An Emptiness In Women Life

"First Daughter of House Calanty, a high-ranking official and your biggest rival." As she said that she saw Laylin's body stiffening, "There's a way to men's hearts. Ambrose doesn't necessarily have to love you but he can't hate you if you wish to survive." Scarlet leaned closer to emphasize her point. "If you give him an heir, your position in the court will be steady."

She fell back in her seat. "...An heir? Do you know what I saw that night? I'm scared even of the thought of being alone with him again." She shuddered but her heart thumped in excitement.

Scarlet giggled, at Laylin's reddening cheeks, "For someone so uninterested, you sure are snooping a lot around him." 

Laylin rubbed her sweaty palms, looking away, "...I was asking to be aware."

It was hard for her to think of the man she saw last night as the beast who had tried to feast on her...

Scarlet pursed her lips: "Transforming in our lycan's form is painful and leaves you with aches for days. We are not allowed to shift in the Palace, which is the reason you don't see lycans out in the open and there's also a stigma here, so nobles and gentry don't prefer to shift unless absolutely necessary."

"They regard it as barbaric so you will only see shifted lycans if you go to the training center. His Beast is horrifying but you won't see him shift again. Moon Arrival is an exception though, you will see several, and then you may not find them weird." Laylin just stared at her.

"Do you... Don't you wish to be able to shift and let your other side free more?" Laylin finds her aura prickling to flow out of her. She could understand their nature to some extent.

"I never shifted." Laylin smacked her lips, it was clearly a sour subject for her. "Every other lycan here go on mandatory runs and there are training arenas around the palace so you won't find any inside the palace."

Laylin poured herself more tea. Princess Scarlet raised a brow at the smoke still leaving the tea. "Sometimes I forget there is another side to everyone here."

Scarlet smiled. “Well then, the flies around my cousin can be annoying but give him a chance. Give him a chance. I know you can help the King out of his misery. He had lived a very traumatic life and the previous King wasn't a good man either. He had gotten us out of the rule of a tyrant but... let's leave it that.” she sighed, as if giving up.

But then, before Laylin could get a word in, Scarlet went on, "He's suppressing the nobles and planning conquests when the nation is already in chaos. He doesn't connect with his people and looks at everything from an outsider's point of view. Our people hate him. He is no different from our previous monarch if you look at him with a bird's eye view!"

Laylin blinked back in shock, her own resolve faltering at the mention of such profound love that could change a man. It seemed to her that Scarlet wanted her to believe like she was his salvation.

Shaking her head, she brought up the request that she was here to make, "You promised my entourage will return to me."

“Ah! Your servants?” Scarlet drawled, “You still want to have them as your attendants?”

"Yes, they have tended to me since I was a babe. They understand my needs so it'll be easy to adjust." Laylin smiled as Scarlet hummed in thought.

“Well, are you sure?” Scarlet asked once more, “They probably can’t assist you as well as the servant I will provide. My servants will know every in and out of Rakhbar and are diligent.”

“Oh, I'm sure my Governess and servant would do just fine as attendants” Laylin politely insisted back, ignoring the obvious glare the falcon sitting on the front bush was shooting at her. “I'm more comfortable with them.”

Princess Scarlet hummed, nodding along in agreement. Her smile waned at Princess Laylin. "Sure, I'll have that arranged. I thought you would change your mind but I don't wish to inconvenience you. Instead, why don't you take in one of my faithful servants too? She knows combat and is familiar with every nook and cranny in Rakhbar's Capital."

Laylin nodded after some thought. No matter how reliable they were, her servants were helpless in Rakhbar.

And so, Princess Scarlet told Hessy to get one. Hessy went to summon one of her maids. Melissa immediately came rushing in, politely standing a few paces beside Scarlet as she awaited orders.

Scarlet spoke. “Melissa, from today you will be tailing Princess Laylin as your Master.” Melissa blinked at the Princess, unable to understand if it was a detention or a demotion.

Scarlet immediately explained to her what she was going to do, but the servant looked devastated and wasn't covering it well.

“Well, that’s it.” Scarlet clapped her hands, “All you really need to do is help Princess Laylin with whatever things she needs to do and whatever she doesn't know. Don't worry, your compensation will be double.” Melissa lightened up immediately and she bowed in gratitude.

Princess Scarlet took the time to observe Laylin. She looked paler than she was the last time she saw the woman, but at least she didn’t appear more conniving and ambitious. When Laylin remained silent, Princess Scarlet realized that she had been unconsciously putting her cards on the table one by one in front of her.

Laylin wanted a mutual relationship based on trust, Scarlet smiled. She was happy to have someone so similar close to her. 

After all, if Laylin was able to stay with the King as his Queen, she’ll have to learn to live with her. She needed this time to get used to that fact, as well as to ensure Laylin wouldn’t ever find her untrustworthy.

She could use this time to prove to her, how useful and trustworthy she was.

What could be better than a King's beloved who depended on her?

Scarlet brought Laylin's attention back to her, "She's good in combat and has Beta and Gamma blood in her. She's well-versed in minimal errands. Do you like her?"

“Of course, I do.” Laylin finally replied, tilting her head to look resolutely at her. Her hands were clasped in front of her. "Though I can't say you will be too pleased to part with such a faithful servant."

“Oh, how considerate of you!” Princess Scarlet beamed at her missing the sarcasm, “Though nothing in the Main Palace falls under my authority, I'll always have a way to contact you.” she added, Laylin finally looked up to give her a hesitant smile in return.

"The King had forbidden me to leave the Main Palace's premises. This garden is the limit of my freedom."

......  

In the week he wasn't present, The King’ work schedule had been packed to the brim. He hardly had any time for a break. On top of that, the destruction in the King's Palace was concerning.

It was no secret that the Palace was for the King's pleasure and privacy. It housed the reigning King’s mistresses for generations. Even Sayon was supposed to live there but he had shifted her to one of the Flower Palaces.

He ran a hand through his hair in restrained rage. Like every year he had assumed they would vacate the area while he was out of it but instead they used his state to get rid of a concubine. And he ended up marking her.

He had wanted to deal with the moles in the Palace but they were all dead already and it wasn't the right time to touch nobility...

Every other lady was at arm-length from him and he had placed the foreign Princess in the Main Palace, in the room above his office.

He heard her moving around, mumbling to herself and sobbing and cursing his grave. It had been half a day but it felt like a lifetime.

When she left her room, he was annoyed to the point he wanted to drag her back into that room where she was within his reach. He held himself back as the woman was in cahoots with Princess Scarlet and had apparently lied about that night.

Laylin was a human and he couldn't give her the throne so he might as well join the club of his those predecessors who reigned absolutely without naming any of their Ladies as Queen.

He wanted to keep her close but it will be hard for him to allow Laylin to live in Main Palace if he got married to another woman.

“Ah... Laylin,” The King sighed out, clicking his tongue at the sound of her name. He swept his hand through his hair before he rubbed his face in deep thought.

She had an ill temper, he could tell just by her initial disregard for him. It will prove to be a nuisance. He had heard of her accomplishment in Ehan's Court. He didn’t understand their reasons for sending her as a hostage but...

'KNOCK! KNOCK!'

A sudden knock came, and Sayon entered his office without waiting for his response.