Chapter 87
What was truly unexpected was that the Crown Prince had imposed no punishment whatsoever upon Ryan, despite widespread expectations that he would face the harshest of penalties.
If that was not leniency, then what was?
“Besides.”
The Crown Prince paused briefly before sweeping his cold violet gaze across the assembled nobles, all of whom had gone rigid.
“It seems those of you who quietly kept your mouths shut while pushing Duke von Alice forward have forgotten something.”
“!”
“Before I am the Crown Prince, I am an Alpha bound to someone.”
The nobles instinctively flinched.
The Crown Prince’s pheromones had begun to spread through the hall, carrying a clear note of displeasure and constricting their breathing.
He was a man capable of bringing secondary-gender individuals to their knees simply by existing.
“There cannot be a single person here who does not know that I have given her a unilateral imprint.”
“…!”
Someone audibly swallowed. Only then did the nobles realize that they had completely overlooked the most important point.
That’s right. The Crown Prince had imprinted on her!
“And yet you oppose this marriage…” His voice grew even colder. “How exactly am I supposed to interpret that? Unless, of course, you wish for an imprinted Alpha to lose his Omega, descend halfway into madness, and become a tyrant.”
“That is not what we mean!”
“Isn’t it?”
“…”
In the dreadful silence, the only person smiling was the master of the room himself.
Every noble present was filled with profound regret. They wished they had simply agreed right away.
“Speak, Duke von Alice.”
“…”
At this point, a single careless remark could see one accused of treason and subjected to a horrific fate.
When even Duke von Alice fell silent, no one else dared to respond.
“Good. I rather like this atmosphere.”
At the feet of the Crown Prince, who now wore a satisfied smile, the heavy, oppressive pheromones of a dominant Alpha spread throughout the hall.
It was both authority and a threat.
“Conduct yourselves wisely. If you have properly understood my intentions after witnessing everything that has transpired, then you would do well not to add another word. Understood?”
Those who oppose this marriage will be dealt with by death. No one is to oppose this union.
Marie Alphrose is to be treated as the Crown Princess.
And even that title shall ultimately be subject to Marie’s own wishes.
Therefore, respect her. Honor her. For the sake of your houses and everyone within them.
That was the warning he was giving.
“…Yes, Your Highness. We shall abide by your will.”
In the end, the nobles had no choice but to yield.
* * *
A breeze rippled and swayed, warm waves spread gently outward, and the surface shimmered on the sparkling lake.
It was a feeling more pleasant than all of those combined washed through Russell’s heart like a tide.
Though this emotion was not his own, it was greater even than his own joy.
“Your Highness, shall I inform the young lady of the news?”
“No. …A little longer.”
Russell shook his head, stopping the head maid from acting.
Within the distant scene before him was the person he had longed to see more than anyone else.
‘She’s smiling.’
Her lovely profile.
Her neatly braided red hair, lustrous and shining in the light.
The pale blue dress, whose elegant hue suited her perfectly.
And beneath lashes so thick they cast shadows, golden eyes that gleamed like jewels.
‘Marie.’
His Omega.
The smile curving her lips was brighter than ever before.
No doubt it was because of the little girl chattering excitedly in front of her, and the middle-aged woman beside them, whose lined face was filled with concern as she watched her.
Russell and Marie had undoubtedly broken down the walls between them and shared their hearts.
They had acknowledged the love they felt for one another and promised to spend the days ahead together.
Even so, the royal palace had not given Marie only happy memories.
It had been a place filled with scorn, mistreatment, bullying, and pain.
How could those feelings disappear overnight?
Russell wanted to change that.
He knew well enough that he did not possess the best personality.
Especially as a lover, he knew he had once been the worst of all.
The misery dug itself even deeper whenever Ryan von Alice, the third son of House Alice who had escaped severe punishment without seeming to realize how fortunate he was, occasionally came to visit her.
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