“Then you are refusing?”
In the silence that followed, Ana dared not to look anywhere else but at her father’s face. Although he was usually impassive at court events, rage had twisted and reddened his face, making him more expressive than usual. His feelings were clear—he didn’t want this man to have access to her, but when he did not immediately answer yes, Ana’s heart began to pound.
“Good,” the outlaw said, gruffly. “The repayment terms for your debt are three consecutive nights with the princess, dusk until dawn, in a room in the palace with an east facing window. I’m sure you have a room suitable.”
With each word from his mouth, Ana’s panic grew. Her gaze remained on her father, unable to believe that he hadn’t outright refused.
“Tonight will be the first night. At dawn after the third night, your debt will be paid.” As Maddoc turned, his dark eyes slid to Ana. At his intense gaze, goosebumps erupted over her skin and a nervous quiver skittered down her spine, but then within a moment, his back was to her as he made his way down the hall.
Although the guards continued to surround him, escorting him out, it was clear who was in control of the situation now.
Everyone remained in their seats after the outlaw exited, which was unusual for the court.
Ana wouldn’t have been able to move, even if she wanted to. It was difficult to draw breath, and a persistent throbbing filled her ears. She rubbed her knuckles into her legs, her eyes on her father as she tried to calm herself. Father had to have some kind of plan.
“Explain why you didn’t arrest him?” The same nobleman rose again, breaking the stunned silence that had fallen over the court. “You promised us he would be captured today.”
“Did you not hear what just happened?” another man on the opposite side of the hall shot back. “He’s owed the Royal Promise.”
“So he says,” the nobleman argued back. “Since when do we believe the word of a criminal and outlaw? He could have simply observed that incident. There is nothing to prove he was the one who helped the king.”
“We will know shortly,” the king said, his voice low. The troubled expression on his face fanned the concern in Ana’s gut. “And it will be announced once confirmed. In the meantime, I want the hall cleared. Only the royal court must stay.”
A low babble of noise increased as people rose from their seats. The royal court consisted of the extended household of the royal family as well as nobility connected to them and their advisers.
The commoners and the lesser nobles, who had attended the hearing, filtered out quickly, but those of the royal houses remained. Ana stayed in her seat, avoiding looking at anyone while the apprehension in her chest smoldered.
“You need to discuss this with the houses, not just your court, Your Majesty,” Duke Milo of House Sterling said, as the hall cleared. “This is not just a ruling family matter. It affects all of us.”
“Agreed,” called Duke Aldous of House Redcrest.
Ana tried hard to not look over to where House Redcrest sat. The Alpha she was betrothed to, Duke Ryden, was no doubt in attendance, and although they usually tried to catch each other’s eyes after court hearings, she couldn’t bear to look at him right now.
The king held up his hand as the other houses called out their agreement. “I will discuss with my advisers first and then call for the royal assembly.”
“No,” Duke Aldous said, bluntly. “This is something we should all decide.”
The king’s expression soured further. “My daughter is not up for open discussion, Aldous.”
“That isn’t the only topic to be discussed, Your Majesty,” Duke Milo interjected. “For example, how did you fail to mention that there was an unidentified man who aided you when you were attacked?”
“No. It is more important we discuss what will happen if Maddoc is indeed owed the promise.” Duke Everard of House Goldfrost said. “And what the implications of that will be.”
“The implications will be disastrous!” one of the dukes from House Redcrest called out. “If he is allowed what he wants, it will undermine the years of effort and careful planning that has gone into maintaining the royal line.”
“Are you suggesting that he will impregnate her?” the king asked, his tone tense. “Because there are ways to prevent that.”
“If he lays with her at all, it is an insult to royal line,” Duke Aldous pointed out. “He’s not just a criminal and a commoner, he is also a bastard. His tainted blood and seed should not go anywhere near the princess.”
Ana forced herself not to wince at the man’s words, but she was inclined to agree.
“Besides which,” he continued, “she is an Omega. Our most precious dynamic. She must be protected from this obvious attempt to damage our ability to progress the royal line.”
Yes, of course, that was also a concern. One of the expectations that weighed heavily on Ana was for her to uphold the reputation and traits of Omegas. Since Omegas were only ever born to royals, there weren’t many who existed—most of the population consisted of Alphas and Betas. Even though she wasn’t the only Omega in the kingdom, she was expected to set the standard in everything she did since her family was currently the ruling royalty. She’d met only two other Omegas born to two of the royal houses when they joined her lessons on the Omega dynamic. It had been nice to meet other girls her age who were also considered unique, but she hadn’t seen them again. As Milly explained in her lessons after, neither of them were truly in her position, since she was the only Omega who was part of the ruling family. And that made her more important.
“Then we break the Royal Promise?” a woman said from the other side of the hall; it looked like she sat with House Villemore. “Is that what you’re suggesting? Do you know what kind of problem that would cause for us?”
“Tell me,” the king said, but the tone in his voice suggested he was well aware.
The woman rose to her feet. Ana tried to remember her name as she spoke—she had studied all the royal houses and members of the families within them, but this woman didn’t speak often at court events. “The commoners do not think of Maddoc as we do,” she began. “Some of them agree with his intentions, even if they don’t agree with his actions. If they know he saved your life and you didn’t honor the Royal Promise, it will destroy their belief in the crown.”
“So we let him fuck his way around the royal family to appease them?” Aldous shot out sharply. “Is that what you are saying? Who will he ask for next? My daughter? Yours? The quee—”
“May I ask that my daughter be excused before we continue to discuss this any further,” the queen said stiffly, rising to her feet.
Ana’s face burned hotter at the various expressions that turned her way; pity, curiosity, indifference, muted glee… She rejected all of them. All she wanted to know was if her father was going to allow it. She stopped fidgeting and sat up straighter.
The duke nodded, his eyebrows raised as he looked at Ana “Of c-course, m-my apologies, Princess Ana.”
Ana forced herself not to shrink into her chair and inclined her head. “No need to apologize, Aldous. I have no intention of leaving.”