The Lycan King's Forbidden Craving - Chapter 133: Chapter 133

The next day, Arianna returned to her studies. The thought of the king leaving still made her feel down, no matter how hard she tried to act fine.
The days when she would badly miss him were drawing near. On the other hand, she couldn't wait to visit her pack as well.
She would use this opportunity to fix some things there.
Selene, who sat before her, was awfully quiet, stitching some clothes. Something felt off about the head maid.
Clearing her throat, Arianna broke the silence between them. “It seems my teacher is feeling down today.”
Selene looked up and blinked. Her gaze was tired, with a small sigh and dark circles under her eyes. She forced out a soft laugh.
“I am fine, my lady.”
“Are you not feeling well? Do you wish to see a healer?” Arianna asked, not ready to back down.
Selene shook her head. “I’m fine, my lady.”
“That is an answer I won’t accept. If you’re not going to tell me, I don’t see a reason why I should continue with today’s work,” she said, beginning to gather the scrolls. Selene’s eyes widened. “I’ll tell the king you are not feeling well and—"
“Wait!” Selene quickly shouted, and Arianna paused her movement. “I will tell you.”
Arianna’s lips stretched into a small smile. She settled back into her chair, crossed her arms, and waited for the head maid to speak.
“It’s—” a pause as Selene observed her. “It’s Drakora.”
Arianna’s smile disappeared.
“She has barely five months left to live.”
Arianna loosened her arms as she sat up, her brows knitting.
Selene continued, her voice heavy with emotion. “And when she dies. The land will completely free and we’ll be the only ones of our kind left.”
Many beats of silence passed. Arianna hadn’t expected the situation to be this dire. It left her speechless. Her biological mother would die in a few months, and the Ouroboros kind would face extinction.
“Why are you just telling me, Selene?” Arianna kept her voice calm.
“I didn’t want to burden you, my lady.”
Arianna had expected this reply anyway, but still felt she had the right to know.
Selene lowered her head, and Arianna could tell the older woman was on the brink of tears. After all, the main reason Selene had risked her life, disguising herself in the Moon Realm—despite knowing her life was in danger—was to find a way to save the Ouroboros from extinction.
But after twenty-two years of endangering herself, she still hadn’t succeeded.
“I’ve been thinking—” Arianna drew in a deep breath at what she was about to say. “Once I become Queen, I shall find a way to create a path for the Ouroboros to settle into the human lands.”
Selene’s head snapped up, her eyes wide.
“My lady—”
“This would be the only thing I can do for them,” Arianna said.
Selene dropped to her knees, causing Arianna’s eyes to widen. “Selene—”
“Thank you,” the head maid’s voice trembled, tears spilling out of her eyes like a waterfall, uncontrollable.
Arianna immediately knelt with her, holding her shoulder. “Get up.”
“Oh, thank you,” the head maid cried harder. “All these years, I’ve worked and failed so many times. My people kept dying, and I couldn’t do a thing. I felt so helpless. I—” her hand clenched on her folded knees.
“There is hope now, Selene,” Arianna drew her close for a gentle hug. “I’ll speak with the king when the time comes. Just take it as me returning the favor of all you’ve done for me.”
“Thank you so much,” Selene hugged her back, and Arianna didn’t mind having her cry in her arms.
In two to three months, she’d be crowned. All she needed to do was hide her bloodline. Until then, she hoped the Ouroboros could hold on until that time came.
•••••••
A few warriors and soldiers gathered, watching Lylah take the warrior oath, her right hand fisted and pressed against her left chest.
It had been a week since she sparred with the ex-head warrior, and she was almost fully recovered.
Handing over a blade, Lucas announced, “From this day henceforth, you are no longer a trainee… but a warrior of the Citadel.”
Lylah accepted the blade and gave him a bow. Her eyes met his, and he simply gave her a small smile.
It was then officially sealed. She was officially what she had dreamed to be. A sense of euphoria washed over her as she stared at her new blade.
Quite different from the one the Grand Lord had gifted her on the first day of her training. This was stronger, and crafted in a unique way. Now she had two… Fucking great.
As the Beta left, congratulations came from every corner. A few of the warrior friends she had made cheered with her.
After attending to them, Lylah walked to meet her sister, who was standing at a distance.
“Look who’s the new warrior in town, huh?” Arianna chuckled, and just like every time, Lylah hugged her.
She loved doing this.
She played with her dagger, loving how light it felt. “My dream came true. I’m a warrior of the Lunaris Citadel.”
“Yes, you are,” Arianna chuckled, then brought out a small box. “Here is a small gift from me to you.”
It was a pendant. A really beautiful one that made Lylah gasp. She turned, letting her sister put it on for her.
“Thanks, Aria,” she grinned from ear to ear.
“Congratulations, Lylah,” another voice said. Both sisters looked at Brigid, who approached.
“My Lady,” Brigid made a dramatic bow that made Arianna chuckle.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Working,” Brigid shrugged. “Besides, now that you’re the King’s Betrothed, I figured you’d be really busy with learning.”
Arianna nodded. “Hm… I guess.”
Brigid fixed her eyes on Lylah. “You should celebrate your achievement someday.”
Lylah shrugged. “Maybe. But I don’t like parties.”
“Trust me, you’re going to love this one,” Brigid assured her.
Arianna began heading back to the Sacred Moon Wing. Duncan was leaving tomorrow, and she had felt this knot in her stomach since morning.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come visit the pack with me?” Arianna asked Lylah.
“Yeah, I’ll stay back. I still have a few things to do as a warrior. But I’ll visit the pack someday, just not now. You can go without me.”
Arianna nodded, while Brigid walked behind them without a word.
They all halted when they spotted Selene standing distantly away. Selene bowed slightly at Arianna, gave Lylah a short smile, and then a blank look at Brigid.
“I will leave first; I’ve got something to attend to,” Brigid said, leaving before anyone else could speak.
“The king is waiting, my lady,” Selene said to Arianna.
“I’ll see you soon, Lylah,” Arianna said gently, placing a kiss on her sister’s forehead before striding away.
Now, left with Selene and Lylah.
“Hey, child,” Selene muttered in a gentle voice, facing Lylah fully. “Be careful around Brigid.”
Lylah’s brows furrowed, not understanding what she meant. Brigid was like a daughter to Selene, so why would she say such.
“Why?”
“Not sure, but just listen for now,” Selene replied before leaving as well.
Lylah shrugged then decided to go stalk the Grand Lord.