Claimed By A Dragon Prince-Chapter 26: Holding Her Rank

Making her way to Dimitri’s office she noticed people staring at her in shock and whispering among themselves. *He must have passed everyone up for this much gossip to happen.* Lily thought ascending the stairs in the main hall as Nina stopped in front of two double doors. The guards hesitated to let them through unsure of who Lily was.

"We are sorry, Miss. All personnel must have a pass or be of high enough rank to continue beyond this point." One of them said looking her over never having seen her before. "This is Princess Lily. Mate to Prince Dimitri. She has every right to pass through here." Nina explained appalled that they would question her status.

"I am sorry, but unless you have been through here before we can not let you pass." The other guard explained again letting some known dignitary through. Nina was irritated, but Lily just shook her head making a request to the guard. "If you could simply go and get the Prince this would easily be solved."

The guard looked at her suspiciously doubting her words. Just then Lady Scarlett arrives in a formal dress that matches her hair. *F*ck my life?* Lily had hoped to avoid this crazy dragon lady before meeting the King and Queen. "Well, I didn’t expect to see you here. Trying to get through?"

Lily just wanted to kill this woman, but murder on the first day as Dimitri’s mate would just make things worse. "Yes, Prince Dimitri is expecting me and these guards have been holding me up." The guards looked uncomfortable hearing her assessment. Lady Scarlet smirks before making her comment. "You are just a researcher, why would they think you needed to see the Prince right now?"

This woman wanted to drag her through the mud with kindness as her hook. Lily had dealt with tactics like this from Alisa for years so this was nothing new to her. Turning to face Lady Scarlett, Lily knew just what to say. "Yes, I am. I contribute to this Clan’s people with medical herbs used for healing. And His Highness would like to know about my progress. You wouldn’t the King to come down and see you holding me up from making my report now would you?"

The guards quickly let her through not wanting to enrage their king. "Don’t listen to her. She’s not that important! Stop her!" Lady Scarlett tried throwing commands at the guards who ignored her. "Until you can bring proof that she isn’t who she says she is then we have to let her through. We are sorry for holding you up, Mistress."

Nodding to the guards Lily quickly makes her way with Nina towards Dimitri’s offices. Lady Scarlett quickly catches up with her pulling her shoulder back and forcing Lily to turn around. "What do you think you are doing, Lady Scarlett?! Attacking me won’t stop me from reaching my destination."

Lily had just about enough of this entitled brat and was ready to beat the shit of out her. Lady Scarlett could now clearly see the mark on her shoulder in the shape of Dimitri’s dragon. "No, it can’t be! He marked you?!" Lily wondered when she would notice considering her attire was completely different from when they first met.

"Oh, you thought I was just some nobody with air in my head? Stupid, selfish brat. Women like you make it harder for women like me to be taken seriously. Open your eyes and use your own skills to receive recognition, not hiding behind a prince." Lady Scarlett’s face was so red with rage that she reached her hand back ready to slap Lily for her audacity.

Lily waited for the slap when a hand shot past her head grabbing Lady Scarlett’s arm and stopping her. Lily turns her head to see Dimitri’s face full of anger ready to break her arm. "I told you never to lay a hand on her again. And now knowing she is a member of the royal family you would still aim to strike her?!"

Lady Scarlett struggled to free her wrist afraid of what the prince would do to her. "Please! I only wished to correct her! She spoke so rudely to me!" Dimitri knew how this woman operated using her own mistakes on other people as if they did them. He threw her arm back causing her to stumble and fall to the floor.

"Lily, are you alright?" She nodded yes staying close to him as they looked back at the woman being helped up by a servant. "Send this woman to the dungeons. She has assaulted a member of the royal family. I will deal with her later. Come, Lily, father is waiting." Dimitri took her hand leading her away from the crazed woman. "No, please. Have mercy, Your Highness!"

"They held me up at the entrance to court too. The guards were unaware of who I was and she made it worse. How did you get here so fast?" Lily wondered as she only had Nina with her who followed behind them. Dimitri stopped in front of his father’s office poised to answer her question.

"My secretary saw you and mentioned the altercation to me as she came back from an errand. I came as quickly as I could to prevent any more misunderstandings." Lily smiled leaning up to kiss him. "Thank you for saving me." Dimitri smiled glad that he could be her knight every once in a while.

"Father seemed to be in a good mood when I left him earlier hopefully that plays into our favor." Lily nodded as he opened the door. Who was waiting on the other side Lily had hoped to never see again.

Max and the Wolf King stood in the room speaking with the Dragon King. "Ah! There they are! I had hoped you would be hear sooner. And it looks like my son has done his part." The Dragon King mentioned seeing the marks on each of them. Lily’s heart dropped seeing her old tormentor knowing the Wolf Queen and Princess Alisa were not too far away.

"Now that we are all here should we discuss the marriage alliance between our Clans?"