The Omega Princess and Her Two Leashes - Chapter 69

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Chapter 69

The peace treaty. It was the Empire that first proposed it, after a war so arduous it seemed endless. The relentless power struggle had devolved into a war of attrition, inflicting devastating losses on both nations. Finally, the Emperor made the difficult decision to abandon his conquest of the continent. He bowed his head first, beseeching the Kingdom of Fleurose for a truce and a peace agreement.

At least, that was the official narrative.

In truth, the Emperor hadn’t relinquished his ambitions. He’d simply realized that Fleurose, protected by the spirits, couldn’t be subdued by force. A different tactic was required. Under the guise of a peace treaty and the pretense of a diplomatic mission, he’d sent the Crown Prince and the Empire’s strongest figures into the heart of Fleurose’s royal palace. Simultaneously, he’d ordered a meticulous investigation to uncover the kingdom’s weaknesses. Their true mission: find a way to neutralize the spirits’ protection and use that vulnerability to pressure the kingdom into submission.

Fleurose wasn’t oblivious to this possibility. However, as a smaller nation compared to the Empire, ending the war was paramount. They accepted the Empire’s proposal, agreeing to accommodate their demands as much as possible. This led to the current situation, with the Empire’s delegation residing within the palace, ostensibly to negotiate the peace.

While the kingdom extended every courtesy to the delegation, they also maintained strict surveillance. Even this very conversation was held in hushed tones, meant to evade the ears of unseen listeners. The Empire’s goal was to feign peace while plotting a betrayal. The kingdom’s goal was to avoid that betrayal, navigate the Empire’s proposed peace treaty, and achieve a lasting end to the war.

This was the reality of the ongoing peace negotiations. Smiles and pleasantries masked the truth: the battlefield had merely shifted. Swords had been replaced with words, open combat with veiled political maneuvering.

The wildcard in this delicate game was Crown Prince Leybid de Valenti Luversiana. The Emperor’s ambition for continental domination held little interest for him. He’d come to Fleurose out of necessity, needing a victory to secure his impending ascension to the throne. His true objective, however, was the Princess of Fleurose.

Arlenrose Vi Fleurose. A princess who, born an omega, lived a carefully constructed lie, presenting herself to the world as an alpha. Leybid’s curiosity was a burning flame; he couldn’t rest until he’d met her and confirmed the truth for himself.

He justified his insatiable curiosity as a unique fascination with omegas of unusual lineage. Initially, he’d intended only a brief dalliance. Now that he’d confirmed Arlenrose’s true nature, he held the kingdom’s vulnerability in his hand, a prize his father craved. Before delivering it to the Emperor, he wanted to… play with it a little.

He’d never intended to honor his agreement with Arlenrose: to feign ignorance of her omega status in exchange for her compliance. He could simply deny it ever happened. But the Princess of Fleurose proved far more challenging and intriguing than anticipated. He’d even impulsively offered her his signet ring, and now, to retrieve it, he was bound by his promise.

He didn’t feel cheated, though. What began as a fleeting amusement had become a surprisingly extended pleasure. Leybid planned to prolong the charade, enjoying himself until boredom set in. Then, he’d feign reluctant agreement, sign the peace treaty, and return home. He’d face his father’s wrath for failing to uncover the secrets of the spirits’ protection or the kingdom’s weaknesses, but that was a price he was willing to pay. Continental domination was the Emperor’s ambition, not his.

The problem was the delegation, still burning with zeal, completely unaware of his true intentions. They scoured the palace, searching for clues to neutralize the spirits and their protection. Whispers of a hidden ancient temple, a sacred chalice holding the spirits’ power… initially vague and fantastical, these rumors were now gaining traction and specificity.