Chapter 68HopeWell, well, well. After all he had said to me merely days ago, begging for my forgiveness and promising to be better to me. Thank the heavens that I hadn't believed in any single word he said. If I had, then the feeling of disappointment and anger I felt right now would've been much heavier. Sighting me from the corner of his unclosed eyes, Darius quickly shoved Annalise away and wiped his lips like it had been stained with poison. Annalise, noticing that I was in the room, turned around to look at me.She was wearing a very satisfied expression. As if to say, "I told you so." Perhaps it was because of said expression that I felt like I had to wipe her off from the face of the earth in order to achieve true peace with myself. And that was what I attempted."What are you doing here?" I asked her, using a haughty tone.Prior to my question, I had given Darius a look that was akin to saying, "Do not interfere with my next actions." And he understood well, taking a step
Chapter 69HopeAnother council meeting was being held today. Instead of a council meeting, it was just a gathering for complaints. The rebels have been stirring trouble more fiercely than before. Their reach has extended from the borders and over to the Kingdom's center.More civilians were now aware of the rebels than before, protesting that the King does something to take care of them. The councilmen are here to plead with Darius to take proper action.Some are here to discuss the identity of the leader of the rebels. Talk of Light being the leader has been making its way into people's heads. I wouldn't blame them for leaning towards that.She was the one with the Morati knife. She was talented in politics and warfare. Who else, other than her, could stir up so much amount of trouble in such little time?Though everyone knew the identity of the leader of the rebels in the back of their heads, no one dared to say it out loud in front of me and Darius.It would indirectly be blasphem
Chapter 70HopeAnd to think for a second I believed that Darius had summoned me for something important. The moment I stepped into his office, he had engulfed me and in a tight embrace and quickly assaulted my lips with his own.It took me a second to push him away and catch my breath. With a frown, I said, "Stop doing that. I hate it." "What do you hate exactly? Kissing? Or kissing me?" Darius questioned languidly."Both!" I bit out.He chuckled at this, then wrapped his arms around me once again. "What can I do to make you like them both?" "Nothing. And stop holding me!" I tried pushing him away but he held onto me tightly, refusing to let go."To think by now you'd know that physical contact is my love language," Darius said carelessly.The side of my lips tugged up in irritation. He could take his love language and shove it up his ass. I didn't want it. But Darius had other thoughts as his hands begin creeping to my erogenous zones.I bit my bottom lip to mask the shameless sou
Chapter 71Hope"Someone's looking pretty," Darius said with a smile the second he saw me.It was midnight and I had already dressed up, anticipating his arrival. I wasn't wearing anything especially pretty. Just a dark blue tunic with a pair of black trousers. My hair was parted at the middle and I donning a few jewelries around my neck, wrists, and fingers."Hm," I said in response to Darius."Don't you have anything to say about me?" he teased.He was also dressed as casually as I was. What was there to compliment him about? I turned away from him and said, "Stop fishing for compliments."He made a psh sound before putting out a hand for me. Begrudgingly, I placed my hand in his and unexpectedly, Darius leaned down and placed a kiss on my hand.I flinched and almost retracted my hand, but his hold was firm. He quickly roped an arm around me and began leading me out from my room.To be honest, I was curious about this 'date' of ours. What was Darius hoping to achieve? Why was he so
Chapter 72 Hope "What are you trying to say? Are you trying to mock me or make me feel pity for you?" I questioned. "No, that's not what I'm trying to do. I can assure you," Darius said. I didn't believe. In fact, I didn't even want to believe him. I didn't want to sit here and listen to him wail about his childhood, trying to concoct an excuse for why he acted like a big bully. I liked myself and hated him too much to give him a chance to thaw my heart with his story. "Anyway, I had a very normal childhood fitting for someone that was to be king in the future," Darius heaved a sigh as he spoke. I unconsciously raised a questioning brow. If you had such a normal childhood, why did you then kill your family and make yourself such an unapproachable tyrant? As though he heard my thoughts, Darius said, "But growing up in such a way only made me weak, thought my parents. I wouldn't blame them, I was far too kind in the past." I almost snorted. "There was a time when I
Chapter 73Hope I've put up with this long enough now. It was early morning, a week after 'forgiving' Darius. I was preparing to have breakfast with him when Gwendolyn began speaking."His Majesty has been treating you very preciously these days." It was only ten words but they stirred me up so bad that I stood up from my dressing chair and faced her. "Gwendolyn, you can stop putting on an act now." My voice was firm and my frown was even firmer.It took only a few seconds for her innocent expression to change. Her usual doe eyes narrowed to an almond shape and a wry smile made its way on her lips.She backed up a few steps and placed her hands on her waist. "How long have you known now?" she asked.I glared at her. "You know, I wasn't sure of anything until you just asked that question."Shock flashed her features, but it was too fast for me to decipher her level of surprise.I had always found Gwendolyn annoying and suspicious. But after the entire thing she told me about the st
Chapter 74Hope Darius marched over to Kyle and I with a sudden possessive aura clouding his being."Her majesty was attacked by a spy posing as a human maid," Kyle explained solemnly.Upon hearing Kyle's explanation, Darius didn't ease up one bit as he told Kyle to get a physician and leave the two of us. Darius then replaced Kyle and led me to sit on the bed, his face painted with worry."I'm sorry," he said. "I should've gotten here faster. You wouldn't have gotten injured and I would've been able to catch the bastard who did this to you." Hearing him say such words, I couldn't help but chuckle a little bit. It was stupid because I believed him. He had done it once before, back then when there was nothing but hatred between the two of us.It got me thinking that maybe the assassin who snuck into my room that night could've been another of Light's underlings who was sent to kidnap me and bring me to her.I sighed mentally at the thought."I have something to tell you," I whispered
Chapter 75HopeI turned around to look at who just spoke. To my surprise, it was Thomas—the grumpy son of the commander. There was a clear frown on his face as he came forward. But before he could step in front of me, Kyle stood between us."Her majesty was not speaking to you, back away." Kyle said with a firm tone.Thomas glared at him and said, "So what if she wasn't talking to me? Is it a bad thing for me to offer myself to my queen?"His last two words were coated with deep sarcasm that I couldn't even ignore. I patted Kyle on his shoulder, gesturing for him to step aside. He did so, but begrudgingly.I faced Thomas and asked, "You want to fight me?" He didn't even bother to hide the defiance in his tone as he said, "Yes, and so what?" I smiled, surprising the kid who was one or two years younger than me. "Okay then, let's spar." Kyle stepped forward, probably about to stop me but I held my hand up and gave him a look, causing him to step back. I spoke to him with my eyes, an
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