The Royal Mark-Chapter 66: Future Luna and Queen

Elsa combed through every corner of the castle but came up empty-handed in her search for Chris. Frustration gnawed at her as she turned to her dogs and suggested, "Let’s check outside; maybe he headed there." She devoted her entire day to tracking him down, even skipping lunch in her determined search. The castle is so big and she already checked all the public places that Chris might have gone to.

As Elsa approached the castle’s main door, Prince Andrius called out to her, "Elsa! It’s nice to see you exploring the castle. You should familiarize yourself with it. When I return, I’ll have Drake give you a tour."

Elsa corrected him, saying, "I’m not just exploring. I’ve been searching for Chris since morning. I’ve asked around, but no one seems to know his whereabouts. Have you seen him?" she shyly asked.

Andrius responded, "I thought you and Chris had already reached an agreement. I was informed that he went to one of the refugee sites to celebrate. He even sent an invitation for me and Drake to join in the festivities."

"I see. In that case, I’ll come with you. Let’s go." She didn’t wait for Andrius to reply and promptly headed for the door.

"Alright, I suppose I have no other option," Andrius mumbled to himself, then followed Elsa. Outside, he spotted her on the castle steps, gazing at a horse.

He inquired, "Is something wrong?"

Elsa hesitated and admitted, "I...I don’t know how to ride a horse."

Prince Drake, who had just arrived on the scene with his horse, chimed in, "Ride with me."

Elsa gave a nod, and with Drake’s swift assistance, she mounted the horse, taking a seat behind him. The location of the werewolf refugee camp was approximately an hour’s ride from the castle if they pushed the horses to their limits.

As they journeyed toward their destination, Drake remarked, "You’ve been quite quiet, Elsa."

"Have I?" Elsa responded, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. "I hadn’t really noticed."

"Yes, you have," Drake continued. "You always seem to have something to say when you’re around Christopher. Maybe it’s because you’ve known him longer. But if I’m being honest, it might be because you feel comfortable around him, perhaps even like him." Drake let out a subtle chuckle, trying not to make it too obvious to Elsa.

Elsa opened up, saying, "I do like him. He’s kind to me and has always been there for me. At this point, I can confidently say he’s a good friend of mine."

"Just a friend?" Drake questioned. "I don’t see it that way. Don’t get me wrong, Elsa, but I’ve observed how you look at him. And as for Christopher, it’s no secret that he’s head over heels for you. It seems you might feel the same way. When I say ’attracted,’ I’m not just talking about physical attraction; you genuinely care for him."

Elsa felt uncomfortable and replied, "Please don’t say such things. It’s awkward, you’re still my uncle, even though we’re the same age. I’m not even sure what to call you."

Drake chuckled at Elsa’s words. "You’re shifting the subject, but as for that, you can simply call me Drake. It would feel a bit awkward, and I’d start feeling old if you went with ’uncle.’"

"Alright, Drake it is," Elsa replied with a smile, relieved that she had managed to divert Drake’s attention from the previous discussion.

Just when she believed she had evaded Drake’s probing questions, Prince Andrius, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, chimed in, "So, Elsa, are you planning to marry the Prince of Arcanis?"

Elsa rolled her eyes in response and said, "If he agrees to my terms, then yes, I’ll marry him. It’s not like I have much of a choice."

Prince Andrius countered, "You do have a choice, of course. You could always decline the marriage and propose an alternative, but I highly doubt you’ll do that because you seem quite keen on marrying him too."

Elsa was taken aback by Andrius’ comment, and her jaw dropped. The prince winked at her and flashed a smile before urging his horse to pick up speed and overtake them, leaving Elsa with no opportunity to retort. Drake joined in the laughter and spurred his horse to catch up as well.

As Elsa gazed ahead, she grasped the reason behind the actions of the two princes—they were nearly at their destination. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow on the scene, and in the distance, she could spot the glimmer of lights and hear the faint strains of music. It seemed like a festive gathering was in full swing.

Upon their arrival, Elsa was taken aback by what she saw. She had anticipated a simple camp for the refugee werewolves, but to her surprise, this place appeared more like a thriving town. It was evident that these werewolves had no intention of leaving anytime soon.

The majority of the houses were constructed from sturdy bricks and stones, with a few wooden structures interspersed. The architectural style differed from the human houses she had observed in the capital, but each building possessed its unique charm. Some boasted front gardens adorned with colorful flowers, while others featured small shops.

"Did the people from Arcanis build these houses?" Elsa inquired of Drake.

"Yes, my father granted them permission to construct permanent structures, with the condition that they leave everything as it is when they eventually return to Arcanis. They are exceptionally efficient builders, given their strength," Drake explained.

Elsa marveled at the craftsmanship evident in each building, but her attention was drawn by laughter in the distance, prompting their horse to come to a stop. Turning towards the source of the merriment, she believed she recognized the laughter.

Her intuition proved correct as she spotted Chris among a group of people, all gathered around a bonfire, sharing hearty laughter. Drake assisted her in dismounting the horse, and she made her way towards Chris.

A furrow formed on her forehead as soon as she laid eyes on him, surrounded by a crowd of both men and women. Her eyebrow arched in surprise when she observed one of the four women caressing Chris’ thigh, while another mimicked the gesture on his arm. The remaining two women were occupied in massaging his shoulders as he drank and laughed heartily with the men encircling him. His flushed cheeks and slurred speech left no doubt—he was clearly drunk.

Elsa whispered to Drake, "What’s the reason for the celebration?"

"That’s a good question. Let’s find out," Drake replied. But before he could inquire further, Chris spotted them and rose to his feet.

With a bottle of beer in each hand, Chris extended both arms and declared, "Ah, I knew it was my mate! I could smell you from a mile away." He pushed the women who had been touching him and continued in a booming voice, "Everyone, meet my mate, your supposed future Luna and Queen. However, she’s kindly declined the offer, so the position by my side is still open and available."

A hushed silence fell over the gathering, and all eyes turned toward Elsa, causing her to widen her eyes in a mix of disbelief, fear, and annoyance.