Extra-Changing Fate

Chapter 33 ==A Prince Or A King?==

"I've already made it crystal clear, Your Highness," I said sharply, staring directly at my ex-fiancé. My eyes were firm; I wanted nothing to do with him. He was like a walking disaster waiting to happen.

Surviving my sister's birthday wouldn't even bring true relief, because I felt like death was just around the corner, especially with all the important men in this world suddenly so close.

"I never agreed to end our engagement," he insisted, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "If you're upset about something, we can talk it through. Why jump straight to breaking things off?"

"Are you out of your mind?" I shot back, trying to pull my hand from his tight grip. "I've told you again and again, I don't want to be anywhere near you! You won't become Emperor if you stay with me."

He only tightened his hold, taking a deep breath. "I don't need to be Emperor," he said, his eyes locked intensely on mine. "What I need is you." I could feel the weight of his stare.

"You need me? Oh, really? Well, bad luck, because I absolutely do not need you," I declared, finally wrenching my hand away. It stung, but I didn't care as long as I was free from his touch.

Even if it was disrespectful to the future Emperor, I didn't care. He had been rude first. I could have cursed him out right there.

I was already known as a rebellious and carefree lady ever since I'd flat-out rejected both the Prince and the Marquis. And with how respectfully the Marchioness Chloe always treated me, everyone had just made up their own rumors about me.

"Alyssa... I-.... I'm lost without you," he continued, grabbing my hand again. "I feel empty without you by my side. Every time other men look at you, my heart twists. I know you belong right here with me... Your family doesn't care about you, but I do."

Tsk. He had hit a nerve mentioning how badly my family treated me, and it was true. No hard feelings there.

But that was the old me. After finding out I was the successor of Moonlight, I was now the most powerful woman on the entire continent. I didn't need a man to soar.

"Oh, so you think you can provide for me?" I challenged.

"Yes! I can! You can have the entire continent. I will give it to you!" he said confidently, and I had to fight back a laugh.

"So please, come back to me," he begged, holding my hand tightly as I took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to reject this nonsense right in front of me.

"I think it's best to take your hand away from hers, Prince Benjamin."

Our heads both snapped towards the voice, and my eyes widened as I saw the King walking towards us.

Wait—what in the world was he doing here?

I glanced around the park and saw all the nobles starting to whisper about us.

As the King got closer, Prince Ben stood his ground, stopping him in his tracks.

"King Frederick..." the Prince stated, facing him with a surprising amount of confidence.

"Prince Ben," the King replied, meeting his gaze just as confidently. I mentally groaned.

What were these two doing?

"You can see how uncomfortable Lady Alyssa is with your actions," the King said, and the Prince scoffed.

"Alyssa is my fiancée..."

"Ex-fiancée. I've heard she is no longer engaged to you. That's why I came here to the empire – to bring her back with me as my wife," the King declared, making everyone listening gasp.

I could see the shock on the Prince's face, and I just shook my head in disbelief at the King's bold announcement. These two were so childish.

"Oh, really? I'm the one who can give her everything she needs. As far as I know, you're just from a kingdom, while I'm the Future Emperor of this Empire," the Prince boasted, and the King scoffed.

"I thought you said you didn't need the throne as long as you were with her?" the King countered smoothly.

I sighed loudly for what felt like the thousandth time, still looking around and hearing the nasty whispers of the nobles. Could this day get any worse?

"Even if you want her to be your queen, you can't just take her from my empire," the Prince told the King, and I rolled my eyes at his possessiveness.

As the two continued to argue like children, I realized Prince Ben had finally let go of my hand.

It felt like they wouldn't stop anytime soon, so I decided to sneak away until I heard certain words from the Prince's mouth.

"You're just a King who relies on tricks! You're weak, a complete weakling! I don't even know why the empire is friends with your kingdom!" the Prince exclaimed.

My eyes widened, and I rushed back towards them. "Prince Benjamin, are you insane?! King Frederick is still the empire's guest!" I scolded him, then turned to the King, who remained surprisingly calm.

"He wanted you. I couldn't just back down," the Prince mumbled.

"Oh, shut up! If your father hears about this, he'll ground you for life!" I exclaimed, then bowed deeply, ninety degrees, to the King to apologize for the Prince's rude behavior.

"Your Highness, King Frederick, I sincerely apologize for our prince's rude behavior. He's still young and impulsive..." I said, feeling like I was the older one in this situation.

"If you're truly sorry, then... go out with me."
I heard him say it and blinked in confusion, slowly raising my head to look at him.

My eyes widened as I realized what he had just asked.

"Ehh?!"