The Cursed Wolf’s Love

After dinner, Iris went to check on Dorothy in her room. She gently covered her grandmother with a blanket and then left the room.

“The Crown Prince and Lord Joshua can sleep in the room where I rested earlier. I’ll be in Grandma Dorothy’s room,” Iris affirmed.

Adolphus nudged Joshua’s arm with his elbow, and Joshua spoke up, “Iris, I have some urgent business in the village, so I must take my leave.”

Iris looked puzzled and questioned his decision, “What could you possibly need to do in the village at this late hour?”

“I apologize for interrupting, but Lord Joshua, it’s not advisable to go to the village at this hour,” she asserted, concerned for his safety.

“Let him go, Iris,” Adolphus intervened and motioned for Joshua to proceed with his plans.

Iris couldn’t hide her disapproval, scolding Adolphus, “How can the Crown Prince ask his friend to leave?” She then urged Joshua not to go, saying, “I’m feeling sleepy, so I’ll head inside. Good night,” and retreated to Dorothy’s room.

As Iris disappeared from their sight, Joshua couldn’t help but smile and make a playful remark, “Iris is such a caring person, unlike someone who wanted me to go to the village resthouse.” His comment was directed at Adolphus, who wore an annoyed expression.

Adolphus couldn’t hide his frustration, saying, “I was supposed to sleep with Iris tonight. Once again, you didn’t help me. What kind of friend are you?”

Joshua let out a tired yawn as he stretched his arms. “Let’s get to bed, Your Grace. I’m quite exhausted myself,” he affirmed and headed to the room. Adolphus followed him, and they found it challenging to get comfortable on the bed.

“You could have slept on the floor, Joshua,” Adolphus suggested.

“I’d freeze on the floor, Your Grace. Perhaps we can sleep close together for warmth,” Joshua suggested.

Adolphus sighed in exasperation. “Are you out of your mind? I had intended to cuddle with Iris to fall asleep. You’ve ruined my plans,” he complained, his gaze fixed on the wooden ceiling while the lamp’s flickering light cast a dim glow.

Joshua turned to face Adolphus, his hand resting on his abdomen. “It was Iris who disrupted Your Grace’s plans,” he remarked before slowly drifting off to sleep.

~~~~~~~

In the morning, Iris gently tapped on the door before entering the room. She discovered both Adolphus and Joshua were still soundly asleep. Dorothy followed her inside and laid eyes on the Crown Prince for the first time.

“This must be quite uncomfortable for them,” Dorothy remarked in a hushed tone.

“Yes, their stature is rather imposing,” Iris concurred, and then inquired of Dorothy whether they should allow them to continue resting. Dorothy agreed, and the two of them stepped outside. They diligently tidied up the house, prepared a sumptuous meal, and patiently awaited their awakening.

As Dorothy meticulously separated weeds from the herbs, Iris hesitated before speaking, “Grandma, may I seek your advice?”

“Hmm. What’s on your mind, dear?” Dorothy inquired.

Iris hesitated briefly before sharing her thoughts, “The Crown Prince has proposed to me for the marriage, but I find myself uncertain about how to respond. Grandma already knows the reason I was sent here. If I were to accept the Crown Prince’s affections, it might lead to difficulties for him. I don’t wish for His Grace to face any trouble because of me.” Iris explained her inner turmoil to Dorothy.

“I’ve heard that werewolves are known for their unwavering loyalty to a single partner throughout their lives. The Crown Prince must have given it considerable thought before proposing to you. I believe you should place your trust in the love you share with him,” Dorothy advised Iris.

Iris remained resolute in her concern, stating, “I just don’t want the Crown Prince to have conflicts with his parents or his family because of me.”

Dorothy gently countered, “But, my dear, sometimes such conflicts are necessary for the happiness of both parties involved. Don’t be afraid to open your heart to the Crown Prince. Last night was one of the most frightening experiences for us all. His Grace adores you so much that he came all his way here to save you. You will regret your decision later if you choose not to be with him.”

“Regret?” Iris raised an eyebrow in concern.

“Yes, regret,” Dorothy affirmed. “Let’s consider this: if you decline the Crown Prince’s proposal, you might always regret not even attempting to fight for your love.”

Iris pondered Dorothy’s words deeply. It was clear that she would indeed regret not standing up for her love.

“Thank you, Grandma,” Iris said with a smile. “I’ll get the water boiling. You can wake them up. I’ll prepare the baths for them,” Iris decided, heading to the kitchen.

Dorothy set the basket on the table and made her way to the room to wake them up. To her surprise, Adolphus was already awake and seated on the bed. As the door opened, he looked at Dorothy and inquired about her well-being.

“I am well, Your Grace. Thanks to you, I am alive and safe. Please follow me to the washroom,” Dorothy asserted.

Adolphus nodded and asked, “Hmm. Where is Iris?” as he stood up and put on his boots.

“Iris is preparing a hot water bath for the two of you,” Dorothy replied respectfully.

“Let Joshua sleep,” Adolphus decided and walked out of the room.

After finishing his morning routine, Adolphus went to the small bathhouse. Even though the house did not have facilities like the palace, the cleanliness in the house was up to the mark. Adolphus and Iris’s gazes met. Iris promptly greeted him as she bowed to him.

“Your Grace, I prepared the hot water bathtub for you. I will stay outside. If His Grace would need something, he can call me inside,” Iris humbly said.

“Stay here. Also, I don’t have any clothes with me,” Adolphus reminded her.

“I have placed the clothes for His Grace in the basket. They are new… I mean Grandma Dorothy once bought them for her son, but could not give him,” Iris explained to him.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“Great!” Adolphus started undressing him when Iris turned her back to him. She waited for him to get into the bathtub and once he did, he said, “You can go, Iris.” She swiftly dashed out of the bathhouse and stayed outside the door.