Raising Beast Cubs to Find a Husband novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98: The Post-Party Hangover and The Tiger’s Truth

The Debutante Ball didn’t end with a bang; it ended with the collective groan of five hundred people realizing their corsets were too tight and their political alliances were in shambles.

The "Daycare Delegation" was exiting the palace like a retreating army that had looted a candy store.

Finn was currently a shade of green that clashed with the royal carpets. He was clutching his stomach, his top hat askew.

"I regret nothing," Finn groaned, leaning heavily on Jax. "Except the third strawberry. That was a tactical error."

"I told you the viscosity was too high," Jasper (Snake) noted, walking briskly with a stack of napkins he had stolen for "research purposes."

Vali had fallen asleep while walking. Lord Rurik simply scooped up his son, tossing the snoring wolf-cub over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"We ride!" Rurik boomed quietly. "To the land of soft pants!"

Silas had already vanished, presumably melting into the shadows to avoid the traffic jam of carriages.

Primrose stood by the carriage that would take her and Caspian away—not to the daycare, but to the Fox Sanctuary. The timeline was tight. The Star-Iron was failing.

She looked back at General Rajah. He stood near the entrance, looking like a statue carved from misery. The Emperor’s announcement hung over him like a storm cloud.

"Go," Rajah mouthed to her, giving a stiff nod. "I will handle the rear guard."

Primrose hesitated, but Caspian touched her arm. His hand was freezing cold.

"We must move, Primrose," Caspian rasped.

"Okay," she whispered. She climbed into the carriage with Caspian, Orion, and the map. The wheels clattered against the cobblestones, carrying the hope of the cure into the night.

Rajah watched them leave. He felt a pang of longing as he watched the carriage disappear—not just for Primrose, but for the simplicity she represented. A life of warm meals and teaching kids to share.

Instead, he was trapped in a golden cage of his own making.

"Father," Arjun tugged on his coat. The Tiger Cub looked tired, his tie undone, frosting on his cheek. "Can we go home? I want to take these boots off. My toes are sad."

Rajah looked down at his son. "Go to the carriage, Arjun. Wait for me inside. I have... one final battle to fight."

Arjun’s ears twitched. He looked at his father, then toward the shadows of the pillars where a violet dress fluttered.

"Okay," Arjun said slowly. "But do not take long. I am hungry again."

Arjun marched off toward the waiting Tiger Clan carriage.

Rajah took a breath, steeled his nerves, and turned toward the pillars.

Princess Leonora stepped out.

She looked shattered. The "wilted flower" description from earlier was no longer accurate; she looked like a flower that had been stepped on. Her eyes were red, her hands trembling as she clutched her fan.

"Rajah," she whispered.

He flinched. She hadn’t called him ’General’.

"Leonora," he replied, his voice rough gravel.

It had been years since he had said her name without a title attached. It tasted like ash and old memories.

"I didn’t want this," Leonora said quickly, stepping closer. "I will tell him to cancel this. I will go to the Emperor right now and refuse—"

"Leonora," Rajah cut her off gently.

She stopped, looking up at him with wide, watery eyes.

"Nothing will change your father’s mind," Rajah said, looking over her head at the moon. "And you know that. The Emperor does not make suggestions. He makes decrees."

Leonora bit her lip. "But... it’s unfair to you. You love the Tutor. Everyone can see it. And I... I am just the annoying girl who followed you around."

Rajah looked down at her. He saw the little girl who used to braid his tail. He saw the woman who had brought him tea when his wife died, even when he refused to open the door.

He sighed, the sound heavy with exhaustion.

"And don’t act like you didn’t want this too," Rajah added quietly.

"What?" Her eyes widened in genuine shock.

He looked away, unable to hold her gaze. "You still like me, don’t you?"

The silence stretched between them, louder than the carriage wheels.

Leonora lowered her head. A tear slipped down her cheek.

"So you knew," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Is that why... is that why you married another woman? To push me away?"

Rajah closed his eyes.

"No," he said firmly. "I did not marry her to hurt you. I married her to stop myself from marrying you."

Leonora looked up, confusion warring with hope. "I... I don’t understand."

"I was trying to protect my family from your father," Rajah admitted, the truth finally spilling out after a decade of silence. "You know how controlling he is. If I married the Princess, the Tiger Clan would become nothing more than the Emperor’s pet cats. He would own us."

He clenched his fists.

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