Chapter 193: The Guests From Beloria [Part 1]
I hummed a tune as I organized the tulips in the vase; it was a bouquet Drevon had given me. This was a habit of his.
Each time I went to my study, he would give me a bouquet as if I didn’t have a garden of them, but I do appreciate the romantic gesture.
It made me smile the entire day, and attending to matters was no longer mind-draining. I’d always work with ease whenever I had a vase of tulips on the table.
Suddenly, nausea filled me, and I covered my mouth to take it back in. Gosh! The smell of these tulips was becoming icky. I looked at the windows where there were more of them. Maybe I should reduce them a bit, keep some in the inner court.
I have always loved the fragrance of tulips, but there was only so much I could take.
I felt a nudge on my arm, and I looked to find Snow holding a tulip with his teeth.
"Thank you, Snow," I said, taking it and poking it into the vase.
It’s been a few days since I found Snow, and in that little time, the behaviours it exhibited told us it was a male fox.
I stroked the back of Snow’s ear, and he gave a happy yip and closed his eyes.
He was always around me, and even though I left him in the care of Osha, he always sneaked out and found his way back to me, either resting at my feet or on my lap.
Snow was already a hot topic in the castle. My noble ladies were obsessed with him and brought him gifts each time they visited.
Sadly, we have been searching for his mother, but she hasn’t been found. He was truly alone, and yet I couldn’t get over the fact of how it got here, into a fortress of a castle guarded from top to bottom.
"What are you?" I asked, and Snow tipped his head in question.
I smiled, shaking my head. "What am I saying? That was a silly thing to say, don’t mind me, Snow."
I looked at the painting above the fireplace, which was of Drevon and me.
Every day, I always admire it, and I never seem to get enough. We were both sitting on golden thrones. Drevon held my hand and his lips on my knuckles. My eyes were focused on him entirely. We should have faced the portrait to get a proper capture but we didn’t.
I’ve been to the showroom where there were paintings of the royal family, and I must say I haven’t seen one like this.
Henry was right when he said he had never seen a work that was so astonishing to capture. You could feel the love radiating off it, like it had a soul.
A knock came from the door.
"Come in!"
"Your Majesty," Talia said behind. "The guest from Beloria has arrived."
They are here.
I set the vase in place and said to Snow. "Stay here and don’t sneak out. Osha will keep you company. Will you be a good boy for me?"
He licked my finger in response.
"Are you ready, Talia?" I asked.
"I’ve been for a while. But you shouldn’t ask me that question. I should be the one to ask."
I sneered. "What? You think I won’t be able to handle it." I eyed Talia with an amused look. "To be honest, I’m excited."
She gave me a puzzled look. "Excited?"
I leaned on the table and folded my arms. "I know what you’re thinking. I should be gloomy about their arrival. Mentally stuck in the memories of abuse when I see them."
"Are you not?"
"Why don’t we find out? But I might disappoint you when I react differently."
"You have changed," she confessed.
"How so?"
"You’re not the same girl who was married to the Lycan monarch. You carry the air of a lycan even though you aren’t one."
I leaned away from the table. "She changed for the better, adapted."
Talia smiled. "It’s a good thing she did, because if she hadn’t changed, that girl wouldn’t have survived."
"She fell in love, too."
"Who could have known?"
We both giggled.
~•~
I watched as the company came through the gates. The horses came to a halt and neighed.
The carriage doors opened, and they stepped out. Lord Richard and Lady Agnes Ravemont, the archduke and archduchess of Beloria, followed by their daughter, Baroness Fiona Fitzroy.
They haven’t changed much, but judging from their expensive attire, I could tell their lands were thriving from the expansion.
"The castle is huge! I think this covers the entirety of Beloria," Fiona said in awe, basking in the view like she had entered a whole new realm.
"Hush now! Act poise," Stepmother scolded, even though she did the same as her eyes wandered. "Yes, this place is pleasing to the eye, but we shouldn’t show our interest too much and give them the idea we have never had such luxury before."
"Poise? They are beasts! Yet they have such refined taste. I thought we were riding into the forest or something. I can’t believe Eloise was living in such a place the entire time. It’s not fair, mother!"
"Eloise? The girl must be dead by now."
"Oh, that’s too bad. I knew she wouldn’t live long, but the least she could have done was enjoy all this first. Such a pity."
"You read my mind. I wondered what happened to her; she must have been devoured."
"Or died fucking the monarch." Fiona giggled. "She actually did it, didn’t she? Such a whore."
"Agnes! Fiona!" Father reprimanded. "You forget your place. We’re in Lycan’s territory, and I suggest you watch your tongue if you don’t want to lose them."
"Darling, they cannot cause any harm to us. They may be beasts, but they seem proper. We’re their honored guests."
"Yes, we’re, but we have to be careful," he replied in a serious tone.
"Oh, darling, you worry too much. Right now, you’re the most valuable human to the monarch. Our supplies to this place have enabled them to survive through their long winter."