"You didn't look like you two were reuniting when you first saw each other."
"We became family after talking about the war and why he should join it. We found out we have common relatives, so that makes us family as well."
Sigh.
"So you two are just niece and uncle?"
"Yes."
Claus was relieved and kissed her lips.
"HMM!" Celea was startled but quickly pushed him away.
"You're getting way too comfortable touching me whenever you feel like it. And who the hell kisses first thing in the morning? Don't be disgusting. Do you think you're in some fairytale? Your breath stinks! And so does mine!"
Celea got out of bed and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth, murmuring insults and making small gestures to show her disgust. Claus watched her disappear into the bathroom and laughed.
"Clean freak."
——-
"If that lycan ever bothers you, the doors of my palace are always open for you," said King Dereus to Celea.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Thank you for your not-so-needed consideration, but my mate isn't going anywhere," says Claus with hostility all over his face.
"Andrea, do the transportation!" commanded Claus.
"Till next time." Celea waved her hand at Dereus.
"Till next time…"
"Welcome back, Commander!"
"It's nice to see your ugly faces again too." smiles
"What?!"
"Who are you calling ugly?"
"You, Chris. You're the ugliest."
The knights laugh together.
"So how did it go with the dragons?"
"I'm your commander. Of course I succeeded."
"The dragons are now our allies and will remain our allies as long as I'm alive."
Cheers
"Commander, let's celebrate!"
"Celebrate?"
"Celebrate your success!"
Celea starts laughing.
"Chris, it looks like you just want an excuse to drink."
"Oh come on, give me this little joy."
"Alright, alright, you can celebrate."
The knights suddenly all jumped on Celea while cheering.
"What the—?!" were Celea's last words before being buried alive by the knights.
"Okay, okay, now get off me, you stinky punks."
They got off her. Moments later, Chris put his arm around her shoulder.
"Let's go celebrate!"
Celea immediately gave him a slap on the back of the head.
"Auh!"
"Are you already drunk? Put your arm down and go take a shower."
"You monster…" whined Chris in a small voice.
Sigh
"Ah, I'm so sleepy. I'll never let them drag me into another celebration… If their stamina was as high during training as it is when celebrating, they would've been famous warriors by now…"
"What is that…?"
Celea saw Claus looking like a total mess while talking to his beta.
"I wonder what happened…"
"Well, it's not really any of my business…"
With that, Celea kept walking toward her room and went to sleep.
"Chris, come here."
Celea motioned for him to come closer.
"Yes, Commander."
"What's wrong with the palace today? Why is everyone so anxious?"
"What? You didn't hear about it?"
"It's because of the king."
"The king? What about him?"
"Some lycans heard him and his beta talking last night."
Oh, I remember that—I saw that too.
"And what were they saying?"
"They said Zela is coming back."
"Zela? Who's that?"
"That's the king's lover. They've been together for over six hundred years, but Zela disappeared fifty years ago, and our king has been looking for her like crazy ever since."
"But why did she leave?"
At that point, the two were gossiping like teenage girls.
"No one knows for sure, but they say it's because of his mate."
"How so?"
"Well, the king and his brothers were cursed to never have a mate, but that curse was lifted fifty years ago."
"Wow, what a 'lucky' couple."
"I know, right?"
"But why don't they get back together?"
"Because of the king's mate."
"But the mate doesn't want the king or to get involved in their relationship."
"How would you know that… oh, I fucked up."
"I'm so sorry, Luna."
"It's Commander."
"And there's nothing to be sorry about. This is the information I needed. It's a good thing I'll get to see Zela soon."
She casually patted him on the head.