The Crown's Entrapment

It only took them just a few more minutes of walking through the wilderness when they finally reached another town.

“We’re now in the coastal town of Escol,” Darius informed. One of his men was already waiting for their arrival at a certain location. “Gideon had already arranged for everything beforehand. We just have to make sure we get there on the expected time.”

Meeting up with their liaison, Darius helped Xenia mount another horse. He then followed suit and sat behind her. He was holding her firmly now as they started riding, but this time, he was well-behaved. They were currently traveling through the outskirts of the town, and some denizens were still busy outside that some might spot them if they showed too much affection for one another.

With a light kick, Darius told the horse to move faster. Their journey went smoothly until they finally reached the harbor.

“We’re finally here,” Darius proudly stated. “Escol Harbor, the main harbor here at the mouth of the Cordon Sea.”

Looking around, Xenia saw that a lot of the fleets were moored there from the edge of the cliff where Darius stopped the horse. Lights were lit up everywhere, and she could hear the sounds of ongoing constructions everywhere she laid her eyes on.

Xenia’s lips parted as a radiant glow flushed through her eyes. Escol Harbor looked promising, and the number of ships docked there was jaw-dropping. Obviously, Cordon had a lot more ships in their fleet than Ebodia._.

The port itself was far larger than their harbor at the South Ebodian Sea. But then, it was only a given since they only occupied a fourth of the whole shoreling of the Miran Ocean. Almost three-fourths of it was part of Cordon’s territory already.

“I want to make it one of the finest harbors in the world,” Darius explained as he presented the port to her. “I also want to make sure that it’s well organized and secured. I want a division between my battleship vessels and merchant ships, so I’m planning on dividing the harbor in the near future.”

Xenia could only nod as she adoringly watched the busy denizens of Cordon go about their work. Even at this late hour, they were still busy with ongoing projects, it seemed.

They then went down the cliff and proceeded to their exact destination. No one recognized Darius since it was already dark, along with him wearing a hood that somehow obscured his features from a distance.

“You’re building towers too?” she inquired as noticed some of the tall stone walls and fortress from afar.

“They’re vital for the security of our trade and transportation going in and out of our borders,” Darius explained. “Besides, the merchant ships also make short journeys inland by sailing between cities and towns via rivers. They only use the sea to hop along the coast for longer distances and move goods from one side of the Cordon to the other or to other kingdoms. These voyages could take days, but it’s still quicker and easier than trying to use roads, which were mostly little more than dirt tracks.”

“Right…” Xenia hummed in agreement.

“I want more security posts around the area, especially now that there’s a threat going around that is Helion,” Darius rambled on. “I simply can’t risk it, even if Ebodian lands are still currently blocking them. Helion spies could still be anywhere.”

The princess could only listen as the king thought aloud. She could see her own brother’s way of thinking in Darius. Ezekiel was also an advanced thinker when it came to the welfare of their kingdom. It was honestly his brother who gave the idea to their father to strengthen the hold of their castle even though it was already overburdened with exterior and interior designs. He also had a lot of ideas for new inventions to kill creatures more powerful than humans as well.

“You’re like Ezekiel,” Xenia compared with a smile. “He also has a lot of ongoing construction happening in our ports… Rulers’ minds and their ideas are simply spectacular to listen to.”

They traveled in silence after that. Before long, Darius stopped their horse at a particular spot, hopping down and then helping her get back down to her feet.

“Sire,” a man approached them with a curt bow. The man then courteously bowed at her, “Your Highness, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Oh, you haven’t met our Admiral Osman,” Darius introduced the man to her. He then looked at Osman and reminded, “Keep your head up now, Admiral. We don’t want them to notice that the King is around.”

The man who wore nothing but his trousers chuckled. It was a good thing that Xenia was now used to seeing these bare-chested werewolves.

At least she was no longer puzzled by their nakedness, unlike her first time. Still, she noticed how Admiral Osman’s body was covered with a lot of scars. Well, most werewolves had them, but Admiral Osman topped them all so far. Apparently, they had the ability to heal, but some scars from their wounds remained on their bodies.

“Next time, wear something to cover your bare chest if you have to greet me with my Queen,” Darius scolded.

“Huh?” Admiral Osman huffed, his head tilting sideways in confusion.

Xenia shook her head at the scene before her. Almost immediately, she understood just what her possessive mate mean with his words.

Looking to avoid any misunderstanding, she smiled at Osman and quickly said, “It’s nice to meet you, Admiral.” She then instinctively hugged Darius’s arm to stop him from his petty possessiveness about her eyes seeing naked men. Adding to that, she also squeezed his arm gently, hoping that her dear king would get her silent message.

“Lead the way,” Darius instructed the Admiral as he held her hand firmly.

Xenia shook her head while a playful smile curved onto her lips. She would definitely tease this Werewolf King at how childish he was about this matter later.

“At once, Sire.”

With a nod, the admiral then led them to the King’s Ship.

“This is one of the King’s ships. It’s my favorite,” Darius commented as she helped Xenia board the vessel. Their crews were all lined up to greet them politely, and she was surprised to see that all of them were properly dressed for the occasion. It was kind of off too, having noticed that the crews from the other ships nearby were actually all bare-chested.

“Please meet Princess Xenia of Ebodia, my Queen and Cordon’s future Queen,” Darius proudly introduced. Everyone gave her their courteous bow, and Xenia gave them her widest smile and curtly nod in return.

“Shall we begin our journey, Your Majesty?” Admiral Osman asked.

“Very well.”

[0)ᴠʟ At Darius’s signal, the crew dispersed as they made preparations for the ship to set sail. Meanwhile, the king firmly held onto Xenia’s hand as he led her to the upper deck, showing her an open view of what was going on below deck. Darius was behind her, hugging her back while resting his chin on her shoulder.

“This ship was designed by both me and my father eleven years ago. It’s unfortunate that he wasn’t able to witness its completion,” Darius whispered in his low voice.

“I’m sure he’s proud of you wherever he is right now, watching how you’ve become a great ruler for Cordon,” Xenia comforted as she lovingly hugged his arms. “It’s a splendid vessel… Does it have a name?”

“Lucian… named after my father.”