please, don't forget to drop a review if you're liking the story so far!<3
Chapter 44HopeI was told that there was going to be a ball soon. Tomorrow, to be specific. I wasn't technically told. I observed that the workers of the castle have been decorating a specific hall cheerfully for some days now, so I asked Kyle and he told me that there was going to be a harvest ball.He said it wasn't anything special and was just for formality sake and that I didn't even need to attend. I was happy with that. Until a dress was sent to my room this morning with a note that said, 'Wear this to the ball.'No doubt it was Darius who sent the dress to me but I have never been so pissed off about receiving a gift in my entire life. Who did he think he was to send a dress to me? There was a possibility that his beast was the one who sent it to me because he was obsessed with me.I hated either theories. I hated him, I hated his beast, but I would have to wear the dress. When I took it out of the box, I realized that it wasn't the type of dress I would normally wear.It was
Chapter 45HopeThe harvest ball had started. Though the ballroom was far away from where my room was located, I could still hear the music playing. Moratian music was drastically different from human music. They were played in a sensual and inappropriate manner.Then again, everything about this place was inappropriate.Gwendolyn pinned the last accessory to my hair and stepped back with a sigh. I finally looked at myself with the help of the mirror in front of me. I hated it. I hated how I looked like one of them.This was the main reason why Darius wanted me to dress in this outfit. I hated that man so much. Was he trying to change me entirely? Did he want me to become a Lycan fully?I had no answers to those questions and I was too pissed off to try to think of answers. I stood up from the stool and turned to Gwendolyn."Thank you," I told her, referring to the makeup and hairdo she did for me.Her cheeks tinted pink in appreciation and she looked like a little girl who was just
Chapter 46Hope"Stop holding onto me so tight," I whispered harshly at Darius. I didn't know if a person could categorize what was going on between me and Darius as dancing. It was mostly him just spinning and dragging me along to match his unnatural pace. I didn't even seem to remember why I was doing this in the first place. "You might fall if I let you go," he said.I frowned. If I fell it would be his fault for making me dizzy with all the unnecessary twirling. I wanted to stomp on his feet to slow his actions, but as if he read my thoughts, he pushed me back, causing the upper half of my body to hang midair."I am so done with you," I said, staring into his eyes that held mischief in them.It was only for a second, but the side of his lips twitched into a smirk before he thinned them, and pulled me swiftly."Would you rather dance with that lover of yours?" Irritation seeped into his tone.My frown deepened as I glanced over to where Kyle was standing by the drinks table, unaw
Chapter 47 Hope It had been almost a week since I last saw Darius. I was told that he was doing something along the lines of yearly check-in around Moratia. I wondered how long it would take him to return. Not that I wanted him to return. The palace was rather peaceful in his absence. Annalise, Orion, and The commander went along with him. My top tormentors were no longer around to oppress me and freedom was mine to hold and cherish. In the absence of the commander, some of the soldiers had become nice to me. If nice meant acknowledging a person briefly. By my standards, the soldiers just glancing my way without any malicious intent hidden behind their eyes was progress. It meant that the reason why people where so hostile to me was because of them. My husband and his comrades. Currently, I was done with training and lying on the ground like I usually did. It had become a habit of mine these days to lie on the ground after training and wait for Kyle until he was done doing whateve
Chapter 48 Hope I was sitting directly across Thaddeus in the drawing room of the castle alone. His servants, as well as Kyle, were waiting outside the closed door. Thaddeus had requested to speak with me privately. I couldn't shake off the feeling that today was going to be my last day of breathing, so I inhaled and exhaled deeply. Thaddeus sipped on the tea that was served moments ago elegantly, and I watched uncomfortably. I wasn't sure if the fluid was going to pass through my throat if I attempted to swallow it. I wouldn't say a while had passed since the two of us have been in here but it has been enough time for him to get on with doing whatever he planned to do. With every passing second, I was getting more and more anxious. "Hope Vitalis..." Thaddeus started to say, like he had just heard my thoughts. "Or should I say Moratis?" he added. I frowned a little as I waited for him to say something else. He placed his tea cup on the coaster and leaned back on the cushion, a p
Chapter 49HopeI was given an indefinite break off training. It came from the commander herself through a letter. Darius also sent me one but I couldn't be bothered to check the content. The only thing I wanted him to tell me was that he was going make me his queen and I doubted that was in the letter he sent.Kyle and Gwendolyn have both been by my side constantly as though I was a ticking bomb that would explode in the absence of people. I could understand their actions but it was getting stuffy with them around and I wanted to visit Amara.That wouldn't have been a problem if Kyle was the only one watching over me but with Gwendolyn around, I couldn't carry out my plan. I didn't trust her at all and I wasn't going to reveal Amara to her. She could be Darius' spy and would relay my actions to him when she got such a juicy information.Right now I was seated in the garden, painting the landscape. I wasn't a very good painter but I had to keep busy somehow with myself being off train
Chapter 50Kyle'You're the best person ever.'I was someone's best person ever. Even if that someone was my king's wife and the person I was to protect. She was always touching me; something that people didn't do often... Women didn't do often. And she was not an ordinary woman. She was someone's wife. My king's wife.The more I thought of her, the more complex things seemed to be. I looked down on the hand that she grabbed without permission. The hand that she held and didn't let go of until I told her to. I caressed the palm with my other hand, then lifted it to my nose.Her fragrance still lingered on my hand. Vanilla. That was what she smelled like. With a flowery hint, due to the time she spent in the garden today. She seemed so happy, despite the horrid things that had happened to her here.Despite the number of times that I had failed to protect her. I was a good-for-nothing guard but it seemed like she preferred me that way. Hah... "What are you doing?" Someone said as the d
Chapter 51HopeKyle and I were sneaking out of the castle. I was dressed in commoner clothes which consisted of a dark cream long-sleeved top and a long brown apron. My hair was packed into an untidy bun and I wore a heavy cloak to cover myself.Kyle was dressed in a different fashion. I hadn't seen what he was wearing underneath his own cloak but I could tell that it would be drastically different from the uniform I always saw him in. Somehow, that thought excited me.We were going to use the fence at the back of the garden to leave. It was dark and only a half moon was out, so it would be quite hard to sneak out. Not only because of that but because of the knights patrolling around. They were never this much during the day, so how come they were hundreds of them at night?It was like they knew I was planning to sneak out today and posed as barriers in my way. But no matter, I trusted Kyle to get me out of this prison. He was going to take me to a festival in the village but only fo
An excerpt from the diary of the last Vitalis Princess to ever marry a Lycan King:My name is Hope Vitalis-Moratis. I am the last Vitalis princess to get married to a Lycan King. Hundreds of years ago, humans were the only superior species on Earth. However, Lycans suddenly invaded the earth and dominated humans—this is what is written in the history books.The truth is that, more than thousands of years ago, humans and Lycans lived in peace. But humans grew afraid and envious of Lycans who were more talented, stronger, and powerful than them. They all put out their hands to drive away Lycans and surpress them within a hidden kingdom known as Moratia. Many years after, a Lycan King decided to change history by coming out of the shadows and breaking out from the hidden Kingdom, making it known to everyone.The king did this with the help of a powerful witch who only appeared when the situation suited her. Thus, this particular Lycan King and his descendants punished humans for drivin
HopeI could sense everything and nothing at the same time. I could hear everything and nothing. I could feel everything and nothing. All this without opening my eyes.As I finally pried my eyes open, I saw a little crack on the ceiling above my head. I have been living in this chamber for months, but this was my first time seeing this crack. Every single morning when I woke up and looked at this ceiling, I have never seen the crack before. Where did it come from?I turned my head around. I could hear thousands of footsteps from outside. I felt like I could hear the footsteps of people outside the castle as well.My entire body felt light, as I thought I could rise up and fly. At the same it was hard for me to lift my body up. But once I managed to do just that, I realized something."I should be dead." I said out loud.I looked down to my stomach. I was wearing a blue night dress. I rolled it up to check my stomach, and there was no mark of the stab wound that Light had designed on
Hope "What are you doing?" I asked Light, trying my best to keep my voice leveled and hide the fear I felt in my chest."You are not ready to join me. Without you being with me, I can't let other people have you and use you against me." Light explained with a detached tone."Are you crazy?! You want to kill me just because I don't believe in your nonsense and cruel actions!? Light, what is wrong with you?!" I exploded at her, but she wasn't fazed by my words."You are a disappointment to all Vitalis princesses." With that said, Light lunged for me. The angle she used was well thought out, and I wouldn't have enough time to dodge the knife even if I attempted to move.I closed my eyes and waited for the impact. However, it did not come. But I heard a clank and a thud sound. I opened my eyes to see that Light was on the floor, and that the Morati knife was at the far corner of the kitchen. This scene was not as surprising as seeing Thaddeus in front of me, standing like a shield."Wh-w
Hope "A way to redeem myself?" I asked Light slowly.Light nodded, the light in her eyes brightening even further. "Your child... The child you have with that monster. It could guarantee peace forever. After you give birth to it, we will work to permanently separate his human and beast side, killing the latter off. Then follow through to do the same with every other surviving Lycan to exterminate all beasts."My eyes widened in surprise as I didn't bother to hide the shock in my expression whilst staring at Light."Light, are you listening to yourself? What do you think you're talking about? Even without the child and this lunatic idea of yours, there would have been peace forever! That was what the treaty was for! You-""Oh, stop that! Don't talk as though that nonsense treaty was fair to humans. We basically became a different type of slaves to these monsters because of that treaty!" Light exclaimed."A treaty that we, humans, came up with!" I fired at Light.If she wanted to prete
Hope After receiving the report from Orion, everything happened so fast that I didn't get a chance to understand anything. One second, Darius and I were sitting next together, the next, he was locking me inside my room for protection and leaving the castle with a large army of soldiers.My heart was in my mouth, I couldn't breathe. Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.I could feel my heartbeat in every part of my body. Why was I so afraid? Why did I feel there was something terrible waiting for me? I managed to get myself a glass of water but it did not calm me down a single bit. I looked out the window. The army who had been waiting around the castle on standby were no longer there.They had been moved to the scene of action. As for the few soldiers remaining to protect the castle's gates, I couldn't make them out as they were too far away from my line of vision.I knew that this castle was safe, but I still felt like there was trouble lurking around. "Darius isn't here anymore." I told m
HopeToday was the day of the Blood Moon. But everything was weird. Things were too peaceful. It was like the calm before the storm. From morning till this very evening, there have been no reports of rebels, attacks, riots, or anything.However, that didn't mean that things were fine. Light might as well be bidding her time until the Blood Moon was fully out. From the room's window, I stared at the red moon hanging on the dark night sky that was shrouded with dark clouds.It was seriously ominous, to the point where I got chills just by looking at it. However, if things went according to plan, I would be fine. And I would also carry out a personal plan of mine.Soldiers and guards were stationed all round the kingdom and this very castle. We were prepared for anything. Yet, I still felt like we were missing something.I couldn't place my finger on what exactly it was, but I knew that something was wrong somewhere. If I could bring this to Darius' attention, maybe he would do something
Kyle "This is all your fault!" I accused Thomas, cutting off his air supply.To this, he smiled maniacally, but there was a hint of regret and guilt in his eyes. He didn't hide them well."You're a fool. Did you expect me to blindly follow your commands and help that queen of yours?" Thomas spat.I tightened my grip on his throat. "Don't you dare!"Thomas coughed and said, "I did my best. She wanted to be stabbed. So I stabbed her. What are you getting so worked up about?" I wanted to kill the fool right now. But I couldn't. At the end of the day, it was all my fault. I flung him away and turned my back to him.I shouldn't have asked him to be the one to fake stab the queen. I should've done so myself. I should've obeyed and sealed my feelings to myself. Instead, I'd done something stupid—placed my trust on a fool and betrayed the trust of someone dear to me.Fuck!I kicked the air, not knowing what to vent on. I heard a mocking scoff from behind me. I was forced to turn around and
Hope The baby was fine? How could the baby be fine? I had taken an abortion tonic. I had also gotten stabbed in the stomach. How could the baby still be fine after all of that??"The baby's fine? Did a physician check me and-" "Don't worry, Hope." Darius said with soothing tone, placing a hand on my shoulder to comfort me. "The physician checked. I even had other renowned physicians check as well. The baby is fine. Everything is in order. You shouldn't worry so much."This child is a royal Lycan. Nothing can harm him. Everything will be fine." A royal Lycan. The kid growing inside of me was a royal Lycan. I had forgotten about that. How could that important fact slip from my mind?This child was not a regular child. It had the Moratis blood. The only thing that could end its life was the Morati knife.And that was in Light's hands! Shit!"What happened? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Darius quickly came closer, questioning me with a worried tone.I must have worn my disappointment an
Hope I was still alive. Barely. Surprisingly. But still alive. As soon as I opened my eyes, I let out a sigh of relief. Pain was not fun at all."Your Majesty, you're awake!" I heard someone say.I didn't have the strength to sit up from the bed yet and look at the person. I could only shift my eyes. I saw Kyle already down on his knees on the side of my bed. I instantly managed to find a way to frown."Did you plan to kill me?" I asked, my voice was void of anger and sadness. My intent was to show annoyance and anger, but I didn't have the strength to portray those emotions. "Of course not, your Majesty. The person I hired to... do it, did more than I instructed. But I've disciplined him very well and ensured never to-" "Are you mad?" I cut Kyle off.His throat bobbed, he didn't respond."I ask again, are you mad, Kyle Arsen?!" "... No, your Majesty." Kyle said after a beat."Then why did you let another person in on the plan!? Weren't you supposed to be the one to stab me?! Why