Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 83: Something Interesting

The silence that followed his declaration was almost overwhelming.

Everyone’s eyes were firmly fixed on the duke, their expression a clear indication that bewilderment was just one of the emotions swirling in their heads.

Who would have thought that Duke Vincent Kadler, the one to whom the slave trading brings the most money, would vote for the princess’ proposal which would make him lose a significant cut of his income?

Lorelai shifted her eyes to the queen and noticed how pale her expression was. Together with her son, the crown prince, they looked like they could kill with their glare if only that was possible.

But the seed had been successfully planted. The duke’s authority was impossible to ignore and knowing how tightly he was linked to the queen’s power, even if she wanted to oppose such a suggestion, Althea knew that she could not.

A lot of time had passed in silence before the meeting room was filled with voices once again.

One after another, the nobles began to voice their support of Lorelai’s proposal, following Duke Kadler’s vote. In the end, the proposal was unanimously accepted.

At last, Lorelai won.

As the meeting came to an end, no one wanted to speak with one another. It seemed that such impromptu hostility was caused by the decision that was virtually forced on all the participants of the Council meeting, and people simply wanted to get it over with and move on to something pleasant as soon as possible.

Lorelai thanked Marquess Galeran and Count Elion for their participation and dismissed them, contemplating whether she, too, should just return to her study and start drafting the project of the new bill right away.

However, the moment she decided to follow that decision, someone grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into the corner of the palace hallway, away from those who were still lingering near the meeting room.

"What are you doing? Please let me go!" The princess protested, freeing herself from Rhaegar’s grip. Fortunately, he had no intention of keeping her arm trapped in his big hand.

"Congratulations, princess," he grinned, looking down at her with his usual look full of arrogance. "You have finally achieved your goal. I am impressed."

Lorelai narrowed her eyes as she locked her gaze on his. There was a hint of mockery in his voice and she could not help but feel irritation bubble inside her at an alarming speed.

He wanted credit because he knew that without his help, she would not have been able to do anything.

"Thank you, King Rhaegar," she managed to thank him in a nonchalant voice. "I owe my victory solely to you."

"I am glad that you feel like you owe me something," the man’s grin widened, a spark of mischief in his amber eyes. "I think I would like to celebrate such an incredible achievement. Would you honor me with your presence?"

He had no physical hold on her body, yet Lorelai was still trapped.

She had promised herself that this meeting would be the last time she would interact with the lycan king, but it looked like fate, once again, was against her plans. It was ironic. The more she tried to distance herself from him, the more she was pulled back to him instead.

’I guess there is no helping it,’ she tried to find solace in her own thoughts. ’I really do owe him this much.’

With a defeated sigh, she nodded, agreeing to his request. "Yes, you are right. This calls for celebration. And I guess I should be the one treating you this time."

***

Lorelai offered to treat the king to a celebratory lunch, but just like always, she ended up being the one treated.

As soon as they stepped inside her chambers, they were greeted by Rhaegar’s servants who had already prepared quite a decadent spread on the soft, colorful blankets placed on the floor next to the princess’ bed.

"How... when did you––"

"Do you really think I came to that meeting expecting defeat?" Rhaegar cut her off, a wide smile on his handsome face.

He then took her hand in his and led her to the blankets, helping her sit down on the floor. Lorelai felt strange. She could understand having a picnic on the ground when they were outdoors, but imitating the same setting when they were inside? That was a little weird.

As if having read her mind, Rhaegar flicked her lightly on the forehead and placed a tall goblet of red wine inside her small, pale hand. "This is how I eat my meals most of the time, princess. And since you agreed to share this celebratory meal with me, you have to do it my way."

Lorelai looked at the goblet in her hand and felt hunger howling inside her stomach. Having spent a sleepless night, she had no appetite when one of her maids served her breakfast approved by Althea, but as she looked and smelled the food prepared by the lycan king, she could not help but hear her stomach practically begging to fill it with the delicious dishes before her.

"Dig in," Rhaegar urged her to start as he broke a fresh loaf of white bread, dipping it into a small bowl of something that reminded the princess of jelly. She watched him place a slice of smoked meat on top and savor it as he put it in his mouth, downing it all with a generous sip of wine.

Lorelai did not know where to start. There were so many different kinds of food, some of them even unfamiliar to her, that she wanted to try them all, but at the same time, she was embarrassed of her gluttony. For some reason, she did not want to give the king the satisfaction of enjoying the delicacies prepared by him in anticipation of their victory.

Rhaegar noticed her hesitation too and could not help but scoff. If he had to make the princess eat by enticing her with something she would value, then he did not mind doing so.

"Eat. If you do, I will tell you something interesting."