Eleanor's POV
“Make sure you get married within the next three months or risk forfeiting your position as the next Alpha King as you're gonna be the first.” My dad growled, shaking his fist at me and storming out of my room.
“But dad, I'm too young to marry now!” I murmured, I must have said this to deaf ears. As the only biological child to the Lycan King, I was set by law to become the next king, not a queen because a queen would be acting like a consort to the king who's the ruler. I'm not just going to be a Lycan King but the first female Lycan King and if I marry, whoever I'm going to marry will be a King consort.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, thinking about what he just meant by forfeiting my status. “But he doesn't have any other child apart from me? Who does he want to transfer his position to?” These questions rocked my mind and I turned over to the other side of the bed, clapping my hands together, my head lowered in thoughts.
“Could he be referring to Adela?”
Adela is my adopted sister, she was brought into the royal family from a foreign Lycan country after her parents and family were wiped off by an opposing family who wanted to take over the seat of government. By age, she's older by five years but by rank, I'm greater being the birth daughter of the king.
Over the years, I've tried loving and respecting her as my very own sister but I often see jealousy as trying to get the whole of her. To save myself, I had to rip off the friendly bond I tried creating. We are enemies but not open enemies, I blame dad for not wanting to get rid of her, she's the daughter of his deceased closest friend, a king who was good, so surprised seeing his daughter being the complete opposite.
I was supposed to rise and go to check on the servants and maids if they were carrying out their responsibilities well, which is one of my tasks as someone who's preparing to take over but I couldn't. The King's words just weakened me, pulling me back into my shell. As a king, divorce isn't allowed, you get to spend the rest of your life with your married partner. Three months was just too short to make this critical decision. What if I ended up with someone I'll regret for the rest of my life?
I think my dad doesn't really have my interest at heart. I stretched out my hand, reaching for my phone. I scrolled through my contacts, calling my assistant, Anna.
She picked immediately.
“Hello Anna. Please check out the works going on in the palace for me and make sure everything is going on perfectly.”
“Yes, you're high–” Her voice dropped. She must have remembered we're best friends after all even though I'm the princess and I'd asked her to call me by my name.
“Yes Eleanor.”
I forced a chuckle, cutting the call. I didn't want to linger any further to avoid her asking me what's wrong that I couldn't come out to do my duty.
I spent the next three hours thinking of what to do, yet no suitable idea came to mind. I didn't have a mate nor did I have a boyfriend while in school, I was just flirting around, maintaining lighthearted relationships. I never really had sex, not until I graduated from college and decided to explore the world and my body a little. I enrolled in a wild sex party when I went overseas for a holiday. All the contestants were tested for STIs free, I was allocated with eight men whom I can still remember their faces so well. I thought I was enjoying life but I regretted my act weeks later when I found out I was pregnant.
If not for the moon goddess’ special grace, I'm quite certain it's there I would have lost my status as the future king, worst of all, it's then Adela was adopted newly and everyone loved her composure. The only option for me was to remain indoors in my apartment for the next nine months,getting attended to by the most confidential royal staff. Even when I gave birth to my son who's now five years old, it was in my room, on my bed.
Another challenge had just been thrown my way recently. I sighed, rising from the bed.
“I will hold a conversation with my dad this afternoon,” I talked to myself as I rushed to the bathroom to freshen up and then have my first meal for the day at the dining room, then I headed to the throne room which is where my dad spends most hours of his day at, it's literally like his office but he also holds meeting with his subordinates here.
As I got towards the room, I met Luca, his secretary coming out of the room with some files in his hands. I stopped him.
“Is the king holding a meeting or with someone?”
“No, he's not having any official appointment today.”
I smiled. This is my perfect chance. “Okay, thanks.” I said.
“You're welcome, your highness.” Luca nodded and I walked past him, heading straight to the room which was three meters away from where I stood. I knocked on the door thrice, leaning my head closer to detect if I'd hear any sound from the room. Upon knocking for the third time, I got a response.
“Come in!”
I released a heavy breath, pressing the door handle and stepped in. I turned to gently shut the door before turning to my dad and giving him a bow as a sign of respect. He slowly raised his head from his system as I stood from here, gazing at him expectantly. His eyes darkened into a frown as he looked at me from his glasses.
“Eleanor, what are you here for?” He growled. “I just hope you're not here to try to talk me out of my decree?” I kept mute, he didn't even know what I was here to say.