Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 85: A Mess

"Once the kings of old began to fear that there might not be enough of the fabled King’s Gold left for future rulers of the beasts, they made a historic and controversial decision. The royal law, which had long allowed the rulers to be buried with their vast treasures as symbols of their eternal power, was swiftly abolished. This decree ensured that the remaining wealth would be preserved, securing a prosperous future for their successors and safeguarding the kingdom’s legacy.

Yet, the tombs that had already been constructed, laden with riches and relics, remained untouched. Each burial plot held an unimaginable hoard of treasure, shimmering in the darkness, protected only by time and secrecy. The border region, once a desolate expanse, now carried an almost mythical allure, its soil hiding fortunes beyond comprehension."

Rhaegar paused in his storytelling, his gaze dropping to the princess nestled in his arms. Lorelai’s face, soft and serene in the warm daylight, seemed to embody a fragile peace he rarely encountered in his chaotic world. She looked so calm, so unguarded, that he found himself wishing he could wrap her in the coziest of blankets, shielding her from every care, and let her sleep for as long as her heart desired.

Somehow, this moment of tranquility transformed her beauty into something even more profound, a gentle radiance that spoke of a spirit untouched by the burdens she bore.

"Tell me more," Lorelai murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Though her body was heavy with exhaustion, melting into the warmth of the king’s embrace, her mind clung stubbornly to wakefulness. She wasn’t ready to surrender to slumber just yet.

Rhaegar smiled at her resilience, his rough edges softening as he reached out to brush a few errant strands of her silken blonde hair away from her face. His fingers lingered for a moment as he tucked the strands gently behind her ear.

"As you wish," he said softly, his voice as soothing as the gentle rhythm of her breath. He really felt like he was telling her a bedtime story.

"Since the King’s Gold possesses magical powers, the beasts were determined to keep it out of enemy hands. To protect it, they summoned all the sorcerers and witches in the kingdom and cast a powerful curse upon the buried treasure. The enchantment ensured that anyone daring enough to desecrate the tombs would suffer a devastating fate. The curse was not merely a deterrent—it was a shield, safeguarding the kingdom’s most precious resource from falling into the wrong hands."

"All that gold is connected, Princess," Rhaegar continued, his voice low and steady. "When I drew my sword in the arena, it resonated... with the one held by the gladiator slave."

He paused, waiting for Lorelai’s response, expecting her to react to the revelation. But only silence met him. The princess had succumbed to sleep, nestled securely against his chest. Her breathing was soft and rhythmic, her lashes fluttering slightly as she drifted deeper into her dreams.

Rhaegar let out a long, quiet sigh—a sigh of relief more than anything else. He hadn’t realized how much he had been bracing for her reaction, dreading what her piercing gaze might uncover in his words. Yet, in this moment of stillness, with her resting so peacefully in his arms, he felt an unexpected sense of calm.

Perhaps he didn’t truly want to tell her the truth. Perhaps, when she woke later, she would convince herself that all of this had been nothing more than a fleeting dream.

The king ran his fingers through his dark, curly hair, his amber eyes lingering on the bright sunlight streaming through the bedroom window.

It was a tranquil afternoon in Erelith, the kind of peace that felt almost too fragile to last.

’What would you really like to know, princess?’ he wondered silently, his hand moving gently to pat Lorelai’s head with a tenderness he rarely showed. ’Would you truly want to uncover the whole truth about the kingdom you hold so dear? And if you did, would it change your heart? Would you finally decide to run away with me, leaving everything else behind?’

***

It was far from an orthodox occasion, but it was undoubtedly one that Erelith owed to the beasts.

In the heart of the capital, slaves who had been promised freedom gathered in solemn lines, waiting to greet their savior, the lycan king, and the ever-gracious Princess Lorelai.

Every resident of the capital had been granted permission to witness this historic event. Because of this, a massive crowd had assembled in the central square, their expressions a mixture of awe and disbelief as they watched the unprecedented spectacle unfold.

The slaves were finally granted their freedom—a chance to start anew.

For many, it was like being reborn, thrust into a world that required them to relearn how to live. They would now have to adapt to the rules and laws of those they had been separated from for so long. Yet, they were also given something far more precious: the freedom to choose their paths once again.

Rhaegar could only hope that, under his leadership as the new ruler of the beasts, they would make wise choices. His reign would demand their trust, and he prayed they would offer it willingly.

As Rhaegar’s men escorted the freed beasts to prepare for their journey back to the Beast Kingdom, the king stepped aside. His sharp amber eyes followed Princess Lorelai as she quietly departed the square, flanked by her ladies-in-waiting and the knights of Duke Kadler.

Alim, too, watched Lorelai’s carriage as it rolled into the distance, his narrow golden eyes lingering on the fading silhouette until it disappeared entirely from view. Only then did he turn his full attention to his king, his gaze sharp and brimming with unspoken emotion.

"Did you tell her everything? She seemed far too calm for someone who had learned the truth."

Rhaegar’s expression darkened at his aide’s words. He pushed his curly hair back from his forehead with an irritated hand, the motion revealing the deep crease forming between his thick brows.

"She does not know," Rhaegar said flatly.

"What?!" Alim’s voice rose in incredulity. "I thought that was the whole point—"

A sharp motion from Rhaegar silenced him. The warning glint in the king’s amber eyes was enough to stop Alim mid-sentence. "It is not my place to interfere," Rhaegar said firmly. "She has chosen to stay, and I will not impose my convictions upon her. That decision must be hers alone."

Alim sighed, shaking his head in clear disagreement. His frustration was evident, but he held his tongue, though the tension between them hung heavy in the air.

"The kingdom is a complete mess... I can’t help but feel bad about leaving her here. And now that we know the truth about the queen and her possible plans for Erelith’s future... isn’t it dangerous to simply leave everything as it is?"

"It’s extremely dangerous, and it worries me deeply," Rhaegar replied, his tone grave. "With the amount of evidence we have already gathered, it’s clear that the entire kingdom will soon fall under her direct control."

This was the truth he had wanted to share with Lorelai the other day. He had wanted to tell her that Queen Althea was the one who had orchestrated everything—forcing Duke Kadler to raid the beasts’ tombs and steal the fabled King’s Gold.

If the petty humiliation inflicted on Rhaegar—giving the genuine beast sword to the gladiator slave—was merely a warning from the duke, it still left a troubling question unanswered. Why would the queen risk invoking an ancient curse by gathering the cursed treasures from the burial plots?

"Melting the gold to forge new swords, or reusing the blades of the fallen kings, is a rather shortsighted plan," Alim said, his tone laced with skepticism. "The gold remains cursed unless she finds someone capable of lifting it."

He scratched his chin thoughtfully, his mind racing with possibilities. Rhaegar remained silent, taking a few long moments to weigh Alim’s words. Finally, his amber eyes gleamed coldly as he fixed his gaze on his aide.

"If she is truly who we suspect she is, then perhaps she has already managed to lift the curse herself."