99: 99 She Won't Leave

99 She Won't Leave

0Delia's pov

I was wrong. I thought in my heart.

How could Kral have such gentle and watery eyes? It was the cold gleam of ambition, like a drawn sword. It's just that his gaze was wrapped in a dreamlike atmosphere, using enticing chips like sugar in an attempt to make me yield.

Just like now, he took a small box out of his black robe, holding it in front of me. Then, one of his hands seemingly casually rested on my shoulder, using an irresistible tone, he said, "Open it, Delia."

I looked at the box in his palm. It was a small box that didn't seem to be able to hold much. My fingers moved slightly, and the black box opened, revealing an exquisite silver oval-shaped emblem in front of my eyes. It was pure white in color, like a fallen star in the darkness. On the emblem, the declaration of the werewolf royal family—Responsibility, Honor, and Loyalty—was delicately engraved in gold. On the back was a raised image of a wolf's head. Tiny yellow gems were set in the eyes of the wolf, representing the noble bloodline of the werewolf king.

Without a doubt, this was a badge awarded by the king to the alphas. Typically, it should be worn when a new king ascends the throne and alphas come to the palace to pay their respects. My father would only carefully wear this precious emblem when he visited the palace. It was a symbol of legitimate authority, a sign of the werewolf royal family's trust in the ability and loyalty of the alpha.

"Your Highness, I... I don't understand what you mean," I almost trembled as I held this thing. I had considered leaving Prince Kral. Leaving this place that both fascinated and saddened me, but I never thought of becoming the female alpha of the Red Moon pack.

The Red Moon pack was the place where I grew up since childhood. It was filled with memories of both sadness and happiness. There, I had endured neglect and bullying, and I had even come to believe that it wasn't a place meant for me. The position of alpha would only be given to Bernice's husband or some relative my father favored. And now, Prince Kral said it would be bestowed upon me.

I would possess something of my own. This realization hit my pale mind like a shockwave. At that moment, I suddenly understood the beauty of power.

I sat stiffly in the chair, like a fish caught on a hook, struggling helplessly. At this point, I knew I had completely lost the initiative in negotiations. All the words I had prepared earlier were no longer necessary to be spoken because I had no ability to resist this chip.

Tonight's palace was a cage set by Prince Kral specifically for me, and I unknowingly took the bait.

"Delia, as for the words you said last night, I can pretend I didn't hear anything," Prince Kral said lightly. He reached out and took the silver emblem out of the box. I noticed the emblem was hanging on a blue-black satin ribbon.

"I said, when it's just the two of us, you can call me 'Master'," Prince Kral said slowly as he put it around my neck. The smooth ribbon covered the bite mark he had left on the back of my neck last night. Prince Kral's fingers ambiguously touched my reddened wound, eliciting a shiver down my spine in response.

As if pleased by my reaction, Kral fastened the ribbon with the emblem around my bare neck and kissed my forehead. He looked down into my eyes and spoke softly, "Delia, don't think about leaving me. I've said it before, even if you regret it, I won't let you go."

His gentle and almost tender tone contrasted sharply with his sharp gaze beneath his thick eyebrows, which pierced through me like a sword, instantly reminding me of that rainy day when he held me close as we left. I finally understood the look in his eyes. It was the relentless determination of a beast that would stop at nothing.

Pale yellow golden lilies floated in the dark hall, like seaweed drifting in an endless ocean. The long black walnut table resembled the only small boat on this ocean. Crystal candles burned silently. Kral and I sat at opposite ends of the table, surrounded by boundless silence, and I heard my own weak response.

"I understand, Master."

In response, I received a warm embrace.

…………

"Delia!"

When Vivian pushed open my bedroom door, I was sitting by the window, looking at the emblem on my neck.

"Vivian? Do you need something from me?" When I saw Vivian's face, I felt like I was seeing my innocent self from the past, and I couldn't help but smile gently.

"Delia! Can't I come see you if there's no reason?" Vivian pouted childishly. Her platinum blonde hair was a tangled mess, clearly not properly combed. "I just wanted to see you, Delia." She pounced towards me, hugging my knees like a little puppy, her clear emerald eyes radiating an innocent and charming light.

"So, you had Susanna sent away just to make time to meet me?" The bell on my wrist tinkled lightly as I chuckled and smoothed her disheveled hair.

“Humph, I hate Susanna and those maids. They're so timid and always causing me trouble. It's so annoying!" Vivian pouted.

After Vivian's identity was exposed, more and more people in the palace disliked her. They didn't like having the scent of another being in the palace. But as a witch, I believed Vivian had enough abilities to protect herself from harm, so I had been ignoring her situation for a while. I hadn't realized that her relationship with Susanna and the maids had deteriorated so much.

"Vivian, have you been mistreated?" I furrowed my brows, looking at Vivian with a hint of sadness. I knew she didn't have to endure the malice of others, but she chose to enter the werewolf palace because of me. I suspected that Vivian had not been living a happy life, which might be one of her reasons for wanting to leave.

"Yeah." Vivian seemed to recall something and suddenly averted her gaze. A cute pink blush appeared on her cheeks, and her tone carried hesitation. "Not exactly, there are some people who are nice to me, like you, and... Alen."

The last word was so vague that it was almost indistinct.

"Oh, those things don't matter!" Vivian shook her head, her eyes wide with anticipation as she looked at me. "Delia, have you decided whether you'll leave with me?"

I fell silent.

My fingers involuntarily touched the emblem on my neck. Avoiding Vivian's expectant gaze, I lowered my voice with a heavy tone, "Vivian, I can't leave. Kral won't let me go."

The blue-black satin ribbon around my neck should have felt smooth against my skin, but it always gave me the sensation of being constricted, as if I were struggling to breathe.

I avoided Vivian's disappointed gaze.

"But what about that vampire? What will you do if you meet him again?" Vivian asked urgently.

"Tomorrow, I'll be heading to the Red Moon pack with Kral. He will be by my side the whole time," I forced myself to say, suppressing the discomfort in my heart.

"Delia! The battlefield is dangerous! Leave with me..." Vivian was about to say more when a stern voice from outside the door interrupted her.

"She won't leave!"

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