CHAPTER 8. The Proposition

　　“I-” I started but he stopped me from saying another word by holding out his hand authoritatively.

　　“Or perhaps I should ask, do you even know the first thing about being an emperor of a country? You have spent your childhood bedridden. You are only learning the thing my sisters and I had to learn when we were children. You have not even been introduced to high society yet because you only recently found out that you are an omega born in a family of powerful alphas! Not only are you a disgrace to the Renaldi name but you are miles behind us hence you are unfit to rule.”

　　The silence in the room was so jarring that I was able to hear my own rapid heartbeat echoing in my ear. I blinked once, unable to disagree with him because everything he said was the truth. And yet, I could feel a strange anger building up in the pits of my stomach, churning painfully and threatening to escape.

　　It was as though something had snapped inside me, something that took years to build up was now crumbling before my very eyes. My patience and tolerance for my half-siblings had finally snapped, awakening the true voice that I had always pushed aside. I saw Aiden shift in his seat, ready to defend me from Frederick’s harsh words but because my brother could say anything, I allowed my repressed self to run wild.

　　“And you think you are fit to rule?” I asked sarcastically. I could feel everyone’s gaze on me at that moment. “Why? Because you were taught how to dance as a child? Because you were tutored about history? Because you can use a sword? I hate to be crude, brother, but everything you deem I lack I am able to gain in due time. If these are the criteria of being a ruler of a kingdom then I can do it as well.”

　　Frederick stood up, slamming his hands on the table. The sound jumped from the walls of the room. His face was furiously red as he glared daggers at me, the angriest he has ever been and truthfully, I felt a shiver run down my spine. I was not sure if it was due to me never seeing him angry before or if the alpha in him was trying to scare me.

　　“Don’t you dare speak to me that way, you omega scum.” He snapped through gritted teeth.

　　Aiden stood up as well. “Mind your words, Frederick!” he growled, voice low and alarming.

　　“Cease this madness!” Gideon cried out before they could have any time to bare their fangs at each other. “Let us be civil about this, please.”

　　“Civil? There is nothing civil about crowning an omega!” Lady Marie snarled.

　　“There must be a reason why the late emperor chose Cordelia.” My mother finally spoke out, attempting to be the voice of reason to a room filled with people who could not bother to stay calm enough to listen to her.

　　“A reason? It is merely a mistake.” Elina glared.

　　“It does not matter the reason behind the emperor’s decision! You must know that neither I nor my children nor the councilmen and noblemen who support us will agree to her being our next ruler.” Lady Marie said sharply. She then turned to Gideon, pausing for a long moment that everyone in the room was waiting in anticipation to see what she would say next. “Unless…” she started.

　　“What do you have in mind, mother?” Lilian called out, a brow raised in curiosity.

　　Lady Marie did not look away from Gideon before a sneer appeared on her face. She raised her hand to her mouth to cover it. “If you are truly as wise as they say, Gideon, you will know what the right thing to do is.”

　　“I do not follow, Lady Marie.” Gideon frowned.

　　She waved her hand dismissively at him. “Naturally, I am talking about marriage.” She said all of a sudden, causing me to gawk at her in disbelief.

　　“Marriage?” my mother echoed, face twisting in confusion.

　　“Of course. If we truly want to fulfil our beloved emperor’s final wish then so be in, put the omega on the throne but to save our kingdom from being a mockery, she had to have a suitable alpha partner by her side.”

　　“Mother?!” Frederick called out, failing to hide the hurt in his voice.

　　Lady Marie ignored him. “Cordelia needs to wed an alpha! Someone who can properly guide her through this sudden change. Someone who will be respected and feared enough that the people would look past the fact that an omega was ever crowned.”

　　“You want to force her to marry someone just so she can take the throne?” Aiden asked in disbelief.

　　“Yes, have I not made myself clear? If Cordelia agrees to these terms then my supporters and I will not protest against her becoming empress.” Her children looked as though they were about to say something but Lady Marie quickly held out her hand to stop them. She then turned to me, a devious smile plastered on her face. “What do you say?”

　　I opened my mouth but my mother spoke out before I had the chance. “This is a setback to the laws that our predecessors have set in stone. No one has ever needed to be wed in order to become an emperor or empress in our kingdom for centuries now. Why are you suggesting this? It is clearly your means of controlling Cordelia-”

　　“That is because we have never had an omega take the throne before. Must I spell it out to you?” Lady Marie said sharply. “With an alpha by her side, she will be respected by her people. I am giving you a solution here and yet you deem that I would want to control her? You mock my goodwill, Lady Isabella.”

　　“That’s-”

　　“I refuse.” I finally spoke out.

　　“Pardon?” Lady Marie snapped.

　　“I refuse to marry a random stranger. Nor am I renouncing my claim to the throne.” I said, louder this time for everyone to hear.

　　“Do you truly think you have a say in this, Cordelia?” she forced herself to smile but it was clear that she was furious that I was talking back to her. “If you do not agree to the terms of marriage then you must know that we will not support you ascending the throne.”

　　“Even if you are openly going against the late emperor’s final wishes?” Gideon asked.

　　“From the way I see it, royal advisor, I am saving this kingdom from damnation.” She spat and from there, chaos erupted in the council room with opposing ideas being shouted to one another.

　　I immediately left the room, ignoring the worried calls of my mother and Aiden in the process. It was suffocating, my chest was threatening to explode the longer I stayed in that room filled with hostility and hatred towards me and my second gender. I quickly made my way towards the gardens, avoiding the prying eyes of the guards and castle staff along the way. Finally alone in the centre of the vast garden, I inhaled the fresh air as though I was deprived of it for the longest time.

　　A part of me still cannot believe what had just happened, still unable to process the words uttered by Gideon. Father chose me to be his heir, to be the next empress of the Southern Kingdom but no matter how much I tried, I could not come up with a logical explanation to his decision just as the others who questioned his judgement earlier.

　　As I stood there trying to calm my breathing and nerves, I kept replaying the scenes over and over again. Their hurtful words, their hateful gazes, all directed to me. And the fact that Lady Marie would force me to marry someone just so she can control me and the throne was a truly frightful thought. I came to a sudden realisation that would rather refuse the throne than to fall into her trap—than to be used as her pawn.

　　I tensed when I heard footsteps approaching me from behind. I held my breath as paranoia consumed my being. It was not uncommon for royal members to assassinate each other for the claim on the throne hence the possibility that Lady Marie or any of her supporters had sent someone to claim my life was entirely high.

　　I took small steps backwards as I tried to think of the fastest route I could take to reach the nearest guard. Just as I was about to run the other direction from the footsteps, the figure appeared in front of me.