
Chapter 40: Unfortunate Encounter

Chapter 40: Unfortunate Encounter

I was not smiling at all as Talia did my hair and Osha did my makeup.

"Y-Your Grace?" Osha voiced. "P-Please take out your hand so that I-I can finish?"

My hand was against my jaw, but I made no effort to move.

Talia cleared her throat to catch my attention, and that action spoke volumes, jolting me back to reality.

Our plan.

It wasn’t just about showing my face at the ball, but making Drevon my steadfast supporter. Last night was a mini success, and now that he has asked me for a walk in the garden, I say we’re going somewhere.

Then why was I not happy about it? Right, I ended up kissing him—which was not part of the plan, and dreaming about him? It was certainly not included.

Why on earth did you dream about him, Eloise? Why? Why?!

I knocked my head on the table.

"This is going to be a long, exhausting day," Talia commented.

~•~

After excruciating hours of trying to get me ready, we finally made our way to the gardens. I bid the time I would see Drevon and lose every bit of my sanity.

Surely, after such a night, wasn’t it necessary to give some space so that I could recover from my humiliation? But that was certainly not in Drevon’s vocabulary.

His torment knew no bounds. When I see him, I might strangle him to death and free myself of this misery.

"My lady?"

"What?" I answered begrudgingly.

"Stand straight and smile."

I pinned Talia with an irritated look. "Why don’t you take my place and be in constant humiliation and worry?"

"I am in constant humiliation and worry. I serve you as my lady."

"Tsk!" I turned away, flapping my sleeves.

When we made a turn in the corridors, we found Sloane walking toward us.

She was in this wing again. The gods knew the last person I wanted to see right now was her. I was in no mood to play nicely.

"Lady Eloise," she greeted.

"Lady Sloane."

"You look beautifully dressed this morning," she said sweetly.

"As do you," I replied as politely as I could just to avoid any more trouble.

"It’s quite unfortunate you did not take my advice."

"Unfortunate? It doesn’t seem that way," I voiced smuggly.

Sloane took a step closer, but then her eyes landed on Osha beside me. "Why is she your handmaid?" she suddenly demanded.

I smirked. "A gift from Drevon."

She gulped, turning away from Osha, and pinned me with a look. "He’s thoughtful as always."

"Yes, he is. Now, if you’d excuse me, I have somewhere to be, and I’m already late." I walked past her, but her words halted me.

"I mentioned how the houses have their eyes on you. The many dangers lurking."

I didn’t turn to her, just standing there and waiting for her to finish. I had a feeling she came to this wing just to say that.

"Your appearance at the ball was bold, very bold."

"I attended as the monarch’s wife. Isn’t that the dutiful thing to do?"

"Yes, you did. However, do not blame me for what happens from now on."

"Is that a threat?" I faced her.

She giggled sweetly. "Goddess no! I see no reason why I should make threats to you, for there is no use."

There was something about her tone I didn’t like.

"As I said, your attendance was bold, and Valkanor knows how much the human bride means to the monarch, but whispers are going about that you have bewitched him."

"Or maybe he’s just in love," I countered, getting the chills by saying those words out loud.

I’m never doing that again.

"Oh my." She closed her eyes. "Isn’t that far stretched, Lady Eloise?"

"What else could it be then?"

She opened her eyes, and the darkness in them made my pulse race; her poker face hadn’t changed, it was just that dimness that got me alert.

Osha abruptly stood beside me. She has always been nervous-looking, but the look on her face was serious.

"We’re Lycans, Lady Eloise, and you seem to be forgetting that fact the longer you stay with us." Sloane’s words were as sweet as sugar, but the icy undertone did not go unnoticed.

"I haven’t forgotten," I said sternly.

"Humans will always be beneath us; that is a fact set in stone."

"Your facts are deeply appreciated."

"You should’ve taken my offer when you had the chance." She turned on her heels, her ginger hair swaying behind as she left.

I remained standing, watching as she disappeared into the other corridor, a heavy feeling settling upon me.

If Osha weren’t here, what would have happened?

"Y-Your Grace, you should be wary about her," Osha whispered to me. "L-Lady Sloane is from one of the most powerful houses. S-She is not just a daughter of a noble but acting Lord after her father’s untimely demise."

"What else do you know?"

"I-I know enough that she has many who back her claim in becoming the Q-Queen Consort."

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but there was no other option. "Do you think my attendance at the ball was unwise?"

"My lady!" Talia interjected, but I ignored her.

"U-Um...I-I don’t—"

"Be honest with me, please."

She swallowed hard before speaking. "Y-Yes, Your Grace, because your appearance not only proves your favor to the monarch, but it shows you threaten L-Lady Sloane position, and her court won’t like that."

"Her court?"

Osha nodded. "S-She has her own court, those who support her claim to be the monarch’s mate. T-That alone makes her a worthy f-figure to the empire."

"I thought the monarch was the only one who had a court?" I reasoned.

In Beloria, it was the same for Father, even though they were called his council.

Osha shook her head. "Having a court here is like having supporters who enforce your strength and influence. Lady Sloane has one, and the Dowager does too."