CHAPTER 175

CHAPTER 175


Reika's POV

It's been three days since Ileus discovered that the princess he loved more than anyone else wasn't his. Three days since Ariadne and Addams disappeared. Three days since the entire werewolf kingdom was turned upside down searching for them... but nothing. No one had been found, not even a glimpse of them. It almost felt as though they didn't exist at all.

The guards... honestly, I admired their hard work and tenacity. They had combed through the entire kingdom over and over again, but each time, they returned with gloomy expressions to deliver the news to Ileus, who would then tell me to go on another search immediately.

At one point, Ileus even joined them himself, but there wasn't much difference. He had been overly restless because of his daughter... most times, I knew he couldn't even sleep because I knew how much the girl meant to him and she'd struggle to adjust without him.

Today, I had just spent another night in his chambers, trying to get him to calm down... trying to get him to understand that no matter what happened, I was here for him, by his side.

We had sex once, but immediately it was over, I saw the guilt on his face despite how much he tried to hide it. Despite how he tried to pull me closer to his chest and kiss my forehead. He felt guilty about the fact that he was here with me while his baby girl was nowhere to be found.

I walked into my chambers, and by the corridor, I saw Archer leaning against the wall by the door, waiting for me.

When Archer saw me, he pushed himself off the wall with a heavy frown etched across his face. “You spent another night in his chambers?” That wasn't a question, and the disappointment in his voice was evident.

“Beautiful morning to you, Archer,” I said gently in a bid to ease the tension in the air. “And yes, I did. Ileus is so heartbroken, and I had to make sure that he was fine.”

I unlocked the door and stepped into my room.

Archer came in and clicked the door shut behind him.

He sighed. “Why do you care whether Ileus is heartbroken or not? You should get on with the mission and get it done.”

My brows furrowed as I stared at Archer like I almost couldn't recognize him. He had been the one who would tell me that Ileus was a good man and try to change my mind about the mission, but now... he wanted me to complete it as fast as possible.

I parted my lips to speak—

“No.” He shook his head. “Don't look at me like that, Reika. I clearly tried to talk to you several times about this mission. I tried to get you to change your mind because somehow... I knew, I know, that you are still in love with him. I know he is still a part of you. Even when you convinced yourself that all your love was just an act, I knew it wasn't. It was far too flawless to be an act. I have seen situations like this before, and I know how it will end.”

I couldn't speak because he was actually right.

But the truth was that I didn't expect that my heart—my traitorous heart—was still going to beat for him after everything he had done to us. I didn't know that my body... my traitorous and shameless body, was still going to submit to him the way it did... and what made it worse was the fact that I knew how much he regretted everything and how hard he punished himself for it all.

Last night, when I asked him why he had not made any effort to regain his magic powers, he told me that he had accepted it as punishment for how he had treated his late wife.

He went on. “You should have listened to me then. You should have accepted your feelings for him, and maybe we would have found a way out of this situation, but now... things have become far too complicated.”

“What do you mean?” My voice was barely audible now.

He reached into his pocket and retrieved a parchment letter, which he extended toward me.

“Kael sent a letter. I wouldn't have opened it, but the courier added that it was urgent and that we might regret it if we left it unread for too long. I came here last night to look for you, but you weren't here, so I read it.” His expression was gloomy now.

“What does it say?”

My chest skipped a beat as I snatched the letter from him. Trembling fingers unfolded it urgently. My eyes were glued to the black-and-white writing. The words blurred together as I read... but still, I couldn't understand the contents. No... I couldn't.

“Kael... he arrested Daisy and Ray because the mission was taking too long.”

My lips fell open in shock as I tried to understand the next line.

“And the worst part is that Daisy is pregnant. He threatened to kill them all if you don't complete the mission within three days, Reika.”

The realization that my family... and not just my family, but an innocent fetus, was going to die because of me, because of my incapability, dawned on me.

My body jerked so violently that the letter slipped from my hands. My body grew so weak that I almost stumbled backward, but Archer was fast enough to grab my wrist, pulling me toward him.

Holding me tightly, he led me toward the couch and guided me to sit there while he lowered himself onto the armrest right beside me.

“Honestly, I sensed this coming. I knew that bastard was up to no good. The fact that he agreed to organize a wedding for them and even gave them a home, I knew he wanted to use them as leverage. I mean... Kael is a smart man, and I bet he also knew that you weren't over Ileus yet.”

I couldn't speak. I couldn't even think.

Tears stung my eyes as I remembered every word in Ray and Daisy's letter.

They had told me not to think about them and to do whatever felt right to me.

I bet if I had opened up to them about my struggles with the mission, they might have found a way to escape Kael before he captured them. But I was just too stubborn and indecisive.

“I know this is a lot to take in, Reika. Trust me, I know the guilt and regret you're feeling right now, but this is not the time for that. We must act fast. Finish this mission at all costs, even if it isn't for anything else... but for the little innocent pup who didn't ask to be involved in any of this.”

Of course, I had to... to save them at all costs, even if it involved giving up my life for them.

“I know you love Ileus, but you must choose between our family and the man who once broke you.”

A moment passed before I let out a shaky breath. At that moment, something dangerous sparked inside me, determination coursing through my veins.

This was no time to feel pity for Ileus or be weak.

I stood and walked toward the bedside table, twisted the drawer beneath it open, and retrieved my silver dagger. I stared at it with dark intent.

“This is not up for debate, Archer,” I said, my voice cold.

Over and over again, I would choose Daisy and Ray—the people who saved my life and made living worth it again—over Ileus, even without the innocent pup.

“Tonight, I strike. I will complete the mission. Prepare to leave for the Northern Province by midnight.”

We needed to move fast to save my family before the end of the three-day ultimatum.

He nodded. “I understand, Reika.”