The Cursed Wolf’s Love

“I heard the Crown Prince has proposed to marry Iris in front of the King and the Queen,” Radulf said, looking at Adolphus.

“What do you want, Radulf?” Adolphus queried him. His one leg rested above the other as he was seated elegantly on the ornated vouch.

“I want nothing. Can’t I even ask the Crown Prince about such a matter?” Radulf quirked his brows. “I merely want to know if Iris should be involved in all this,” he affirmed.

Adolphus chuckled a little. “You should not be caring about Iris,” he asserted.

“I don’t have an interest in her. I merely admire her because she caught the eyes of us princes. Don’t you think she’s special in that way?” Radulf remarked.

“You ain’t supposed to admire her, Radulf,” Adolphus proclaimed.

“Well, I cannot help it, Brother,” Radulf stated.

“You don’t want to die by my hands, right?” Adolphus snickered as he fisted his palm.

“Oh, Brother! I am not interested in Iris. Instead, I am worried about her safety. She has already made her enemy by grabbing your attention,” Radulf asserted.

Adolphus furrowed his brows together. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“Nikolai’s daughter Juvia tried to poison Iris,” Radulf replied.

“What did you say?” Adolphus asked again to confirm.

“You’ve already heard me, Brother,” Radulf stated.

“How? Tell me everything,” Adolphus stated.

“I will but I would like to know from the Crown Prince if he will be able to save Iris all the time? Humans are the lowest in hierarchy and if the Crown Prince marries her, everything will go against his favor,” Radulf suggested.

“Radulf, I will marry her because that’s the only way,” Adolphus clarified to him. “Now, tell me what I asked you,” he stated.

“Juvia asked a servant to mix poison in Iris’s food. I ended up learning about that, so I prevented Iris from eating that. It happened the day she left the palace on the King’s order,” Radulf elaborated.

Adolphus called for a servant inside and asked her to send a message for Juvia to show her presence shortly. The maidservant bowed and left the chamber.

“So, where might Iris be? I don’t see her nearby,” Radulf observed.

“She’s resting,” Adolphus replied, gesturing for Radulf to depart.

“Why does it seem like the Crown Prince holds a grudge against me?” Radulf mumbled.

“Your presumption is baseless, Radulf. I bear no ill will toward you,” Adolphus responded, reclining on the couch.

Radulf offered a smile and decided it was time to go. As he rose to his feet, he cautioned Adolphus not to be hasty in his decisions. “What if fate links you with another? Your plans may not unfold as expected. Nevertheless, I genuinely hope you and Iris find happiness together. I bid you farewell, Your Grace,” he said with a bow before leaving the chamber.

Adolphus’ jaw clenched to learn that Juvia attempted to kill Iris. He would not spare her, he had made up that mind.

~~~~~

Iris stirred from her profound slumber and tenderly rubbed her eyes, grateful for the absence of unsettling dreams that often plagued her nights. As she sat up and swung her legs to the floor, a discreet knock on the door startled her.

Quickly assessing her appearance, Iris took a moment to compose herself before approaching the door and turning the handle. A maidservant stood before her, her attire revealing her affiliation with the Queen’s manor.

Dread clawed at Iris’s heart, her mind racing with thoughts of what the Queen might have to say to her this time.

“Let me get ready,” Iris told the maidservant, who nodded at her.

Iris quickly brushed her hair and then followed the maidservant to the Queen’s manor. Upon entering the chamber, she formally greeted Queen Lucia while keeping her gaze low.

“Why did you accept Adolphus’ marriage proposal? Did I not clear you that you ain’t suitable for my son?” Queen Lucia asked in her ferocious tone.

Iris got on her knees and apologized for the chaos she created. “I won’t leave His Grace’s side, Your Majesty. I know I’m not a werewolf ever, but I also know if I stay with His Grace, I’ll give him more happiness than others can ever give,” she asserted.

Iris’s resolve burned like an unyielding flame as she vowed to fight for her love, mirroring the determination and willpower that Adolphus had displayed in his pursuit of her. Many may have deemed her lacking in strength, but her unrelenting spirit fueled her determination.

To Queen Lucia’s surprise, Iris voiced her intention, causing a disapproving furrow to crease the queen’s brow.

“How can a mere human dare to entertain thoughts of marrying the Crown Prince!?” Juvia, Nikolai’s daughter, challenged, striding up to Iris. She spoke with conviction, declaring her intent to teach Iris a harsh lesson.

Queen Lucia nodded in agreement. “Indeed, a lesson is in order,” she affirmed, granting Juvia the authority to handle Iris’s punishment.

Two maidservants grasped Iris firmly, rendering her immobile by tightly gripping her arms, ensuring she couldn’t escape.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Juvia raised her hand and slapped Iris hard. Tears appeared on the edges of her eyes as her head hung low because of the force. Iris again gazed into Juvia’s eyes, telling her not to do that.

“I will not step back from being at the Crown Prince’s side,” Iris proclaimed again. Juvia gave her another tight slap, asking her to shut her filthy mouth.

Before the third slap could land on Iris’s cheek, Adolphus appeared from behind and held Juvia’s hand.

Queen Lucia stood up from her place, seeing Adolphus and told him not to interfere.

“Juvia, make your last wish because this is your last day,” Adolphus said. Before Juvia could even speak, Adolphus grabbed her neck and raised her above the ground. His eyes turned blood red as they shone brightly.

Everyone was shocked to see that. Queen Lucia asked her son to let Juvia go, but every voice was now deaf to her.

Iris, whom the servants had left, stumbled on her steps. She couldn’t let Adolphus kill Juvia and held his arm. “Please, don’t do that. Don’t do that,” she requested him.

Adolphus gazed at her with his bright, red eyes and said, “She deserves to die.” And the next second, Juvia’s lifeless body fell to the floor.