The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 69: Charm Oils

Slowly, he guided her through another step.

"That means you haven’t known many good men."

The music was drawing to an end.

"Perhaps, you are right." She admitted, casting her eyes to the floor.

"Do one thing for me, Claire."

Her hands on his shoulders tensed as she looked up at him.

"What do you want me to do, Your Grace?"

"Take off the necklace."

Just then, the music ended and they parted.

She watched him walk to where his uncle stood and whisper something into his ear. Then, he left the ball room.

"Sorry, ladies. The King has called it a day... he isn’t feeling too well."

Claire barely heard a word that was said. Her fingers kept fiddling with the beautiful chain on her neck.

Why did he want her to take it off so much? Was he... jealous?

"Let me see Lady Eliza to her chambers." Andon said, already escorting her out of the room.

Claire curtsied and left the room as well, realising that there was nothing left for her to do there as well.

As she walked along the hall, she passed Maria. The woman bumped into her, apologizing profusely.

"It’s fine." Claire said.

The woman smiled and walked away after apologising one more time.

As Claire made to leave, she felt something in her hand.

Terrence’s steady footsteps sounded behind her.

She had to wait till she was completely alone before she opened it.

When she reached the hallway that led to her room, something made her go to her sister’s room.

As soon as Aurora opened the door, all the emotions that she had managed to put away crumbled.

"What happened?" Rory asked, drawing her into the room and closing the door.

"I don’t know." She sank into the bed with a loud creak.

"What do you mean by that, Claire? You look like you want to cry."

"Because I do!"

Rory sank down next to her.

"Tell me everything that happened."

"The King called me wolfless, nameless, and destitute."

Rory gasped, covering her mouth to stifle most of the sound.

"He did not!"

"He did. But... he apologized for it, claiming he hadn’t meant to say it."

Her sister raised an eyebrow.

"How rude of him. I’m terribly disappointed."

"Me too."

"Did he say he was sorry, or you just brushed it off?"

Claire thought back to everything that had happened.

"His actions were apologetic." She responded sheepishly.

She slid the hairpin out of her hair, letting it cascade down her back in glittering waves.

"You’re smitten with him. You would have ranted about how ill-mannered and rude he was if you were not. But instead, you are defending the actions of a man you never forget to remind me how much you hate."

Colour crept up her cheeks.

"I’m not smitten with him-"

"I won’t judge you Claire - he’s a very handsome man... and he’s nice... when he wants to be."

"I am not smitten with him, Rory! You’re the one who said I should be on good behaviour."

Aurora folded her arms.

"I did, but I did not ask you to excuse his failings, Claire. You’ll never admit that you like him, so I won’t force you. I only wonder about Zach."

Claire shifted away, resting her hands on her lap. The paper was still tucked in the crook of her palm.

"What about Zach?"

"Nothing. I only hoped he’d become my brother some day."

Marry Zachary? She had often thought about doing that, but the idea of her sister being mocked for her own poor choice of a husband.

"I’ll never marry the King either, Rory. Marriage is no longer an option for me."

"It is... if you consider Zach."

"I think I’ve heard enough."

She stood up and brushed her hands against her dress. "I will retire for the night, Rory. Let’s pray the King will be back to himself by tomorrow."

Aurora said nothing.

Claire left the room quietly.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw those yellow eyes staring back at her.

Terrence was standing at the end of the hall as she entered her own chamber.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind her, she unfolded the letter.

"There will be a council meeting early in the morning of the morrow. Do well to attend with both ears." The message read.

A council meeting? On the morrow?

Attend with both ears? How was he so sure that anything other than the agenda of the meeting would be discussed by those vicious men.

Would Yeren even be there?

Claire threw the letter into the hearth and climbed the bed with her full clothing.

"No more wolf dreams." She whispered to herself as sleep took her.

She awoke just as the feeble rays of dawn graced the sky.

When was the last time she had slept that long?

The meeting was to be held that same morning, she realized.

Cursing under her breath, she slid out of the bed and began struggling with the fastenings of her dress.

"I can’t believe you fell asleep with a corset." Lara said as she and her train entered the room.

Claire flushed - she hasn’t heard them knock... or enter.

"Do you need help?" The one with freckles asked, already advancing to assist her.

"Yes. Yes, please." She gave up the fight with the fastenings.

The dress fell off in a matter of minutes.

"Would you like to have breakfast this morning, Miss Stenly. We have noticed that you don’t share morning meals at the dining hall, neither do you have them in your room." Lara said, her mouth down-turned at the corners.

"Look how thin you are becoming." The pale-faced one said.

Thin? She’d always been thinking hadn’t she... especially in the months after her father died.

"I would love to indulge you all, but I have to be present at the council meeting."

The freckled one folded her arms. "Food is already on its way, My lady. It should arrive before you are done with your bath."

Claire sighed, rubbing her brow. "I do not have time for a bath right now, ladies. Could you come back by noon?"

They all stared at her with wide eyes.

"We can’t let you attend to the King without our charm oils, milady." The one with the pale face said.

Her gaze snapped to her.

"Charm oils?"

All four of them exchanged glances among themselves.