“It is what it is. Now, talk to me. It’s time,” Weiss held Charlene on both her shoulders. “Talk to me about the annulment of that fucking engagement.” Charlene could not focus her eyes or her attention on Weiss, who was still waiting for her to respond. Kieffer pulled her from his grip and hid her behind him. “You should talk to her some other time,” he said. Weiss furrowed his brows, “And who do you think you are to butt in?” He glanced at Charlene and noticed the note in her hand. “So you really received it but never responded. You were the one who started this, Charlene… you are also the one who ended it, so stop acting like you are a victim of some sort. Let me have my freedom back and leave Ignes alone,” he said before leaving the room. Luckily, they chose a quiet place to do their project, so no one was around when the confrontation happened. Kieffer helped Charlene sit, “Hey, are you okay?” She did not reply. He clicked his tongue and took his whistle, then blew it. He to
“Are you sure you want to have this information out now? They are not particularly lying low even though they lost the trial. And would this even matter? I heard they are not even talking to their youngest after the trial failed,” the man in the black cloak said. The leader, the one in the red cloak, smirked as she kissed the man in a ram mask, “What do you think? Should I postpone this matter?” she asked as she kissed him. The man in a ram mask did not respond right away. He pulled the woman as he traced her jaw with his kisses down to her neck. “So the answer is yes, huh? You silly,” the woman interpreted on her own as she nodded her head to the man who was standing there, watching them do their thing while awaiting orders from the leader of their group. This is a common scenario whenever the man in the ram mask is around. Their leader would always talk to them while doing things with him, entertaining herself without being sloppy with their goals and intentions. The man in th
Charlene was utterly confused with what she had learned. Her knees feel weak as she walks back to her room. ‘That explains the weird stares. The whispering. And that answers why my family is not contacting me. Are they abandoning me now? They are not my family? Is that why I am so different? Why my eyes were black and not purple? Is that the reason why they… then why did they treat me like their own? As if there was nothing wrong? They lied. Did they pity me?’ ‘Because I am an orphan? And a defect?’ Charlene, drowning in thoughts, went back to her room whilst ignoring the people looking around. She did not even notice that Kieffer was knocking by her window when the dark came. “Charlene!” Kieffer forced her to look at him when he noticed her staring blankly at the wall for hours. “What is it? What happened? What is wrong with you?” Kieffer asked though he already knew the answers. He had it investigated this morning after hearing gossip from his peers. He sent Adhler a message reg
Adhler stared at the portrait painting of their family when he was just three. It was the very first painting that their family commissioned for the famous artist from the Elves. That artist died the following week as if he just did his purpose of painting the family’s portrait. “You’re here. I figured you’d be here by now,” Dia entered the room. He’s holding a bottle of wine and some grapefruit. He sat on the couch near the veranda and stared at the quiet kingdom. “Since when did we grow up?” he chuckled. “I can’t believe I am a king now. I thought… I had always thought it would be you,” Dia glanced at Adhler, who remained motionless. His expression is grim as he averts his gaze to his brother. “You know how much I never wanted that,” he said, looking back at the painting again. He stares at this painting whenever he thinks deeply about something. The picture of his mother calms Adhler, and this is the only one that has remained for them. Everything that their mother possessed
“Where is Samarah?” Adhler’s eyes were on fire as he asked Kieffer of the woman’s whereabouts. Kieffer who had just woken up looked at him and shook his head, “She left yesterday,” “What?” The Lycan Prince asked. Kieffer sighed and looked at the man who looked like he had been running the whole day looking for the woman, but he would not find her. The woman he was looking for had already left for their estate yesterday. Charlene Samarah had been facing criticisms and was even suspended after she fought back. It was the first time she did that, but eyes were set on her and whatever she’d do would be used against her. And an unfair judgment was bestowed upon the woman, forcing her to leave the academy. “What the hell happened to you? Where have you been? She needed you, Prince. She needed you so bad,” “I was trying to protect her,” Prince Adhler argued. He had been avoiding her not because he does not love her, but because there are things he needed to do first in order to be there
Dia’s Point of View It had been months since I became King. I never thought it would feel this way. I have always admired my father, the Lycan King. He was a just and wise King. I had never seen a leader who would put his people above himself when it was necessary to do so. He was a great king, a good husband, and a responsible father to Adhler and me. I had never thought I’d be King at all. I know I am the firstborn and that there are things that firstborns do, but I knew the moment Adhler learned to talk that he was destined to be King. That I am destined to secure this position for his sake. But my brother has no ambition to get the throne from me at all. He had no desire to seek the crown for himself. Adler, many think that he’s nothing but a smart-ass prince who does nothing but whatever he wants. But I know better. The people under us know better. I looked at the clock and realized that it was dawn. I had been staying in this room for so long that I was not even able to
“Any word about her?” Kieffer asked a friend when he arrived at the academy. A week had passed since Charlene said she was leaving, and they had never heard a word from her. Neither her shadow showed up when they asked her in front of the Dean’s presence. “Did you not go to her family before?” Weiss entered the room. Kieffer rolled his eyes. He had been bashing the man since the news about Charlene spread out through the city. And by now, her family must have known the fact as well. It was not the reason Kieffer went to her family before. Kieffer had no intention of stepping in over other people’s business. He went there to send a letter from the Lycan King, which contents are also unknown to him. He just did what he was asked and then went back to find an empty room for the princess and an angry prince who found out that the princess left. “None of your business, you traitor,” “How dare a mere Lycan to call me a traitor?” Weiss was mad. He had been agitated since Charlene went m
“She can’t go to that forest; it’s dangerous. Not her. Not Charlene. She cannot go there! It’s dangerous. It’s dangerous!” Ms. Hoffman repeatedly said. “What do you mean by dangerous? I know that the dark forest has monsters, but the season is not dangerous enough for Charlene to—” “You don’t understand! You do not know Charlene. She’s dangerous—” Ms. Hoffman stood up and was about to get off when Keiffer followed him. “Do not follow me!” She shouted out of agitation and chaos that was going on inside her head. She could not wrap around her head how she was going to have the woman back in safety without exposing who she really was once she ran amok. “No. What do you mean she’s dangerous? I thought she was in danger!” Keiffer ran when the professor started running. He’s yet to find the answers he’s seeking, and now they are in front of the dark forest. “I told you not to follow me,” the professor’s voice changed. “I apologize, but I need you to pass out now,” “What do you mean—” B