The Lycan Prince’s Puppy (by C Tamika) novel Chapter 199

Chapter 199

Violet

A crowd of people stood around me, pulling at a dress I hadn’t even seen yet. It wasn’t one of the dresses from the racks, but one Madam Renata had had made and pulled out at the last minute. They were still making adjustments, and no one had let me look at it. Everyone was talking at the same time, their voices mixing together until I couldn’t understand anyone.

They weren’t just pulling the dress. They were pulling my hair, my arms, my back–every part of me.

We had been doing this for hours. No food, no water, no rest. Just standing, turning, posing, again and again. My feet hurt, my back was sore, and it was getting harder and harder to breathe.

“I need some space,” I said, but no one seemed to hear me.

“She needs some space!”

It was Trinity who finally spoke up for me. “Let her breathe!”

Madam Renata clapped her hands, sharp and loud. In just a second, everyone stepped back at the same time. As they moved away, I noticed the maids staring, their mouths open, eyes wide.

I looked around, confused. What was going on?

“What is it?” I asked, trying to understand. No one answered, so I turned to Trinity.

And then I froze. No wonder they were staring.

She looked like a goddess.

Her gold dress shone in the light. It fit her perfectly, like it had been made only for her. She was glowing. Her hair was pinned up neatly, not a strand out of place. She didn’t even seem real. She was just too beautiful, like a painting come to life.

“Trin, you look-”

She gave me a soft smile. “Turn around.”

“What?”

“Turn around,” she said again, motioning with her hands.

I turned slowly, unsure of what I was even turning toward.

But then I saw it.

My own reflection….

My eyes squinted right away as the light hit the sparkles on my dress so precisely it almost hurt to look. I had already caught a glimpse of the color earlier and it was exactly as promised, a light blue. Only it looked nothing like the already gorgeous dresses that had been on the rack, and I had no idea what I had done to deserve this.

The dress fit me gently at the top and spread out wide at my waist, almost burying my short frame. It looked like something one could only imagine in a dream.

I took a quiet breath and lifted my hand toward my hair but stopped just before touching it. Soft blonde curls fell down my back and over my shoulders, shinier than I had ever seen them. I was scared that even one touch might

1/6

Chapter 199

+25 Bonus

mess it up.

There were whispers behind me, low murmurs I couldn’t make out. But I didn’t need to hear them. Now I knew what they were looking at.

It was me…

“Wow,” I whispered.

I stared at my reflection, unsure of what to think, because the girl looking back at me wasn’t Violet. She didn’t look lost, broken, afraid, or hopeless.

She looked…Lyperian?

And was that a good thing or a bad thing?

Madam Renata gave a slow, dramatic clap. I caught her smirking through the reflection as she approached, her purple dress looking nothing short of breathtaking as well. Her bun had never changed and was still as tight as it had been. Maybe even tighter if that were possible.

She circled behind me as she repeatedly bopped her head, proud of her work. “And that,” she tilted her chin, “is how you turn a rough, little creature into a proper lady.”

I let out a soft chuckle. “Thank you, Madam Renata.”

Although I did thank her, I still believed there was nothing wrong with the old Violet, the rough, little creature. Because deep down, I knew that beneath it all, I was still Violet. And beneath all their dresses, the Lyperians had their scars too. Queen Cecilia had them, and I’m sure many others did as well.

But maybe Madam Renata meant no harm. Maybe this was just the way she was. She had been insufferable since I got here, sure, but today, she had not been as bad as I had expected. Trinity’s presence had certainly made a difference, but I also knew the only reason why I was still standing was because I hadn’t crossed Lady Mona yet.

Queen Cecilia had made it all too clear that Renata was one of Lady Mona’s people, and until that woman–who I hadn’t even seen yet–had nothing personal against me, neither would she.

Simple as that.

Trinity stepped beside me. “So what’s next?” she asked Madam Renata.

Curious, I glanced at the clock on the wall.

It was six.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other and nearly lost my balance. The dress was heavier than it looked. I let out a small yelp as I tipped backward, but Trinity grabbed my shoulders just in time.

“Maybe Kylan should just carry you tonight,” she laughed quietly in my ear.

Kylan….

If he were here, he would’ve called me clumsy. Maybe even smiled at me as he said it, because lately, there always seemed to be a warmth in it.

I wished he were here.

I didn’t care about this feast or the politics, this dress or how Lyperian I looked–no. I cared about him, and I wanted to see him.

2/6

Chapter 199

+25 Bonus

He had put his trust in me, believed in me…fully.

Those words just didn’t feel good, and I knew why. Because I didn’t deserve all of that. Not at this moment. Not right now. Not when I couldn’t even find the decency to be honest with him about what had happened with Kayden. 1

Trinity nudged my shoulder. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” I responded a bit too quickly.

“You cannot fail,” Madam Renata spoke sharply. “As a Lyperian, what I care about most is seeing someone truly great on that throne beside him. So prove yourself.”

Those words didn’t do much to me, because I knew I wouldn’t be sitting on that throne beside him.

Madam was also quite something. First she called me a placeholder, and now I had to prove myself. Her words weren’t quite adding up.

“You seem to know him well,” I said softly.

She nodded once. “I sure do.”

“I wonder what he was like as a kid? Can

as a kid? Can you tell me?”

A laugh came from Trinity. “I bet Kylan was something.”

I thought so too. I knew Kylan wasn’t a big fan of Madam Renata, but I could also imagine him being a handful. I could see him as mischievous, smart–mouthed, always pushing limits.

“Your friend is right. He was something,” Madam Renata took a deep breath, às if remembering it all.

Trinity and I shared a look. Something we seemed to be doing every hour inside this place, as we both waited for Madam to continue.

“Well?”

Suddenly, the maids stopped walking and opened a small gap which led to a closed door.

Where were we?

Madam Renata smoothed out her dress, turned around and looked at me. “You can ask him yourself.”

She knocked three times, then opened the door, revealing a bright, empty room which I had never seen before. Before I could react, Madam Renata gently pushed me inside. I looked back, but the door clicked shut behind me.

I turned again and winced as the sunlight that came through the tall windows hit my eyes, and squeezed them shut to have a better look.

Now I could see it clearly. A figure stood with his back to me. My heart lifted, and I instantly felt at ease looking at the one I had been waiting for all day. I didn’t need to see his face. I knew.

It was Kylan…