The Villain Alpha's Cursed Mate-Chapter 163: Granting Her Wish

As Emily stepped into the throne room, Lennox’s eyes followed her with an air of urgency, and he asked, "Has the letter been dispatched?"

His voice was a careful blend of command and concern. Emily approached silently, settling into the grand chair reserved only for the Queen—a gesture both symbolic and bittersweet.

"Yes," Emily replied, her gaze fixed on the expansive entrance of the throne room. "The guard is en route to hand it to the Royal courier. By now, it should be well on its way north. But Lennox, is it truly wise to delay the meeting on such short notice? This assembly holds great significance, nearly as much as the mission pulling you from the palace. The councils are restless to say the least."

A weary sigh escaped Lennox as he leaned back in his throne, the weight of his crown heavy on both his body and spirit. "Emily, if there was any other part to take, I would seize it without hesitation. But the demon wolves grow more brazen by the hour, and there is not enough time to fully grasp the intricacies of it. This latest assault in the East has shaken us all. Unlike the Northern territories, where we’ve managed to maintain a fragile peace, the devastation in the East is catastrophic. Half of our people—gone, swept away in the unforeseen attack."

Emily’s eyes softened with unspoken grief after absorbing the reality laid bare before her. The silence that settled over them was as heavy as the stone walls surrounding the throne room, carrying with it the unyielding truth of their kingdom’s devastating fall.

Lennox shook his head slightly at the thought, a deep line settling on his forehead.

While he was going through the ancient text the guard had found in his study, he received the horrible news. From what he was told, the Northerners cleared more than two hundred demon wolves in a single night.

This victory, by all logic, should have pushed the enemies to retreat, at least long enough to regroup. Yet the relentless force showed no hesitation. Instead, they pivoted their attacks and aimed for the East without so much as a pause. The audacity of this move gnawed desperately at him.

A question began to fester in his mind, unsettling in its implication; how vast could the true bearer’s legions be? to still hurl them against the Eastern territories even after such a staggering loss? The thought brought with it a sinking realization. freēnovelkiss.com

At this pace, the kingdom’s forces will dwindle to nothing before they could even marshal a defense worthy of the name. And without a formidable weapon to turn the tide, the outlook seemed increasingly bleak.

"Our enemies likely anticipated this," Emily said, fixing her sharp gaze on Lennox. "Do you remember my warning from early this morning? I told you to rally the regional warriors and strike at Donovan and his followers. Now they’ve outmaneuvered us. Every time you hesitate, more of our people fall to the enemy’s relentless grasp, possibly even get infected, and then what? Your own life is in great danger, Lennox. It would be better if you stay in the palace where you’re safe."

"I have to go," Lennox replied resolutely, his tone leaving no room for argument. "They need my presence. I’ve already deployed some of the best skilled warriors in the palace to protect and help out the remaining survivors. Their Alpha is still very much alive and will require support."

"And your uncle," Emily added. "Only Lycan’s can truly kill them, and sadly your kind is already rare. The remaining few of you will not be enough to eradicate them, nor can we risk you dying on us. You just have to come up with a different solution."

The silence in the throne room became dense, and it pressed down on Lennox with an almost tangible weight. He understood that to shield his people from the sudden and devastating surge of deaths, he would need to make a decision that tested not only their resilience, but his own resolve.

If Leonardo was still by his side, what would he have suggested he do in this kind of situation?

"Upon my return," he declared, breaking the silence with a voice that carried both determination and weariness. "I will listen to what Esme has to say. At this rate, I have no choice but to consider granting Donovan and his people an opportunity. My personal animosity cannot be allowed to jeopardize the safety of the kingdom. That is not my intent."

He took a steadying breath, his gaze sharp as it swept over the empty chamber. "There is a distinct line between them and the true enemy. If they seek a peace accord, then I will grant it– but only on the condition that they agree to collaborate with us in eradicating the real threat."

Emily’s eyes widened, disbelief etched into every feature of her face. It was as if the world had shifted beneath her feet. "Do you even hear yourself?" She whispered, her voice tight with shock.

"Loud and clear," Lennox responded, his tone unwavering as he sat straighter. "If Esme’s intent is peace, then peace she shall have. I will not harm Donovan or his people as long as we remain united in the pursuit of our shared goal. The recent tragedies from the East have made one thing painfully clear–I cannot afford more adversaries. What I need now is the kingdom’s support, unified in every course."

Emily scoffed, leaning back against her seat. Lennox was starting to get tired of the way Emily doubted his way of ruling. He knew if Esme was here, she would have given him the support and strength he needed, rather than undermining him at every turn.

The memory of how she defended Donovan stirred conflicting emotions within him. Part of him admired her fierce loyalty, yet another part seethed with pure resentment. It stunned him how deeply his trust in Esme still ran, despite everything. He would see her again, and this time around, he would make her realize just how much profoundly he had missed her.

-_-_-⁠♡-_-_-

When Esme and Donovan returned to the manor, hand-in-hand, they were met by Lothar and Acheron, who stood waiting at the entrance.

"Good timing," Lothar said the moment he saw them approach. "You have visitors."

"Visitors?" Esme’s brow knitted in puzzlement. She rarely entertained guests and couldn’t think of anyone who would come unannounced. She wondered if it was Cora.

Being aware that she told Cora to visit after the blizzard ended, her thoughts abruptly came to a halt as two figures stepped from the shadows of the building. One was a young girl, likely close in age to Finnian, and the other a woman, whom Esme assumed was the girl’s mother.

As they pulled back their hoods, revealing their faces, Esme’s attention was immediately drawn to their hair; long, gleaming and the unmistakable shade of blue. A flicker of recognition sparked within her, though it was faint and incomplete.

The pair bowed with courteous smiles, and the woman was the first to break the silence. "So, it’s true. When I heard about what happened, I couldn’t rest until I saw for myself that you were safe. We came all the way from the East."

A warm smile softened her expression, "How have you been, Luna of the North? I hope our sudden visit is not an inconvenience. I have long wished to meet you all. But I understand if you don’t feel the same way."