It had been a year since he first laid eyes on Livia, on the night his coronation as king was celebrated. His father had abdicated the throne just days earlier, opting to spend the rest of his days in freedom with his beloved wife. Even his concubines were released with enough provision to live independently outside the palace. During the celebration, Luka, now the new king, was required to receive greetings from all the influential nobles in the country. It didn't matter whether they were merely Barons or Counts; as long as they held influence, he needed them on his side. Among those who paid their respects, the Fiore family made their appearance. They held the rank of Duke, and their family was renowned for their wealth. The Duke introduced his beautiful daughters, two Alpha women with blonde hair like his. The wife also presented herself, a woman who looked good for her age, with hair of a greenish tint. Lastly, Livia was presented, the family's sole Omega. Upon seeing him, Luka was absolutely captivated by his beauty; he wore a calm and kind expression. When greeted, Livia’s voice was soft and shy.
The king immediately descended from his throne to ask for a dance, which would be his first as king and thus the most significant. It was clear to all present that Luka Leonel had chosen his future queen. In the following days, Luka would summon Livia for dinner or breakfast. Though the boy was shy, he had a charming smile and was gracious. Luka liked him from the moment they met. Gradually, Livia shed his shyness around Luka and began to smile more. After four months of acquaintance, Luka formally requested Livia's hand in marriage. The Duke did not hesitate to agree to the engagement, and moments of happiness unfolded for Luka whenever he was near Livia. The wedding took place, but on that very night, Luka saw the Duke take Livia out onto the balcony. Following them but stopping upon hearing their conversation, he overheard:
"Well done, Livia. With this, our place in the family is secured."
"I'm glad for you, father," Livia responded while the Duke chuckled.
"Make sure you give him an heir quickly. If it's an Alpha, the king won’t be necessary anymore, and we can take the crown. Livia, you did well in seducing that fool."
"I just serve my father's wishes, and I'm glad to have met his expectations."
Upon hearing this conversation, all the love Luka had harbored for Livia was shattered. He truly believed his affection for the boy was genuine, but he was merely a pawn in the ambitions of some greedy nobles. Later in the evening, Luka dragged Livia to the bedchamber and assertively tore off his white garment.
"Wait, Your Majesty...this isn't..."
"But this is what you want, to be with child, right? Then just be quiet and take what you desire."
Luka pressed Livia's body into the bed, taking him by force that night. Livia wept, but he did so silently, understanding that Luka's words meant he had heard the conversation with his father. So Livia clenched his lips, enduring everything. He deserved it for being a coward and not standing up to his father, for not wanting to hurt the king. Because of this, he had lost the affection the king had given him, and as a result, he no longer cared what happened to him. When the king visited, he merely allowed him to do as he pleased, as self-punishment and a punishment for his family. He took the strongest contraceptives, ensuring he wouldn’t give his father what he wanted—an opportunity to harm the king. He also allowed the concubines, Rita in particular, to hit and mock him. The day Rita pushed him down the stairs, he smiled, knowing he would finally be free and the king would have a chance to find happiness with someone capable of defending their love.
Luka distanced himself from Livia, visiting only out of obligation. He made sure the dishes sent to Livia contained contraceptives; he would not let the Duke achieve his aim, having already been tricked into believing Livia's love. However, Livia changed somehow after the accident. When told of it, Luka rushed to Livia's room and felt miserable seeing him laid out unconscious. Everyday he checked in on him until news came that Livia had opened his eyes. Luka was surprised to find Livia completely different, even convincingly playing the victim by exposing Rita's actions. Livia’s handling of the concubine's garden incident was also compelling. The physician privately suggested to Luka that Livia might have undergone a personality change due to the head injury, which seemed likely. So, when Livia asked for control over the Harem, Luka promptly agreed. After all, he had little regard for these concubines, keeping them in the palace merely for political reasons. If Livia could get them out, then Luka would let him do it.
"Your Highness, Duke Fiore has arrived at the palace. He claims he wishes to see the queen,” the secretary announced.
"It seems the man has run out of money. How is the queen faring?"
"Her three-day cycle has ended. The suppressors helped manage it easily."
"I see. But that man is shameless. Yet it will be interesting to see how he reacts when confronting a very different Livia."
Luka would undoubtedly observe with interest, finding amusement in how the Duke copes with Livia's newfound defiance, provided it is not just another performance by the Omega.
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