Thirteen
1456 Words
MORGANA'S POV
The moment Lolita turned her back toward me, I calmly lifted my foot and stepped lightly on the hem of her dress. It happened so naturally that no one would suspect me.
Well, no one except Zack.
“Ah—!”
Lolita cried out sharply as her body tilted forward. The next second, she crashed gracelessly onto the polished floor. The basin beside her overturned instantly, warm water splashing across the marble tiles while the other maids gasped in shock.
I widened my eyes in alarm and hurried toward her.
“Oh no,” I exclaimed with perfectly feigned concern. “How did you suddenly fall?” I crouched beside her. “Did you twist your ankle? Are you hurt?”
Lolita’s face twisted painfully. Or perhaps angrily.
The fall had loosened the collar of her dress, exposing pale skin above her chest while several strands of hair clung messily against her face.
She slapped my hand away instantly. Then, with watery eyes, she looked directly toward Zack.
“Prince Zack…” she whispered pitifully. “It hurts.”
Behind us, several maids lowered their heads awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Inside Zack’s stomach, his laughter was probably longer than his intestines. He knew me too well. Anyone who offended me would absolutely pay for it.
No matter how often he teased me during the past twelve years, I never held grudges for long because I always avenged myself immediately. Zack truly felt this morning had become extremely entertaining. Still, the shameless wolf wore a perfect expression of concern.
“What happened?” he asked while walking over quickly. “How could you suddenly fall?”
His acting skills remained flawless.
“Someone help Lolita up,” he ordered gently. “And bring her to Argus for examination. We must make sure nothing serious happened.”
Then, without even waiting for Lolita’s response; he turned toward me immediately. His entire expression softened.
“Wife,” he said warmly, “are you ready? We shouldn’t keep the elders waiting too long.”
Before I could react, he reached for my hand naturally.
“Come. I’ll support you outside.”
Lolita stared at our retreating figures in disbelief. Her face turned pale with resentment.
Wasn’t Zack supposed to carry her tenderly after seeing her injured? Wasn’t he supposed to fuss over her?
Instead–He ignored the injured woman completely and chose to support another woman who clearly wasn’t hurt.
Her nails nearly dug into her palms. Then, Just before leaving the chamber, I paused and turned around thoughtfully.
“Oh, right.” I smiled sweetly toward Lolita. “You really shouldn’t wear such long dresses. If you change into shorter ones, perhaps you won’t fall again next time.”
Lolita’s lips tightened angrily. She ignored me completely and looked pitifully toward Zack instead.
“Prince Zack,” she said softly, “you once told me I looked beautiful in this dress. That’s why I wear it so often.”
I almost laughed. Interesting.
Zack glanced at her calmly.
“Is that so?” he replied lightly. “But Lolita is naturally beautiful. Any dress would suit you.” Then his eyes narrowed faintly..“So go change into another one.”
His arm tightened around my waist.possessively.
“Wife,” he said smoothly, “let’s go.”
The moment we disappeared beyond the chamber doors, another maid hurried over to help Lolita stand.
“Sister Lolita,” the younger maid whispered nervously, “should we really bring you to Physician Argus?”
Lolita’s expression changed immediately.
“I’m not going near that demon physician!”
Everyone inside Zack’s mansion feared Argus. The man possessed terrifying medical skills, and an equally terrifying personality. Only Zack treated him casually.
Lolita clenched her fists tightly while staring toward the direction I had left. Hatred flickered through her eyes.
“Just wait, Morgana,” she muttered bitterly. “I’ll make you repay this humiliation.”
—---------
Outside Zack’s estate, a black wolf-carved carriage waited beneath the morning mist. The palace grounds were slowly awakening. Servants hurried through stone pathways while warriors dressed in dark uniforms patrolled the estate with disciplined precision. The scent of wolves lingered everywhere.
I stepped inside the carriage calmly and sat beside the window.
Across from me, Zack leaned lazily against the seat while propping his chin against one hand. His golden eyes sparkled mischievously.
“Wife,” he drawled lazily, “were you jealous earlier?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” I replied coldly without even looking at him.
He suddenly leaned forward and pulled me straight into his chest before pressing a quick kiss against my cheek.
I immediately shoved him away.
“Zack!”
He looked completely pleased with himself.
“Then why,” he whispered teasingly, “did you step on Lolita’s dress?”
So he did notice. Of course he noticed.
I straightened my sleeves calmly.
“Did I?” I asked innocently. “Perhaps Ninth Prince saw incorrectly.”
Zack stared at my calm denial for several seconds before laughter burst from his chest.
Moon Goddess, He truly enjoyed provoking me.
“Her full name is Lolita Edward,” he explained after calming down slightly. “My adoptive grandfather, Nathan West, sent her to my estate after Consort Hilda passed away.” His expression cooled faintly. “She’s related to the head caretaker of the West household. Because of that special background, she’s grown arrogant.”
I immediately caught the deeper meaning hidden beneath his words.
Special background–Meaning complicated background.
I smiled faintly.
“So she’s someone Ninth Prince treasures deeply?”
Zack opened his mouth instantly. But I interrupted before he could explain.
“There’s no need,” I said calmly. “I understand perfectly.”
I leaned lazily against the carriage wall.
“She only wishes to serve you. Honestly, I admire her persistence toward pursuing her dreams.”
Zack narrowed his eyes dangerously.
“What dreams?”
I smiled politely.
“Climbing into your bed, naturally.”
Silence filled the carriage briefly. Then Zack suddenly laughed in disbelief.
“Kitten,” he said slowly, “don’t tell me you truly don’t care if another woman covets your husband?”
“Of course not.” I answered too quickly. “It’s beneficial for Prince Zack to have many women beside him.”
Zack stared at me silently. His wolf nearly exploded from irritation.
He had secretly hoped i felt jealous. Instead, i looked completely calm.
A while later, I suddenly remembered something. I reached into my sleeve and pulled out the jade pendant. The tiny carving glimmered softly beneath the sunlight entering through the carriage curtains.
“Here,” I said while placing it into his palm. “You dropped this in my chamber that night.”
Zack glanced at the pendant once before calmly closing my fingers around it again.
“It belongs to you now.”
“It belongs to you,” I corrected immediately.
His lips curved lazily.
“No. The jade likes you.”
I almost rolled my eyes.
“This jade must resemble its owner then,” I muttered. “Both of you cling shamelessly to people.”
Then another thought surfaced instantly. I narrowed my eyes at him.
“That reminds me.”
Zack immediately looked innocent.
“Why did you steal my undergarments?”
He blinked once. Then twice.
“I don’t remember taking anything.”
“Zack.”
He sighed dramatically.
“Perhaps your undergarments secretly admired me and followed me home willingly.”
I nearly lunged across the carriage to bite him.
Seeing my murderous expression, Zack laughed loudly and caught my wrist before I could attack him.
“Little kitten,” he teased softly, “if you wish to bite your husband, wait until tonight. You may bite slowly then.”
I glared at him fiercely. His grin widened further.
“But remember,” he added lazily, “once we arrive before the elders, you must maintain your gentle and docile image properly. Don’t accidentally reveal your claws.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Then Ninth Prince should also remember to wear his mask tightly,” I replied sweetly. “Otherwise everyone may discover the truth.”
“And what truth is that?”
“That beneath the title of gentle prince hides the kingdom’s greatest lying scoundrel.”
Zack laughed softly.
“Then we truly are well matched.”
At that exact moment, the carriage slowed to a halt before the royal palace.
Outside, rows of guards stood beneath towering silver banners marked with the royal wolf crest.
The palace doors opened slowly. And together, the perfectly gentle newlyweds stepped out into the wolves’ den.
- Writer
