Claimed By My Husband's Enemy novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Chapter 55

(Eli)

“How was your experience living in this realm so far?” the Alpha King asked after sipping on his tea as the classical music from somewhere drifted through the glass walls of the late Luna Queen’s greenhouse.

It was only His Majesty and I in the biggest greenhouse I’d ever seen. We were sitting at the center of all the beautiful roses, another postcard worthy view. This realm was like a Disney Land for all the crazy dreamers for its breathtaking sceneries and creatures that humans would never think exist. But like I said, they had to have the right amount of craziness at the same time to survive here because of said creatures.

Even I, who was crazier than most humans, still think of running away every now and then.

I recalled every encounter I had with the shifters. How was I supposed to answer in front of the ruler of this place without endangering myself?

As if sensing my hesitation, the King added, “My godson had already warned me about the unfiltered side of you. I had also witnessed it at the foundation party. It’s alright, Elianna. You can be honest. I would always prefer honesty over anything.”

“Then if I were to rate my experience here, I think it’ll be four out of ten, your majesty. Would not recommend.”

I was relieved when the King remained calm as he placed his cup over the glass table elegantly before turning to me as if he was waiting for the punchline. When I didn’t say anything more, his eyes widened.

“You are not going to take that back?”

I frowned. “No…?”

Why would I? I didn’t even know why I was summoned in the first place when I’d been behaving lately. I didn’t go out these days. I didn’t get why it had to be just the two of us here today and why we needed to have this conversation. Was this the part where he would offer me money in exchange for leaving Creed? That was common in dramas.

Not to mention that Shanty told me before about the King setting up Creed with another woman. Unfortunately, it was Katrice, the rude daughter of a lord I met before. But then my enigmatic mate wouldn’t have done that to me, would he? He wouldn’t have personally driven me to the castle and walked me to the greenhouse himself if he knew that this meeting would hurt me.

Or did he intentionally do that knowing that their king would offer me money? Because he knew how much I loved money? Then again, that was impossible. Everything the King could possibly offer; Creed could multiply it.

Each time I was left alone in the beach house and boredom would strike me, I researched the Blacks. Days of researching taught me one thing. The Black Pack was invincible not only because of their skills and strength but also because Creed and Lizbeth’s parents were three times wealthier than the royal family. His father’s business mindset was unrivaled. With all their businesses, they became the wealthiest family in this realm and when both parents died, the siblings inherited their massive fortune. In fact, Creed personally funded Project X.

He excused himself a while ago, saying he had a meeting on the other side of the castle, although he did make sure that I had my phone with me and that he would come for me when I called.

I was spiraling when I saw the King’s jaw drop.

“You were serious after all? Just four?” I nodded politely. “But why?”

He seemed horrified.

“Never mind the insults I’d heard, but I almost died a few times while staying here, your majesty. Your people are not exactly welcoming. And I get that. I really do. But they were kind of brutal.” I narrated all the times I thought I’d be saying goodbye

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to mother earth. “And to think those happened within thirty-six days of my stay here. If my heart was weak, I would have died from a heart attack already. I actually consider it a miracle itself to still be alive after all that, your majesty.”

I didn’t expect to see the King look so… affected over my answer. Well, if he asked me about my experience living with Creed, I’d certainly have a higher rating. He should have started with that.

Creed told me I wasn’t supposed to be meeting His Majesty today because the latter was preparing an event where I could meet him again, but he called his godfather last night and insisted we should meet sooner, claiming that there was something important I needed to know, and it was better that I hear it from their king himself.

This morning, we were awakened by a call from the King’s secretary, inviting me to the castle. I thought I’d be seeing Emma here too. I didn’t think I would have a one-on-one with her grandpa.

“Does that mean you will leave the realm when an opportunity arises?”

I thought about my mom and then at the only man keeping me from becoming batshit crazy in this foreign world. “I’m… not sure, your majesty.”

He nodded and sighed. “I understand. Would you like to walk with me outside? There is something I would like to show you.”

“I would love that, your majesty.”

Both of us left the greenhouse. Luckily, I’d taken selfies before the King arrived a while ago. Memories were important. I’d realized that after mom got into an accident. I wanted proof that I was inside the most beautiful greenhouse in the world, that I sat with the king there. It was something I’d like to remember someday.

“I heard that you and Creed are getting along well lately. How was living with him?”

“Nine out of ten. Would definitely recommend.”

Finally, the King smiled. “Why did you take out the remaining point? Is there anything he did that disappointed you?”

I shook my head. “That’s just in case you relayed him this conversation, your majesty.”

I was surprised to hear the King laugh although it happened very briefly as if he was surprised himself. He cleared his throat.

I shrugged and added, “Creed could be so smug at times. He would tease me if he’d heard about it.”

There was a thoughtful expression on his face when he said, “Well, Creed was like that when he was younger although I hadn’t seen him become playful again after his father died and the full responsibility of becoming an alpha to their pack fell on his shoulders. It must be the advantage of having a young mate. Thanks to you, he seems to be relearning to be young again. To live again. That’s… good news.”

I smiled, suddenly proud of myself. “Thank you, your majesty.”

“Now that I think about it, I once had that kind of person by my side as well. Someone two decades younger than me who lived life recklessly but cheerfully. Someone who made the castle light up with his laughter, with his words alone, and with the humorous experiences he shared about his travels. He loved to travel, you see.” Another smile played at the king’s lips, making him appear so much younger. “He was Riodes, my brother. He was a free soul that’s why when he was alive, he was often away. That’s also why the castle was quiet when he was not here.”

I nodded, quietly listening, but very confused. The King didn’t strike me as someone who would share this story to a stranger.

“One day, Rio came home saying that he was going to stay for good in the city because he had found his reason to stay. He said he had found his home.”

I was too absorbed in his stories that it only occurred to me that we were in the hallway when he stopped talking in front of

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a particular life-sized portrait on the wall. When I looked up. I was greeted by the gorgeous face of a man who had dark brown shoulder-length wavy hair and a megawatt smile. Seeing his smiling face was enough to bring a smile to my own lips.

Mom once talked about certain people possessing infectious smiles and how it was impossible not to smile upon seeing that. I understand her now. This man who I was sure was the late Prince Riodes Beckett had that kind of smile.

Riodes and the King both had the same hair and eye color although Riodes’ eyes were full of life and warmth. The King’s eyes on the other hand, looked exhausted, as if he had seen everything that life had to offer.

“Here is my brother,” the King muttered as he caressed Riodes’ face longingly. “Do you know that despite his playful nature, he was often afraid that no one would remember him when he died? In the history of royal families, sadly, only the king was remembered. Their siblings were only briefly mentioned in books. Aside from that, he had a weaker wolf. When he was born, the physician said he was not going to live for centuries unlike his ancestors. That’s why he was into traveling, saying he wanted to leave traces and memories of him.”

On the right side below the portrait, I noticed a handwriting I’d seen before. My heart whirred out of my chest.

“Rio brought this portrait one day, bragging that this was painted by the love of his life who must have heard about his fear of being forgotten.”

‘Love forgives. Love understands. Love remembers. Always. -D’

“That’s very sweet,” I managed to say despite the tightness in my throat. I had those same lines hung on the wall in my room when I was a child, although the painting was different. It was a painting of a seven-year-old me. Written below were the same lines with the same ‘D’ as the painter.

That’s why my heart was filled with love for mom because each time I’d commit something naughty and I thought she wouldn’t forgive me easily, she would hug me and softly say, ‘I know you didn’t mean to do that. It’s okay. Love forgives. Always.’

‘Who is love, mom?’ I remembered asking as a child.

‘Me. And later when you grow up, it will be you,

Elianna.’

“I was informed that Percy Dawson is not your biological father,” the King said out of the blue. When I glanced at him, I saw the weight in his gaze. “Do you know where your real father is?”

“No.”

“Did you hear anything about him?”

“Mom refused to talk about him, but I heard the maids at Percy’s mansion talking about him, saying that he left her after he got her pregnant.”

“It was true. He left. He went too far, to a place where no one could easily reach. I knew he loved traveling, but I didn’t think he would travel this far.”

My stomach twisted painfully. “W-what did you say?”

Did I get it right? Was he saying that the late prince was…

“Yes, Elianna. Rio, my brother, is your father. He did not leave you both, at least not in the way you and your mother had assumed all this time. He was murdered.”

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