Karenina entered her room and immediately slammed the door with rage filling her heart. She clutched her head in frustration while crying.
The girl sat on the floor and continued to cry for half an hour. When she had calmed down enough she stood up and walked over to the painting of Nicholas that was hanging in her room.
"You've turned my love into hate. If I can't have you then no one else can either. I won't let you live happily ever after," she said with gritted teeth, looking at Nicholas' face. Her face was filled with so much hatred.
After everything she went through... after everything she had sacrificed, she still couldn't get the man.
She felt so useless.
Maybe her father was right.
She was a no-good woman. Nobody wanted her.
What's the use of her beauty and intelligence, if the only man she wanted didn't want her, no matter how hard she had tried to be the woman worthy of him?
This was not fair.
"THIS IS NOT FAIR!!!!" She screamed her heart's out in frustration, that servants outside of her room became startled and exchanged glances. They started to think that the princess went crazy after her failed suicide attempt.
***
At Duke Romanov's manor, Sophie was watching Doctor Lehman check Jan's condition. She was glad to see the royal physician at their home. As soon as she heard the guard tell her that the king sent Doctor Lehman, she immediately ran outside and welcomed the man.
The thought of asking her mate's permission did cross her mind. However, Sophie brushed it off because Jan's health was more urgent and she assumed Leland wouldn't mind as long as it was for the boy's sake.
She knew he cared deeply about Jan and would do anything for him. So, she made the decision to welcome the doctor. She was glad that some other experts came and help check her son. Being the royal physician, she believed Doctor Lehman was the best doctor they could find in Riga.
"So? How is he, Sir?" Sophie clasped her hands in frustration. "What's your analysis?"
"Everything is fine," said Doctor Lehman shortly after checking Jan's condition. He then gave Sophie the medicine he had prescribed for Jan. "If your story was correct that he was hit by rubble, then it's pretty amazing that he has recovered this fast and so well. I don't see his injuries being critical."
"Oh... that's good to know." Sophie let out a sigh of relief. She looked at Jan who was now looking at her with 'I told you' expression.
Right at that moment, Sophie felt grateful that her sons were lycans, unlike her. They got so many physical advantages, compared to humans. Gosh.. it was good to be lycans.
Slowly, she started to understand why so many powerful humans, such as Nicholas's father hated lycans. Not only because they had personal grudges toward lycans, but also because they were worried lycans who had so much more physical advantages than humans would use them to rule over humans.
At the end of the day, everything came down to power.
"Give this medicine after every meal. He will recover even more quickly," the old doctor added. Sophie accepted the medicine and thanked him.
"Thank you so much for coming all the way here," Sophie smiled at the man. "Do you need help to go back to the capital?"
"No need, your grace," the doctor shook his head politely. "I came here with a group of knights. They will take me back to the capital safely."
"Oh..." Sophie immediately understood that Nicholas must have prepared the security for the doctor in case he would be attacked by the lycans. She massaged her temple.
She couldn't blame him though. It was the right thing to do since the lycans and the royal family were enemies. However, deep inside her heart she also felt grateful that Nicholas did what he did. He truly walked the talk. When he said he cared about his sons and wanted to send a doctor to check on Jan, he really did it.
"You should thank the king," said Doctor Lehman seriously. "Not me. I only came here to do his order."
"I know." Sophie didn't want to be rude and stop the doctor from talking, but she wished Doctor Lehman didn't mention anything about the king around so many lycans. The old man didn't understand that he was surrounded by danger.
Every pair of eyes, no matter how nonchalant they looked, was watching his every move and word. He was not truly safe until he was out of there.
Since he had confirmed that Jan was fine and would soon recover, they didn't actually need him.
"Please convey my gratitude to the king," she was forced to speak in a very low tone. "Goodbye and have a safe journey."
"Will do, your grace." Doctor Lehman bowed down his head a little bit to show respect to the woman who was much higher in status than him, then he turned around and headed for the door. Duncan walked him out.
Sophie was deep in thoughts when she remembered how distraught she suddenly was on the night Jan was injured. Leland told him it was because she and her children had the bond between parent and child.
When he mentioned it, Leland's expression slightly changed. This made Sophie realize that the man didn't feel the same bond that she had with her sons.
This meant, the parent-child bond only existed between biological parents and their children. Did Nicholas feel it too? She was wondering.
However, if he did, Nicholas should have come here right away, just like her.
This got her thinking. Maybe he didn't recognize the feeling because he was injured himself and thought the pain he was feeling was his?
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶