The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 81: Lemon Cake

Curious about him? Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

"You risked your life to come to the festival just because you were curious about me?"

More colour flooded her cheeks and she struggled to pull away from him. His grip tightened slightly.

Yeren could feel the warmth of her body emanating from the fabric of her gown.

"You were... you were not yourself. I needed answers, and Andon was not forthcoming."

He stiffened slightly but kept holding her.

"I was fine. Just believe that."

She looked up at him. "Do you really expect me to believe that! I saw you, you almost-"

He covered her mouth with his, vanquishing the words she had wanted to say. She tasted even better tham he remembered. He had been dreaming of doing that for days.

His left hand cupped her face, framing it in such a way that mapped every inch of her face to his memory.

Now, it all made sense.

It had been her. She was the person standing on the hill at the festival - he hadn’t understood why his instincts kept making him look there at the time.

Claire sighed deeply.

Sighing as well, he pulled away.

All of a sudden, she jerked away from him like she’d just seen a ghost.

When he followed the direction of her gaze, her sister’s eyes were wide open, staring at them quietly.

Claire was all red, pink, then ghastly white.

He had the sense to step back.

Then, a small smile curved the little girl’s lips.

Wasn’t she in pain?

"He was just whispering something in my ear..." Claire was saying.

His gaze flew to hers.

"I know." The girl said, although they both knew she wasn’t fooled in the least bit.

The lying woman rushed to her sister’s bedside and held her hand.

That was his cue to leave. Just as he turned to leave, her little sister called out to him.

"Don’t leave." She said when he glanced over his shoulder.

Claire’s eyes screamed the exact opposite.

Why did people keep interrupting them? It was probably for the best, an inner voice said.

He was to be married and she was to... be married as well.

Stay?

Claire ran a hand over her sister’s forehead.

"How do you feel, Rory?"

The girl managed a watery smile.

"I feel like my leg was trampled on by an elephant."

Both girls chuckled.

Yeren leaned against the wall to watch. This was the unrefined and unprickly version of the woman that hated him.

"What about Arman and Terrence?"

Claire leaned forward. "They don’t want to come inside. They’re afraid of the King’s wrath." She whispered.

He rolled his eyes - why did people keep thinking that lowered voices stopped him from hearing them?

Arman and Terrence disobeyed his orders, no matter their reasons - the penalty had to be followed.

But it surprised him that the girls knew their names.

Did they talk to his guards? His guards never associated with their charges - but he could not put anything past Claire and her sister.

"Would you like to eat anything?"

"I would like your crusty lemon cakes. And make them slightly burnt."

Claire gave him a sideward glance, blushing faintly.

"This isn’t our home. I am not allowed in the kitchen here."

The sister poured.

"Don’t be childish, Aurora. You know the rules here, don’t you?"

Aurora. Her sister’s name was Aurora. How could he have forgotten?

"You can bake a cake for your sister. I didn’t think you had any skills in the kitchen, I must admit."

Her eyes widened. "I cannot possibly-"

"Bring some for me, I’d like to taste it. Lemon cakes go very well with wine." He couldn’t resist grinning.

There was a knock just then and Andon poked his head inside.

If he had knocked earlier...

"Your Grace, I found the two guards."

"Excuse me." He followed Andon out.

Shortly after, Claire came out of the room and closed the door behind her.

The two men were kneeling before him, their heads bowed to the ground. Aunt Adisa and Eliza sat together on a long cushioned stool by the wall, talking among themselves.

"You are hereby stripped of your responsibility to the Crown-"

"Please, don’t. I begged them. If anyone should be punished, it should be me."

Andon raised a brow at him.

"It doesn’t matter, Miss Stenly."

"It does. I’ll serve any punishment for their sakes."

"I don’t think you know what you’re asking for, Miss Stenly." Andon said this time.

Yeren straightened his shoulders and returned his attention to the men in front of him.

He could think of a thousand and one ways to punish her...

Claire dropped to her knees despite her heavy dress.

Eliza and her mother gasped simultaneously, covering their mouths at her despicable behaviour.

"On your feet, girl!" Aunt Adisa cried at the top of her lungs.

Claire didn’t stand up. She kept her eyes fixed on his.

"They will serve at the battlements for a fortnight before returning to my service." With that, he walked away.

He could hear her sigh of relief.

Andon followed closely behind him. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Serve at the battlements? I never knew you to be so kind with your punishments, Your Grace."

Yeren kept walking. "I wasn’t being kind."

Andon scoffed. "You might as well have been talking to women rather than men."

"Since you won’t let it alone, I did it because she asked me to."

"Your Cupbearer. Listen to yourself, Yeren. She’s your servant - not your wife, or your mistress. This has to stop."

Yeren threw his hands up. "Call it compassion, kindness... whatever you like. Leave me be."

Andon parted his lips to speak but stopped.

"As your First man, it is my job to remind you that despite the failure of the mating ceremony, you have a bride - and you ought to remain loyal to her. Allow me to get you a new Cupbearer."

"And what will happen to Miss Stenly?"

"We marry her off to a respectable man, Your Grace."

"Do you think I am in love with her?"

Andon stepped closer, his eyes soft with concern. "I know you’re not. That’s why it is much easier to cut ties very early. There are other women, many others."

Yeren turned his back to him.

"Please accompany her to the kitchens."

Andon raised a brow. "Kitchen? What does she intend to do there?"

"Bake a cake."

Quietly, he started walking away. His hands were shaking slightly. The effects hadn’t gone completely.

Why did the thought of having her married to some other man make him...?