Scarlett felt her heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to think of a way to explain why she was there. She knew that if the man found out she was the thief who stole his robe, it could mean the end of her life. She forced herself to remain calm and cool-headed.
Her mind raced as she tried to come up with a plausible explanation. She struggled to come up with a convincing lie, but her mind was blank. She took a deep breath before responding with as much confidence as she could muster.
She spoke in a measured tone, trying to sound confident, "My name is Scarlett and I’m just a traveler passing through. I stumbled upon this place by accident and got lost. I was hoping to find someone who could help me find my way back."
The man's grip tightened, and Scarlett could feel her heart racing. She knew that he didn't believe her, but she held his gaze, determined not to show any sign of fear.
"You expect me to believe that?" the man scoffed. "I think you're lying. What were you really doing here?"
Scarlett remained silent, not wanting to give herself away. She tried to think of a way to turn the situation to her advantage, but her mind was racing. She knew that she had to come up with something quickly, or she would be in even deeper trouble.
After a moment of silence, Scarlett spoke in a steady voice, "I’m just passing through. I had no intention of intruding upon this place."
Tobias narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "And how did you manage to find your way here? This is not a place where wanderers usually end up."
Scarlett quickly thought of an excuse, "I saw a light in the distance and followed it, hoping to find shelter for the night. I stumbled upon this place and didn't know where else to go."
The man's eyes narrowed as he examined her for a moment. "And how did you get past the guards? This is a heavily guarded place. No traveler can just wander in here without being noticed."
Scarlett bit her lip, realizing that her cover story had holes in it. She had not anticipated this line of questioning. She hesitated for a moment, trying to think of a response that would satisfy him.
"I... I found a hidden passage. It was a stroke of luck, really," she said finally, hoping that it would be enough to satisfy his curiosity.
As she stood before him, her heart racing as she waited for his response to her lies. Her heart sank as she realized that her lie had failed to convince him. She tried to steady her breathing and maintain a confident demeanor, but her mind was racing with fear and uncertainty.
Tobias raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Is that so?" he said, his voice laced with skepticism. "You expect me to believe that you stumbled upon this palace by accident?"
She hesitated for a moment, then decided to double down on her lie. "Yes," she replied, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "I had no idea where I was going, I was just looking for somewhere to rest for the night."
Tobias looked at Scarlett intently, his eyes narrowing. "That's a poor excuse," he said. "You didn't come here by chance. There was an intruder sneaking around the palace earlier a few moments earlier. So, what’s your true intention of being here at the same time?"
Her discomfort was evident as she realized that Tobias had seen through her excuse. Scarlett shifted uneasily and responded in a hesitant tone, "I... I don't know what you're talking about," she stumbled over her words as she pretended to be ignorant. "I don't understand, what do you mean by an intruder? And who are you, sir?"
As he leaned in closer to Scarlett, his scent hit her like a wave. She could smell the distinct musk of a lycan, a combination of woodsy earthiness and animalistic masculinity. The scent was overpowering, and it made her heart race with fear and excitement.
"I’m Tobias, the king of this kingdom, and you’re standing in my palace. Tell me, what are you doing here?"
His voice lowered to a menacing growl, sending shivers down her spine as she felt the hot breath on her neck. The scent of his closeness filled her nostrils, causing her to struggle to keep her composure. She could feel the power and authority emanating from him, and it was both alluring and intimidating at the same time.
Scarlett swallowed nervously, trying to think of a plausible explanation. "I told you. I’m...just a traveler passing through. I was looking for shelter for the night and saw the lights of this place in the distance."
Tobias continued to examine her, searching for any signs of deception. "You expect me to believe that you just happened to stumble upon the most heavily guarded palace in my kingdom and decided to seek shelter here?"
"I understand that it sounds unlikely," Scarlett began, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "But it's the truth. I was lost in the forest and saw a light in the distance. I followed it, hoping to find shelter for the night. When I saw this palace, I thought it might be a safe place to rest."
Scarlett knew that she had to come up with a better story, and fast. "I...I heard rumors of a great king who was known for his hospitality to travelers. I thought that maybe this was the place."
Tobias raised an eyebrow, slightly impressed with her quick thinking. "And why would you need shelter? What brings you to this kingdom?"
Scarlett hesitated, knowing that revealing her true intentions could put her in danger. Her heart raced as she tried to come up with a plausible explanation. "I have no ill intentions, I swear. I'm just a traveler who love exploring the world and seeking adventure. I got lost in the palace and was trying to find my way out," she said, hoping he would buy her story.
Tobias examined the woman before him for a moment before finally deciding to play along, his expression unreadable. His eyes narrowed as he regarded her skeptically. "Your story seems far-fetched, considering the circumstances. You might be the intruder!"
Scarlett struggled against him as he began to drag her away. "No, you have to believe me! There's someone else responsible for this!"
Tobias shook his head. "I cannot take your word for it. You must prove your innocence. You may stay in my chamber until I decide what to do with you."
Scarlett felt helpless and vulnerable. Her heart was filled with despair as she realized the grim reality of her situation. The thought of being imprisoned by the lycan king filled her with dread, knowing that it would be a fate worse than death.