Contract With The Alpha King
Contract 59

Chapter 59

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Monique and Fiona sat in the quiet seating area at the back of the infirmary, a serene space overlooking a beautifully maintained garden. The gentle rustle of leaves and the soft sound of birds in the distance added a peaceful ambiance to the moment. Monique had poured them both tea, and the delicate fragrance filled the air as they sat, sipping in near silence.

Fiona glanced at Monique, waiting for her to say something more, but the princess seemed content to sit quietly, her eyes. occasionally drifting to the garden in front of them. Fiona had been caught off guard by Monique's request to join her for tea, and now the silence between them was growing more awkward by the second.

Clearing her throat gently, Fiona finally spoke up, her tone polite. "Princess Monique," she began, choosing her words carefully, "I appreciate you inviting me for tea, but is there something specific you wanted to talk to me about?" This would be the first time that Princess Monique, or any member of the Royal Family aside from the King and Elijah, talked to her. She wondered if this was about the dungeon or the prisoner.

Monique looked at her as if weighing her next words. She set her cup down slowly before speaking. "You've been through a lot recently," Monique said, her voice soft but clear. "And I wanted to check in on you, personally."

Fiona blinked, a little surprised by the concern in the princess's tone. "That's very kind of you," she replied, choosing her words carefully. "I'm doing alright, all things considered. It's been... a whirlwind, but I'm managing." For some reason, a part of Fiona immediately suspected the princess's motives. By now, Fiona was aware that this place wasn't all rainbows and sunshine. In fact, it was the opposite.

"I know that being in the palace can be difficult, especially with the kind of attention you're receiving now. But it's not just the trial or the rumors that concern me," Monique said; her gaze didn't waver.

"What else concerns you, then?" Fiona asked, keeping her voice steady as she wondered where this was leading.

Monique leaned back slightly in her chair, her hands resting in her lap. "It's Elijah," she said simply.

"His Highness Elijah? What about him?" The mention of Elijah caught Fiona off guard. But then again, this should have been already expected. At the end of the day, Fiona was a nobody.

Monique sighed, glancing out at the garden for a moment before returning her gaze to Fiona. "My brother has always been protective of those he cares about, but I've never seen him act the way he does with you. I don't mean that in a bad way," she added quickly. "But there's a lot of pressure on him right now. With the Rites of Kings, the politics in the court... everything is moving quickly."

Fiona nodded, sensing the seriousness of Monique's words. "I understand that," she said. "And I've tried not to add to his burdens. I care about him too, but I know there are larger things at play."

"That's why I wanted to speak with you. I know Elijah trusts you, but I also wanted you to know that you can count on me. Our family has its... challenges, but we stand by each other, especially in times like this. If things ever feel overwhelming, or if you feel like you're navigating this world alone, you're not." Monique smiled faintly.

"Thank you, Princess Monique. That means a lot," Fiona answered almost immediately. "But that isn't really the reason why you wanted to... see me, right?" Monique and she were not close at all. Besides, Monique and the others don't know about her marriage to Elijah. She didn't see any point in this conversation.

Monique chuckled softly, the sound laced with a mixture of amusement and something darker. "The King and Queen have been fighting a lot lately," she said, her voice casual but with an edge. "It's not exactly common for them to be at odds." Fiona's eyes narrowed slightly. "And you're blaming me for that

Monique met her gaze directly. "Yes," she replied, her words were sharp and unapologetic. "Clearly, Elijah is the top contender to become the next king, and you're... complicating things."

A flash of anger coursed through Fiona, but she kept her tone steady. "How am I complicating things?" Only the King knew about her marriage to Elijah. On the outside, rumors are circulating, but are rumors really that important? Is it going to be

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Chapter 59

enough to ruin Elijah's chances of winning the crown?

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Monique leaned forward. "I couldn't believe how careless you were. Do you think you can walk into this world and not make waves? Elijah's devotion to you is being noticed, Fiona. Even if you're trying to keep a low profile, the damage is done. The council is watching you now. They don't understand why Elijah is willing to take such risks for someone like you. And it's making them... curious."

Fiona's heart pounded, but she kept her face neutral, refusing to let Monique see her rattle. "Curious?" she repeated, lifting an eyebrow. "Are you here to warn me, Your Highness?"

Monique shook her head, her expression almost pitiful. "No, I'm not that kind," she said coolly. "I'm here to tell you to leave Elijah alone if you want to keep living. That's not a warning. It's a certainty."

For a moment, Fiona sat frozen, absorbing the weight of Monique's words. She had expected tension with Elijah's family, but she hadn't anticipated this level of threat-so direct, so personal. Yet, beneath the surface of fear, something stronger flickered inside her. Fiona didn't flinch. She met Monique's gaze with quiet defiance. "You seem awfully confident in your threats," she said, her voice steady, though her mind raced. "But what makes you think I would leave Elijah? And what makes you think he would let me go that easily?" "You underestimate the power of the council, Fiona. The political games here are ruthless, and they don't care who gets hurt. They see you as a liability. They won't hesitate to remove you if they believe you're jeopardizing Elijah's chances. And believe me, once they decide to act, neither Elijah nor his guards will be able to stop them." Monique smirked, but her eyes remained cold.

Sadly, Fiona had been aware of this for a while now. When Fiona didn't respond, Monique smirked, triumph flickering in her eyes.

Then out of nowhere, Monique stood, brushing her hands lightly as if the conversation had been nothing more than a casual chat. "Enjoy your tea, Fiona," she said lightly, though the steel in her tone remained. "But do think about what I've said. Elijah may care for you, but in this world, that won't be enough to protect you forever."

Fiona didn't reply. She simply watched as Monique walked away, her heart pounding in her chest. The warmth of the tea in her hand felt distant now.

Fiona remained seated, her eyes fixed on the flowers in the garden, the vibrant colors blurring as Monique's words echoed in her mind. The quiet serenity of the garden seemed distant now, overpowered by the weight of the conversation. Elijah's sister had laid out a stark reality for her, and the more Fiona thought about it, the more tangled she felt in the web of palace politics. She wasn't naive. She had known from the beginning that her connection with Elijah would cause ripples, but now, it seemed like a storm was brewing-and Monique had made it clear she was at the center of it.

"Fiona?" Kariana's voice suddenly broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present.

Fiona blinked, turning to see Kariana standing a few feet away. "Oh, I'm sorry," Fiona said, rising quickly from her seat. "I didn't mean to stay away for so long."

Kariana frowned slightly, her expression more serious than usual. "It's not about that," she said, her voice cautious. "I wanted to ask if... you wanted to speak with your family?"

Fiona froze, caught completely off guard by the question. "My family?" she repeated, her heart skipping a beat. "Why would

-?"

Kariana hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Someone claiming to be from the Rosenthal family is here. They're asking to see you."

Fiona's breath caught in her throat. "That's impossible," she whispered as she thought of the assassin that her father sent.

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Kariana sighed, her tone more gentle now. "I thought so too, but... it seems that some of the guests for the ball tomorrow have arrived early. And apparently, one of them is your family member."

The ball. The grand event that had been looming over Fiona for days was suddenly very real, and now, with her family arriving, the situation felt like it was spiraling even further out of control. The idea of facing them again, especially after Monique's thinly veiled threats, made her stomach churn.

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