Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King

Chapter 4: Premonition

Chapter 4: Premonition

Lorelai slowly walked back to her study, reveling in the warmth of the sunlight that seeped through the hallway windows.

Compared to Althea's room, where the curtains were always drawn, allowing only artificial light from the chandelier candles, any other room that did not shelter her presence, seemed a lot warmer and thus more cheerful.

Despite the dreading news that had just been delivered to her and the annoying pain in her right hip, the princess felt a little better just walking through the sunlit hall. @@@@

Pausing next to one of the tall windows, Lorelai looked through the glass, noticing two people talking outside, among the blooming orchards of the palace gardens.

'Kai?'

Those people were her stepbrother, Crown Prince Kai Erelith, and her future husband, Duke Vincent Kalder.

Even though she could not see their faces very well, Lorelai could tell that their discussion was not a pleasant one. And she knew exactly why.

'If the old duke is here, it means they are discussing my marriage. No wonder Kai looks so annoyed.'

As she finished that thought, Duke Kalder turned on his heel and left abruptly while the Crown Prince suddenly raised his head and locked his glowing green eyes with the princess.

His angry gaze sent a shiver down her spine, forcing Lorelai to avert her eyes and step aside from the window.

There was always something unsettling about her stepbrother which made her feel scared. She did not like to provoke him.

The princess was about to get inside her study when she heard the familiar heavy rhythm of her stepbrother's footsteps marching toward her from around the corner of the hallway.

"Lorelai!"

Lorelai winced and tightened her grip around the ornate handle of her cane. Kai appeared almost out of nowhere right before her, fuming with unreasonable rage as he spat his next words.

"So it's true, huh? You whored yourself off to that old pervert?!"

His crude tone and the choice of words put a disgusted grimace on her face.

Following was the male voice crying out her name in despair and the princess felt her skin covered in goosebumps.

It would have been nice. If only someone would come to save her from this hell.

Her thoughts then shifted back to the poison and Lorelai frowned.

Gypsies. In her dream, she bought that poison from a Gypsy woman.

Gypsies were not really citizens of the Erelith Kingdom. In fact, they were just nomads, roaming around the continent like it belonged entirely to them.

Peaceful and harmless in nature, they posed no threat to others, and with their innate talent for street entertainment, gypsies were welcome everywhere and received no judgment or discrimination.

Lorelai had seen the Gypsy settlement in the Capital before. She had always found them fascinating and yet, she had never had the courage to approach them.

And now, it felt like the right time to finally do so.

With another long sigh, the princess turned around and looked out of the window behind her chair. Despite the late hour, it was still light outside which made her surprised for a few moments.

'Ah,' she finally recalled, 'today is the summer solstice!'

The summer solstice was the longest day of the year but it was also the day when all the commoners, including gypsies, gathered in the Capital Square to celebrate the occasion with all kinds of festivities and entertaining events.

Strangely, Lorelai's heartbeat fastened, and she felt her palms getting damp.

Perhaps that dream was indeed a premonition.

No, it had to be.

That dream was both a warning and a helping hand.

An unwavering decision was made right away––she would do it.

She would go to the festival disguised as a commoner, meet the gypsies, and buy that poison.