ocean-life Chapter 42: Watching Her Leave
Chapter 42: Watching Her Leave
Chapter 42: Watching Her Leave
As the orchestra started playing the first melody, Kai and Lorelai stood in the middle of the dancing area, their dark, solemn demeanor was completely out of tune with the festive atmosphere surrounding them.
The prince made the first move, pushing his sister's foot back and thus initiating the dance. He watched Lorelai's face frown in pain, but somehow, he enjoyed it. He had noticed it a while ago––despite her demure appearance and careful behavior, her wild, untamed side would still show through, and the only way to control her was with either violence or pain.
Lorelai hated pain the most. But in this palace, she could never escape it.
"I thought I had warned you before," he finally said once their bodies came closer in another dance move. "I told you not to get close to that animal."
The princess lowered her eyes, her lips trembled as she answered. "It was not my fault. He approached me first."@@@@
"What does he want with you then?"
"I––I am not sure. He said he felt offended that I did not greet him properly as a member of the royal family."
Kai scoffed, annoyance evident in his every feature. "That bastard! He really thinks he can be treated in the same way we treat humans, huh? How absurd!"
Lorelai said nothing. She recalled Rhaegar asking her not to talk about him like others did and his words carved deep into her heart.
'Then how would you treat them?'
She desperately wanted to voice that question but she knew better than to stir trouble with her brother. It was better to just leave it be. She had no authority to defend the lycan king anyway.
"Stay away from him, Lorelai," Kai spoke once again. "Your marriage is an important deal and Duke Kalder is a jealous man. Do not ruin this for us. Do you understand me? They will leave once the celebration is over anyway. It is not worth ruining your life for this."
This time, Lorelai wanted to laugh. Could it really ruin her life more than it was shattered already?
She did not reply to these words either.
***
Lorelai walked slowly through the crowd, scanning the guests with her tired eyes in hopes of finding Duke Kalder faster, but the old man was nowhere to be seen.
"Your Highness?" A female voice caught her attention and she turned around, recoiling slightly at the sight of Lucia, the queen's lady-in-waiting.
Lorelai did not like her and always tried to stay away from her; just like she usually did with other people directly involved with Althea and Kai.
"Yes, Lady Lucia?" The princess was worried that it was Althea who sent her because she failed to find Duke Kalder and Lucia's next words confirmed her fears.
"You look like you are searching for someone. Is it, perhaps, His Grace Duke Kalder?"
"Y––yes, it is. Did you see him?"
Lucia faked a friendly smile, wrapping her long, lean arm around Lorelai's shoulder. "As a matter of fact, I did! He has prepared a nice and quiet room for the two of you to spend some time together, let me guide you there. It looks like you need some help walking."
The princess felt strangely alerted by Lucia's words but on the other hand, loyal to Althea, she used to run after Vincent Kalder as well, so it was not really surprising that the old man would make her his messenger too.
"Alright, thank you, Lady Lucia."
"Of course!" Lucia faked another smile and led Lorelai out of the banquet hall, walking carefully through the palace hallway in the direction of the guest wing.
'Let's see what everyone will think of you once this is over. That disgusting pervert Kalder will never forgive you for this.'
"Uhm, Lady Lucia?" As Lorelai noticed that they came to the guest wing of the main palace, she could not help but suspect that Lucia had made a mistake by bringing her there. "Why are we in the guest wing?"
"Oh, Duke Kalder is going to stay for a couple more days in the palace so naturally, the royal family got him a nice guest room. He wishes to meet you there, Your Highness."