The Lycan King's Puppet-Chapter 45: Taking a Row

Chapter 45: Taking a Row
She didn’t know what to say.
Andon never missed anything - and he wasn’t wrong.
Despite her hatred for the blasted man, she felt things that never existed to her previously.
Things that would cost her any shred of peace she may find.
"Fear is what keeps people alive, Miss Stenly. If you weren’t afraid, I would’ve thought you to be stupid."
She raised a brow.
"What is there to be afraid of?"
Just then, Redmare took the stage after the acrobats had left.
"What is that fool doing there?" Andon asked, talking a rich gulp of his wine.
The harpists and instrumentalists struck a country-side tune.
Claire instantly recognized the song.
It was about a lady whose background pushed her into a life filled with regrets.
Her father had made her learn the lyrics, because he had loved the song.
Claire wanted to cover her ears.
The man sounded worse than steel being hammered by a blacksmith.
And he changed the lyrics... to something very familiar.
The people at the King’s table started casting subtle glances at her.
Andon glanced at her, already aware of what was going on.
Her eyes hardened.
"Why won’t they leave me alone?"
Andon tilted his head.
"And they’re asking, why won’t you leave the King alone?"
She leaned back on her chair and downed the remaining content of her cup in one gulp.
"I am not detaining him, am I?"
Andon smiled.
"You’re so naive. I was once like you."
Claire sat up straighter.
"I don’t understand."
"When a peasant commands the King’s full attention, what do you think would be the reaction of his council? Especially when your father had encountered several issues with them."
"So all of this," she gestured with her hands. "is because of the bad blood they shared with my father? I lost everything - shouldn’t they be happy about that."
"They’d be happy if the Stenly named is never mentioned again in court."
And that included Aurora.
"Then, we should leave."
"Your uncle is waiting for that to happen, Miss Stenly. You should know that outside these walls, nowhere is safe for you and Aurora."
"But Zach-".
"Not even Zachary."
Claire’s attention was caught by the beautiful woman that joined Yeren’s table.
"Who is that?"
Andon followed the direction of her gaze.
"I don’t know." He shrugged lightly.
The woman was all over the King, inciting fond laughter from the member’s of the council.
After a while, the King and the woman began walking towards the lake. They passed their table before Yeren glanced their way.
Their eyes met and locked.
He was the King - he was free to have any and every woman he wanted.
She didn’t realize her hands were tightening around the cup she held.
"Where are they going?"
"To enjoy a cool ride in the lake. It’s usually frozen throughout the winter."
"How many boats are there?"
He raised a brow at her, smiling simultaneously.
"Several, why do you ask?"
She stood up.
"Let’s have a row, then."
He just kept staring at her.
"Do you know how to row?"
She blinked.
"No? Was I supposed to know?"
He glanced at Yeren and the woman with him. They had already entered a boat.
Claire followed the direction of his gaze.
"He must know how to do everything." Her voice dropped with something akin to contempt.
Andon returned this gaze to her.
"That’s were you’re wrong. The King doesn’t have the slightest idea how to row a boat."
"He doesn’t?" Her jaw nearly dropped.
He nodded.
"Well, can you?" She asked, realising how foolish it would look if neither of them could row.
"It depends on my mood." Glancing back at Yeren, he muttered, "I do hope the woman can row."
Claire raised her hands up.
"He’s the King. He doesn’t have to do anything if he doesn’t want to."
"Well said, but he always insists on keeping the peace - even if it means sacrificing his dignity."
"What mood are you in?"
Andon stood up, his chair grazing over the short blades of grass.
The afternoon breeze was refreshing.
As they approached the docks, a man in a tattered yellow robe brought a boat for them.
Claire took out the coins she had on her and gifted it to him.
The man’s face lit up.
The wood there was damp and moist, giving her the impression that it would soon buckle over.
"They’ve gone so far."
Another couple could be seen farther into the lake. Many others were settling into available boats. Among them was her sister and Arlan.
When they saw her, they waved.
She climbed into the boat and folded her legs beneath her. It won’t be long before she won’t be able to feel her legs - the crouch was uncomfortable.
Andon pushed the boat away from the shore before entering inside.
He had discarded his shoes and rolled up the hem of his breeches.
Andon picked up the oars and began to row. His muscles flexed with each singular movement.
The sky above was clear, without a single cloud to disrupt the perfect, ethereal beauty it had.
"Where did you learn how to row?"
Andon laughed.
"I learn many things in the process of being the King’s first man. Rowing just happened to be one of them - and the only thing I could beat the King at."
She nodded.
Claire remembered the last boat ride she had endured.
Arlan had almost died in her arms.
Yet, here he was, laughing with her sister like he hadn’t a care in the world.
"Stretch your legs."
Claire glanced up.
"It’s not right to fold your legs like that."
A slight wind rocked the little boat as she tried to adjust her sitting posture.
"Your sister is having a nice time." He commented.
She looked at her sister’s boat.
Arlan paddled one side while she paddled the other side.
Both of them were laughing about something she couldn’t possibly comprehend.
"She is."
"Has the mate bond been broken?"
Her hand on the side of the boat clenched.
"Not yet, Lord Andon."
"The sooner, the better. The longer she remains exposed to him, he can find her and take her from you."
"Stop trying to scare me."
"Scare you? It’s the truth."
A shrill scream startled everyone. Even the water rippled.
"Hold me!"
Claire smirked.