Lycan King's Royal Mate

FUNERAL AND THE WILL

Aeris's pov

My eyes were dusty from the tears and my mind was hazy from the thoughts of my father being dead. Nothing seemed good to me and Caspian in the room made me jump on my toes. I was furious and ran to grab him from his collar but she clasped my wrist in his enormous hands and glared at me. How dare he?

"Aeris! Snap out of your trance. I understand your situation but blaming anyone without any proof will get you in trouble." Caspian uttered in a whispering tone, but I was sure others heard it well.

"Oh! At least, someone agrees with the fact that Aeris blurted random things from her mouth." Arabella spoke and my gaze turned to her.

"Would you like to elaborate?" I raised my brows at her.

She rolled her eyes and ignored the demand. But, she turned to face me again and crossed her arms before responding, "Last time, a charming king on his horse came to rescue you from the mess you created, but today, there will be no one. Everyone here knows your father died because of you! You gave him stress and he couldn't have handled it. Even in this situation, instead of taking responsibility for your actions, you are putting the blame on others. When will you grow up?" Arabella snapped at me and I was speechless. Although, she wasn't lying and I was convinced that it was my fault, but not entirely.

"Arabella! Aeris! Your father is dead, would you two stop arguing?" Lady Marian yelled at us and tears fell down my cheeks, burning my skin.

Arabella was cruel. She would be mad. I got rewarded for it but she hates me. How could I take it? I knew my father didn't die a natural death. Something was off about it.

"Maybe King Caspian didn't do it but someone did. My father didn't die a natural death." I took a stand by my words. Caspian looked at me with disbelief and shook his head.

"Father! Why did you leave us so early?" I couldn't stop my tears pouring down.

It was confirmed that father died, but how? Even the healers had nothing to say. My intuition told me it wasn't natural. He got healed from the stroke and, as far as I remember, he wasn't physically stressed, or was he? I wished I could have had more time with him.

"The news has been spread! People from the village began to stand outside the main entrance. We need to prepare for the funeral." Lady Marian, my father's aunt, said with a gleam in her eyes. She was probably thinking about the throne.

It was a shame when she got the throne back in the old days, but her rulership caused the downfall of the kingdom to some extent. However, my grandmother, Lauren, took the throne and ruled the kingdom with her leadership. Under her rule, the kingdom flourished and so did it in my father's hands. Marian must be cheerful that she might get the throne for herself. It could be possible she and her children were responsible for our father's death. I cannot say it now, but I would find proof against her.

Caspian put his hands over my shoulders and gave me support in the dark. I wasn't expecting it but I was thankful he did.

The next morning, the progeny stood away from the funeral site but everyone could see it. My father's dead body was secured in the casket. To be honest, I wanted him to wake up and talk to me. My sobs were louder every time they took the casket near the grave. I asked for a memory for him and hopefully my voice would be heard. Arabella stood beside me and held my hands firmly.

Not sure when the last time we held our hands together. Now, it was her and I. We had to stick together.

"I am sorry, Aeris! I was rude to you last night." She apologized to me.

"It's alright! I am not mad at all. You had the right to be angry with me. Because we never imagined this day could come and it would be harsh on us." A quick sob escaped from my lips and the next moment, I hugged her. Even for a while, I felt better.

Caspian came to me and put his right hand on my shoulder, leaning into my ear and whispered, "My star is crying! Do you know it aches my heart?"

My eyes widened and I turned to look at him. Before I could say anything from my parted mouth, he leaned a little forward and said, "Don't worry, We will find his killer." He assured me.

I was shocked and unable to say a word. It was unbelievable he knew my father had been murdered. After the funeral ceremony, I had to talk to him and find out who did it.

Soon, my father was buried deep down under six feet. Today, God got an angel.

"I am going to miss him!" I said aloud.

Lady Marian came to me and asked me to see her in the chamber. She doesn't look bothered by my father's death in any way. Cruel woman! If she had done anything to my father or I found her involvement, I swear I will finish her.

"Caspian, I need you to come with me." I asked him.

"This must be about the will. According to our marriage, I am not allowed to interfere in your kingdom's affair. You have to take care of it." He started and I rolled my eyes.

"I know what I said earlier and I am not backing out from it but today, I need you by my side." I answered in a humble tone to convince him.

"Hmm… I see the desperation in your eyes. How can I refuse my wife's order? My star wants my presence in her personal affairs but What will be the cost she has to pay?" He winked at me and I knew it must be something surreal.

I could have told him to get out of my face but his defensive mechanism in verbal wars was my priority with Lady Marian.

"Just say it!" I glared at him with my blank gaze.

"I didn't expected you to give up so easily. I haven't came to thought what I want but I will tell you soon." His face was glimmering with a flirtatious smirk at the corner of his lips.

Why do I have a feeling he would do something unimaginable? This man would be the death of me. There were people mourning over my father's death and still there were some royals who were interested in the will of my father. Why does it really matter? Oh! Because, my father had two daughters, no son. Most of the royal residents would try to get the throne for themselves and Lady Marian was no exception.

My emotions weren't stable and I felt like killing people for finding advantage in such a sensitive situation. This kingdom means so much to me, I cannot let anyone ruin it. I love all these people and I was afraid if they did not get a worthy ruler, they would starve and be forced to slavery.

After the ceremony, everyone recovered but I stayed behind to mourn over the sudden death of my father. To be honest, I was collecting myself to face the worst. I took a deep breath and I felt a hand on my shoulders. The warmth sent a tingling sensation over my back and I knew who it was.

"It's time, Your presence is mandatory in the hall." Caspian reminded me about the meeting.

I nodded my head and followed him to the hall. Just as we entered, Lady Marian glared at us, at Caspian and stood in front of us.

"He is not allowed inside the hall. This meeting is conducted for family affairs." She blurred in a high pitched voice.

I sighed and eyed her with my intensive gaze, "Lady Marian. I think you are forgetting that King Caspian is my father's son in law. He is a royalty and sharing a bond with me makes him family. He has a right to speak and interfere in family affairs."

She raised a brow at me and with a smirk on the corner of her lips, she said, "As far as I remember, you had put some rules on the marriage certificate when you both agreed to marry. One of the…."

I interrupted her, "Let me correct it, those rules applied to the kingdom and its affairs, not with the family. Caspian is a family. Now, excuse us, We have to attend this meeting!"

"No… I don't accept this man as family. I don't accept your marriage either. So, I won't allow him inside this hall." Lady Marian declared with a bold statement.

I glared at her for speaking out of the box. If my father would be here, she wouldn't be talking baseless things.

"Fine! If he is not considered as a family member, Then I won't be attending this meeting as a family member." I snapped at her.

"Aeris! You are forgetting my status! I hold power over you." Lady Marian shouted and others watched us with their prying eyes.

I took another quick breath and faced her, "What power do you hold over me, Lady Marian? You are forgetting that you are a Royal in this kingdom while I am the Queen of another kingdom. You have no right to shout at me. Moreover, I am the rightful heir of this kingdom and chances of having to rule over his kingdom makes me much more powerful than you. You better use wise words not to get in trouble."

"I don't understand why do you have to explain we need to attend this meeting, My star? I will attend it, whether Lady Marian likes it or not." Caspian spoke to me but his eyes were glued on Lady Marian all the time.

The poor old lady trembled and spaced to let us pass. Caspian held my hand and we both proceeded to take our respective seats. I could see how jealous others were. Even Arabella had a gloomy face and avoided eye contact with me.

Lady Marian went up to my father's advisor and whispered something in his ears. I saw the lawyer knitting his eyebrows and raising his hands to stop her. He said something but I couldn't hear. Marian snatched the envelope from his hands and came to our table.

"Without wasting more time, we shall open the envelope and see what the old man has left for us." She was impatient.

She tore the top of the envelope and took out the papers. I rolled my eyes but deep down, my heart was beating like a drum in a war cry.

Capsian held my hands and I looked at him in shock. This affection was unexpected but It surely worked. Lady Marian was reading the paper and her eyes were widened. Did she hit the jackpot or something? Whatever would be in the will, I hope it would turn out in favor of the kingdom.

"This cannot be possible…" Lady Marian uttered before passing out on the floor. Did she really get the throne for herself?