"How do you like our new home?" Sophie asked Luciel after they finished dinner.
The smart boy wiggled a finger and corrected his mother. "This is not our new home."
"Ahh... well, I mean this home. Do you like this place?" Sophie chuckled and cast her glance around them. Their dining room was much bigger than the one they had in Livstad and overall, the castle and its ground were also bigger than their manor.
Luciel said he liked it. So did Jan. They caught two rabbits already when they played with Duncan and explored the small woods nearby.
The property included small woods and it was privately owned so the boys could shift into their wolf forms and played all they wanted without having to worry about being seen by humans.
They spent all afternoon exploring and having fun. Now, their two faces were filled with excitement and happiness. Seeing her children happy, Sophie felt so relieved. It seemed the decision to move to Hasting was a good decision.
She turned to look at Leland and smiled at him. Her good mood made Leland happy too. He smiled at her. Sophie would give birth in less than two months. He must make all preparation so that their castle would become secure and safe from any instruction and attack if his pack and the royal family would immediately declare an open conflict.
This was just a waiting game.
At this point, it was only a matter of time until Nicholas, the king, would announce that Duke Romanov and his people were actually lycans, and then there would be an open war.
Leland had heard the shocking news from the capital that King Nicholas Hannenbergh had told the higher-ups and the high nobility of Riga that he had lycanthropy. Now that he thought about it, Leland realized it was a good move.
Sooner or later, Nicholas' secret would be found out and he would have to face the people. By admitting the truth now, he saved himself the trouble of being blackmailed by anyone who knew his secret, in this case, Leland was thinking of Karenina and members of the Royal Lycan Hunters who saw him and Nicholas fight back then in the meadow.
By revealing his secrets to the people who mattered, Nicholas took back power and he could choose how and when he wanted people to know that he had lycanthropy. From his spies, Leland also found out that the majority of people who attended the meeting at the royal palace were supportive of the king.
Next... he would have to do something about the lycan pack that had been infiltrating Riga and even settled down near the capital.
***
Nicholas stood in disbelief when he heard Lucas tell him curtly that the Alpha and his family had left Livstad. He looked at the Beta's face intensely, trying to find traces of lying.
Perhaps, it was just an excuse to keep Sophie and the kids away from him. Now, Lucas must already know who Nicholas really was. He was the father of Luciel and Jan and his presence was unwanted in this manor.
However, when Nicholas took a good look at Lucas' expression, he realized that the Beta was telling him the truth.
"When did they leave?" Nicholas asked with a disappointed expression. He brought some toys for the boys, hoping he could see them again and perhaps he could see Sophie too.
Lucas shook his head. "It's none of your business."
"Where did they go, do you know?" Nicholas brushed off Lucas' rudeness and continued asking more questions. "You must know. Tell me where did they go? Is it for good?"
"I said, it's none of your business," Lucas repeated his answer. His arms crossed in front of his chest and he gave Nicholas a murderous glare.
He remembered that the last time they fought Nicholas beat him up. This didn't make Lucas feel scared of the young king. It was the opposite. He hated losing to this man and now was determined to fight him again and beat him.
"Of course, it's my business, they are my...." Nicholas suddenly looked away. It was useless to argue with Lucas. He let out a long sigh and turned to Lucas again. "When will they go back? Is Jan okay? Didn't he need more rest so he could recover?"
"Young master is much better now," Lucas replied curtly.
"Uf... very well." Nicholas realized it was better for him to send spies and investigate where Leland took Sophie and their children. "Thanks for your time. I will find them on my own."
Nicholas was sad that Sophie and the boys were now far away. He tried to put himself in Duke Romanov's shoes and thought about what he would do if his wife and children suddenly had another man in their lives.
He would definitely try to cut whatever contact they had with that him. So, moving away was a good decision. Sigh.
If only he didn't have the kingdom to take care of, Nicholas would have gone out and found his wife and children wherever they were. Unfortunately, he was the king and his government was currently facing a crisis after Nicholas came clean to his people and let them know he was actually a lycan.
"Very well... I will give them space and then I will find them again," Nicholas muttered to himself and then he returned to the royal palace.
***
Meanwhile, Karenina got her answers faster than she originally thought. Elois the witch was willing to meet her. This was going so great, she thought. The news was brought by Gwen who came to see her two days after their first meeting.
"So, my queen, Grand Witch Eloise said you are welcome to come and see her in Armeria," Gwen said. She took out a small envelope and gave it to Karenina. The beautiful woman took the letter and read it quickly.
In her letter, Eloise said that Karenina had an interesting proposition and she wanted to hear from her in person. She thought they were alike and could work together.
Karenina furrowed her brows when she read the letter. Everything sounded good but one part where she was expected to come to Armeria.
"Is this a joke?" Karenina asked Gwen curtly.
"Why?" Gwen asked back.
"I cannot come to Armeria because that place is chaos," Karenina complained. "I don't know anyone there and many people are fleeing their country to come here. What makes you think I would be willing to travel to Armeria and risk my own life?"
"But you said you wanted to see our queen," said Gwen calmly. "She is now living in Armeria."
"I know what I said, okay?" Karenina became so annoyed. "I have a proposition to give her and I would even help her accomplish them, however, I would never bow down to anyone. She is not my queen."
Karenina scoffed. She added, "If she is truly as powerful as you all claim her to be, then she should be able to come here, the enemy's den, easily and without any resistance. I will meet her in person if Elois come to Livstad without any problem. Then I would trust that she is truly powerful."
Gwen looked at Karenina with disbelief. "You dare doubt our queen, She will not like it."
Karenina rolled her eyes. "I know a lot of things and I can help her to get their objective. But I will not come to Armeria to see her. Tell Eloise to come and see me."
"Fine," said Gwen. "I will tell Witch Eloise about this."
***
Karenina had heard that the king announced to the high nobility and the government higher-ups about him being a lycan and that made her feel so much rage.
She was still thinking about using that information to gather alliance among the noblemen who didn't like Nicholas.
However, now that Nicholas had laid the information in the open and it seemed the people were still supportive of him, Karenina had to bit her disappointment and stuck with her cooperation with Eloise.
She hoped Eloise would really come to Riga to have a discussion with her because Karenina was too scared to go to Armeria.
After one week, finally, her wish was granted. Karenina was feeling upset because her father sent her a letter and told her he was coming to see her in the capital. Suddenly, the door to her chamber was knocked and the butler told her she had a visitor.
"Who?" Karenina asked the butler. She didn't remember inviting anyone to come but... Eloise. Was that her?
"She said she is your cousin, Your Highness," said the butler respectfully. Karenina did have several cousins who sucked up to her after her engagement to Nicholas was announced. They all wanted to be on her good side.
However, they had become rude lately when they realized the king would not continue with the plan to marry Karenina.
"Hmm... tell her to wait for me in the garden. I will come and see her," Karenina replied curtly. She changed her outfit and cleaned up her distraught face. She practiced her best smile in the mirror before she finally left her chamber and went to the garden.
Anyone should not see her looking upset or messy. She should always look happy and winning. Karenina walked leisurely to the garden and arrived to find a woman she had never seen before.
"Cousin!"
Before Karenina could say anything, the foreign woman had got up to her feet and came to hug Karenina.
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