All Kings favorite Human

She's the king's mate!

AGATHA'S POV

I have never been to a colourful and busy marketplace before. My father always took my stepsisters with him, leaving me at home to cook their meals. But today, Lirith convinced me to join her after we got paid. It feels good to earn some coin for my work, and I am so excited to be out with her.

“Look over there!” Lirith exclaims, pointing at a colorful display of woolen scarves outside a small shop. “I must get one for Kian!”

I smile, seeing the joy in her eyes. “You should! I’m sure he’ll love it.” I agree.

We enter the shop, and Lirith eagerly searches through the scarves, looking for the perfect one. I admire her enthusiasm, I wish I too had someone special to surprise with a thoughtful gift.

While Lirith continues her search, I wander to a corner of the shop where shiny necklaces catch my eye. I pick up a delicate piece with a single sparkling emerald that looks beautiful.

“I think I’ll buy this,” I say as Lirith joins me.

She looks at the necklace approvingly. “It’s perfect! You deserve something nice too.”

Just as I step up to pay, a loud commotion erupts outside. Shouts and cries fills the air. Curiosity piqued, I follow Lirith outside to see what is happening.

A group of four guards is harassing a distressed family, a man, his wife, and their small child clinging to her father's leg. They are demanding tax, ten gold coins, which from the look of things, that the poor family clearly cannot have. The father stands trembling, his face pale as he tries to reason with them.

“Please! We have nothing left! My child is sick!” He tells as the mother clutches the crying child tightly.

I feel my heart constrict at the sight of the frightened family. A crowd has gathered around them, but no one speaks up, they just watch with cold indifference. The guards are relentless as one of them shoves the mother aside roughly, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground, clutching her child protectively.

Without thinking, my instincts kicks in. “Stop!” I shout. The guards pauses momentarily, surprised by my sudden intervention.

“Have some mercy! They’re just trying to survive, they have nothing!” I step forward.

Lirith grabs my arm, wide-eyed with worry. “Agatha! Stop this now or you’ll be arrested too!”

“They can’t treat them like this! They’re not criminals, they’re just struggling!” I insist, pointing to the frightened family.

"Mind your own business, woman!” one of the guards barks at me, his face twisted in a sneer. He turns back to the family, resuming his harsh demands. “Pay up or we’ll take him away!”

“How much do they owe you?” I ask the poor guy.

The lead guard smirks, glancing at his comrades. “A handful but it's still not your business,” he replies dismissively.

I reach into my pocket and pulls out the last of my gold coins, counting them quickly. “Here,” I say, extending my hand.

The guards exchanges incredulous looks before one snatches the coins from my palm. “Pleasure doing business,” he says with a mocking grin as they turn to leave.

The mother looks up from where she had fallen, tears still glistening in her eyes as she holds her child close. The father nods at me, tears of gratitude glistening in his eyes. “Thank you, your so kind!”

I nod and start walking away from the scene. Lilith joins me.

"You know, Agatha, not many royals would have done what you did back there. You truly are a good person. That’s probably why you’re our king's mate." she tells as we walk away.

I shrug. It’s not out of kindness that I intervened it’s out of experience. I know what it’s like to have nothing.

"Why would the king’s guard treat their own people so harshly? They’re supposed to protect them.” I ask

“Those families don’t belong to this kingdom, they’re humans offered refuge by the king. The guards a***e their power, extorting money from them. It’s a shameful way to treat people who are already suffering. I wish we were all like you,” Lirith says softly.

We walk quietly the rest of the way until we reach the palace. Once inside, Lirith hands me the only thing I bought, a beautiful purple dress.

“I can’t wait to try this on!” I say genuinely, admiring its breathtaking design. It may not have pearls like the ones my stepsisters were given, but it is unique and stunning.

“You should wear it right away,” Lirith encourages. “I’ll serve our mistresses their lunch while you change.”

“Won't Lady Margarth be mad if I’m not in uniform?” I ask hesitantly. I don't want to get into trouble.

“Not when there are no foreign guests around and we'll keep out of her way.” she winks.

I agree eagerly and rushes off to the servant quarters.

After slipping into the stunning dress, I marvel at how it hugs my figure perfectly, even more beautifully than I had imagined. I take a moment to straighten my hair, letting it cascade down my shoulders in soft waves. Feeling a rush of confidence, I leave the quarters, not wanting Lirith to shoulder all the work alone.

As I make my way to my stepsisters quaters I receive compliments from several servants. A small child even calls me a princess .

However, that happiness quickly fades when I encounter King Atticus walking down the hallway with two of his officials. They glance at me, but he passes by as if he hadn’t seen me at all.

Yesterday when he had choosen not to give me to his alpha brother I had developed this stupid hopefull thinking that maybe deep down he feels something for me, his mate. But then I later realized, he doesn't really love me, but instead sees me as an option and an item that he doesn't want anyone else to have.

Close to my stepsisters' quarters, I hear a cacophony of shouting.

I hurry down the corridor, my heart racing. Just before I reach the door, a voice pierces the air.

"You are the most despicable creatures I've ever met!" Lilith's voice echoes, filled with fury. "King Atticus must be cursed to choose such loathsome beings like you! You embody everything that is unworthy of a throne!"

I freeze as Lilith continues, "I hope he realizes Agatha is his rightful mate and comes to his senses before he binds himself to vile creatures like you!"

Shocked, I flung open the door. My stepsisters stand there, mouths agape, staring at Lilith in disbelief.

"And you can both draw your stupid baths from today," Lilith huffs as she storms out.

I am left in a stare down with my stepsisters until Penelope speaks. "You are King Atticus's mate?"