Chapter Three: The Prince's Proposal

(Kaelia's POV)

The melted coin of the sun within the sky marked the birthday of the Prince. A day of excess, of strained smiles, and, if rumor were truth, a day of reckoning for Prince Alarion. I lay in bed with a gut-wrenching sense of expectation twisting in my stomach, a foolish glimmer of hope teetering on the edge of reality. He wouldn't find a mate today. He shouldn't. how stupid and selfish of me, to wish the Prince would not meet anyone so I can go on with my pathetic crush on him. Let me just say I'm delighted because I convinced myself that I was the first person to wish him a happy birthday.

It was a stupid thought, I knew. An Alpha Prince needs a mate, needs to continue the line, needs to... well, needed someone other than me, a lowly servant masquerading as a Beta. But my heart, for shame, did not listen to reason very often.

The kitchen was a whirlpool of managed chaos, chuming pots, and the nose-numbing aroma of spices. I navigated the throng, a ghost among advancing bodies, peeling vegetables, gathering ingredients, and trying to shut out the snippets of conversation that drifted my way.

"He's thirty-one today, you know." Getting on a bit for an unmated Alpha," one of the rotund cooks gossiped, her rich voice heavy with disdain.

"Perhaps he's waiting for a specific Omega," another servant giggled, being playfully pushed.

"Or perhaps," a harsh voice cut in, "he's just too picky. They say he sniffs at every Omega presented to him."

I winced, my knuckles tightening on the paring knife. Each sentence was like a series of tiny pinpricks, popping the fragile balloon of my hopes.

The banquet began at noon, a glinting show of royal pomp. The King, hard and commanding, sat at the head table. Beside him, Prince Alarion, every inch the kingly Alpha, his jaw set, his gaze ranging over the guests. He has blue eyes, I hadn't known… or I haven't gotten a glimpse yet to have looked at him long enough to have noticed the color of his eyes. Then the Queen herself, stately and gracious, and Prince Casian, already mated and oozing an easy confidence which his brother didn't seem to possess.

My duty kept me racing back and forth down the hall, filling goblets, removing plates, a quiet witness to the drama. Every time I caught sight of Alarion, my heart missed a beat. He was stunning in his formal clothes, the silver embroidery glinting, emphasizing the angles of his face. But he was also. unhappy. Drained. Or perhaps I'm seeing too much.

As the night wore on, things became more raucous. The wine was spilled with abandon, laughing was coming from the hallway, and the hushed tones were more daring. I saw Councilman Marius, the King's right hand man, stooping to talk with Alarion, his voice too low for me to catch, but his expression stern. Whatever it was, something was certain, Prince Alaric did not end up finding a mate. That shouldn't be bringing me as much joy as it's actually bringing me.

Eventually, with the arrival of twilight when the sky became orange and purple, the party decelerated. Exhaustion pulled at me, pressing heavily upon my shoulders. I simply longed to collapse onto my small room. But before that could occur, came the clearing up.

By the time I'd completed, the great hall was almost deserted. Only a few stragglers remained, slumped in their chairs, drinking the last of the wine. I gathered the discarded plates, the remnants of a banquet I hadn't truly enjoyed, my head still replaying the image of Alaric's distressed face.

As I headed towards the kitchens, a figure crossed my way. It was Theron, Alarion's personal assistant, a tall Alpha with a sadistic smile that always seemed to be stuck on his face. He's been bullying me since forever.

"Well, well, what do we have here," he sneered, his gaze raking over me. "The little Beta runt. Still working, are you?"

I tried to move away from him, but he intercepted me, his body crowding out mine. "Just trying to do my job," I said quietly, keeping my face down.

"Your job? Pathetic. You wouldn't even qualify to clean the kennels." He stepped closer, his fingers inches from my skin as he wrapped them around my arm in a grip like a vice. "You know, I've been considering something to discuss with you. You've been growing a little too close to the Prince of late, haven't you? You served him tea last night, at midnight, without a direct order to do so from him or from me."

Apprehension twisted in my belly. "I don't know what you're speaking of," I stammered, trying to retreat.

He held me tighter, his smile twisting. "Don't play dumb with me, little Beta. Learn your place and stay there, don't try to think yourself so great. Stop stalking the Prince, stalking him would get you in some high-end, high-paying job." I almost gasped. He knew. How did he know? What else does he know? Does he know I followed the prince into the woods? "I'm only telling you this because I like your virgin-looking face. How do you even manage to look this pretty as a Beta? Makes me want to eat you whole." He droned on and on.

"Let me go," I whispered.

"Or what? You gonna cry to your mommy?" He sneered, his voice harsh and grating.

Something inside of me snapped. Years of repressed anger, of fear and humiliation, bubbled up in a fit of rage. I pulled my arm free, shoving him back with a fury I didn't know I possessed. He staggered, his eyes wide with shock.

"Leave me alone," I hissed, shaking.

He pulled back hastily, his face contorted in rage. "You little shithead! You think you can treat me like that?" He struck at me, fist balled.

I avoided, sidestepping his blow, and kicked out with my foot, hitting him on the shin. He shrieked in pain, holding onto his leg. I made my escape, determined to get out of there.

But he was faster than I thought. He tackled me from behind, and we crashed to the ground together. He pinned me there, his body squishing the breath from my lungs.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson you'll never forget," he snarled, raising his fist.

"Theron! What's all this?"

A booming voice sounded like a whip crack down the hallway.

My heart leapt. Prince Alarion.

Theron froze, his fist raised in the air. Panic flashed across his lips, then he sprang to his feet, his tunic smoothed as if thereby, the moment might be erased.

I was still there, gasping, the marble floor cold upon my back.

Prince Alarion drew near us, his face twisted with fury. "Explain yourself, Theron," he snarled, his voice low and threatening.

Theron stammered, "Your Highness, she, she attacked me! She was being insolent."

I struggled to get up, my body aching, but my voice steady. "That is not true," I rasped. "He was bothering me."

Alarion's eyes locked onto mine. His ice-colored moonlit eyes narrowed as they raked over me, from head to toe. My bedraggled hair, my trembling limbs—it all spoke a graphic story.

His face darkened. He turned on Theron. "I do not believe it. I've seen your tactics before. I will not tolerate bullying among my people."

Theron's face went pale. "But Your Highness—"

"You are dismissed," Alarion told him, his voice icy. "As of today."

Theron's eyes widened in shock. "But what about my position?"

"Take that as lost," the Prince replied shortly. "Now leave."

Theron gave a final deadly glare, his pride ripped to pieces, and blustered off down the corridor.

The Prince turned to me again. His expression was unreadable as he extended a hand. "Are you alright?"

I hesitated, then deposited it in his. His grip was tight, steadying. He pulled me up without strain.

"Thank you, Your Highness," I whispered, not raising my eyes.

"Kaelia?" he asked gently, using my name as a question.

"Yes," I replied softly.

He nodded slowly. "Kaelia. Tell me—would you be interested in a new position?"

I blinked. "A position? What kind of position?"

He paused, staring at me for a long second. "I need a new personal assistant. Someone I can trust. Someone who is not afraid to say what they think. Someone who doesn't go around bullying others."

His eyes met mine. "Someone like you. Kaelia, you will be my new personal assistant."

The words did not register at first. My heart raced in my chest.

"Your Highness, I… I don't know what to say."

He approached. His presence was overwhelming, yet somehow comforting.

"Say yes, Kaelia."

I looked into his eyes. And saw something I didn't anticipate—loneliness, perhaps. A glimmer of hope. Something more than obligation or command.

And in that moment, I knew I couldn't say no.

"Yes," I whispered. "Yes, Your Highness. I accept."

His lips curled up into a rare, genuine smile. "Good," he replied, his voice gentle now. "Then starting tomorrow, you'll be my personal assistant, Kaelia."

My life had just taken a new turn. A dangerous one. And I let his eyes hypnotize me out of the fear that I should have felt. I did not know what I was involving myself in.