The Alpha King's Broken Omega

CHAPTER TEN: THE KING'S CHOICE

CHAPTER TEN: The King's Choice

Lila

The palace had not yet recovered from the attack.

Even three days later, the smell of smoke still lingered in the air.

Workers climbed ladders to repair damaged watchtowers while blacksmiths forged new weapons from sunrise until sunset. Warriors patrolled every corridor, their expressions stern, their hands never far from the swords at their waists.

The cheerful atmosphere I had begun to love was gone.

In its place was a kingdom preparing for another battle.

I stood beside the bedroom window, watching servants hurry across the courtyard below.

The explosion had left scars on more than just the palace walls.

It had left fear.

Every face I saw carried the same silent question.

When will they attack again?

A soft knock came at my door.

"Lady Lila?"

Martha entered carrying a tray of warm tea.

She smiled gently, but I could see the exhaustion beneath her eyes.

"You've been standing here for quite some time."

I accepted the cup with both hands.

"I couldn't sleep."

"You've barely slept since the attack."

I lowered my eyes.

"I keep thinking..."

"What if they succeed next time?"

Martha walked to the window beside me.

"They won't."

"You sound very certain."

"I am."

She smiled warmly.

"Our King has doubled the palace guards."

"He has personally inspected every entrance."

"He won't allow anyone to take you."

Her words made my heart ache.

"He shouldn't have to carry that burden."

Before Martha could answer, the palace bells rang through the kingdom.

One.

Two.

Three.

I looked toward her in confusion.

"What does that mean?"

Her smile widened.

"We have guests."

Across the palace...

Alcaide

"The eastern gates are secure."

Xander rolled another map across my desk.

"Our patrols haven't reported any suspicious movement since the attack."

I nodded.

"Keep them alert."

"They won't lower their guard."

A guard suddenly knocked on the study door.

"My King."

"Enter."

The young warrior bowed deeply.

"The guests from House Ashford have arrived."

Xander looked at me knowingly.

"They came sooner than expected."

I sighed quietly.

"Show them to the reception hall."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the guard departed, Xander folded his arms.

"This should be interesting."

I shot him a warning look.

"Not a word."

He chuckled.

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

"I probably was."

Despite the light exchange, my thoughts were elsewhere.

House Ashford was one of the oldest noble families in the Northern Kingdom.

Their loyalty had never been questioned.

Neither had Lady Evelyn's.

She had grown up within these palace walls.

She understood the responsibilities of the crown.

For years, the nobles had assumed she would one day stand beside me as Luna.

I had never encouraged those rumours.

But neither had I denied them.

Now...

Everything had changed.

Lila

Serafina hurried into my room so quickly she nearly forgot to knock.

"Lila!"

I laughed softly.

"You really don't like doors."

"They slow me down."

She took my hand before I could ask another question.

"Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"The reception hall."

"Why?"

She grinned mischievously.

"Because someone very important has arrived."

As we walked through the grand corridors, I noticed servants arranging fresh flowers in crystal vases while musicians tuned their instruments.

"It feels like a celebration."

"Not exactly."

"Then what is it?"

Serafina hesitated.

"You'll see."

The massive doors to the reception hall opened.

Nobles filled the elegant chamber, dressed in embroidered gowns and tailored suits.

Soft music drifted through the room while servants carried silver trays filled with refreshments.

My eyes widened.

There were so many people.

I instinctively stepped behind Serafina.

She squeezed my hand reassuringly.

"It's all right."

Before I could answer, the crowd suddenly parted.

A young woman entered the hall with graceful confidence.

She wore a deep emerald gown that shimmered as she walked.

Her long chestnut hair flowed over one shoulder in soft waves, and a delicate silver tiara rested upon her head.

She was breathtaking.

Not only because of her beauty.

Because of the quiet confidence she carried.

Every noble bowed respectfully as she passed.

"Lady Evelyn."

The name spread through the room in whispers.

I watched as she smiled warmly at those greeting her.

She didn't seem proud.

She seemed... kind.

Then her eyes lifted.

Across the crowded hall...

They met mine.

For a brief moment...

Neither of us looked away.

Before I could react, another voice echoed through the chamber.

"His Majesty, King Alcaide."

Everyone bowed.

I turned.

Alcaide entered wearing his formal black uniform trimmed with silver embroidery.

He looked every bit the king.

Powerful.

Calm.

Commanding.

As he crossed the room, Lady Evelyn's face brightened with genuine happiness.

"Alcaide."

She smiled.

"It has been too long."

A small smile appeared on his face.

"It has."

She stepped forward.

Without hesitation...

She embraced him.

The entire hall smiled at the familiar sight.

I stood silently in the corner.

For reasons I couldn't explain...

Something inside my chest tightened.

Serafina glanced at me before looking back toward the pair.

She noticed it too.

The way my smile slowly faded.

And across the room...

Lady Evelyn finally noticed me standing beside Serafina.

Her gaze lingered for a moment.

Curious.

Thoughtful.

Then she looked back at Alcaide.

She noticed something else.

Although he returned her greeting politely...

His eyes drifted toward Lila.

Just for a second.

But long enough for Evelyn to realize one painful truth.

The King had never looked at anyone that way before.

Lila

I lowered my eyes.

I didn't know why my chest suddenly felt so tight.

Lady Evelyn looked as though she belonged in the palace.

She carried herself with quiet confidence, greeting the nobles with grace and smiling warmly at everyone who approached her.

Beside her...

Alcaide looked completely at ease.

They laughed softly about something I couldn't hear.

For a brief moment, they looked like they belonged together.

A king.

And a lady worthy of standing beside him.

Not...

An omega like me.

I quietly stepped backward.

No one noticed as I slipped through the crowd and left the reception hall.

The cheerful music faded behind me until only silence remained.

I wandered into the palace garden.

The fountain sparkled beneath the af

ternoon sun, but I barely noticed it.

I sat on the stone bench beneath the willow tree, hugging my knees to my chest.

"What am I doing here?"

The question escaped before I realized I had spoken aloud.

A king deserved someone noble.

Someone confident.

Someone admired by the entire kingdom.

Not a frightened omega who carried nothing except trouble.

The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted my thoughts.

I quickly wiped away the tears gathering in my eyes.

"Lila?"

I looked up.

Lady Evelyn stood a few feet away.

She smiled politely.

"I thought I might find you here."

I immediately stood.

"My Lady."

She laughed softly.

"Please don't be so formal."

"I'm Evelyn."

I blinked in surprise.

She walked closer.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No."

"I was just getting some fresh air."

She studied me for a moment.

"You seem uncomfortable inside."

I forced a small smile.

"There are many important people."

"And I'm not one of them."

To my surprise, Evelyn shook her head.

"Importance isn't decided by titles."

Her voice was gentle.

"It's decided by the kind of person you are."

I looked at her in surprise.

She wasn't cold.

She wasn't arrogant.

She was... kind.

"You've heard about me?"

She nodded.

"The entire kingdom has."

"I also heard how bravely you faced the attack."

"I wasn't brave."

"You stayed."

Her smile softened.

"Sometimes surviving is the bravest thing a person can do."

Those words reminded me so much of Alcaide.

Perhaps that was why they had been friends for so many years.

Across the palace...

Alcaide

The reception continued, but my attention wandered.

"You've been distracted all afternoon."

I looked toward Xander.

"I'm listening."

"No, you're pretending to."

He smirked.

"Your eyes have searched this room at least six times."

I frowned.

"So?"

"So Lady Lila isn't here."

Before I could answer, Serafina approached.

"My King."

"Have you seen Lila?"

My heart immediately tightened.

"No."

"She left a while ago."

Xander noticed the change in my expression.

"I'll have the guards—"

"No."

I interrupted him.

"I'll find her."

Without waiting for another word, I left the reception hall.

The palace garden was peaceful.

Sunlight filtered through the branches of the willow tree.

I stopped walking.

Lila wasn't alone.

She was speaking with Evelyn.

Neither woman had noticed me.

I remained where I was.

"...he's always been like that," Evelyn was saying with a quiet laugh.

"He carries the whole kingdom on his shoulders."

Lila smiled faintly.

"He cares about everyone."

"He does."

Evelyn's smile faded ever so slightly.

"But lately..."

She paused.

"He seems to care about someone in a different way."

Lila looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

Evelyn hesitated.

For a brief moment, sadness flickered across her face.

Then she hid it behind another smile.

"Nothing."

"I suppose I'm imagining things."

She reached for Lila's hand.

"I hope we can become friends."

Lila smiled sincerely.

"I'd like that."

Watching them together, I released a slow breath.

Perhaps I had worried for nothing.

As the two women walked back toward the palace, Evelyn slowed her steps.

She glanced sideways at Lila.

"You know..."

"The nobles have always expected me to become Luna."

Lila froze.

"I..."

Evelyn smiled gently.

"I don't say that because I'm proud."

"I simply want you to understand why people stare."

Lila lowered her head.

"I understand."

"No."

Evelyn stopped walking.

"I don't think you do."

She looked toward the palace entrance where Alcaide stood waiting.

"The King has never allowed anyone close to him."

Her eyes softened.

"But somehow..."

"He lets you stand beside him."

Lila's heart skipped.

"I think you're mistaken."

"Maybe."

Evelyn answered quietly.

"But I've known him since we were children."

"And I've never seen him search a room for someone..."

"...until today."

Lila followed Evelyn's gaze.

Alcaide was standing at the top of the marble steps.

The moment his blue eyes found her...

The tension in his shoulders disappeared.

Relief flashed across his face before he composed himself.

He walked toward them.

"There you are."

His voice was calm, but Lila noticed the concern hidden beneath it.

"I was worried."

"I'm sorry."

She lowered her head automatically.

"I only wanted some fresh air."

He smiled gently.

"You don't have to apologize every time you breathe."

A soft laugh escaped Lila before she could stop it.

Alcaide smiled in return.

It was a small smile.

But it transformed his usually serious face.

Evelyn watched the exchange in silence.

Her heart ached.

Not because Alcaide smiled.

But because...

He had never smiled like that at her.

She finally understood.

The distance between them had never been created by another woman.

It had always existed.

She simply hadn't wanted to see it.

Hidden behind one of the stone pillars overlooking the garden...

A pair of cold eyes watched the three of them.

The palace maid.

She quietly unfolded another piece of parchment.

Her pen moved swiftly across the paper.

The King's feelings for the omega continue to deepen.

She tied the message to the leg of a black raven.

The bird took flight into the evening sky.

Far beyond the palace walls...

A hooded figure caught the raven before it landed.

He read the message slowly.

Then a cruel smile spread across his face.

"So..."

"The King has finally found his weakness."

He closed his hand around the letter.

"Prepare for the next phase."

"This time..."

"We won't just attack the kingdom."

"We'll break his heart."