Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 481

Chapter 139: My Most Important Woman

*Ciana*

I wandered through the palace trying to see if anything felt familiar. According to Brook andWarren, I'd been there almost a year. I couldn't remember anything about it. None of the rooms ordecorations looked familiar.

I felt like I was seeing it all for the first time.

Yet, my feet knew where to take me. I didn't recognize anything I was seeing, but I wanderedpurposefully to the library. I suspected I could replace a map there to reacquaint myself with the palaceand the surrounding territory.

"Good morning, My Lady,” someone said, nodding their head as I walked by.

“It is good to see you up and about, Miss Black," a servant said, bowing.

I waved awkwardly at everyone I passed. They all seemed to hold a high amount of respect andreverence for me. That wouldn't have happened if they didn't know me already.

Still, it wasn't the usual kind of respect I should have been shown. In the palace, I was just an Alpha'sdaughter. At the palace, I wasn't anything special.

I spent some time studying the maps and the surrounding territory in the library. Growing up, myfather had me get into the habit of reading maps and learning about my surrounding areas when Igot to a new place.

When I looked at the map of the palace grounds, it didn't look familiar, yet I used the most efficientway to get to the library purely based on my instinct. My feet seemed to know the right place to goMy body's autopilot taking me where I needed to go probably meant that what everyone wastelling me was true-I did spend time here.

I passed a picture of King Theo on the wall. A portrait that must have been painted when he was inhis late teens. I paused at the painting, still trying to wrap my mind around how we had becomefriends.

Somehow I felt it looked different. For no reason whatsoever, I thought it was a nicer and morewelcoming fit than a painting of a pitch black wolf with mesmerizing eyes for this spot.

I focused my gaze on the king's face. Did I really want to be “friends” with a guy that jumped meand kissed me the moment I woke up after being unconscious? From the way the others reacted, itappeared that it was normal for me to be kissed by the king.

I shook my head and kept walking. It was hard to believe. All I remembered of him was howarrogant and ruthless he was, like his late father. And that kiss attack wasn't helping me see himdifferently.

My stomach squirmed and I looped an arm around myself. At the same time, when I thought of him,he had that stomach fluttering effect on me.

The jackass kissing creep! It was all his fault!

I got to the garden and immediately spotted Prince Warren. Unlike his brother, Warren was agentleman, polite and considerate. With his warm smile, he was so easy going and it was nice to bearound him.

"Hello there, Your Highness," I greeted, bowing my head to him.

"Ciana, you don't need to address me so formally. Call me Warren. We're definitely close enoughforthat," he smiled.

“Really?” He seemed really familiar. And not just because I had missing memories of him.

"Really. We are... very good friends," he nodded politely.

I tilted my head and looked at him for a little longer. He was a little uncomfortable due to my gaze.After clearing his throat, he said, "I apologize if I had food crumbs on my face."

I let out some laughter. I knew he was a prince and I should behave elegantly around him, however,I found Warren's embarrassed face quite entertaining just like how friends teased each other."Prince Warren, you're so graceful, elegant, and kind-hearted. King Theo, on the other hand, he'sso... rough,” I giggled, "If it was up to me, I would support you as the king over Theo."

Warren chuckled and shook his head. "I appreciate your compliments. However, Theo is a great manand leader. You'll remember that someday.”

"I hope so," I muttered. I didn't say it aloud, but if I didn't remember it, I wasn't sure I'd ever be ableto believe it.

That night, after attacking my lips, he didn't even have the courtesy to apologize to me! Then hejust stormed out of the room like I did something wrong to him! Whatever, I bit my tongue. He wasthe king, so for this time, I would just have to be a grown-up and deal with it.

Warren sighed and I looked him over. His eyelids were a little droopy and puffy. There were somelines around his mouth, like he'd been frowning a lot.

"Ciana, did you replace something new on my face?"

"Oh, sorry,” I said, deciding to be honest, “I just... you look tired. Are you sleeping okay?"

"The king has assigned me a lot of work. It has kept me busy and... off my normal sleep schedule,”he explained, fighting back a yawn.

"Why does he make you work so hard? He can't do that, can he? Or if he has to, he should beleading by example.”

"Oh, believe me, I'd never seen anyone more workaholic than Theo-"

"Save it. I know he’s your brother and you're defending him. But the facts speak for themselves. Forexample, I'd been wandering around leisurely, and somehow I could barely go 10 minutes withoutrunning into him. Either my walking route just overlaps with the king's workplace, or he is just asfree as me."

He acted like those were all casual encounters. Did I really look that naive? After the "Kissing Creep”,he had earned himself a new "Stalker" tag.

Warren tried to suppress a smile from his face, but he failed. He forced himself to look serious. "He'sthe king Ciana, leaders lead, they don't have time to do. That's why they have people like us.’

I rolled my eyes. "That is such a cop-out. He's a hypocrite!"

Warren pinched the bridge of his nose and turned to the side. He closed his eyes like he was tryingto think of something to say.

I looked around the garden a little and saw a flower that I recognized. While Warren stood thereuncomfortably, I went over to the flower and picked it. Lifting it to my nose, I inhaled deeply,breathing in the floral scent.

"Here you go," I said, tapping Warren on the shoulder and handing him the flower.

Warren raised an eyebrow at me. He hesitated and then took the flower.

"It is Lavendlilly. I heard they are good for helping people sleep,” I added.

Warren creased his brow and studied the flower for a moment. His eyes were distant, lost in an oldmemory. Then he stared at me for a long moment.

So long, I started to feel funny and shifted my weight back and forth on my feet.

"Where did you learn about this flower?" he asked, finally.

ERY

I had no idea where I'd learned about the Lavendlilly. It wasn't a flower that grew in my pack'sterritory. I couldn't even remember seeing it before today. But someone had told me aboutLavendlilly. Of that, I was sure.

"Well, I don't really remember,’ I admitted, shrugging. "It was someone very special to me, I think. Atleast, that's what I feel.” The feeling touched my heart.

"You're something... Ciana,” Warren managed to utter. He seemed to be a little emotional."Something's wrong?"

He shook his head and asked hoarsely, “Can I have a hug?"

"Oh..."

It was an innocent enough request and I felt like I had a deeper connection to Warren than all theother people I supposedly knew.

"Warren!"

Both Warren and I started at the intruding, booming voice. In unison, our heads snapped to theedge of the garden where Theo was approaching.

I rolled my eyes. It had been nearly twenty minutes since the last "casual encounter.” I should haveknown he'd be showing up any second.

"Alistair has been waiting for you,” Theo told Warren when he was closer to us. He had a stern lookon his face as he stared at his brother.

"Oh, my meeting with him is in half an hour and he usually is right on time or runs one or twominutes late,” he thought for a moment, and he met Theo's darkened face and quickly added, "butthis must be something really urgent. I better go."

"Well, then, off you go. Miss Black doesn't need any more confusing thoughts right now,” Theoordered, motioning for Warren to leave. "Also, if you can review the stack of the national securityimprovement proposal on my desk. I'd appreciate it."

Warren glanced back at me quickly and waved me goodbye. As he left, I could've sworn I heard himwhisper, "Goddess, sometimes I think you keep me around as free labor instead of your brother..."

I bit my lip to hold back my giggle as Warren disappeared. When I glanced at Theo, I saw the scowlon his face. Clearly, he'd heard what Warren said but he hadn't reacted or called him out on it. Thetwo of them were kinda funny, the way I imagined brothers were together.

Still, it didn't seem like Theo was being that fair to Warren.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the fact that I was having trouble tearing my eyes away from Theo'shandsome face. My heart fluttered uncontrollably as he slowly turned to face me

"Your Majesty, Prince Warren works very hard. I don't think he got much sleep last night in anattempt to meet your demands. You might want to try being a little nicer to him." Even though itwasn't my place to say so, I felt the need to stand up for my friend.

Did Theo hear me? I wasn't sure, because his eyes narrowed in on my lips. They glazed over with alustful look.

My stomach dropped into my feet and I giggled nervously.

"Is that so?" he asked gruffly, still staring at my mouth.

Unconsciously, I licked my lips, and the look in his eyes smoldered even deeper.

"Well, a good leader leads by example, don't they? If you want him to work harder, wouldn't it makesense to show that you're dedicated to your own work, setting the right example?’ I asked, raising achallenging eyebrow.

Theo scoffed. He crossed his arms and tossed his head back. "I have something more important todo than set an example for my brother.”

"Like what?" I asked, glaring at him. "As a king, what could be more important than ruling yourcountry?”

"Right now? Making sure that the most important woman in my life is safe at all times," heexplained casually.

It took me a few seconds to process what he said. I couldn’t remember seeing Theo with anywomen other than Brook. Jake was her mate, though, so I seriously doubted that Theo meant her.King Theo's mother was in the palace. She'd taken it upon herself to get to know me a little better."You mean Nita?" I asked. "I just had afternoon tea with her a few hours ago. She's completely safeand sound... actually, she hardly ever leaves her wing of the palace. Doesn't get much safer thanthat."

Theo fixed his eyes directly on my face and stared into me like he could see right into my soul. Mybreath caught in my throat and my skin burned hot as a blush spread over me like wildfire.

“I don't mean my mother. I mean you," he said firmly. I was again stunned by the perfect proportionof his facial features. It was as if the Goddess poured all her love when placing them on the manstanding in front of me.

In my chest, my heart palpitated and I stared right back into his eyes. I felt feverish suddenly. Thosebottomless deep, dark orbs could have swallowed me whole.

I cleared my throat and looked away from him. Just because he looked good didn't mean that hewas good. Appearances weren't everything.

"Your Majesty, I really don’t know what you're talking about and I definitely don't know you! You'reintimidating.”

I bit back the words "arrogant" and "overbearing" so that I didn't sound too rough on the king."See, I can't even go to the library without you skulking around.”

Did honest, normal men follow “the most important woman in their life’ around like she couldn't betrusted?

I added, "You also seem like the type to have a bad temper, and I hear whispers about it in thepalace halls. I apologize for my honesty, but I don't see myself falling in love with someone likeyou."