Chapter 100: Not now
"Trust in this old man of yours," my father said, his voice brimming with confidence as he looked at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. I narrowed mine in response, suspicious. He had brought me to the royal palace today, and I knew there was more to it than he was letting on. But with that sparkle of determination, I knew arguing was pointless. My father had his mind made up, and I had little choice but to go along with whatever he had planned.
I sighed, resigned to whatever fate awaited me in this ornate prison of a room. The luxurious decor, plush furniture, and intricate designs screamed of wealth and power. Yet none of it made me feel any more comfortable. Perhaps because of the company I was forced to keep.
Rolland.
Of all people.
The two of us sat in an awkward silence, each occasionally sipping from the delicate porcelain teacups set before us. The tension between us was thick, palpable. I couldn’t stand being in the same room as him, and I knew the feeling was mutual. We had always crossed paths in the social circles of the capital, both of us being high-born omegas with enough suitors to last a lifetime. But the rivalry between us ran deeper than just the typical games of status and power.
People talked—oh, how they loved to gossip—whispering that we despised one another because we were always in competition. That I hated Rolland for trying to claim the title of the kingdom’s most desired omega. That he loathed me for being the one who came closest to dethroning him from that absurd pedestal. The idea was laughable. I cared nothing for such titles or frivolous status games.
There was only one man’s attention I wanted. Only one person I longed to look at me the way the others did.
But, as fate would have it, Rolland desired him too.
Thorne. The Crimson General.