Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 97

"We needed to do something to stop them, Your Highness," Rio said, his face tense as he looked at Elijah. "The council only wanted-

"Recognition," Elijah interrupted, his voice cutting through the tension. The faces of those inside the house darkened further, their expressions: hardening. Following the earlier commotion, Elijah had stepped in, inviting the envoys-including Lady Carissa and Rio-inside for a private discussion. Predictably, they had complied, only to launch into complaints the moment the door closed. It was exactly the reaction Elijah and Fiona had anticipated Seeing their reactions, Elijah snorted. "Isn't that what the council really wanted to achieve?"

"Your Highness, with all due respect, the names that were included mean nothing. There's no malice. All the council wanted was to help these people."

"If you really wanted to help everyone, then why come only now?" the village chief, Aken, asked, his hostility clear for everyone to see. "We've lost brothers, sisters, wives, and parents to the rogue king's attack. These people have lost their children to the rogues. But when we needed you most. you were never there. Instead, the council abandoned us

"That is simply not true one of the envoys said. "We were there

"Please, sir, you don't have to lie to my face," Aken interrupted sharply. "I am Aken, and you probably don't remember the village chief before me My father was the village chief during the first attack. He lost his life, and none of you-none of you-came to help! We asked for aid! I was there when my father begged the guards to send more troops because the rogues were strong, and we were badly outnumbered! None of you come!"

"You

"My father bled while waiting for your help" Aken's gaze hardened as he pointed at the envoy who had tried to interrupt him. "He begged. He sent letters, petitions, and messages by every means we had. He warned the council that the rogues were organizing and growing stronger. And what did the council do! Nothing. You left us to fend for ourselves."

was pale as she stepped forward. "Do you know what it's like to hold your child, to feel their little body grow cold because there's no medicine? No healer! We didn't have the resources to treat them. You

his hands twitching at his sides. He glanced at

The war with the rogues spread us across the kingdom. Resources were limited, and decisions

down her checks. "And what about here? Was this

"Your reasoning is convenient," he said coldly. "Stretched thin or not, the council prioritized cities

"Lady Fiona's presence has highlighted the needs

what?" Aken interrupted sharply. "To claim credit! To look like heroes when you've ignored us for years? You stamped your names and seals on the supplies you brought, as if we should bow and thank you for finally showing up

we're blind?" Merra added. "The names aren't for us. They're for

us-you want to be seen helping us." Aken gritted his teeth, pointing toward the door where the villagers were

"The council's intentions were never malicious. These supplies-" "Are marked like trophies Merra shot back. "Each stamp is a reminder of how long we waited for aid that never came. A reminder of the friends and family we buried while you sat in your

when the rogues first attacked. Now! Now we only need Lady Fiona and His Highness. They cante without banners, without demands for recognition, and they've done more for is in days than the

on Merra's shoulder. "Enough," she said softly. "There's an point in

1/2 Chapter 97

still glaring at the envoys. "If you want to help, fine. But leave your seals, your names, and your egos out of it We don't