A Forgotten Night With The Lycan King

Melanin's POV “No!” Lord Maximus' loud scream shook the ground beneath us. “This cannot happen to me!” he yelled from his chambers on the top floor, but his voice carried throughout the palace. “What's going on?” the maids asked each other, but none could provide an answer. We were all concerned about the queen, who had been in labor for the past 24 hours. Despite numerous physicians being called to the palace, none had been able to assist in the delivery of the baby. Only a few maids were permitted into the queen's quarters, and the rest of us were to remain outside. The guards and maids gossiped among themselves, wondering about the fate of the queen. Ignoring the gossip that filled the air, I entered the kitchen and began arranging the kitchen utensils, but I noticed the other staff murmuring and whispering. “What are they saying?” I asked my wolf, Olivia, but she had no idea. I approached them slowly and finally overheard one of the maids whispering, “She lost a lot of blood.” I swallowed nervously. “Is she still alive?” another maid asked, but before the first could respond, she noticed me eavesdropping and frowned. “What are you doing?” she asked, and I gulped and walked away. I wasn't close to my colleagues, as many of them despised me for my skin color, my being a werewolf, or for other reasons. Zoey even speculated that it could be because I was beautiful and drew the guards' attention. “Everyone, leave!” Lord Maximus shouted again, and this time, fear overtook me. “It's true,” a maid whispered to another. “No!” the other maids shook their heads in terror. “I think something is wrong,” Olivia whispered, and I nodded in agreement. I quickly found my only friend, Zoey, among a group of maids conversing. As soon as she saw me, she left them and walked over to me. “Zoey, what's happening?” I asked, and she gulped before looking around and leaning in close to my left ear. “The queen is dead,” she whispered, and a wave of emotions washed over me. “She and the baby didn't make it,” she added before moving away. “How… how…” I stuttered in fear. “That's what's being rumored from her chambers, and we believe that's what caused the king's scream,” Zoey murmured, her forehead creasing in concern, as I pondered the news. I didn't know much about Queen Cecilia because I didn't serve in her quarters, but the maids who did, speak highly of her. They said she was kind and considerate, treating every servant with care and love. It saddened me that she couldn't survive childbirth. “I heard the king is furious and destroying things,” Zoey said, breaking me from my thoughts. I gulped, moved my gaze around and spotted the head maiden approaching us. “The head maiden is coming this way,” I whispered to Zoey, who nodded and quickly left to attend to her duties, leaving me alone with the head maiden. “You, what is your next duty?” She asked, and I gulped before responding. “It's time to wash the king's feet.” I replied, and she remained silent for a moment before speaking again. “And what are you waiting for?” She asked, and I stared at her with dumbfounded eyes, hoping she wasn't suggesting I go to the king in such an hour. “But…,” I started to say. “There are no buts. No matter what happens, the king's ritual of washing his legs before he goes to sleep must be done. So, I order you to take up the bowl of water and go to his chamber,” she ordered firmly, leaving no room for argument. I gulped again and nodded quickly before walking away. “She wishes me death,” I grumbled to my wolf. How could she suggest I go to the king, who had just received the news of the passing of his queen a few hours ago? “Olivia!” I called out to my wolf, but she was oddly silent, which got me worried. “Is something wrong?” I asked, but still didn't get a response from her. Instead, she whined with discomfort, making me feel uneasy. “What is wrong?” I asked, scared that something was wrong with her. She didn't give me a response, rather she kept howling, sending waves of discomfort all over my body. Filled with worries, I took the bowl of water and made my way to the king's quarter. As I approached his chamber, I noticed no single maid could be seen in sight, and the place was quieter than a graveyard. “What are you doing here?” A guard guarding the door of the king's chamber asked, and I gulped before speaking. “I'm here to wash the king's feet. It's a ritual that his feet must be washed before he goes to sleep,” I explained, hoping he would send me away, but he didn't. Instead, he stepped aside. “I should go in…” I asked, terrified, and he nodded. “Oh, goddess,” I whispered in fear, hesitating to go in. “What are you waiting for?” He asked, and I gulped before stepping forward. I took a deep breath before entering the king's chamber, my hand shaking slightly as I reached for the curtain. I pushed it aside and stepped inside, immediately noticing the broken chairs and stool scattered across the floor. My heart began to race as I looked up and saw the king standing in front of me, his eyes filled with burning rage and the room stinks of alcohol. Just when I was about to greet him, the howling of my wolf left me dumbfounded. “Mate!” Olivia howled loudly, and I held King Maximum's gaze, noticing that he stared at me with anger-burning eyes. “What are you doing here?” He yelled, sending tremendous fear down my spine. “Answer me!” He yelled again, and I quickly fell to the floor, totally ignoring the howling of my wolf. “My lord, I apologize. I just came to perform the ritual of washing your feet,” I stammered in fear, ignoring the alluring scents coming from him. “Get out, get out before I tear you apart!” His words rang out, slurred with alcohol and anger. I scrambled to my feet, ready to flee, but his next command froze me in my tracks. “Stop!” he barked, his voice echoing through the room. My heart skipped a beat as I hesitantly walked back towards him, unsure of what he wanted. As I approached, he slurred drunkenly, “Come here. Take off my clothes and wash my body.” He ordered, while I nodded and made my way to him. I could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath as I tentatively removed his clothes and began washing his body. “Why does it have to be me?” he yelled drunkenly, “Three women and none can give me a child and as if that is not enough, I lost my queen in the process.” He spoke with pain, and I found myself having sympathy for him. “Do you think the moon goddess is punishing me for my evil deeds?” He threw that question at me and I couldn't give an answer. “Or am I destined not to have children?” He asked again, while I gulped, not knowing what to say. I have never been this close to the king, in fact, this was the first time I was attending to his needs. He rambled on about his deceased queen and his concubine's inability to bear him an heir. I felt a deep sadness in my heart as I listened to him speak about his pain and suffering. Despite what he might have done, he was still a man who had lost someone he loved. “Mate!” Olivia kept howling in my head, but I didn't pay attention to her. As I finished washing him, I lowered my head and turned to leave, only for him to drunkenly call out for me to stay. “We should drink together,” he slurred, raising a hand in offering. “My king…” I tried to reject his offer, but the stern expression on his face made it clear that it was a command and not a request. “Yes, my king," I responded respectfully, lowering my head and taking a seat on the floor. I grabbed the cup he offered me and slowly sipped the drink, my head aching with the constant howling of my wolf. The strong alcohol burned my throat as I drank, and I could feel the king's eyes on me. “You have beautiful eyes.” He slurred, and I found myself smiling back hazily, “Come over here.” He commanded and I did as told.