The car finally reached the werewolf kingdom, stopping at the large gates of the royal palace that was supposed to be Amelia's new home until the alpha king decided otherwise.
The palace had already been notified of the overnight changes in their King's life.
Though the information was well protected from outsiders as everyone still didn't know if their king was just having fun and if this girl would even stay alive for a month, let alone act as his wife, they learned to make necessary arrangements.
Cyrus Valentino turned his head to look at the girl sprawled on the cushioned seat, lying in a cocoon with a frown on her forehead that seemed to be etched permanently.
Seeing his King sitting there with a cold look, Fabian gulped, afraid their king might lose his patience and scold the girl for sleeping so soundly.
"She must've not realized the car stopped," Fabian said hurriedly to save the girl before he turned to wake their lady.
He extended his hand and was about to touch Amelia's foot to wake her up when his hand froze in its place.
No. It wasn't frozen.
Someone grabbed his hand before he could touch the girl.
Fabian looked at the alpha King's dark eyes.
"Do you dare?" Cyrus asked lazily.
Fabian shook his head defensively.
"Of course not, sir. What a fool I was! Bad Fabian," Fabian slapped his free hand before bowing to his King in apology.
Cyrus hummed and leaned back in his seat, waiting for the girl to wake up.
"Sir, she said she didn't sleep all night. In that case, she might not necessarily wake up soon," Fabian said, knowing his king was bound to grow annoyed sooner or later.
After all, a man who valued every second of his life and didn't waste it on things he considered useless would find it frustrating.
"Is that so?" He asked.
He stepped out of the car and evened his clothes.
Fabian saw his king standing straight and quickly thought of the female soldier in their palace. He could ask her to come and pick up their lady so they could take her to the guest room since it was clear that their king wouldn't allow a male wolf to do so.
However, before he could suggest it, his gaze widened in pure shock when he saw his king bending and picking the girl in bridal style, not before wrapping her in his overcoat like a mummy.
Cyrus Valentino walked inside the palace with his betrothed in his hand, his cold and dark aura making everyone bow in respect as they held their breaths, unsure what kind of mood their king had.
Some maids on the first floor tried to look at their lady's face, but because the overcoat covered her from head to toe, only a part of her wheatish thin legs were visible.
Everyone sighed and took a deep breath once their king ascended the stairs and walked straight to his room.
"That was close," One of the maids whispered.
"I know, right? I can't even imagine what the girl will go through once she wakes up. It's just the first night, and she made the king carry her. Everyone knows how much he loathes women after what his mother did …" The maid gulped, remembering she said the words she wasn't supposed to.
Fabian looked at the palace's first floor, where their king had taken the girl, with a complicated expression.
Cyrus threw the girl on the bed inside the room, making her bounce.
Amelia was in a deep sleep and opened her eyes with a scowl. Her dreams revolved around how her sister played with her in her past life and how Killian humiliated her time after time, yet like a doormat, she kept going back to them in hopes of care and affection.
The beautiful ceiling with a large dragon with a weird mark on the corners caught her eyes.
She was not in her room, and that was the first thing that appeared in her head before she remembered that she had married and gotten into the car with the alpha king.
Amelia sat hurriedly and looked around with wide eyes, her heart thumping loudly against her chest when her gaze landed on the man sitting on her right side with a smirk.
He was still wearing the half mask that covered his half-face, and his pinkish lips made Amelia gulp.
"I… I am sorry," She said.
"For what?" His voice was deep and velvety.
"For sleeping like a log," She said.
"I carried you here," Cyrus said, trying to gauge her emotions.
He noticed how her pupils dilated at the mention before her cheeks and ears turned red as if she were embarrassed, and he couldn't help but find it amusing.
What was she embarrassed about? Didn't she marry him willingly? What else did she expect? Why was she acting so innocent when he didn't even do anything to her?
"When are you leaving?" Cyrus asked.
Amelia raised her brows at him.
When was she leaving? Why did he ask her that kind of question? Did he find another letter in her stuff? But she checked everything thrice to ensure Hannah didn't sneak any letter or anything to make Alpha King suspect her.
"Where?" Amelia asked.
It was rather feasible to ask him than to make speculations on her own.
"To your lover," Cyrus said.
The long and silent car ride gave him enough time to have his team briefly investigate her.
Though the things he got his hands on weren't that detailed, they still gave him an idea about her life and how she was head over heels for this Alpha named Killian.
"I am not leaving," Amelia said resolutely.
Cyrus raised his brows.
"Not leaving?" He asked.
Amelia bobbed her head up and down.
"I will stay here and protect you," she said.
Cyrus didn't say anything for a few seconds before he chuckled loudly. This was one hell of a joke.
A lantern who did not have a wolf and was not even an adult just declared that she would protect the alpha king? The man everyone calls a monster?
He stopped, a smirk laced on his lips before he stood from his seat, intrigued by the lantern creature before him.
He walked to the bed and caged the girl between his arms, leaning on the bed as he looked directly into her eyes.
"Is that so? You might as well rethink your words. I demand utter loyalty. If you betray me later, I will slice your throat myself," Cyrus said, his eyes searching for something in hers.
Amelia looked into his blue eyes before nodding confidently.
She pulled out a dagger from under her dress, on her thighs.
Cyrus heard the sound of the blade coming out of its cover but didn't move from his place.
He wanted to see if this lantern creature would dare to attack him.
That was one reason why he stopped Fabian from touching her earlier. From what he had noticed earlier, she was unpredictable, and he didn't want his beta to get hurt.
Cyrus expected her to strike and make a dumb move that would reveal her intentions, but to his surprise, Amelia grabbed his hand and placed the dagger in it.
"If you must slice my throat, use this dagger. It's one of my favorites," Amelia said, not wavering her gaze from Cyrus's.
"Do you even know what you are saying?" He asked, caught off-guard a bit.
Amelia nodded with a genuine smile reaching her eyes, making her look enchanting.
"I promise my loyalty to you, Alpha King. I know there have been rumors about me; I was indeed a fool. But you must know that my heart, body, and soul all got betrothed with you the moment I said I do," Amelia said.
Cyrus kept looking into her eyes for a few seconds before he scoffed.
Such words she was spitting. Did she even know the meaning of unwavering loyalty when she was merely seventeen?
However, he didn't say anything and stepped back.
"This is my room on the first floor. Let me know your conditions, and I will prepare a room for you if you are uncomfortable," Cyrus said.
"I am comfortable here," Amelia patted the mattress as if she were testing its durability, and Cyrus's gaze darkened.
He didn't say anything and walked out of the room, where he saw Fabian, his driver, and his headmaid standing.
"Sir, what did she say?" Fabian asked.
Cyrus looked at the door before scoffing.
"She wants to sleep with me,"
Fabian- "..."
Head maid -"..."
Driver- "..."
Sir, she definitely didn't say that. We all heard her.
They all had the same thoughts, but none dared to speak.