“Are you sure about it, your Grace?”Cecil looked troubled while helping me get dressed for the hunt. I preferred light clothing and a hat so that even if the sun would shine bright above us, it won’t blind me when I get to strike down the target. Her hands are fast and her face was a little upset as she tied the lace of my boots.“It will be fine, Cecil. There is nothing to worry about,” I chuckled at her because I just think she is somehow exaggerating, “I have a lot of experience with using guns and how to handle them. And hunting is one of my hobbies so I will be alright out there. I promise.”“I just don’t understand why you have to go with all those men. You can just let the Emperor handle this, your Grace. You are not fit to do such ridiculous sports! This is dangerous!”“What? I think it is more dangerous to deal with the other concubines though. I would prefer hunting wild beasts out there. At least this activity gives me the power to kill what is dangerous to me and not suff
Aster didn’t stop me from going with them despite the four Lord merchant’s warning that this kind of activity is not for ladies like me. They just sounded like Cecil though but I don’t care. They can’t let me wait in the camp. Because I couldn’t shift, my father used to train me how to use a rifle so I know how to protect myself in case something bad happens. I think it is the only thing I am thankful about Oswald Wycliffe. He taught me how to be tough no matter what the situation is. I thought at first it was some kind of punishment when I was young. But then as I age, I get that there are bad men who are just waiting for their turn to execute wherever their plans. And that gave me the motivation to be better at using guns. There were times that I thought of using it against my own father when he used to hurt me a lot whenever I made something that displeases him. The anger piled in my chest and every time I aimed my gun at something, I always thought about his angry face.Now I r
"Your Grace… we are not sure yet what is inside the cave. I have a feeling it is not just a bear. The sound makes it seem like the creature is more massive than a typical bear in this forest—""You worry too much, Eodelle. If it is not a bear, we will find out what it is then," He answered me back while glaring at the cave where the guttural groaning sound came from, "Good thing I am in the right mood to deal with such things right now."It made me frown and my heart started to feel nervous at the same time. I don't feel good in this part of the forest at all. I can feel the danger that is surrounding us. Even my inner wolf warns me about it and I know Alpha Aster can feel it too. I just don’t understand why he wanted to stay and wait for the thing that lingers inside the cave.Since I cannot convince him to turn back, I just prepared myself for whatever might happen. I kept my body upright, my back a little stiff so I had to let out a breath to relax my body a little bit and kept my
“Your Grace!”One of the Lord Merchants ran towards us, the worry etched on his face as he checked on the Emperor, “We have been looking for both of you for over an hour!”It was already dark when we came back to the camp and everyone surrounded me and the Emperor the moment they recognized both of us. They quickly gave Aster and me some warm cloaks because we are both a little drenched from the soft drizzle in the forest.“Your Grace,” King Laurent approached us, his eyes going to Aster and down at me. I saw him sigh as if he got relieved when he found out that I was not hurt and was finally safe, “We apologize for the lack of action we had. We just didn’t know which part of the forest you went to together with lady Eodelle. Some of the rangers are still in the forest looking for you though. I am glad you finally came back unscathed and unharmed.”Aster laughed shortly and then walked alongside King Laurent, leaving me standing in front of the three Lord Merchants. Laurent gave me a
It’s just hard to evade the look in King Laurent’s eyes.The morning sky is beautiful and the wind is a bit cold but the soft warmth of the sun makes my spirit happy while all of us enjoy the breakfast prepared by one of the finest cooks in Talaphatia castle. Fresh fish, fruits, eggs, and slices of bacon are my favorite to eat every morning. Alpha Aster, on the other hand, looks a little grumpy. I can tell his head must be killing him right now so I made sure to serve him cold water to ease the aftereffect and his headache.What bothers me most is that King Laurent keeps staring at me from the other end of the rainbow. I can tell he is not pleased that I didn’t show up last night when he called me. But then I thought I didn’t come here to please anyone. I am here because Alpha Aster wanted me to, and I can do nothing since he has me on my neck.The other Lord Merchants are busy talking about their recent good trades from other Kingdoms and how much profit they got from poor farmers a
"I didn't mean it like that, your Grace. If it was about last night—""No. I'm sorry. It was actually a mistake that I tried to call you in your tent at that kind of hour. I was just worried about what happened to you after our guards saw you by the river. It's just—they reported to me they have seen someone on the other side of the riverbank. I was scared you got hurt or something." I was a little surprised when King Laurent suddenly changed his mood and smiled at me. I smiled in relief though. His serious, cold face made me a little intimidated and scared that he must have expected something from me and that I did something which he misunderstood."Do you enjoy this kind of setup though? being the concubine of the Emperor? How is your relationship with the other concubines? I heard he has four more back in the Headow Stronghold."I pursued my lips. Should I tell him what really happened to me in that Palace after Aster conquered the Empire? Should I tell him that he once threw me i
"EODELLE!"I feel like my whole body is burning. My inner self screams, claws, shrieking in torment as my insides feel like someone is incinerating them. But my physical body remained still, burning hot while the King carried me in his arms. I looked up at the clear blue sky and watched a bird flying above us. Am I dying? Lady Eodelle of the Wycliffe Empire died of snake bite in the forest of Talaphatia?The clouds moved slowly, being blown by the soft wind in the early morning. But I can't feel the cool breeze I am expecting because I feel like my whole body is being blazed by an invisible fire that is spreading fast starting from the tips of my fingers down to my toes. I know it will be my end once the poison reaches my heart and brain."Eodelle!" King Laurent kept on calling my name to prevent me from falling asleep. Yes… if I sleep there will be no chance for me to wake up again. But I guess that is fine for me. I am exhausted with all of this anyway. Maybe this is the chance t
“How are you feeling now, your Grace?” I turned to look at Nina’s worried eyes while she watch me curl my hands into a fist several times making sure that I have complete control of my hands after I woke up several hours ago. Helena’s presence when she entered my room made me a bit alarmed, scared that she might show up there and kill me in my sleep. The hatred and the anger in her eyes were so clear that Alpha Aster sent her back to her room after she went here wearing a funeral dress.My strength hasn’t been back yet but I am grateful that I can finally move several parts of my body and my eyes have already adjusted to the light outside, making me able to see things clearly inside my room. The poison clearly did bad damage to my nervous system that I wasn’t able to feel anything for so many days as if I was in a total coma. “I think I am getting better,” I answered Nina with a small smile. I am so happy that I am finally able to see her every day. I didn’t realize I missed her thi