Chapter 9

|| ELINDA'S POV || 

" That's better..."

" After changing ten times?"

Alexis sneered at me hatefully. He knew that it was my other way to show my distress and hatred for him. I accepted the decision made by my brother. He arranged to live with Alexis except for the fact that Alexis's betrayal crossed my mind again and again whenever I saw his face.

I scoffed back, leaning against the door frame,

" You said that I can get whatever I want."

Alexis's eyes hardened on me but his men changed my curtains for the last time. A victorious smirk played on my lips to notice how annoyed he was. I wanted to bore no good wishes for him. A man like him deserved more than my hatred.

Alexis dismissed the crowd before I could finish my words, his glare setting on me this time,

" Wait...I still need one more pair...."

My words were stuck as soon as he crossed the room and gripped my jaw. Pain shot through my bones as he emphasized each one of his words,

" Listen to me, Princess. We have left our fucking past behind. I am being tolerated only because you are my best friend's sister. Do not try to cross me unless you have a death wish. You are nothing..but a fucking rejected mate."

He shoved my face away, leaving me angry on the spot. With his leave, I kicked the vase down next to me, shouting with pained tears,

" I HATE YOU TOO LEONID! I would rather die than be with you here."

It fucking hurt whenever I remembered how he destroyed my peaceful life. Now that we are back again, I would make sure to hate him with every fiber being of my body.

_________

I accepted my fate after battling for the whole day. Since it was decided by my dear brother, it wasn't going to change for me. So I decided to stall around the house. Unlike the modern interior, it was a rich vintage style, the rooms carrying the ancient arts of Europe. I never knew that Alexis was such an artistic man. Then I laughed at my thoughts. I didn't know him even after dating for a long time.

What did I expect more?

My feet paused in front of a family photo. I didn't know anyone except a small boy who had similar features to Alexis. I furrowed my brows tight, leaning down to check on them when a sharp-edged female voice echoed right behind me,

" This is Don's area. You cannot enter here as per your wish, My lady."

I snapped my head behind me to find a tall woman standing. She was a few years older than me in age but again I couldn't guess a lycan's age. I blurted out, not knowing who she was,

" Sorry? You..are?"

She replied proudly, lifting her head as if it was the prouder thing to do in her life,

" I am Fiona. I have served Don Alexis for years. I must guide you. I am also a cook here."

For some reason, Fiona gave me a negative vibe which I hated. She also made me feel like she didn't want me here. Why was she so pissed off? Did Alexis sleep with her? Did he fuck her?

I jerked the ideas off my head. It was none of my business anymore since the day he left me ruined. But I wasn't going to give Fiona the pleasure of tampering with me. Pulling my lips into a smile, I replied politely, grabbing the coffee that she was taking somewhere,

" I take orders only from the Royals. You know our customs, don't you?"

Fiona's face turned paper white. I hated to introduce myself as the princess of the Royal dynasty but sometimes it was necessary to put people in their places. The sound of people rushing caught our attention. Fiona ran to the window side to take a look. I followed her to find the man carrying a boy around thirteen years old. He was bleeding and his whole body turned blue. Even from a distance, I could feel that his life was fading. I gasped in shock, ready to go down,

" Oh my goddess! We should help them."

Fiona stopped me harshly, her words hit like a slap on my face,

" YOU CAN'T. Outsiders aren't allowed to interfere in Maurenders's affairs."

I retorted sharply, gritting my teeth together,

" LET ME GO! I can help him."

Fiona let out a mocking laugh. She replied with detest,

" A princess like you has no talent except your pretty face. Do not bother with our men. Besides, you are just a guest. Why should I trust you? Don has strictly ordered to not let you go outside."

Anger boiled in my heart. Just because I was a princess, Fiona dared to call me ' stupid '. She believed that she was the best just because she had been working for this criminal family for years. I pretended to step back, allowing her to leave first.

Before she could cross the door outside, I dashed outside in the direction of that injured boy with Fiona shouting after me. It didn't take much while for me to find it. They took him to a separate house for healing. On my arrival, Matteo shot a dagger-like glare at Fiona, my presence being hated by everyone,

" WHY IS SHE HERE?"

I kept asking impatiently, staring down at the boy who was looking no less than a dead body,

" What happened to him? I know such cases. Did he..."

Matteo's growl off my words, his eyes pinning down at me,

" GO AWAY, PRINCESS. You shouldn't enter where you don't belong. Go back to your room. NOW. We don't appreciate help from strangers."

I bit my lips together hard. I could feel Fiona smiling on my back maliciously. Why was everyone obsessed with calling me a stupid girl? 

Just because I was a princess, I wasn't so dumb to understand the seriousness of the situation. I kept standing at my place, observing the boy who was turning paler in each passing moment.

A flashback hit me hard. When I was ten, my adopted parents brought a little guy to our house. They found him on the street after he was attacked by some rogues. I saw how badly they tried to help the boy. When the boy survived, my parents including me felt the happiness of saving someone. From that time, I always wished to help someone who was fighting for life. Now I had the chance to do that, I couldn't just sit back and see him dying especially when other help wasn't around. Thankfully, I learned a valuable thing about my life before coming here as a princess of this dynasty.