Royal Outcast

Chapter 16

Seri’s POV

“I truly hope you don’t mind me wearing your clothes, your highness,” I said, still feeling shy and a little embarrassed.

Her highness, Princess Liana and I were currently sharing a pleasant breakfast in the dining room.

“First off, it’s Lia, Seri. Please just call me Lia, not ‘Her Highness.’ Second, I genuinely don’t mind at all. You are welcome to borrow and wear my clothes as you please. If anything, that dress actually looks better on you than it ever did on me,” she stated with a light chuckle, her tone reassuring.

“Lastly, while I love sharing with you, I would also really enjoy taking you out to help you pick out your own things. I don’t want my future sister to be stuck with just my hand-me-downs, especially since it seems none of my unworn clothes would fit you given how tiny you are,” she pointed out, which made me blush even more.

“That’s not necessary, your—” I began to reply, but the Princess cleared her throat and shot me a pointed look.

“I mean, that’s not necessary, Lia,” I corrected myself, a hint of hesitation in my voice accompanied by a slight chuckle that made the Princess smile with satisfaction.

“I don’t need new clothes. I’m perfectly fine with whatever is handed to me. Nearly all of our clothes back at the orphanage are quite the same; they were donations from kind-hearted people,” I explained.

“I hear you, Seri. I truly do,” she replied empathetically.

“But I want to do this for you and with you. Plus, you’re living in the Palace now, and I’m sure Mother would agree with this too,” she added encouragingly.

I pursed my lips, feeling unsure about the entire situation.

“Hmm, say what?” Princess Lia asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I was just thinking… as we shop for your new clothes, why don’t we grab a few things for the pups and other young wolves in your orphanage? Would that maybe convince you to go shopping with me?” she proposed.

I paused for a moment, contemplating her generous offer. It was incredibly kind, and under normal circumstances, I might have easily dismissed it. However, my thoughts immediately drifted to the pups in the orphanage. I knew they would be absolutely delighted to have some new clothes.

I might feel that I don’t deserve very good things in life, but those pups are something else. They deserve this and so much more.

“O-okay, I’ll go with you,” I agreed hesitantly. Princess Lia’s face lit up with a bright smile.

“I’ll cancel all my plans for tomorrow, then! Let’s go out and shop together, okay?” she exclaimed cheerfully.

I nodded carefully, feeling a warm blush creeping across my cheeks.

“Go out where exactly?” a familiar voice asked from behind me.

I turned around to see Prince Lucas walking into the room.

He was shirtless, wearing only black shorts, and glistening with sweat, a towel perched atop his head.

“Good morning to you too, dearest brother,” Princess Lia greeted him warmly.

“Where are you planning on going with my mate, Lia?” he asked again, this time with a slightly sharper tone.

“Chill! I was planning on taking her out to a mall to go shopping for clothes since she’s currently just wearing my old ones,” Princess Lia explained, her tone lightening.

“I obviously want to treat my future sister-in-law to something nice as a welcoming gift, just because,” she added with enthusiasm.

“And you couldn’t be bothered to inform me about this plan beforehand?” he replied, his expression turning into a frown.

“Perhaps because I only just thought of it, and you weren’t around when the idea came to me!” she countered, her voice slightly raised.

Prince Lucas then sat beside me as Sir Eban, the older man who had earlier turned out to be their royal butler, handed him a shirt.

“What makes you think I would allow you to take her out? She’s not allowed to leave the Palace. Especially not without me.” he said, emphasizing his point.

As soon as Prince Lucas asserted that, Princess Lia raised an eyebrow at him in disbelief.

“Pardon?” she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Prince Lucas did not repeat himself, maintaining his silence.

“Do repeat yourself, brother dearest,” she pressed insistently.

“Because if I heard what I think I heard, then we’re going to have a serious problem,” Princess Lia warned, her jaw tightening, and I observed as Prince Lucas's expression mirrored her intensity.

“Just a gentle reminder, your mate is your partner, not your property, nor is he your prisoner” she added defiantly.

“Liana,” he said sharply, his tone filled with warning.

The tension in the room mounted as Princess Lia's brows furrowed, her fingers clutching the tablecloth tightly.

I gulped, feeling the atmosphere grow heavier and more oppressive between them.

“Lia, I think—” I began, trying to ease the rising tension, but Prince Lucas cut me off abruptly.

“Stay out of this,” he said harshly. At that moment, Princess Lia stood up, slamming her hands onto the table.

“Don’t talk to her like that!” she hissed fiercely.

“I—” Prince Lucas began, but he too rose to his feet in response.

“LUCAS. LIANA!”

We all turned our heads toward the authoritative voice that reverberated through the room.

“Dad,” Princess Lia muttered, her tone automatically shifting to one of respect.

My eyes widened in surprise as I looked at the man standing before us.

It was His Majesty, King Luan.

“Why are you two at each other’s throats this early in the morning for heaven’s sake?” he said, his tone laced with disappointment.

Princess Lia pouted, and Prince Lucas huffed, turning his gaze away. His Majesty sighed and then focused his attention on me.

“Hello, young miss. You must be Seri,” he said, a warm smile breaking across his face.

I bowed my head respectfully, feeling a mix of anxiety and awe wash over me.

“Yes, your Majesty,” I answered politely.

Suddenly, I felt even more anxious than before with the presence of His Majesty looming over me.

Although technically, he was no longer the reigning king since his son now held that title, His Majesty King Luke, the titles of King Luan and Queen Liviana still remained within the Palace, as this was King Luke’s preference.

I had been briefed by the palace helpers about some of these rules beforehand, so I was somewhat familiar with the dynamics, but they could only share so much information.

For instance, they never mentioned how much sibling tension Prince Lucas and Princess Liana seemed to have with one another, or how their father had just scolded them like that, leading me to assume that such confrontations must be quite a common occurrence. This was surprising to me, especially given that they were twins; don’t twins tend to be very similar in nature?

But then again, even from my first impressions, Princess Lia appeared to be significantly more gentle and kind-hearted. Although, just moments earlier, I had begun to question that perception of mine.

I believe that she is far more feisty than she initially appears to be.

"You two are such headaches. And fighting so fiercely in front of a guest? How rude!" his majesty scolded the Prince and Princess.

Princess Liana pouted as she crossed her arms defiantly in front of her.

"He started it," Princess Lia muttered under her breath, clearly annoyed.

"How did I exactly start it? You were the one trying to take my mate out without my permission," Prince Lucas countered, his voice rising in indignation. Princess Lia regarded him with a raised brow, her expression incredulous.

"You’re being a possessive jerk!" Princess Lia exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at her brother before turning to look at their father, seeking support.

"Why does Seri need his permission to go out? She’s his mate, not his property!" Princess Lia argued passionately, her voice laced with frustration.

"Because she’s mine. No one should have access to her the way I do," Prince Lucas shot back, his tone defensive, which drew frowns not only from Princess Lia but also from his majesty.

"Lucas," his majesty said firmly, turning his attention to his son. "Step out with me for a moment." He turned his back on us before Prince Lucas could respond, leading the way out of the room.

I watched as Prince Lucas’s jaw tightened with tension before he cast a quick glance in my direction.

"Stay put," he instructed in an authoritative tone. I nodded obediently, feeling the weight of his command.

"Jerk," Princess Lia muttered under her breath as her brother exited the room.

Then, she turned her attention to me, letting out a deep sigh that seemed to convey her own frustrations.

"Is this how he’s been acting around you since you two met?" she asked softly, genuine concern surfacing in her voice.

I just stared at her, feeling a lump form in my throat, unsure of what to say. Her empathetic gaze softened even more at my silence.

"Oh, Seri," she cooed, her voice tender and gentle.

"You shouldn’t let my brother treat you that way," she advised me earnestly.

"Him taking the lead in your relationship is one thing, but him trying to take control over you is something entirely different," she continued, her brow furrowing as she spoke.

"That’s not what mates do. Mates are supposed to be partners. A mate should provide what the other lacks. They do not overpower you and make you feel like you are merely an object of their possession," Princess Lia explained, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Her highness is absolutely right. However, I find myself in no position to oppose whatever his highness desires. After all, I am merely a weak orphan wolf, and all I can do is accept what is offered to me.

"I understand, your highness—Lia. I truly do," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

"But I am nothing but a weak she-wolf who came from an orphanage. I would rather allow his highness to have his way than risk upsetting him more than I already have," I confessed to her, my heart heavy with resignation.

I watched her face fall at my admission, but I mustered a small, reassuring smile, hoping to ease her concern.

"I will be fine. I have been through worse," I said, attempting to project some semblance of confidence.

Suddenly, Princess Lia’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and my own widened in surprise.

"Oh God. I’m so sorry! Please don’t cry," I blurted out as panic surged through me. I stood up and rushed to her side, desperate to comfort her.

Princess Lia started sobbing, and I knelt down in front of her, trying to offer whatever solace I could.

What about what I said made her cry? I wondered, baffled.

Did she truly pity me to such an extent that my situation brought her to tears?

I knew I was hopeless, but I hadn’t anticipated making someone else cry over my own miserable circumstances—except, of course, for the tears I’ve shed myself.

"I hate it so much," Princess Lia sobbed, her hands trembling as she wiped her tears away.

Helpers began to rush in, likely alerted by the sound of her cries, which only heightened my anxiety further.

"Is it something I said? I’m really sorry, your highness. I didn’t mean to upset you," I kept apologizing, feeling increasingly helpless. Princess Lia shook her head emphatically as she sniffed.

"No one deserves to be treated so savagely. Not even you," she replied with a quiet determination, her voice still shaky.

"Not by someone who thinks they’re better than everyone else," she continued, her conviction growing stronger.

"Mates like that are jerks, and they deserve to be rejected!" Princess Lia exclaimed, her words ringing through the room. My eyes widened, and I could hear the helpers gasp in shock at her outburst.

"Lia..." I muttered, my heart racing.

"If he makes you feel miserable, then leave him. So what if he’s your mate? Another one can come along if you don’t choose him, right? It’s better than being miserable for the rest of your life," she urged, her gaze intense and unwavering.

I found myself at a loss for words.

I didn’t quite understand where her powerful sentiments were coming from, but for some inexplicable reason, I sensed that her feelings ran deeper than mere concern for my situation. It felt profoundly personal to her.

"Liana," a dangerously familiar voice interrupted our moment.

We all turned to see Prince Lucas standing at the entrance of the dining room, his expression a mix of anger and concern, and beside him stood his majesty, massaging the bridge of his nose in evident frustration.

Prince Lucas had a deep frown etched on his face, and his jaw was clenched tightly. His fists were balled up, and there was a slight flush of red on his face, as if he had overheard every word his sister had just said to me.

Of course, he's gonna be angry.