shuhaige
Disappointment (4)
Alkrevas secretly snapped his fingers out of Luna’s sight. He erected a transparent barrier so no one could see what was happening behind it. From the outside, all anyone would see was a black wall, but from the inside, both Luna and Alkrevas could see what was happening outside. This illusion was designed to make Luna believe that the public mating was ongoing. The black wall also manipulated the minds of those looking at it, hypnotizing them into thinking they had witnessed the public mating, even though they couldn’t recall any specific details of it.
Alkrevas was forced to do this after the Court Council refused his request to only make a public claim without conducting the public mating. He didn’t want to showcase Luna in front of everyone. Her body, her voice, her moans, her tears, even the look in her eyes-these were things only he was allowed to witness-no one else.
This was why the people present were confused when the ceremony ended; they were sure it had taken place but couldn’t remember any details. So when he snapped his fingers again to remove the transparent barrier, Alkrevas had already predicted their reactions. He smiled in satisfaction. He should never have tried negotiating with the Court Council in the first place and should have chosen this path from the start. The Council got what they wanted, and he didn’t have to expose Luna’s body, which belonged only to him, to the eyes of other men, who he knew would look at her with lust. Besides, the fact that they had witnessed the marking of his claim on Luna was more than enough.
He believed Luna wasn’t guilty of what they accused her of, and when Alkrevas connected with Luna’s mind as their bond was restored, his faith was not in vain.
…
Alkrevas slowly opened his eyes and looked at Sigmund. This plan was known only to Sigmund, as his chief aide had played a significant role in the plan by suggesting various aspects of the ritual that wouldn’t raise suspicion when the plan was executed-such as preparing the throne room as if the event were to occur, placing mana stones at specific points, and more.
Alkrevas dismissed Sigmund’s words. The secrecy of the plan, especially keeping it from Luna, was crucial since its success depended on Luna’s reaction. It would have raised suspicions if she appeared too calm or seemed to be pretending. “Will you eventually tell Miss Luna and Duke Veniam about all this, Your Majesty? They have the right to know, and they also deserve to understand why you agreed to the Court Council’s demand for public mating.”
Sigmund was right. Both had the right to know what happened and understand why Alkrevas agreed to those bastards’ demands for public mating.
“I don’t know.” He rested his head against the sofa and stared at the ceiling adorned with a crystal chandelier. The rumours about Luna would be dispelled by going through with the public mating, proving she was loyal to him and providing evidence to the Court Council that Luna was indeed his soulmate. Additionally, it would silence those who belittled Luna and tried to remove her from her position as his consort.
Like Marquis Cirillo, who spreads rumours about an engagement between him and Amelia Cirillo or gossip about his relationship with General Thea. Or the pressure to make Luna merely a concubine and not the empress. By agreeing, the Court Council’s support for Luna would become strong, and power-hungry individuals could no longer shake her position.
In hindsight, his previous belief that his soulmate would occupy the empress position and that there would be no opposition because it was the decision of the Moon Goddess was naive. In reality, it wasn’t as simple as he had imagined. If he acted arbitrarily or used Alpha Command at every turn, it would lose the people’s trust and respect. Although the people knew him as a tyrant, they trusted his decisions.
“Your Majesty…”
“Sigmund, I’m used to being hated.”
“But Miss Luna is your soulmate, your other half, and the woman who will become your empress. If she hates you, what about you and your wolf’s soul?”
“Do you remember what Luna said to me? The traitor is inside my palace. What could be better than approaching Luna when our relationship is strained? Exploiting Luna’s hatred for me would make it easy for the traitor to hurt me; nothing is more effective than using my weakness against me, right? Besides, only when that woman is by my side can I lower my guard. Brainwashing a mortal filled with hatred is not complicated.”
“What about Duke Veniam?”
“Markus… he’s my concern; you don’t need to worry about him. You know Markus has a sharp mind; right now, he’s just overwhelmed by anger. When his mind clears, he’ll understand the true situation.”
“Your Majesty… if that’s the case, then use me. Let me be the bait for the traitor. Don’t use Miss Luna. You’ve lived alone for so long; what will happen if…” Sigmund clamped his mouth shut when he received a signal from Alkrevas to be quiet.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“Sigmund, your loyalty and concern for me are invaluable, but this time we must think beyond expectations. I am an Emperor, and the lives of my people are my responsibility. If I have to sacrifice my life and future, that’s what I’ll do. If I have to use my own soulmate, that’s what I’ll do. Anything could happen, even the possibility that you are the traitor aiding those two witches cannot be ruled out.” Sigmund immediately knelt and swore his loyalty to Alkrevas.
“And if you haven’t noticed, the traitor has already begun to show their fangs after the public mating.”
“Your Majesty…”
“I am a tyrant, a cruel emperor. So now, shut your mouth, and let’s get back to the meeting room. We need to deal with the Goblin issue before I see my Luna again, because there’s a punishment I need to give her.”
Sigmund sighed heavily. He didn’t know what the Emperor meant by ‘punishment’ because he didn’t know what Miss Luna had done to deserve it. Still, whatever it was, he felt sorry for Miss Luna, who had become the object of the tyrant Emperor’s obsession.
……….