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ADESSA.“And you did nothing to help her?” My voice was accusatory.The King’s eyes remained closed with his head leaning back against his seat. If I hadn’t seen his hand coiled into a tight fist, I would have thought he drifted off to sleep because he hadn’t replied for a long time. “So that was it. She got pregnant, and she had to solve that on her own.” I said in a bitter tone. “She was just as hard-headed as you are. She told me she didn’t need me, and before I could discuss things with her, she was gone.”“Please tell me you looked for her.”“My hands were tied…”“You are the King of this Kingdom! Your word is everyone’s command, and you got terrified?” Ironic that I was pointing out how powerful and respected he was, and yet I was raising my voice at him. “The other Guardians asked me if we had an affair. I denied it. I denied I was the father of her child.”My hand clamped over my mouth as I shook my head.“I thought I was protecting her. No one could command me to tell the t
ADESSA.I never wanted to stop talking about my mother because I had so many questions, but I didn’t have a choice. The King refused to answer more questions. He said he was tired and we could talk about her some other time, but he made me swear not to repeat our conversation with anyone. During dinner, I tried to sway Esegar and Esaias, my two youngest brothers, who were seated on my sides, if they had an idea of what the task might be. They didn’t want to say anything, but in the end, Esaias told me there was a part where there would be a duel, and the loser’s head would be cut off in the end. He also added that even if the challenge was not a duel, there was still a chance of a head being cut off for every stage.My mouth hung open, and I felt my face burn as I listened to him. A part of me wanted to believe it was a joke, but he looked so serious when he said that, and he talked in a loud voice so everyone at the table heard him. I was dumbfounded as tears pooled in my eyes.
ADESSA.After dinner, I was given time to rest before I was informed there was a cocktail party in one of the pavilions—a welcome celebration for the participants of the Royal Games and I would be attending. While they were dressing me up, I voiced some complaints about the lack of advance notice. Of course, I was excited. Anything that would let me see and talk to Kael was always something I looked forward to. So I was glad this was a cocktail party setting and not some formal dinner or such.I was presented with many dresses, and I finally chose the color red. This was the first time I would be wearing one as I always thought this color was too bold, and I always felt unworthy to wear it. But not anymore.Aside from wanting to look good in front of my husband, I want the others to see me as a strong female, and if they think they could use me for the title I hold, then they need to think twice. I was so excited for tonight, but then someone came to my room and briefed me on the eve
KAEL. I thought Adessa’s brothers would corner me, but it didn’t happen. In fact, I was ignored the whole time. Their attention was drawn to Prince Vaidas, so I could already tell they wanted him for her.But I didn’t give a fuck, because that whole time they were rubbing elbows with him, Adessa’s attention was only on me. I couldn’t count the number of times we smiled at each other and shared a toast of our drinks despite the distance. I felt like a teenager flirting with a girl behind her parent’s back. I knew my reality was more serious and too far from the simple life I was imagining. But instead of sulking, I reveled on this night, taking one step at a time and creating memories with her since I still couldn’t remember if we ever had moments of flirting like this. “Landon,” I called his attention as he was talking with some women. Yes, aside from the unlimited drinks and the loud music, there were also women who came and started taking our attention. I didn’t entertain anyone
KAEL.“A simple game of chance…” I murmured, repeating the words of the host.I listened as the task was given, and even after we were asked to begin, I remained in my place, staring at the counter in front of me. The challenge was to fix a cocktail drink for the princess, and whoever owned the drink she chose would get a chance to have breakfast with her. Simple as fuck, right? Well, it wasn’t. Because I had no fucking idea which drinks she liked. “How the fuck will we win this when her ex-husband is here? He obviously knows what she wants!” Alpha Randolf blurted it out, and I could hear the others agreeing. “Instead of complaining about something you cannot change, why don’t you move forward and do the task given and give it your best shot?” Prince Vaidas spoke with a calm demeanor before he walked over to the main bar, followed by his second in command.“At least there’s one person in here who still has the right frame of mind,” Landon said in a hushed tone.I had no idea if I
KAEL.I moved on to the green drink—the one for Adessa. Like the first two, I just let my hands move on their own while praying to Selene that I would not lose my concentration and momentum. I didn’t care anymore if someone was watching me. I hoped the first two drinks would be enough to confuse them if I actually knew what Adessa’s favorite drink was. Gratefully, my hands kept moving as if they knew what they were doing. My mind was telling me different measurements, but it seemed my hands knew and had their own calculations on how I should prepare and handle this drink. Also, I initially thought I would use a martini glass for it, but I subconsciously picked up the coupe one. I strained the mixed drink from the shaker and poured it into the glass. There were three cocktail drinks in front of me, and Landon was beaming as if we had already won. I was leaning on the counter, my fingers tapping on the marbled top, as I stared at what I had prepared before my eyes caught sight of a
KAEL.Watching Adessa take Prince Vaidas’ drink was painful, but seeing her choose all other drinks but not mine after his, was even more torturous. The one I made didn’t even catch her eye. She chose the Mango Daiquiris after the Prince, and it was only then that I regretted using it as a decoy.What if when I was still in agony over losing Desiree, I had made her that drink and she ended up loving it? Then I just pushed her into Draco’s arms. If this were the case, I prayed to Selene that she would pick the other one who prepared the same drink. Any others would be better than Draco.I couldn’t focus anymore. She was smiling and talking with her brothers about whatever drinks she had in her hands, which made the waiting even longer.After what felt like an eternity, she finally picked up my drink—third to the last. Like the others, she turned to face us and raised the glass in our direction. There was nothing special in her eyes, unlike when she raised the first three cocktails an
ADESSA.“Alpha Kael won tonight,” Esmaeel said in a flat tone.A gasp left my throat as I jolted, excitement coursing through my whole body, knowing I would get a moment with him.The King grabbed the paper from the butler with a dark expression. After he returned the paper, he dismissed him and the other servers. He then guided me away, almost to the door, and I could see my brothers and sisters-in-law looking at us.“Now, tell me, Adessa, that Kael has lost his memory? That he couldn’t remember you.” His voice was accusatory. I would have ignored it because the important thing was Kael won. But a part of me didn’t want the others to think Kael was just putting on a show, so I didn’t stop myself from replying, especially since no one else was inside this room except our family. “I’m sure Kael didn’t remember this. But his Beta does. He has a great second in command, Father. He was very attentive to his Alpha and Luna. So if you think Kael is the only problem for Prince Vaidas, whom
DANIELLE.I was helping them dress up Princess Adessa for the first night of the game, but I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t stop thinking about the prince. Prince Esriel left the breakfast hall and only returned when the princess was done eating, just to pick her up. He didn’t even glance at me and was nowhere during dinner. Earlier, before we headed to the breakfast manor, while the guards were helping the princess into the car, he whispered to me that he would not sit with my lady and Alpha Kael and that we could eat together. I didn’t reply as he had moved away before I could say anything, but I didn’t object, so I was baffled when he left the dining hall and didn’t come back.I was glad Beta Landon was there, so I didn’t have to eat alone. Not that eating alone was ever a problem, but I did hope Esriel would join me, so it would have been more devastating if I had expected that and ended up being alone. “Someone’s at the door.” Miss Mariel said, and it snapped me back to the presen
KAEL.“Look who’s back?” Alpha Randolf exclaimed the moment we entered the main receiving room of our home manor. We just came back from breakfast, and since I heard movements in this area, I nudged Landon to head this way. I nodded at them and inserted my hands into my pockets. “Why are you all gathered here? Are we being summoned?” I asked, my eyes shifting to everyone. “The first clue was given while you were away.” Prince Vaidas spoke without glancing at me. He was busy carefully running his thumb along the edge of his dagger.“And what is it?” I asked. I didn’t like this. Why was it given while I was away?“Why would I tell you?” Alpha Randolf scoffed, then glanced at the others who were looking at us. “Or I should say, why would we tell you? While you ate breakfast looking at the beautiful princess, we ate looking at each other’s fucking face. Not an appetizing sight. So I guess it’s only fair you go blindly to the first task.”Most of them chuckled at his words, and those wh
ADESSA.“Can you move his chair to my right?” I asked. “My lady, the instruction was to have both of you sit at the ends of the table.” The main server, a soft-spoken older man, replied.“I understand that. But I am also instructing you to move his chair nearer. I cannot, for the life of me, speak loudly. I don’t want to shout just to keep a conversation going.” I smiled bashfully at him. “Yes, of course, my lady.” He then instructed his companion to comply. I was glad he didn’t question my request anymore. Kael smiled broadly as he took his seat on the right side of the table, and soon, they proceeded to serve us. I glanced at Danielle and saw her sitting at a round table with Landon. My brother was nowhere in sight.“Where is Prince Esriel?” I asked the main server. “He stepped out, but he left four guards by the door and instructed them that no one is allowed to go in and out, including you, my lady.”“I see…” I didn’t ask anymore. Once they left us. Kael reached for my hand, a
ADESSA.Kael and his Beta were already waiting for us when we arrived at the Spring Manor. I didn’t know Landon would be joining, but he was the least of my worries. “You need to control that smile on your face,” Esriel told me as he guided my arm to wrap around his before patting my hand. We followed the host toward the dining hall while Danielle trailed behind us. “Everyone here could tell you’re more excited than the participant.”“But I am,” I said giddily.“You need to learn to act with no emotions. Not too happy, not too sad. Just enough.” He whispered, and I playfully rolled my eyes. We passed by the line of servers, and there was only a female with them. The moment she bowed down and curtsied before me, I smiled at her and acknowledged her cheerfully,“I like your hair.”She was caught off guard, and a red tint crept into her cheeks before she smiled widely at me. “Thank you, Princess Adessa.” She mumbled in reply.“You are indeed a stubborn one,” Esriel said, chuckling soft
ADESSA.“Alpha Kael won tonight,” Esmaeel said in a flat tone.A gasp left my throat as I jolted, excitement coursing through my whole body, knowing I would get a moment with him.The King grabbed the paper from the butler with a dark expression. After he returned the paper, he dismissed him and the other servers. He then guided me away, almost to the door, and I could see my brothers and sisters-in-law looking at us.“Now, tell me, Adessa, that Kael has lost his memory? That he couldn’t remember you.” His voice was accusatory. I would have ignored it because the important thing was Kael won. But a part of me didn’t want the others to think Kael was just putting on a show, so I didn’t stop myself from replying, especially since no one else was inside this room except our family. “I’m sure Kael didn’t remember this. But his Beta does. He has a great second in command, Father. He was very attentive to his Alpha and Luna. So if you think Kael is the only problem for Prince Vaidas, whom
KAEL.Watching Adessa take Prince Vaidas’ drink was painful, but seeing her choose all other drinks but not mine after his, was even more torturous. The one I made didn’t even catch her eye. She chose the Mango Daiquiris after the Prince, and it was only then that I regretted using it as a decoy.What if when I was still in agony over losing Desiree, I had made her that drink and she ended up loving it? Then I just pushed her into Draco’s arms. If this were the case, I prayed to Selene that she would pick the other one who prepared the same drink. Any others would be better than Draco.I couldn’t focus anymore. She was smiling and talking with her brothers about whatever drinks she had in her hands, which made the waiting even longer.After what felt like an eternity, she finally picked up my drink—third to the last. Like the others, she turned to face us and raised the glass in our direction. There was nothing special in her eyes, unlike when she raised the first three cocktails an
KAEL.I moved on to the green drink—the one for Adessa. Like the first two, I just let my hands move on their own while praying to Selene that I would not lose my concentration and momentum. I didn’t care anymore if someone was watching me. I hoped the first two drinks would be enough to confuse them if I actually knew what Adessa’s favorite drink was. Gratefully, my hands kept moving as if they knew what they were doing. My mind was telling me different measurements, but it seemed my hands knew and had their own calculations on how I should prepare and handle this drink. Also, I initially thought I would use a martini glass for it, but I subconsciously picked up the coupe one. I strained the mixed drink from the shaker and poured it into the glass. There were three cocktail drinks in front of me, and Landon was beaming as if we had already won. I was leaning on the counter, my fingers tapping on the marbled top, as I stared at what I had prepared before my eyes caught sight of a
KAEL.“A simple game of chance…” I murmured, repeating the words of the host.I listened as the task was given, and even after we were asked to begin, I remained in my place, staring at the counter in front of me. The challenge was to fix a cocktail drink for the princess, and whoever owned the drink she chose would get a chance to have breakfast with her. Simple as fuck, right? Well, it wasn’t. Because I had no fucking idea which drinks she liked. “How the fuck will we win this when her ex-husband is here? He obviously knows what she wants!” Alpha Randolf blurted it out, and I could hear the others agreeing. “Instead of complaining about something you cannot change, why don’t you move forward and do the task given and give it your best shot?” Prince Vaidas spoke with a calm demeanor before he walked over to the main bar, followed by his second in command.“At least there’s one person in here who still has the right frame of mind,” Landon said in a hushed tone.I had no idea if I
KAEL. I thought Adessa’s brothers would corner me, but it didn’t happen. In fact, I was ignored the whole time. Their attention was drawn to Prince Vaidas, so I could already tell they wanted him for her.But I didn’t give a fuck, because that whole time they were rubbing elbows with him, Adessa’s attention was only on me. I couldn’t count the number of times we smiled at each other and shared a toast of our drinks despite the distance. I felt like a teenager flirting with a girl behind her parent’s back. I knew my reality was more serious and too far from the simple life I was imagining. But instead of sulking, I reveled on this night, taking one step at a time and creating memories with her since I still couldn’t remember if we ever had moments of flirting like this. “Landon,” I called his attention as he was talking with some women. Yes, aside from the unlimited drinks and the loud music, there were also women who came and started taking our attention. I didn’t entertain anyone