Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle-Chapter 20: How Are You Enjoying The Werewolf Kingdom?

But just as Dimitri parted his lips to speak...

A sharp knock came from outside.

"Your Highness, I bring good news!" A servant's voice rang through the chamber. A messenger.

Dimitri paused, his brow lifting slightly in curiosity. His golden eyes flickered toward the door, his interest piqued. "Good news?" he echoed, his deep voice laced with intrigue. "And what might that be?"

"Your Highness, Lady Arata is with child! The physician is at her manor now, conducting a second confirmation, and it is certain. She carries your heir! Congratulations, my lord!" The servant revealed.

A beat of silence passed.

Then Dimitri's eyes widened, his usually stoic expression cracking into pure, unguarded happiness. He rose swiftly from the bed, not even bothering to hide his elation, and reached for one of the sheets on the bed.

Mira, however, faltered. Her face fell, her fingers tightening around the sheets for the briefest moment. But she was quick to recover, masking her emotions behind a serene smile as she gracefully slid from the bed and pulled on her gown.

She lowered her head in a slight bow. "Congratulations, my lord," she murmured, her voice as smooth as silk, betraying nothing of the storm brewing within her.

Dimitri barely noticed. He was busy wrapping the sheet around his waist. "No, congratulations to this household," he corrected, his voice brimming with pride. Then, with unusual tenderness, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to Mira's forehead before turning toward Sorayah.

In an instant, the warmth in his gaze disappeared, replaced by the cold authority she had come to expect from him. "Help me bathe and get me dressed at once. I must be at the concubine's manor immediately." Dimitri said afterwhich he strode towards his bath house.

Sorayah felt her stomach twist but she didn't even want to bother exchanging words with Dimitri.

But before she could even step forward to obey, Mira moved swiftly into her path, her delicate hand pressing lightly against Sorayah's arm.

"It seems you still haven't learned your place you lowly maid." Mira's voice was soft, but her words carried a dangerous edge. "Do you need me to teach you in another way?"

Sorayah's jaw clenched, her fingers curling into fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Mira's lips curved in a knowing smirk. "Just stay here. You'll be escorting His Highness and I to Lady Arata's quarters anyway, so there's no need for you to follow him now."

Sorayah's pulse pounded with unrestrained fury. What the hell? Was she deaf when Dimitri ordered her to help him bathe?

But before Sorayah could respond, Mira swept past her and disappeared into the bathhouse, leaving her standing alone in the grand chamber.

Sorayah remained rooted to the spot, every muscle in her body wound tight with barely suppressed rage. But she forced herself to take a steadying breath. Not yet. There would be a time for retribution.

Minutes later, Dimitri emerged from the bathhouse, now clad in a black shirt with silver embroidery along the edges, his dark trousers tailored to perfection. Mira followed closely at his side, her expression one of quiet satisfaction.

Dimitri barely acknowledged Sorayah as he strode forward. "Let's go."

Without another word, the three of them made their way toward Concubine Arata's quarters.

______________

Arata's Quarters

"My lady, His Highness is here!"

Arata's personal maid burst into the chamber, her voice filled with excitement as she rushed inside. Arata, who had been lounging on a plush chaise, immediately straightened. She smoothed the fabric of her gown and rose gracefully to her feet.

"Your High..."

She didn't even get to finish before Dimitri reached out, took her hand, and gently guided her toward a chair. His touch was firm but careful, as if she were something fragile, something precious. Arata sank into the seat, a pleased smile curving her lips as Dimitri settled beside her. Mira, ever the shadow at his side, took the chair next to him, her expression unreadable.

The maids scurried about, pouring tea into delicate porcelain cups. Sorayah, however, remained where she was standing in the corner, her gaze fixed downward, her hands folded neatly before her.

Dimitri took Arata's hand again, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. His voice, usually so cold, was now tinged with uncharacteristic warmth.

"You shouldn't kneel for me anymore," he murmured. "You're carrying my child now."

A pleased flush spread across Arata's cheeks. "Thank you Your Highness."

"How are you feeling?"

Arata let out a soft sigh, placing a delicate hand on her still-flat stomach. "I've been well, my lord. Just feeling a little weak these days, but the physician already gave my maid a prescription." Her grin widened, eyes twinkling. "He assured me that it's normal for expectant mothers and that I'll regain my strength soon."

Dimitri's expression softened further. "That's great. Thank you, Arata, for making me a father."

Arata practically glowed under his words, basking in his attention.

Then, without warning, Dimitri's gaze sharpened as it shifted to Arata's personal maid and the two other servants who had just finished serving tea.

"Make sure you take care of your lady. Pay attention to every little detail concerning her well-being. If anything happens to her or my child... I will have all of your heads."

The air in the room seemed to grow colder. The maids dropped to their knees, pressing their foreheads to the floor.

"Yes, Your Highness! We understand!" they chorused in unison.

Mira, who had been watching everything with a composed smile, suddenly spoke up, her voice as smooth as honey yet laced with something venomous beneath the surface.

"Congratulations, Concubine Arata," she said, her lips curving into what appeared to be a genuine smile but Arata knew better. There was nothing but cold resentment behind that expression. "Now that His Lord has personally come to see you, we should let you rest. That's what you need most right now."

Arata opened her mouth, as if to respond, but Dimitri cut in smoothly.

"Mira is right. You need to rest, especially since it's your first pregnancy. Besides, I have work to attend to." He rose to his feet, his expression shifting back to its usual authority. "I'll have my servants deliver gifts to you soon."

Arata followed suit, rising with him, though she didn't seem entirely pleased. Mira stood as well, stepping closer to Dimitri's side.

"Please take care of yourself," Dimitri added, his voice quieter now, as he placed a lingering kiss on Arata's forehead. "Don't make me worry."

Arata gave a slight bow, though her heart burned with irritation and anger. Not at Dimitri, of course, but at Mira. That woman... But she schooled her features into perfect submission.

Then, her gaze flickered toward Sorayah, who still stood silently in the corner, head bowed, hands clasped in front of her.

"Can your personal servant stay behind to collect a list of things I'll need?" Arata asked sweetly. "I appreciate whatever Your Highness gifts me, but now that I'm with child, I have more specific needs."

Sorayah's jaw clenched slightly.

What now? I have no desire to get involved with Dimitri's women, for goodness' sake.

Dimitri, unaware and doesn't even care about Sorayah's thoughts, nodded. "That's fine. Sorayah will stay behind. Give her the list so I can prepare everything at once."

And with that, he turned on his heel, making his way toward the door. Mira followed close behind, her lips twitching with triumph as she exited the room alongside him.

Once the door clicked shut, leaving the chamber in thick silence, Arata turned her attention back to Sorayah.

Arata tapped a manicured nail against the armrest of her chair before speaking.

"You're Sorayah. You're beautiful I must say. So, how are you enjoying life in the werewolf kingdom?"

Sorayah stiffened slightly.

"What kind of a stupid question is that to a human?" she thought bitterly.

Lifting her gaze briefly, she met Arata's smirking expression. Then, just as quickly, she lowered her eyes again, her voice calm but clipped.

"My lady, please write the list and hand it over so that I can deliver it to my lord soon. I still have many duties to tend to in his quarters."

Arata chuckled, shaking her head. "I suppose not. You're human, after all. There's no way you're enjoying this place."

"Then again, some humans do rise in status by becoming concubines for their masters," Arata mused, her voice taking onalilting, almost playful tone. "It only takes one night in bed, getting pregnant with their master's child, and suddenly, they are treated better."

Sorayah's fingers twitched.

And what the hell does that concern me?

Arata smiled coyly. "But well I'm just joking, of course." She tilted her head. "Besides, hybrids aren't considered real children. The moment a human gets pregnant, she's forced to abort it. To prevent it from happening in the first place, contraceptives are given after every encounter. It's law."

Sorayah said nothing, but her lipspressed into a thin line.

"People like the Alpha Emperor might keep a hybrid child," Arata continued with an air of nonchalance, "but there's no point. That child would be bullied for the rest of its life. Even the Emperor doesn't allow such a fate to occur."

She walked toward Sorayah now, circling her slowly.

"The only other exception is His Highness is the Beta Lord, the Emperor's second-in-command." She stopped just inches away, her voice dropping lower. "I wonder, now that the Moon Goddess has blessed me, perhaps she has plans for you too? It only takes one night, after all. Even if you can't keep the child, you'd still be considered his concubine... or perhaps a sex slave, since you wouldn't be able to bear his true heir. A sex slave that tends to get everything she needs and leave the life of a servant for good."

Sorayah inhaled sharply, biting down a scathing retort.

I didn't ask for this conversation, woman. Just give me the damn list.

Arata studied her face, then let out a soft, amused hum.

"I like you," she finally said as she reached into her gown and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. "Here's the list. I've already prepared it even before his highness came."

"Thank you my lady." Sorayah uttered as she collected it immediately and gave a slight bow, turned to take her leave but then...

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