Palace Court
The entire court was still frozen.
Some ministers were still trying to process the words:
"You are my Omega."
King Aaron looked at Ashley with gentle eyes.
King Aaron: 🥰 "First, we'll go to the palace. Then we will inform Mother fi—"
His smile disappeared.
"..."
😱
He suddenly remembered.
Queen Mother.
If she found out he had accepted a mate without telling her first...
Forget being King.
She would personally escort him to the afterlife.
Minister 1: 🤔 "Your Majesty? Is something wrong?"
King Aaron: 😓 "I... need to meet Elda."
Minister 1: "Immediately?"
King Aaron: "Immediately."
Minister 1: 👍 "As you wish."
Aaron turned toward Ashley.
King Aaron: 😊 "Please escort her to the guest room. I'll come see you soon."
Minister 1: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Aaron looked back at Ashley.
King Aaron: "Alpha... can you stay there for a while? Don't worry."
He smiled warmly.
King Aaron: "I'll protect you."
Ashley blinked.
Ashley: 🙂 "...Okay."
Aaron hurried away...
Almost running.
One minister whispered,
Minister 4: "His Majesty fears only one person..."
Another minister nodded.
Minister 5: "His mother."
Everyone silently agreed.
Guest Room
The door closed.
Ashley sat on the bed.
A mysterious stranger stepped from the shadows.
Ashley: 😒 "He believed everything so easily."
Stranger: 😐 "That's how Omegas are."
Ashley: 😏 "One little mate bond and they forget how to think."
Stranger: "Love is powerful."
A pause.
Then—
Stranger: 😈 "Especially in a world filled with hatred... lies... and very talented idiots."
Ashley smirked.
At the Same Time...
Palace Courtyard
A royal soldier rushed forward.
Soldier: 😊 "Your Majesty, the Queen is on her way."
Aaron straightened his clothes.
King Aaron: ☺️ "Good."
NOTE:
Because of a ancient royal tradition...
A Royal Omega's mate could never become the official royal spouse capable of producing the next heir.
To preserve the royal succession...
Aaron had been married years ago to the Defense Chief's daughter.
After the ceremony...
She became...
Queen Elda.
Guest Room
Stranger: 🤔 "You know King Aaron's wife, don't you?"
Ashley: "Yep."
Stranger: "Then stay away from her."
Ashley rolled her eyes.
Ashley: 😒 "Why? Don't tell me she's another legendary hero."
Stranger: "She's strong."
Ashley: "Hmm."
Stranger: "Smart."
Ashley:
Still listening
Stranger: "Extremely dangerous."
Ashley shrugged.
Ashley: 😏 "She's just a useless queen."
The stranger blinked.
Ashley: "Her husband just found his mate."
"Chaos everywhere."
"And where is she?"
"Not even here."
"What kind of queen is that?"
The stranger slowly covered his face.
🤦
Stranger: "Girl..."
"You know absolutely nothing."
"So... respectfully..."
"Please shut up."
Palace Courtyard
Footsteps echoed.
A woman in her twenties approached.
Elegant.
Calm.
Every guard instinctively stood straighter.
Even the ministers lowered their voices.
She stopped before Aaron.
Queen Elda: 😐 "Am I late, Your Majesty?"
Aaron smiled.
King Aaron: 🥰 "How could someone who protects this kingdom from the shadows ever be late..."
"...my lady?"
For just a second...
The corner of Elda's lips almost moved.
Almost.
Guest Room
Ashley frowned.
Ashley: "Seriously... who is she?"
The stranger sighed.
Stranger: "She has many names."
She began counting on his fingers.
"Shadow Queen."
"Defense Princess."
"War-Ground Intellect."
"Daughter of the Demon."
"Devil Queen."
Ashley stared.
Ashley: "WAIT."
"How many identities does this woman have?!"
Stranger: 😐 "Enough to make assassins retire."
Ashley gulped.
Stranger: "Stay away from her."
Ashley crossed her arms.
Ashley: "Everyone has a weakness."
The stranger smiled.
Stranger: 😏 "She does."
Ashley leaned forward.
Ashley: 😤 "Tell me."
Stranger: "King Aaron."
Palace Courtyard
Aaron rubbed the back of his neck.
King Aaron: 😊 "I assume you heard the announcement."
Queen Elda: 😐 "Yes."
Silence.
Aaron waited.
Nothing.
He sighed dramatically.
King Aaron: 😩 "At least pretend to be surprised."
"We've known each other since childhood."
"You could at least say, 'Congratulations.'"
Elda looked at him.
Queen Elda: 😑 "Congratulations."
Aaron laughed.
King Aaron: 😜 "Such a terrible wife."
Queen Elda: 😐 "What do you need?"
Aaron opened his mouth—
Then...
His foot landed on wet marble.
Slip!
King Aaron: 😨 "Whoa—!"
Straight into Elda.
SPLASH!!
Both crashed into the courtyard fountain.
Water exploded everywhere.
Nearby servants screamed.
One minister sighed.
Minister 3: "Again..."
Aaron slipped beneath the water.
Elda quickly caught his wrist and pulled him upward.
Instinctively...
Aaron grabbed the nearest thing to steady himself.
It wasn't the fountain.
It wasn't Elda's arm.
😶
It was...
Her chest.
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Aaron slowly looked up.
Elda slowly looked down.
Both froze.
😶
😶
Aaron's brain immediately shut down.
He let go so fast that he nearly fell back into the fountain.
King Aaron: 😳 "S-sorry!"
The servants rushed over.
Several ministers immediately looked at the sky.
"The clouds are lovely today."
"We saw nothing."
Guest Room
Ashley grinned.
Ashley: 🤔 "This is perfect."
"We can use him."
The stranger's expression became deadly serious.
Stranger: 🤨 "Don't."
Ashley frowned.
Ashley: "Why not?"
Stranger: "Because if Devil Queen Elda discovers you're manipulating the King..."
He paused.
"...death will be the kindest thing she gives you."
Ashley folded her arms.
Ashley: 😏 "Please."
"I'm the best spy in my generation."
"I can fool anyone."
The stranger laughed quietly.
Stranger: "Maybe."
"You can outsmart five people."
He looked directly into Ashley's eyes.
Stranger: "Elda has outsmarted a hundred."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Stranger: 😐 "Never underestimate King Aaron's wife."
"Everyone thinks the King rules this kingdom."
A small smile appeared on his face.
Stranger: 😈 "The truly cunning one.....is Queen Elda."
....Continue...