They clearly said that the Alpha werewolf would marry Lisbeth, so what is this situation?
Those amber eyes followed Riona's every move. She maintained her composure well, but deep down, she was extremely bothered by it. She wanted this punishment to be over with and to return to her chamber as quickly as possible.
Riona didn't want to have anything to do with the Alpha werewolf. She disliked troublesome things, and even from afar, she knew that this man was trouble.
His glances sent a clear message as if he wanted them to communicate silently. Once Riona noticed that, she made a deliberate effort to avoid eye contact with him.
The highlight of the dinner was when the Alpha werewolf criticized the kingdom's nobility system. She, too, believed that the nobility system was rubbish, but she would be reprimanded for voicing her opinion.
The dinner went unexpectedly well until…
"You there, young lady. What's your name?"
There was no mistaking it. That hoarse voice was referring to Riona, who had been doing her best to avoid eye contact. Her eyes remained on her feet, hoping to avoid a response. If she pretended not to hear him, everything would be fine, right?
But then his shoes entered Riona's field of vision. Surprised, she lifted her face and was forced to give a response, whatever it was.
"Forgive me, my lord, I am no one but–"
Please don't mind me. Pick someone else. Why me? This is so bothersome!!!!
She screamed internally, but on the outside, she just squeezed her hand.
"Your name, Sweetheart," he interrupted with a playful tone. "Is your name 'forgive me, my lord'? That's quite a lengthy name."
Riona felt a surge of anger. If he weren't King Valentin's guest, she might have thrown him against the wall with her power. But the king himself had invited the Alpha werewolf, so whatever he was here for must be important.
Since acting reserved hadn't concealed her presence from this persistent Alpha, she decided to drop the pretense. She straightened up, met his gaze confidently, and told him her name.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he decided that she would be his guide for a tour around the royal palace. She wondered if there was any way to refuse. What kind of excuse would be sufficient to withdraw from this task?
Could she feign illness? Claim urgent duties elsewhere? But looking into the Alpha's determined eyes, she knew any excuse would be futile, especially when King Valentin already gave in to his wish.
With no choice but to comply, Riona gritted her teeth and bowed in submission.
For Riona, that dinner was the height of her social misfortune, and that's saying a lot considering she'd never attended one before.
If there was any silver lining to this doom-filled evening, it was the sheer delight of witnessing her uncle, his lover, and their precious daughter squirming in discomfort.
It almost made the whole ordeal worth it... almost.
***
As they walked around the palace, the Alpha's gaze lingered on Riona with a playful glint in his eyes.
"So, Riona," he began, his tone light and teasing, "I couldn't help but notice your impressive display of power earlier. Quite remarkable, I must say."
Riona let out an exasperated sigh. She couldn't hide her irritation as she gestured half-heartedly towards an open door.
"This is the library," she stated curtly. "Although I doubt you have any interest in intellectual pursuits."
She hoped her dismissive tone would deter Thorin's playful banter, knowing werewolves often bristled at stereotypes of their intelligence. But to her dismay, Thorin only seemed more intrigued.
Ignoring her attempt to redirect the conversation, Thorin quickened his pace and walked backward in front of her.
Gritting her teeth in annoyance, Riona turned her face away. "Sir Orlo would not approve of your antics in the hallway, Alpha," she warned.
"Perhaps you should follow Eira's way of living and maintain decorum during your stay."
Thorin tilted his head, a playful glint still in his eyes. "Do my antics bother you, Riona?"
Riona stopped abruptly, her patience wearing thin.
"What if they do?" she snapped, turning to face him. "Will you return to Wintertooth?"
Thorin's expression softened, and he met her gaze with a hint of amusement.
"It's possible. But for now, I'm here, and you're the one showing me around," he replied casually.
Riona rolled her eyes. "Lisbeth would have been a more suitable guide. She's far more accommodating than I am," she muttered under her breath with a clear frustration in her voice.
"Lisbeth? Do you mean Princess Lisbeth? I highly doubt that. She's quite a rigid one, isn't she? I don't get along with rigid people."
There was no hint of insult in Thorin's tone, but Riona couldn't help but find it amusing that someone had finally shown disinterest in Lisbeth, the star of Eira.
At the same time, it irked her that she was the one gaining his attention.
"Urgh, I shouldn't be loitering around the palace at this time. I should have been training. The test is coming," Riona muttered to herself.
The Nightwarden would hold a two-day test for those who wished to apply to join the organization. Technically, Riona should graduate from the academy before she could apply.
However, her talent was acknowledged by many already—and now Thorin also acknowledged it—so she thought she could secure a slot for the test without graduating.
"Huh? Training for what? What test?"
Coincidentally, they found themselves on the highest floor of the royal palace that Riona could take him to. With nowhere else to go but down, Riona's excitement bubbled up inside her. She tried in vain to suppress her smile, but her joy was written all over her face.
"Alright, Alpha. Tour is over. I'm sure you can find your way back to your room, right? And if not, maybe leave some breadcrumbs or follow the howls. Anyway, I've got places to be and werewolves to avoid. Until we cross paths again... or not. Farewell!"
With that, she turned on her heel and dashed away, leaving Thorin standing there, bewildered. His hand hovered in the air, a futile attempt to stop his guide from abandoning him.