The Crown's Entrapment

Clara shook her head as she went along with her usual chores within Cordon Castle that day. With her usual responsibilities returned to her alongside her new duties as Gilas's Luna, her life became far more hectic than it had ever been. It also didn't help that the King was still busy with the search for Osman, leaving her even busier than she would usually be.

"Can't someone else do this work by the way?" Clara grumbled as she looked at yet another document that just came by her workspace within the castle. "I'm not really cut out for clerical work like this."

"Do you think we like this any more than you do?" one of her men chuckled at her. "We're meant for combat, not for all this governing stuff."

She rolled her eyes at the sass she received. Really, she didn't know why she decided that pulling on her archer squad to help her with paperwork was a good idea, but what's done was done. She was going to have to live with her mistaken choice, no matter how amusing it was to see those who were usually hardened combatants do something as dainty as the kingdom's paperwork.

"Well unfortunately for you, the Queen really needs this work done by today," Clara smugly replied even as her hands worked through her own share of paperwork. "The kingdom doesn't only run on a strong military. It also needs people making sure that everything is recorded and compiled correctly, meaning that you can also think of all this boring paperwork to be defending the kingdom's interests."

"Now that's just a reach," another one of his men scoffed. "Really, you're just chipper since you and Lord Gilas already did the deed."

Clara's hands froze in the middle of stamping out yet another document with the Cordonian Royal Seal. Around her, she could hear her men sniggering at the obvious jab regarding the recent developments in her relationship with Gilas, and there was no way that she was going to be able to run from all of the teasing that would surely come down to her now.

​ "Right?" another chuckled. "I can practically smell Lord Gilas's scent on her. And the same could be said for Lord Gilas himself!"

"I know, right?" her third-in-command, a notorious gossip, giggled. "I can only imagine what it'd be like to be done in by Lord Gilas. I almost wish I was his mate instead."

"You better think about your next words very carefully," Clara growled, a shot of jealousy suddenly washing over her. "I won't hesitate in making you clean the barracks alone."

"P-Point taken, Lady Clara," the woman quickly replied.

Shaking her head, Clara returned to her work, her grip on her quill tightening even as she forced herself to focus. Really, this was going to be a long day if her men would just constantly try and tease her with every chance they could get. Then again, could she even blame them? As much as she wished otherwise, their current work was mind-numbingly boring. What else were they supposed to do other than try and pass the time by teasing the one person they could safely tease.

'I really should go through with my threats to them one of these days,' she inwardly chuckled.

[Or maybe you're just going soft,] Sheba teased. [The old you would've already thrown a fit at them a few hours ago.]

[You too, Sheba?] she groaned.

[You already admitted it, right? This is boring,] her wolf scoffed. [And it's not just you. I can be really bored as well.]

Clara let out a sigh as she promptly ignored her wolf's complaints. Not that she could blame her for it as well. Seriously, when was this work going to end?

"We're back!"

A familiar voice perked Clara up as she looked by the entrance of the room. Xenia had finally returned after promising to her earlier that she'd bring even more help for her. And sure enough, the Queen had brought Aurelia and Freya with her.

"Wait, this is the emergency you were telling us about, Your Grace?" Aurelia incredulously asked.

"Hey, this much paperwork getting backed up is an emergency for the kingdom," Xenia insisted. "The longer it goes unfinished, the more inefficient the kingdom becomes."

"Aren't we supposed to have other people doing these jobs for us though?" Aurelia asked.

"Actually, we really don't," Freya sighed as she casually walked herself to an unoccupied desk. "Funnily enough, at this level, only those closest to the royal family are allowed to see these records in the first place. It's already a stretch that we have Clara's men working here, and I don't want Mother to know we've been allowing this in the first place."

Clara blinked upon hearing Freya's words. "Wait, so-"

"Don't think too much about it," Xenia quickly cut her off. "We just need everything done by the end of the day."

"Someone's been slacking, I see," Clara cheekily jabbed at the Queen.

"I have the excuse of being pregnant," Xenia smugly replied. "In the same way that you might end up in based on what I've been hearing."

Clara's smug smile fell, her blush returning to her as she found herself ducking from her friends' teasing looks. As if her own men weren't enough for her, even her friends got in on the teasing.

"So that's why her scent smells off," Freya giggled. "You and Lord Gilas finally did it?"

"Y-Yes?" Clara defiantly replied. "What of it?"

"I can only assume that you didn't use protection," Aurelia mused. "In that case, I'm reserving the right to deliver your baby once the time comes."

"W-What?! I'm not even thinking that far ahead!" Clara burst out.

"Clearly, you used your instincts rather than your brains," Aurelia teasingly chuckled. She then turned to Xenia and raised an eyebrow. "On second thought, Your Grace, I'm glad that you pulled me into this."

"I told you it would be worth it," Xenia smugly grinned.

Clara let out a sigh. Sometimes, she wondered if letting go of Darius was worth all of the teasing she got for being with Gilas. Then again, she really wouldn't have it any other way. She was satisfied with her lot in life, and she didn't care what anyone thought of it.