The air was heavy with unspoken truths as Princess Lena entered Kongpob's chambers. She closed the door softly, but her expression held none of her usual calm grace. Kongpob barely looked up, his gaze fixed on the window where the last light of day was fading, casting a dull glow across the room. He looked every bit as defeated as he felt, weighed down by the armlet he wore like a shackle—an unyielding reminder of his duty and the life he could not escape.
"Kong," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "I need to speak with you about... something I did."
Kongpob turned, and the sadness in his eyes made Lena falter. He looked so worn, as if he were already bearing more than any one person should have to. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. She had to tell him. He deserved to know.
"I wrote to Commander Arthit of Rasina," she confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush, as if speaking them quickly would lessen their weight. "In your name."
Kongpob's eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked as if he hadn't truly heard her. Then the realization hit, and his face drained of color. "Rasina? The kingdom of barbarians your father hate? You... you wrote to him? Pretending to be me?"
Lena nodded, her heart pounding. "I did. I'm sorry, Kongpob. But you must understand, it was the only way I could think of to save you—to save all of us."
" to save us ? Us whom? You and the commander? "Kongpob's hands began to tremble, and he clenched them into fists, his breaths coming faster. "Do you know what this could mean? If uncle gets the wind he would kill phi Arin (his nany he considers second mother) and Aim and Tew (his omega attendants )..."
" Nothing like that will happen. I have been writing Arthit for almost seven months now and no one caught the wind ..."
" Even if your father does not know the truth. What about commander Arthit ? " His voice broke, and he struggled to keep his composure. "If he comes and realizes he's been deceived—"
"I know," Lena interrupted gently, reaching out a hand to touch his arm, though he flinched away. "But listen to me. We can not just think of one or two person right now ? We can't be selfish..."
" Really ? " Kong sniffles " were you doing all of us a favour by colluding with the enemy? "
" Kong, Arthit is not an enemy, he loves you. ."
" Love ? " Kong scoffed " Love is just another words for alpha like slave and servant. "
" Kong— "
"Your father loved your mother too. What good it did to her?" Lena's face fell,she pulled back her hand resting on his shoulder and Kong instantly felt bad. " I am sorry..."
" No. You are right " Lena wiped her tears . And now I see how foolish the plan was. But, I stand by what I told you. This is not the time to be selfish. We can't think about just our fates. If the Kingdom falls in Konrad's hands — it doesn't matter who the omega is . Royal blood like you and me or a child of palace maid — all our fates will be same. Konrad sees omegas as breeding machine. We will be stripped and bred publically — to pop out as many bear cubs as we can before we sucumb to his desirs. This regime will seem thousands a time merciful if our kingdom falls in his hand. Our only hope is General Arthit. "
" How? "
" He is a grizzly shifters and revered warrior. He has fought around eighty battles so far and lost none. "
" Not a single one ? "
" No..." Lena said.
" And why Will he help us ? "
" Because he thinks, you are in love with him and can not live without him. That you have accepted him as your mate in your heart. "
Kongpob looked away, pressing a hand to his mouth, his mind racing through all the possible consequences. The shame, the dishonor, the anger of a man as revered as Commander Arthit when he learned he'd been lied to. Yet Lena's voice was steady, and her gaze burned with a fierce determination that Kongpob had never seen before.
