The Alpha King's Hated Slave
The Alpha King’s Hated Slave Chapter 278

King Lucien glanced up at her, curiously. “You want tea? I will send words to the Royal Kitchen to make you the one—”

“Please, I’m t-too thirsty, I c-can’t wait. Let me drink this one while Maima m-makes you another one. Please, My King.” Vetta has no idea what’s inside that tea but she’ll be damned before she let him drink it in front of her.

Shaking her head, she walked towards him and took the tea from him. It’s an insolence, to snatch what the King is holding without his permission, but that is not her thought at the moment.

Taking the wooden cup, she stepped out of his reach.

King Lucien does not understand Vetta’s insolence. But, it didn’t get past him that it’s the first time Vetta is making such an insolent move with him.

“Alright, you can take that one. I’ll have Maima make me another one.” He decided.

Victory fled from Talia’s face, replaced by horror as the Mistress took the drink far. Terror followed the look of horror.

Master Coza will kill her…! Not only did the King not die, but the Mistress who’s his useful weapon will die!

At the look of terror, Vetta smirked at her even as tears filled her eyes. Oh, she knows so well that Coza will have her head for this.

Then, she stared at the hot tea she palmed in her hands and swallowed tightly.

But, as she raised it to her lips, there was a commotion outside the palace. A loud commotion that interrupted King Lucien’s writing.

“What is going on?” He g*****d as he raised his head and stared towards the door.

Just then, the door opened and Dargak hurried inside the King’s Chambers with a huge smile on his face.

For a guard that does not smile, it was downright shocking seeing such a big smile on his face.

“Your Highness! Your Highness! There is someone here to see you!” He shouted, bowing his head to the King.

Only one person was scheduled to him today, and that is the Princess Kamara’s lover, King Lucien thought.

“Has Navia’s Prisoner arrived?” He asked Dargak, still wondering about the smile on the guard’s face.

“Yes, Your Majesty! He stands outside your door, waiting for your command to come in!”

“He needn’t wait. He should come in—” King Lucien cut off suddenly at the sound of his door opening. A figure walked through the door.

King Lucien swiveled his head in that direction. He froze.

Declan walked into his Chambers. Declan…?

There is a small crowd of the people of Salem at his door too—how did they get into the Royal Quarters?—which the guards were trying to contain. But, at that moment, King Lucien turned deaf and blind to them.

All his focus centered on his cousin brother who died in the most horrible way six years ago, standing right in front of him. Declan…?

Has he finally lost it in his head…? Has he finally gone insane?

He must really have gone insane. That is the only explanation for the reason why he’ll be seeing his dead cousin right in front of him in the middle of the day.

At one corner of the Golden Chambers, Vetta’s eyes were wide as saucers, staring at Declan standing before the King. She was so shocked, the wooden cup fell from her hands and the tea poured out to the floor.

She spared it no attention, unable to stop staring at the ghost in the room.

The look of horror at Talia’s face before was nothing compared to the one that is there now as she stared at the man she was very sure died, six years ago. The man she washed die.

“By the Gods…” The maid trailed off, her throat suddenly too dry. Today must be her doom. Clearly, it is written in the stars.

Dargak’s smile slipped at the utter blank expression that has replaced the relaxed look on the King’s face before. No, the King does not look happy at all. He believes that what he’s seeing is unreal.

There was no reading this face at all. It was completely blank. No feeling. No expression. Nothing.

But, it isn’t Dargak’s explanations to give, so, he did the only sensible thing required of him. He bowed his head and excused himself from the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Declan can do nothing but stare at his brother that has been nothing but flashes in his memories in the past few years.

His cousin, who is ten years his older cousin, is his big brother. Heavens, he cannot believe he’s seeing his brother again.

But, his brother is not looking at him with recognition.

“Brother… It’s me…” He said hoarsely, his voice filled with emotions.

That voice…

Even as his brother is a figment of his obviously-gone-crazy mind, King Lucien’s throat closed up at hearing the sound of his voice again for the first time in ages. His chest tightened so much, it was almost hard to breathe.

He said nothing. His expression didn’t change either.

“I’m here… I am truly here, Prince Lucien. I’m here, King Lucien. It is me…” Declan took a step close to his brother that stood frozen like a statue but stopped two feet in front of him because of the terrifying blank look on his always-strong cousin’s face. He has no idea what is going through his brother’s mind.

Memories assailed Declan.

Memories of his big brother taking whips for him. Giving him his own food to eat while he goes hungry. Memories of his big brother assuring him every night that everything will be fine one day.

“I really am here… It’s me, brother.” He tried again, his voice breaking with emotions as he drank in the sight of his one and only family.

Silence descended.

No voice was heard in the Golden Chambers. Nothing.

Finally… What seems like an eternity later, King Lucien pulled his eyes from the ghost in front of him, raised his hands, and stared at his fingers.

What kind of torturous dream is this? What kind of torturous dream is this in the middle of the day…?

His hands were shaking. His eyes blurred with tears. Then, he let out in a pained voice,

“Now, my mind even conjures you up to the extent that I see you in the light of the day… I am so sorry, Declan.”

A tear dropped from his eyes and splashed into his hands.