Stolen by the Beastly Lycan King-Chapter 89: The Ribbon

Kai’s expression radiated an unusual cheerfulness, but his pale complexion told another story. It was evident that something weighed heavily on him, a burden he couldn’t seem to shake. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, hinting at several sleepless nights spent wrestling with thoughts that refused to relent.

Humming a soft, almost hypnotic melody, he ran a hand through his fiery red hair, pushing it back to reveal a smooth, untroubled forehead.

His movements, graceful and deliberate, were a stark contrast to the tension that lingered in the air. As he drew closer, his piercing green eyes remained fixed on Lorelai’s face, forcing the princess to feel even more anxious.

Lorelai couldn’t help but feel a familiar confusion stir within her.

Kai was an enigma to her, a man seemingly torn between two opposing forces within himself. It was as if two distinct souls resided in one body, vying for control, neither willing to surrender the spotlight of his being.

One side of him was harsh, cruel, violent, and utterly devoid of mercy—a man capable of unspeakable acts without hesitation. Yet, despite the darkness that cloaked him, there was a glimmer of something softer in his gaze.

His green eyes harbored a hidden tenderness, a flicker of affection that fought valiantly to break through the oppressive shadows he wore like armor.

And today, for reasons Lorelai couldn’t discern, that warmth seemed to have won.

"You look unwell, Lorelai," the crown prince said, his voice unusually gentle as he settled into a chair opposite her desk. His sharp observation was followed by a faint tilt of his head, as if studying her closely. "I thought Mother’s tea was supposed to ease your troubles. How is your leg?"

Kai cast a quick glance at the wooden cane propped against the desk before snatching it up in his right hand. With a casual air, he twirled the cane as if it were nothing more than a plaything, the gesture both careless and oddly mocking.

Lorelai’s frown deepened, her earlier thoughts of warmth and affection now feeling like a distant delusion.

She cursed herself silently. How many times would she allow herself to be deceived by his fox-like demeanor, by that fleeting tenderness he wielded so effectively when it suited him?

"What is the purpose of your visit today, Your Highness?" she asked in a crisp voice.

Kai exhaled a long, exaggerated sigh, his earlier cheer vanishing in an instant. He nearly let the cane slip from his hand, its end striking the floor with a dull thud, before leaning it carelessly against the side of her desk. His scowl darkened his features.

"The final event of the celebration will be the royal hunt," his announcement was tinged with irritation. "Only high-ranking nobles are invited, which means the beast king will be attending as well."

The mention of the event sent a fresh wave of unease rolling through Lorelai.

The royal hunt, in its earlier days, had been a grim affair. Reserved for the kingdom’s high-ranking noblemen, it served as both sport and spectacle.

Their prey? Rogue beasts, captured along the borders while in their shifted forms, their animal instincts suppressed with cruel injections that kept them locked in their beastly bodies. It was barbaric, a dark ritual that masked itself as tradition.

But times had changed now. The crown no longer possessed the power—thanks to Lorelai’s accepted proposal—to keep such creatures captive. For that, Lorelai was both relieved and deeply unsettled. freewёbnoνel.com

Without the beasts as prey, what—or who—would take their place in this twisted show of power?

It is important to have Rhaegar at this hunt, Lorelai mused, her fingers absently brushing the edge of the desk. If Kai wanted to humiliate him by making him hunt his own kind, it wouldn’t be surprising. But now... is he scheming something more, or am I simply being paranoid?

Her train of thought was interrupted by Kai’s smooth, mocking voice.

"Why the sour face? I thought you’d be thrilled to see the beast king there."

Lorelai quickly composed herself, forcing a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She shook her head lightly, as though brushing away her unease, and responded in a tone that she hoped sounded convincingly nonchalant.

"Yes... well, of course. It’s an honor. For both him and us."

"Honor," Kai echoed, the word dripping with disdain. His expression darkened again, and he scoffed, standing from his chair in a single fluid motion.

Towering over her now, his bright green eyes seemed to burn with an unsettling intensity as they bore into hers.

"You know the tradition, don’t you?"

"Pardon?" Lorelai’s question was instinctive, not because she didn’t know, but because she was startled to hear him bring it up. Her heart skipped a beat, and she struggled to keep her expression neutral.

Kai tilted his head, studying her reaction with almost predatory curiosity, the corner of his mouth curving into a sly smirk.

"The ribbon," Kai explained, his tone carrying a faint edge that hadn’t been there moments ago.

His expression tensed a little, the ever-present glint of mischief in his green eyes replaced by something heavier, more calculating. "Your fiancé, Duke Vincent Kadler, will not be attending the hunt. He is far too old to ride a horse, after all. But you will have to be present, as a member of the royal family. And your ribbon..." He paused deliberately, letting the weight of his words settle in the air. "...will go to me."

Without waiting for her response, he inclined his head in a shallow, almost mocking bow before striding toward the door. The sharp bang of it closing echoed through the room, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.

Lorelai remained seated, her heart pounding erratically in her chest. A wave of unease spread through her, her palms growing clammy despite the coolness of her body.

Kai’s words, though seemingly straightforward, carried an undercurrent that sent a shiver down her spine.

The ribbon...

Her thoughts turned to the old custom. The tradition of gifting an embroidered ribbon to a man before the royal hunt was as old as Erelith itself.