The war had already lasted about six months. It began with the threat from the Kingdom of Roham over our lands, as my father, the King of Neopolita, was not willing to share our supplies, claiming that winter was coming and we would be left without food if we gave up a portion to the neighboring nation that sought to trade for provisions for the colder season.
Our forces against the warrior people were not enough. Fief by fief, they lost their territories; the farms were seized, the food stolen, and there was no longer a way to feed our army, which had to retreat—if they did not die of hunger, they would die by the sword of our enemies. My war strategies were summarily dismissed as my father listened to the council of elders, ignoring the ideas of his own offspring. And the more territory we lost, the more desperate the King became.
Now the army was arriving at our capital city, Neolia; there were no more defenses beyond the great reinforced gate in the city wall. The soldiers tried to hold out as long as they could. They were fighting for our people while the nobles trembled in the great hall of the palace, merely waiting for the worst.
— We cannot simply let these barbarians invade us so easily. — the king said angrily. Even though "barbarian" was a strong word to use, since our enemies were far from fitting that label; however, how could I blame the ruler for being desperate? The place was filled with fearful and cowardly nobles, the sumptuous hall displaying the enormous wealth and power of the Demaceno royal family... Tapestries of wars from times of glory adorned the walls, windows with stained glass depicting the history of generations, and portraits of former kings and queens who had triumphed throughout history. Yet, that all seemed to have come to an end in my father's reign.
— My lord, we have no more provisions. These "barbarians" burned everything and subdued our army. Now they are destroying our barriers. The gate will last less than three hours. — said the head of the guard, hopelessly. My role was that of an observer in this sea of impending tragedy. It didn't seem like we had any chance. The war against Roham had lasted too long, and now they were advancing overwhelmingly into our territory. They were relentless, and we would no longer have the opportunity to turn the tide. The counselors and elders ended up believing in strategies aimed at minimizing economic loss for the region, which led to this disastrous defeat.
— My father, I believe we should surrender, offer a concession so that the people suffer as little harm as possible. Let them in and give them the crown. — My voice was relatively heard; even as an omega, we did not distinguish by gender, so I would be next in the royal succession. But now we would either become ordinary citizens or simply die before the people, signaling the end of the lineage.
— There is no way I will accept something like that. I will not surrender to those Roham bastards. — He was so irrational that he couldn't understand that the royal city would be completely burned if we did nothing. That alpha man whom I once admired, sitting on the throne with the iron and gold crown forged through generations, that supposed king who swore before the gods to save his people—the coward in power with his white hair and tired gaze. So petty.
— Sir, I agree with Prince Seyrim. There is no way we can hold out, and the longer we delay our response, the more people will die. — War was relentless, and our commander knew that, having already experienced it several times. He was an old alpha full of experience but still had to follow orders.
— I can't die; I don't want to die. — The king seemed to suddenly lose his mind, pulling the crown from his own head and pressing it against my chest, forcefully thrusting his burden onto the son standing by his side. — You will take on this responsibility; you will die for these people, Seyrim. — The man's shrill voice betrayed his insanity.
The king simply headed toward the passage behind the throne. The nobles ran after him; royal guards accompanied my father with chests filled with their precious treasures already prepared for a possible escape. I merely watched him flee dishonorably. I placed the crown upon my head—that fused piece of gold and iron had an enormous weight.
— Open the gates and let them in. Say that we surrender and tell them I am willing to give myself up and die for my people. — I stated with authority. Of course I was afraid; I didn't want to die. I was only twenty-two years old; I hadn't lived enough. However, it was the price I was willing to pay for the people who lived in that place.
The head of the guard left to deliver the message; some guards followed him. Who would have thought—I would go down in history as the king who ruled for at most a few hours until his country was taken. My father would be called a coward because those who told the story would be the victors.
My father was a true coward. I had always thought him weak; since my mother left, returning to her country of origin, that man was never the same again, surrendering to the pleasures of flesh, drink, and food, ruling only for himself. So it was no surprise that he fled so shamefully.
It took about half an hour for those men and women from Roham to enter the hall, laughing, joking among themselves in celebration of their victory. They all had dark skin and hair arranged in diverse and beautiful hairstyles, predominantly brown; most were strong and extremely tall. I knew they were of an alpha hierarchy, a warrior people, devoted to war and horseback battle, boasting the best cavalry army of the five kingdoms. However, their lands had not been blessed for agriculture, so they did not have enough food. The declaration of war stemmed mainly from the lack of resources, which was why they had been conquering our territories over these months with the aim of sustaining their people.
My father refused to make an agreement because of the winter that would reduce our supplies. He was a stupid and selfish man who seemed unable to see that we could survive that hard time with little, but his indulgences were more important than sharing bread and avoiding battle. The price we paid was high; now I stood before the victorious enemies.
I rose from the throne as the ruler of my country, seeing the leader approach me. He was strong, wearing a plate armor predominantly in red and black; he didn't take long to remove his helmet, revealing a square face and light honey-colored eyes. He was quite tall, and the scent of his pheromones was strong, aiming to impose all his dominance as he entered that place.
— So you finally decided to surrender? And the king is smaller than I imagined. — The man said in his deep voice. I simply took off the crown and extended it toward the alpha, who grasped it with a smug smile, fully aware of his victory, expressing it in his features.
— I am Seyrim of Demaceno, King of Neopolita, and I am handing over all the riches, territories, and my crown to the King of Roham. I do not intend to fight and will die with honor if that is your will, but I only ask that the people be allowed to live and retain their freedom. Let the only blood spilled be mine. — I tried to keep my voice firm for my convictions. Even in the face of death, I would not falter.
— Hoho, we have someone of extreme courage and honor; we appreciate that in Roham. — His tone was serious despite the sarcastic smile. — My name is Yurick Lion's Tooth, King of Roham, and now this territory is officially part of my kingdom. I will grant your request, Seyrim of Demaceno, but instead of dying, you will serve me. I bet that with your charisma and intellectual acuity, you must be loved by your people. You will be my spouse in this kingdom, and I promise that no one will perish. You will be my concubine here and will help me gain influence in every corner of the Neopolita kingdom. — That was not a proposal, but a direct order. Of course Yurick did not intend to dominate just one of the continent's kingdoms; his goal was to seize every piece of land he could. An expansionist.
Even before such a lustful bastard, I remained properly serious; it was politics. However, death would only be an option if it were to help my people, and as that was not the case, I would remain alive.
I don't know if I delayed in responding, but the gaze of his soldiers, the surrender of my guard throwing their swords to the ground—they were symbols that I had lost everything I had known since childhood and now would serve the King of Roham. I was loved by my people, and all longed for my coronation, which was quite brief; perhaps with that influence, I could turn the tide.
— I accept your proposal. — It wasn't exactly an option.
— Of course you do. — The alpha laughed when he said that, as if everything had gone as he desired—it must have, after all. Yurick turned to his guards and smiled. — Today we will celebrate, my brothers! We will feast on the food of the kingdom we conquered with merit and honor. The guards may join us if they wish to continue being my subordinates or abandon their posts and go to their families—I don't care. Today there will be no more bloodshed. — Apparently, the king was keeping his promise. Some guards left, but most decided to stay and swear loyalty to the new king. Many of the "barbarians" went to fetch food and drinks from the castle's stores, bringing them to the great hall to celebrate.
— Let me guess—your father fled and left you the crown, and a handful of nobles went after him thinking they could save themselves. — Yurick walked over to me, sitting on the throne, letting his tired body fall into the royal chair. His armor told a story of battle; blood stained parts of the metal, blade marks scarred others. The smell of sweat was strong; that alpha had not rested for a moment until the end. — I'll tell you now: cry all you want, but your father will not survive, nor will the nobles. Besides, every treasure that man has belongs to me.
— That's fine; I figured that would happen when my father turned his back and fled. — I don't know if it was the coldness in my voice, but the alpha seemed surprised by my words, letting out an amused laugh. — I do not intend to celebrate. I'll go to my chambers. — I just wanted to leave the place and let them do whatever they wanted in the hall.
— Then show me our chambers. — The alpha stood up, gave some orders to his general to continue the celebrations, and followed by my side. That bothered me; within a few hours, I was king, suddenly I hand over the crown, I'm betrothed to someone I've never seen before. Not that I ever had the illusion of marrying for love—that was nothing more than the stuff of bards and minstrels, who used popular belief in passion to create their deceitful songs. Still, there was a political custom that allowed me to at least know and court my partner; now I had to submit to the current situation because of the weakness of those rulers.
— What is really going to happen to me? — I asked as we passed through a long, empty corridor. The statues of ancient soldiers were part of the architecture; the huge windows allowed the late afternoon light to enter. The predominant colors in that wing were blue and white, the colors of Neopolita's flag, in contrast to the black and red of Roham.
— You will simply officially announce the handover of the crown to me, help in the diplomatic acquisition of more distant regions, teach me the culture and geography of your kingdom and the language of the former queen's realm, for that is the next place I intend to invade. — Yurick spoke with unshakable and irritating confidence. — And fulfill your duties as a spouse.
— And if I refuse the latter... will you use violence? — I asked directly and coldly.
The reaction was unexpected. The man grabbed my wrist and pinned my body against the wall, staring into my face.
— I don't mind being violent, but I don't want to leave marks on your skin, much less permanent bruises, so I don't intend to force you to lie with me. — Despite being indulgent, the tone sounded like a feline threat. — But don't forget that I'm being merciful. If you know the story of Roham, our leaders don't usually leave royal or noble prisoners alive, and you are an exception. If I'm sparing your soldiers, it's because I granted your request, so don't displease me or even test my patience, little Seyrim. — Roham approached dangerously. — Don't worry, I know very well how to please an omega. — He murmured against my ear, sending slight shivers through my body. — Especially a rare jewel.
— Don't be petulant. — I place my hand on his chest, pushing him away softly. — I'm neither immature nor naive enough to think I wouldn't be lying by your side every night, but keep in mind that each act will be nothing more than an obligation to my people and my kingdom. As your spouse, I am still at the top of this city's hierarchy, and you owe me due respect.
Yurick laughed at my response, seeming amused at my expense, which made my cheeks flush almost to the point of bursting. I tried to remain firm, but it hadn't been the best way to approach the situation.
— You're right, as my spouse you still hold a position of power, just don't forget that it's beneath mine. — The alpha continued walking, only pausing to look at me. — Come, show me where our room is, your majesty. And don't worry, I won't hurt you. My policy is to injure only when on the battlefield; inside this castle, you can be sure I won't touch you violently.
I didn't know if I should believe Yurick, but his gaze told me he was being sincere, which made me take a few steps forward in his direction. The feeling of always being behind, at a lower level, wasn't pleasant. I wondered if at some point I would walk by his side. Either way, I didn't intend to remain in that situation and be his spouse passively. The alpha could be kind, but he was still the war enemy who had invaded our kingdom. I would contact my mother's kingdom to warn them about the possible attack; they could prepare and help me escape. I just needed a safe way for the letter to reach the castle.
The room we entered was the most beautiful and luxurious in the entire castle, located in the north tower of the palace. There was a balcony that provided a privileged view of the garden, which was currently full of yellow flowers. The predominant colors in the room were the same as the kingdom's flag. The enormous bed stood on a higher platform with three steps, and it had a canopy. There was a mirror with a vanity and jewelry, trunks with clothes, and others in a huge wardrobe, all tailor-made for my father. Yurick began tearing down every fabric, clothing, and tapestry that belonged to the former king, throwing everything onto the rug in the middle of the room. That place was clean thanks to the maintenance team that had come earlier, so it didn't have the smell of beer and butter-roasted pork that the former king sometimes ate in his bed.
— The castle's colors will soon change, your clothing will change; that will show who is in command now. — It was the kind of symbolic domination that dictators who conquered new territories needed to assert. Yurick was merely doing what he'd been taught, to have the greatest control and presence in the place. Roham's clothes were usually much more form-fitting, the dark garments always revealed some part of the body, exalting their beauty regardless of form—be it thin, fat, tall, short, strong, and so on. I would have to wear all that, tie my long hair in a ponytail like the Roheians did, put earrings on my ears and navel, wear bracelets on my bare arm—that would be my life now. I'd be Yurick's ornament, serving to make his life of domination as smooth and unproblematic as possible.
In the midst of my thoughts, I didn't notice that the king was undressing, leaving his body exposed. Strong and firm muscles, his hair was braided, and when he let it down, it nearly reached his firm and large buttocks. Earrings adorned him—on his ears, eyebrow, and navel—they were somehow harmonious. There were several battle scars, but the deepest was on his back; it didn't seem like anyone normal could have survived such a precise cut.
— It was my brother. — Yurick noticed my gaze on his body, especially his back. — I banished him soon after this act of treason. — He added without going into details. I averted my gaze because it was extremely rude to stare at someone else's completely naked body. The alpha smirked upon noticing my shyness, walking unabashedly towards the bathtub that stood in a special area with marble columns and the pool right in the center. He entered as if he were in his own home—and he truly was. — A bath after a battle is the best feeling. Come, join me.
I approached slowly, not wanting to expose myself on the first day—we weren't married yet.
— Is that an order? — I asked, my tone slightly defiant.
— No, a request. — Yurick leaned back more, relaxing his body, and I could see his member in the murky water; large was the first thought that crossed my mind. I let out the breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My heart shifted from its normal pace to an intense and accelerated rhythm. I removed my clothes slowly, letting them fall onto the black marble floor with yellow details. Unlike the people of Roham, in my kingdom we wore many layers of fabric, and removing them now seemed incredibly difficult. When I finally stripped off the last piece, I didn't just feel naked in front of the alpha—I felt completely exposed in my nudity and soul.
— No scars, no battle marks. — Yurick extended his hand to help me down. I politely refused and entered carefully, sitting on the step beside him, but not too close.
— I'm better up here. — I pointed to my head. It was true. — I can be more useful than just a simple guide or ornament in your hands, Yurick. If you allow me to participate in managing the wars, I'm sure my knowledge can be useful.
— And it will be, but not in private rooms listening to our strategies. I don't trust you, just as I know you don't trust me. What exists between us is merely a convenient arrangement, and you are aware of that, so don't think I'm underestimating your mind. On the contrary—I know you're intelligent, I know you only didn't defeat my army because your father didn't listen to you. I had spies here who know very well what you're capable of, Seyrim, so I won't entrust my strategies to someone who has the ability to turn the game around, no matter how beneficial it might seem. — Yurick seemed completely serious. I felt proud that my intellectual abilities were recognized, but not at all comfortable knowing that someone had betrayed us—and even less that I couldn't use this intelligence to safely leave the kingdom and warn my mother about the weaknesses of the man beside me.
— Your caution hinders my plans. — I smiled more softly with the joke, wanting to divert the subject. I could just let myself be carried by the current. — What do you intend to do after conquering all the kingdoms?
— To be the Emperor and unify the continent, turning it into a strong nation under a single flag, giving the people the food they need, dividing the bread equally, and ending the nobility that thinks it can have everything for itself. — His words were strong and firm, even if they sounded no more than a childish dream. Yet it was slowly becoming a reality. I knew that Roham's kingdom had militarism as something powerful and strong, that it was a warrior people who had not been blessed with abundance—scarcity was part of that community's landscape. History showed that the kingdom had tried agreements and implemented various systems to improve the soil and environment around it, even building the road that interconnected the continent, but it was destroyed and many died. Now Roham used its power to get what it lacked, imposing its leadership.
— Through strength and death. — Even murmuring, the other seemed to have heard.
— Yes, through strength and death. It's the sacrifice of killing ten thousand to feed a million. — His convictions were the strongest and most powerful I had ever seen; his ideals were beautiful, but I didn't think they were anything more than mere idealization. — And you will help me. — Yurick took my hand and kissed the tips of my fingers, looking at my face with his beautiful and nonchalant smile.
— There is no choice. — There was—and I would use it to ensure that all those efforts were broken and his childish game ended right there. I didn't believe in his empire, especially because alphas had been corrupted for much less...