Reborn As Cursed Alpha's Mate
Chapter 174: Punished

Chapter 174: Punished

Tholarian abruptly paced the space in his study. His hand agitatedly rubbed his chin.

Lotus and Razial stood in front of him while Stephanie stood at the back, near the double doors with a snicker.

He paused and faced his right-hand man and his daughter.

"What’s going on between the two of you? Didn’t either of you pause and think for a second about the damage this sneaking in and out would cause?" He pointedly asked.

"Nothing is going on, Father, like I said earlier. Stephanie is delusional," Lotus answered, flipping back her perfectly curled hair. There was no sign of hesitation on her face.

"Liars, I saw them sneak out, so I waited and caught them when they returned. In their guilt, both of them attacked me and caused me injuries," Stephanie whined from behind them; her irritating voice made Lotus close her eyes to abate the storms brewing there.

"You attacked my daughter? You are supposed to protect her. How dare you?" The anger had been flipping Tholarian’s insides from the moment he had learnt that Razial had attacked her.

"Your Highness! I was only defending Princess Lotus from Princess Stephanie’s attack and pushed her back so the fight would dissolve," Razial spoke in his defence but there was a hint of rebelliousness in his voice.

"Oh! Please, Razial, don’t be such a pretender. Just admit you are in love with my sister and would go to any length just to bang her," Stephanie retorted, taking a step further towards them. Deliberately, she let her Shadows shoot out, forming needle-like pricks and attacking Lotus.

Her younger sister didn’t even move a muscle but someone else did.

They collided with the icy blue shield with shimmering flecks of gold embedded in it. The rectangular shape protected Lotus completely. Razial’s eyes blazed in rage which Tholarian quickly noticed.

"See, I was only trying to test the theory and he proved me right. He can’t help it, father. Both of them have shamed our family name. I say you vet out maximum punishment on them." Stephanie moved further closer to where her father was and stood by his side, holding a malicious smile.

Lotus wanted to scratch that ugly smirk off her face, she couldn’t hold back her disgust after learning that it was Stephanie who had endangered Cassandra’s life.

"Not everyone is heartless like you. People like to care for each other. And it was me who was sneaking out; Razial only followed me to ensure I was safe," Lotus answered with a meh expression; her smooth shoulders went up to indicate she didn’t care.

"As if I would believe you. Just admit both of you are fornicating." Stephanie horrendously chuckled, showing off her wicked smile.

"Not everyone is shameless like you are. I don’t spread my legs for random men, nor do I hurt innocent people. They are your traits, don’t dare to pin them on me," Lotus fired back, her hands closing into fists.

If only she could reveal that they knew about her involvement in Cassandra’s kidnapping. But knowing her father and sister, Lotus understood that her father would most probably make a secret deal with the Vampire Monarch to keep Cassandra in exchange for rebuilding the relationship between the two kingdoms. He was very much capable of signing away the lives of Siroos and Cassandra.

He detested Shifters and the only reason he formed a treaty with Siroos was to keep them under his thumb so they wouldn’t wage war. Inwardly he feared Siroos’s dragon and wished the vampires would handle him.

"That’s enough," Tholarian raged, hearing both his daughters bicker like that.

Lotus snorted while Stephanie held her head high standing by her father’s side, knowing he would punish whoever would try to harm her.

"I am not sure what’s going on between the two of you and since you won’t reveal why both of you were sneaking out together, jeopardising my family’s integrity. I can’t just ignore it. You will be punished."

Lotus blatantly laughed at the mockery her father always made of justice.

"Never saw you punish Stephanie for attacking Cassandra and almost killing her. And here you are ready to punish me because I went out at night. Your double standards baffle me to no end."

Razial watched her with an apologetic glance, he had always admired her ability to not stand injustice.

"Your tongue which loves to wag forever will get you in much bigger trouble someday. Stephanie was in mourning at that time. You are not, so I am going to lock you up in your room for a month with a spell around it to prevent you from leaving it. Under no circumstances you will be allowed to leave. There will be guards posted outside your room. Take the time to reflect on your actions." Tholarian paused to let his words sink in for Lotus but she gave him a blank stare, almost a challenging one as if she didn’t care.

Angered at her reaction he continued to blurt out further instructions.

"The High Mage of Altoria is coming to visit us with his son, the crown prince. That will be a good match for you and a beneficial one for the kingdom."

Tholarian ranted with Stephanie snickering by his side as she took her father’s arm in hers.

Lotus stood her ground, perfectly calm and composed like the lady she was, making up her mind and planning her next move. She had to send a message to Siroos to take Cassandra straight back to Dusartine.

Razial, on the other hand, bristled at the punishment being vetted out on Lotus, especially the last part where Tholarian was arranging for a suitor.

"Your majesty..." he began but Tholarian’s thunder cut him out.

"You have disappointed me, Razial. For that, I am sentencing you to 50 private lashes in the dungeon without any healing potions later. You won’t be publicly whipped because I don’t want to give gossip to the prying eyes. Don’t disappoint me again."

Lotus couldn’t believe that her father was actually punishing Razial like that. She slowly turned her head to gawk at his expressions and he seemed more disturbed at the fact that Tholarian was punishing Lotus. He didn’t contest his own sentencing.

"You can double my punishment but leave Princess Lotus out of this," he pleaded and Lotus wished to facepalm herself. At times he appeared so smart and at others he made such obvious blunders.

’Typical of the male species,’ she mused.

"See, I told you there is something going on between the two. Why does he care so much about Lotus?" Stephanie retorted, trying to fan the flames.

"Guards!" Tholarian thundered and the door opened making four guards appear.

"Take Princess Lotus to her room and appoint four guards outside her room. She needs to stay inside, her life is in danger." Tholarian made up an excuse and Lotus quietly followed the guards.

"Lock up, Commander Razial in the dungeon. His negligence put my daughter’s life in danger. He will be given 50 lashes."

Tholarian passed the final verdict and guards led Razial out of his study as well, leaving the toxic combination of father and daughter there.