Alpha's replacement bride is destined mate-Chapter 117 I Want to Go Back to the Countryside
In the afternoon, King James came to visit Emily and brought her some lemons.
"Here’s a lemon pie I specially requested the palace chef to make for you. Would you like to try it?" King James sat at the table in a casual gray suit, gazing at Emily with a gentle expression.
"Thank you," Emily said, picking up a slice of lemon pie and taking a bite. "It tastes delicious."
"Emily, may I ask you a question?" King James inquired.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Emily replied, placing the lemon pie back on her plate and looking at King James. "Please, ask whatever you like."
King James hesitated for a moment. "Adam told me that you and Klaus are mates. Why haven’t I heard you mention this before?"
A hint of sadness crossed Emily’s face as she recalled the painful experience. "When I went to the north, my wolf disappeared," she said softly. "My stepmother once injected me with wolf venom, causing me to lose my wolf. But when I was kidnapped, my wolf returned, and that’s when I learned that Klaus was my mate."
King James remained silent for a while. "Before you were his mate, you chose to go north with him without hesitation. Now that you are his mate, it will be even harder for you to separate."
"I don’t understand what you mean, Your Majesty," Emily said, sensing there might be a hidden meaning in King James’s words. Did King James want her and Klaus to separate?
"Nothing," King James smiled slightly and changed the subject. "I heard from the doctor that your wound is healing quickly. Do you have any plans for when you’re discharged from the hospital?"
Emily thought for a moment. "I’m going to take my mother’s ashes back to the countryside and then head back to the north."
King James looked surprised at the news, but he regained his composure after a few seconds.
"I respect your decision," King James said, looking at Emily intently. "I don’t know when we’ll see each other again after you leave the South. Emily, I said I would make it up to you by fulfilling my responsibilities as a father, but you didn’t give me that opportunity."
"There’s no need for that, Your Majesty," Emily whispered. "You don’t owe me anything."
"What do you want?" King James asked. "Whatever you ask, I’ll do my best to accommodate you."
Emily shook her head slightly. "No, thank you."
Their conversation came to an abrupt end, and the room fell silent for a long time. The dazzling sunlight shone in unabashedly from outside, like a golden veil gently covering Emily and King James.
The brilliant light seemed to carry a silent power, making their silhouettes stand out in the halo. They stood quietly, their shadows stretched long, like the traces of the quiet passage of time, carrying those unspoken thoughts and feelings.
...
As night fell, a sleek black Rolls-Royce was parked outside the Royal Hospital, resembling an elegant panther in the watery night, exuding an aura of mystery and nobility.
Adam sat in the car, leaning slightly to one side, his stern face looming in the dim light. He glanced up at the time on his watch, the delicate dial shimmering silver in the dimness, and the car doors slowly opened as the hour hand pointed to nine.
Dolly walked into the car in a sleek black tracksuit, her figure light and agile, like a sprite in the night.
She greeted Adam respectfully, "Good evening, Your Highness."
Adam nodded slightly at Dolly. "Sit down."
As soon as Dolly sat down, the car slowly pulled away with a low, steady roar, its wheels rolling gently over the pavement, accompanied by a subtle whoosh of wind.
Adam asked, "Did Emily promise to take you north?"
"Yes," Dolly replied truthfully.
"Good," Adam said. "Your sole mission this time to the North is to keep Emily safe. Can you do that?"
"Yes, I can do it," Dolly replied.
Prince Adam nodded in satisfaction. "Do you know why I chose you?"
"Why?"
"Because you’re a brave girl, and you’re also a good friend of Emily’s."
After learning that Dolly had been injured trying to save Emily, Adam began keeping a close eye on her.
Adam knew he couldn’t sway Emily’s determination to return to the North, but he wasn’t concerned that Emily would be alone in the North. She needed someone by her side who was loyal to her and could protect her.
And Dolly was the perfect candidate.
"Remember, even if you go to the North, you will always be a Southerner, and you represent the South," Adam told Dolly. "If you come across anything that threatens our national interests, you must report it to me immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness," Dolly nodded.
The car slowly came to a halt at the next intersection, making a faint braking sound. The car door opened, and a cool night breeze blew in. Dolly stepped out of the car, her slender figure standing out in the dim streetlights. She quickly straightened her tracksuit and then, without hesitation, disappeared into the darkness.
Adam returned to the palace. He pushed open the study door, and King James was sitting in a chair, studying papers. He took off his glasses upon seeing Adam.
"Is everything arranged?" King James asked.
"Yes," Adam replied.
King James nodded. "I’ve decided to release those spies from the North."
"Why?" Adam asked, puzzled. "Those spies from the North were caught with great difficulty."
"Because I don’t plan to sever our alliance with the North just yet," King James said, sighing lightly. "I didn’t expect that the Wolf King of the West would turn out to be the mastermind behind Emily’s kidnapping. No matter his purpose, his actions have angered me."
"But we’ve already agreed to Elijah’s terms. Are we going to break the contract?" Adam asked, even though he didn’t understand Elijah’s motive for kidnapping Emily, he believed the terms offered were beneficial to the country.
"I’ve heard that Elijah and Klaus are mortal enemies," King James analyzed. "Perhaps he’s doing it to get revenge on Klaus. Now that Klaus has suspected that we’re secretly colluding with the West, we’re in a difficult position."
"So what are we going to do?" Adam could empathize with his father’s concerns but couldn’t think of a better solution.
"I’ve spoken to the King of the North on the phone," King James said. "I promised to cede a border territory to the North for free and release their spies. But only if we don’t participate in their battles with the West."
"Why are you doing that?" Adam frowned. "Even if we cancel our alliance with the North, they won’t be able to do anything for us."
"We have to think about Emily," King James’s voice revealed a hint of annoyance. "If we cancel our alliance with the North, what will Emily do? Let’s not forget that her mate is Klaus. Am I going to force Emily to reject Klaus? No, I can’t do anything that would hurt Emily."
"What if one day we fall out with the North? What will Emily do then?" Adam said reluctantly. "Do you want her to stay in the North?"
"At least we have a year left on our alliance with the North," King James said slowly. "Emily can still be with her mate for a year. Think of it as my compensation to Emily."
Adam was silent. He could understand his father’s efforts for Emily, but at the same time, he was worried about Emily and Klaus’s relationship.
Although they were mates, they also represented the interests of different countries. If one day the North and the South fell out, would Emily choose her country or her mate?
Adam looked out the window at the dark night sky and thought to himself: Emily, you still have a year. In a year’s time, if the North no longer maintains an alliance with the South, I will definitely bring you back, no matter what.
