Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 87: Complicated Hatred

The crown prince sank into a dark red velvet-covered couch in the queen’s lavish drawing room, his posture both regal and casual as he swirled the ruby-colored wine in his glass. He accepted the drink from one of the queen’s maids with a curt nod, though the tension in the air made it clear he found little pleasure in the moment.

Behind him stood a line of young maids, their heads bowed low as if trying to make themselves invisible. Beads of sweat glistened on their foreheads, betraying their unease.

None of them dared to look up, their discomfort palpable in the heavy silence of the room. They longed to flee from the oppressive atmosphere, but the crown prince had deliberately refrained from dismissing them.

He didn’t want to be the sole witness to the grotesque events unfolding beyond the tall double doors of the queen’s chamber.

’She is at it again,’ Kai thought bitterly, his lips curling into a grimace as a loud, unmistakable moan pierced the suffocating stillness of the drawing room.

It was the same sordid scenario that had played out countless times over the years.

Behind those gilded doors, Queen Althea was undoubtedly indulging in yet another one of her depraved orgies, entertaining the noblemen who had pledged unwavering loyalty to her.

The queen’s methods were as cunning as they were revolting. With the "special services" she provided, it was no wonder those men remained steadfastly loyal. They were bound to her not by honor or duty, but by lust and manipulation.

Kai clenched his jaw, the bitter taste of disgust lingering on his tongue far more than the wine he sipped. He despised all of it—every aspect of her twisted rule, every whisper of scandal that tainted the air of Erelith’s court.

Yet, his hatred was complicated.

Althea was not his real mother, though she had worn the mask of maternal care for so long that the lines between reality and facade had blurred. He no longer remembered what it was like to live without her domineering presence, without the false semblance of attention and care she had wrapped around him like a suffocating cloak.

For years, she had played the role of queen and mother to perfection, and yet, beneath the surface, there was nothing but rot.

Kai’s fingers tightened around the stem of his glass.

Perhaps that was why Kai had begun to yearn for something different, something purer. He craved a connection untouched by corruption or deceit—an untainted source of affection that could remind him of what it meant to be human.

’How much longer do I have to endure this?’

At last, the muffled sounds from the bedroom ceased, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. Moments later, the double doors swung open. Althea stepped out, impeccably dressed as always, her flawless appearance giving no hint of the sordid activities that had supposedly taken place within.

Kai raised an eyebrow, unable to hide his surprise. He had expected disarray, perhaps some visible sign of her alleged "devotion" to the noblemen who lay sprawled on her bed. Instead, she exuded her usual poise and grace, her expression as sharp and calculating as ever.

As if on cue, one of the maids approached with another glass of wine.

Kai took it from her hand and extended it toward the queen, his gaze flickering past her shoulder to the four men lying across her bed like discarded dolls. Their faces were pale but glowing, their chests heaving as though every ounce of strength had been drained from their bodies.

Althea sat on the opposite couch, downing half of the wine in a single, practiced motion before gesturing curtly for the maids to leave. They obeyed without hesitation, disappearing quickly as if they couldn’t flee fast enough.

Kai broke the silence first, his voice edged with suspicion. "What did you do to them?"

The queen scoffed, her thin red lips curling into a disdainful smile. "Don’t play dumb with me, Kai. It doesn’t suit you."

He leaned forward slightly, his green eyes narrowing.

Althea sighed, as though explaining herself was a tiresome chore. "I gave them the illusion potion," she said, her tone dripping with indifference. She twirled the half-empty glass in her hand, watching the remnants of wine swirl before setting it down on a gilded side table. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

"It’s the same potion I’ve been slipping into Lorelai’s pain-relief tea," she continued, "Only these idiots received it in much larger doses tonight. Combine that with the spells I’ve been weaving over them for years, and the result is... predictable. They truly believe I’m indulging their every whim. Pitiful worms."

"Try to be careful and don’t get caught," Kai warned, setting his wine glass aside.

His genuine concern brought a wide smile to Althea’s lips. Rising from her couch, she moved gracefully to sit beside her son. Her thin, pale hand reached out in a slow, deliberate motion, her long fingers brushing against his cheek with a surprising tenderness. For a brief moment, her dark, piercing gaze softened.

"I have never been caught, my dear boy, and I never will be," she said calmly. "My plan is perfect, even when it encounters a few bumps along the way."

Kai couldn’t suppress a laugh at her unyielding arrogance.

"It seems you’ve truly succeeded in turning everyone in this kingdom into your puppet," he remarked, a faint bitterness creeping into his tone. "Even I can’t seem to escape your spells anymore."

Althea scoffed, a glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Shall I turn Lorelai into your puppet then?"

Her words wiped the smile from his face in an instant. Kai frowned, annoyance flashing in his expression. With a sharp movement, he slapped her hand away and leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest like a shield.

"Leave her be," he said firmly, "Of all the people in this kingdom, I want her to keep her sanity for as long as possible. I want her to have the chance to choose me. To want me the same way I want her. I want this feeling to be real."