The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation novel Chapter 324

KATHERINE

Our breathing grows heavy, rushed.

I feel the sparks crackling in the air, the scent of excitement.

"I think… I’d better check if dinner is ready. The lady of the house said it wouldn’t be much longer. You must be hungry."

He springs up like a coiled wire, putting distance between himself and the bed, leaving me there, leaning forward like a fool, lips pursed, as he strides toward the old wooden door.

"Aren't you going to check my wound?" I ask in a soft voice—seductive, or so I think.

I won’t give up so easily.

"Mrs. Nora gave me some medicinal herbs; they should take effect. Besides, you told me you were fine," he responds curtly, and before I can deploy all my charms, he’s out of the room.

"Damn Duke, stiff and uptight. But what you don’t know is that crazy women are persistent, and I won’t stop until I conceive your heir," I mutter, already scheming how to take advantage of the fact that, whether he likes it or not, we’ll be forced to stay together.

****

Later, I got the chance to step outside, wrapping a shawl over my house dress, and meet the couple from this humble home.

They had two adorable children.

A little boy and a girl who stayed in her room—she was sick.

We adults ate at a poor wooden table, the broth in our bowls nothing more than cloudy water with bits of vegetables.

Not that it was dirty—Mrs. Nora seemed very clean—it was just sheer poverty.

I knew some villages lived in hardship, but I had never witnessed such extreme scarcity.

I noticed Elliot seemed tense as well.

He subtly asked the couple why the village was in such dire straits.

I think he trusted his administrators too much.

"It wasn’t always like this, but a few years ago, things started getting worse. We’ve sent complaints to the Duke, but he doesn’t give a damn," the man slammed his fist on the table, furious.

"Aldo…!"

"It’s true, Nora! We work ourselves to the bone to fill his coffers. All we ask for is a bit of grain to survive, and every year, they lower the quotas for laborers even more!" he exclaimed, indignant.

"They say it’s because of plagues."

"That’s a lie, too! I’ve worked this land all my life, and I’ve never seen such a strange plague!"

As they argued, I glanced discreetly under the table, where Elliot’s fist clenched tightly, the muscles in his jaw rigid.

****

"I’ll help you with the dishes."

Dinner had ended on a tense note, so I stood to help Mrs. Nora.

"Oh no, dear, don’t worry. You’re still weak—rest. Or better yet, I’ll tell Aldo to heat some water so you can both have a proper bath with medicinal herbs. It’s the best thing for you," she insisted, practically pushing me out of the kitchen.

I didn’t insist. I headed back to the bedroom, but the moment I sat on the bed, I was already bored.

The cot was narrow and hard, the only decoration an old chest in the corner. There was nothing to do.

I quietly cracked open the door and snuck out into the living room. Muffled voices filtered from the kitchen.

"…I checked their clothes. Even though they were dirty and torn, you could tell they were high quality. They might be nobles. How could you complain like that?" Mrs. Nora continued scolding her husband.

"…Well, I thought… I was sure the man was one of our own. Did you see how he reacted in the river…?"

"He didn’t admit it, even when you practically spelled it out for him. Maybe you were wrong. Or maybe he just doesn’t trust us—and that would be the wisest choice. We can’t draw attention, Aldo…"

"…Says the one who insisted on rescuing them," he scoffed.

I stopped eavesdropping before they caught me. I didn’t fully understand their words, but I silently slipped out through the slightly open living room door.