Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1661 - 103 : Feeling Sidelined

*Briella*

The palace was buzzing with activity. It was no longer just the construction outside. A symphony of anticipation for the ball had taken over everything within the walls. I wove through the organized chaos, feeling a surge of energy at being amidst it all. "Need any help here?" I asked one of the chefs, who was artfully arranging a platter of succulent roasted pheasant.

"Your Majesty," he began with a reverent bow, his eyes wide as if I had offered to forge the crown jewels myself. "There’s no need for you to dirty your hands. We have it well in hand."

It wasn’t the response I wanted, but I pushed on, determined to be more than just a spectator in my own palace. I approached a group of planners, their heads bent over scrolls and diagrams. "Is there anything I can do to assist?" I offered eagerly.

"Luna Briella," the head planner said, her tone gentle yet firm, "you’ve already given us your vision of rich blues and silvers and stars adorning every corner. We’re bringing it to life for you. Please, there’s no need for you to concern yourself with the details."

I tried to press further and convince them that I was not above work and I craved involvement. "But surely–"

"Your Majesty," she interrupted with a sympathetic smile, "a queen shouldn’t trouble herself with such things. You have given us the direction, and it is our responsibility to follow it. Is there anything else we can do for you?"

Their words, meant to comfort me, instead weighed heavy on my heart. It was true. I had chosen the colors and expressed my wishes, but now it felt as though I had been set aside like a child after giving her input on a game. My shoulders sagged, a crestfallen sigh escaping my lips. What use was a title if I couldn’t even partake in shaping the event?

“No. No, there’s nothing else. Thank you. I’m sure you’ll put together a lovely ball.”

I turned away, wandering through the bustling workers and the growing splendor of the decorations. The vibrancy of the ballroom dimmed before my eyes, the excitement souring. I wondered if my role had been reduced to merely nodding and smiling while others made everything happen around me. My footsteps echoed hollowly as I drifted to the edges of the revelry, feeling more like an outsider in my own domain than ever before.

I wandered the corridors of the palace, my footsteps a lonely cadence in the expanse of gilded walls and marbled floors. The farther I strayed from the ballroom’s clamor, the quieter it became until the only sound was the soft rustling of my gown. My thoughts turned to Kryzen. He had been so busy since we had been crowned, taking the brunt of the decision-making. I saw how heavily it weighed on him, so why wasn’t he leaning on me?

"Surely, it’s not only his burden to bear," I murmured to myself, feeling a twinge of frustration. Things had changed, subtly at first, but now glaringly apparent. Decisions were made, actions taken, and my voice—once sought after—had dimmed into silence. Wasn’t I the Luna of Embervale? It was a title that should have held sway, but here I was questioning my own significance.

They had praised me, lifted me to this position, and then left me there to...I wasn’t sure. Maybe be a pretty symbol while my mate did everything behind the scenes? It was absurd.

My heart began to beat faster as determination took root. I would no longer be content to watch from the sidelines, a mere spectator in the governance of our lands. With newfound resolve, I lifted my chin and hastened my steps.

"Kryzen must understand," I whispered to the empty hallway. "He will see."

I found him in his study, a room where the air always seemed thick with thought, maps and scrolls littering the desk. He looked up, surprise briefly flickering across his face before being replaced by a welcoming smile.

"Hello, beautiful mate, what brings you here?" His voice was warm, but I could sense the fatigue that lingered beneath the surface. He reached out a hand for me and pulled me into his lap, continuing to sort through whatever it was he was working on.

"Kryzen," I began, steeling myself against any doubt. "I’ve been reflecting on my role within Embervale, and it’s become clear to me that I need to be more involved."

He leaned back in his chair, curiosity sparking in his gaze. "More involved? How so?"

"By taking my place on the council," I declared, the words tasting like freedom on my tongue. "I want to attend the meetings and engage with the matters of our kingdom. I’m not just a figurehead, Kryzen. I won’t be sidelined."

His gray eyes flicked up to mine, registering my determined stance, and his brows furrowed in concern. His eyes searched mine. I held his gaze, willing him to understand the passion that fueled my plea.

"Where is all this coming from, Briella?" he asked, his voice tinged with surprise. I could tell he was not used to being questioned. His posture was usually unchallenged.

"Kryzen, listen," I began, planting my hands on the cool surface of the oak table, "I feel like I’ve been cast aside." The words tumbled out, fueled by the frustration that had been building within me. "I’m not here to be just a figurehead, a decorative piece in Embervale’s tapestry. I wasn’t meant to sit idle. I am a woman of action.”

I stood from his lap, pacing with frustration. I threw my hands up as I turned back to him. “I’m... I’m doing nothing. Nothing, Kryzen. I offer help, and I’m turned away. I feel like I’m sitting on my hands just watching everything happen around me. That is not what this role was meant to be. It is not why I agreed to take on the mantle of Luna. I’m... I cannot just sit here and look pretty, Kryzen."

There was a pause, a moment where the air seemed to thicken between us. He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking under the shift of his weight. His gaze softened. For a fleeting second, the mask of leadership fell away, revealing the man I knew—intense but kind.

"By the stars, Briella, I didn’t see it," he admitted, a hint of remorse lacing his voice. "I’ve been so preoccupied with the decisions at hand that I failed to notice your absence."

“So you’ll do it? Give me a place on the council? Include me in the meetings? And not just as a gesture of placation, but a genuine place?”

"Of course, Briella," he said after a moment, the corner of his mouth lifting in an affectionate smile. "Your insight has always been invaluable to me. You shall have your place on the council."

Relief washed over me, and a small, triumphant smile graced my lips. “And you’re not just saying this to make me happy?”

He stood up, the chair scraping against the stone floor, and approached me. "I need you there at the meetings. Your insight and passion are invaluable."

A smile played on my lips, one that mirrored the relief flooding through me. "You truly mean that?"

"Without a doubt," he said earnestly. "Honestly, sometimes I think you’d make a better king than I ever could."

Laughter bubbled up from deep within me, genuine and warm. I reached out, taking his hands in mine, the connection grounding. "Then let’s not settle for one ruler or the other. We’ll stand together, side by side. Rule together."

“That was always the plan, wasn’t it? You and me doing this together? We make each other stronger, Briella. I’m so sorry I didn’t see it before.”

"Thank you, Kryzen. Together, we’ll guide Embervale to a future bright with promise. And maybe you’ll be able to relax a bit more. You’ve been so stressed."

He kissed me softly. I could feel the exhaustion clinging to him. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

I left his study, my spirit alight with new purpose. The ball continued to take shape. This time, I wouldn’t be pushed aside. I was ready to embrace my destiny alongside Kryzen as a true ruler of our peaceful realm.

With renewed vigor thrumming through my veins, I strode back into the grand hall, determined to make my presence felt. The air was thick with the scent of fresh pine and lavender, a mishmash of elegance and earthiness that I found intoxicating. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting a golden glow over everything.

"Excuse me," I said, my voice carrying more authority than before as I approached a group of event planners meticulously arranging silverware on a long table. They looked up in surprise, their hands pausing mid-air.

"I’m here to help," I stated, not leaving any room for argument.

A planner, her hair pulled back so tight it seemed to pull at her eyebrows, blinked at me. "Your Majesty, we couldn’t possibly–"

"Please," I cut in, softer this time but no less insistent. "I want to be involved, truly."

There was a moment of silence, a collective hesitation that hung between us like a delicate chandelier. Finally, one of them nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Of course, Luna Briella."

I smiled, feeling the knot in my stomach loosen. Diving into the work, I picked up bundles of wildflowers, their vibrant colors even brighter against the white linens. My hands moved with purpose, placing each stem in such a way that it looked both wild and artfully designed.

"Like this?" I asked, holding up a garland of intertwined ivy and roses.

"Yes, just like that," a worker replied, his rough hands surprisingly gentle as he took the garland from me and draped it along the banister.

The ballroom slowly transformed under our combined efforts, each garland and bloom a testament to teamwork and shared vision. Laughter bubbled up from somewhere deep inside me as I helped hoist a particularly stubborn garland into place. The workers, initially shocked by my insistence on helping, now passed me tools and flowers with smiles that crinkled the corners of their eyes.

"Thank you," I said to them, grateful for their acceptance. "This means more to me than you can imagine."

"Luna Briella," a young woman said, her eyes bright with something akin to admiration, "it’s an honor to have you working alongside us."

The words warmed me, reinforcing the confidence that had begun to blossom in my chest. Kryzen and I would rule Embervale together, our strengths complementing each other, our love for the kingdom and its people the foundation upon which we’d build our future.

As I stepped back to admire our handiwork, the ballroom was no longer just a space being prepared for an event. It was a symbol of unity. This ball would be a celebration and a promise of a reign where every voice mattered, including mine.