Chapter 16: A Bloodstained Beast

Swan began to eat more because she didn't want her attendants to get killed. She stuffed herself until she saw the relieved smile on Myra and Maya's face, and then began to slow down.

She swallowed her food with difficulty before asking, "After this… can I go out? I want to walk around the castle."

The cat maids gasped, and Swan winced in response, "N-no?"

Honestly, Swan simply wanted to know if she could do something to help in the castle. She wasn't raised like Aria, who grew up to be a princess and had all her needs catered to.

Swan had to work in the palace, whether it was to clean the kitchen or help with the laundry. 

She couldn't imagine having to be stuck in this room and do nothing, it was too good to be true for her. 

"It's not like you can't, Princess. But…"

"We haven't been permitted by His Majesty to do that. Besides, the kingdom is still not stable, there might be an attack from neighboring kingdoms or other beastmen tribes, and your safety is of the utmost importance!"

"Yes, Princess! If you want something, you can tell us!"

"I don't need anything," Swan smiled. "Though, may I know if His Majesty will return soon?"

Maya and Myra looked at each other, and replied, "I heard from the others that he left for a land in the east. He's probably fighting against a rebellion. Though beastmen worship the strongest, there are still those who think they can defeat His Majesty, so he needs to fight and win."

"Rebellion…"

Swan nodded as she put up a kind smile, "Thank you for telling me. Uhm, you may leave now."

"Then, please excuse us, Princess."

The attendants carried all the leftovers from the table and left Swan alone in the room. 

Swan supported herself with her crutches towards the window. She wanted to know where she truly was, and then saw a barebone kingdom, with only makeshift tents made out of woods and rubbles.

Swan guessed this place was recently a big town that Gale conquered, and then the humans were probably killed or driven off, so it became a beastmen's kingdom now.

Everything happened because of Gale's overwhelming strength, but what would happen in the future? And what about the curse?

Swan was left confused and anxious as she waited for her husband to come home. 

**

Clack! Ker-chak!

Swan opened her eyes immediately when she heard the sound of something falling on the ground in the middle of the night. 

She darted her eyes at the source and saw the tall and muscular figure standing next to a table that he accidentally knocked down. 

"G-Gale?" Swan asked anxiously. It was so dark, because Swan told the maids that she didn't need a chandelier. She only had one small candle on top of the drawer, so she could not see his face clearly. 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up," Gale said as he turned toward her and walked to the bed. 

Now that he stood next to the candle, Swan could see his face, and she audibly gasped in response. 

Gale was shirtless. He was covered in blood, but it didn't seem to be his, because there was no open wound visible. 

He also reeked of blood.

The scariest part was his hands.

His hands had turned into that of a wolf claw, with each claw dripping with the blood of his enemies. 

Gale noticed the fear in his wife's eyes, so he quickly put his hands behind him and spoke, "It's fine. I just had a little cleanup somewhere in the east today."

Swan stared at Gale who looked as calm as always, but that only scared her even more, because it was proof of how cold-blooded Gale truly was.

Swan tried to dispel her fear, knowing that acting scared in front of him would only anger him.

"I-I will prepare a hot bath for you," Swan said as she tried to shift the topic before fear crept into her heart. 

"Prepare my bath?" Gale chuckled. "I usually clean myself in a lake not far from here. I'm just coming back to check on you."

"C-check on me?" 

"Yes, I heard from the guard that Jade came to visit you this morning," Gale said. The smile he had turned wicked in an instant and Swan's heartbeat began to race. "I already told her not to disturb you, but she doesn't listen. So, tell me, what did she do to you? Did she hurt you?"

Swan quickly shook her head to save Lady Jade from his wrath. 

"No? Then what did she tell you about?" Gale asked, still with a smile, pressuring Swan to be honest. "Go on. Don't worry, Swan. I will not get angry at you."

'But you will get angry at Lady Jade, right?' Swan guessed. She wondered if it was alright to tell Gale about everything, including how Jade told her about his unknown curse.

But she didn't need to think twice, because Gale guessed it with perfect accuracy, "She told you about my curse, didn't she?"

Knowing there was nothing to hide anymore, Swan muttered, "L-Lady Jade. S-she… uhm… she told me that you have a curse, but she didn't tell me the details."

"Really?"

"Yes!" Swan nodded vigorously.

"I guessed wrong then," Gale chuckled. "I'm going to the lake to wash up, but I need a little help from you."

"W-what do you need?" Swan asked. 

The King of Beasts smiled meaningfully. He sat on the bed and the blood stained the white sheet instantly, "Come here."

Swan paused for a moment. She was terrified by the blood covering his body. On top of that, the stench coming from the blood was awful.

Yet, she tried to hide her disgust and fear, then slowly approached her husband.

"Look at me, Swan."

Swan lifted her head slowly. She found it easier to talk while looking at him because his eyes were always covered. She got nervous whenever she had to make eye contact with anyone. 

As Swan gazed at his handsome but bloody face, she noticed that he seemed to be holding a lot of pain. 

It was very subtle, but she noticed the veins on his neck and temple. 

Swan became worried about him, and that worry soon overridden her fear, "Gale, you… Are you injured?"