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King Romulus' POV

"You want me to plan a what?!" Rhea shrieked, their dinner completely abandoned for another moment or two before Romulus had better her viewpoint on the matter.
"Rhea, I do not trust many people, and I'm told it's a great honor to be asked by the King for a—"
"Don't play that game with me, Romulus. Even I know that it's a distraction."
"A distraction? Perhaps, but it gives the other members of the court something to look forward to and places a good grace on your name. I cannot be entirely to pin on this, Lyall had thought it a great idea."

"I didn't really want that sort of image on my name, Rom. That I have my head in the clouds and can do no better than plan an event." Romulus frowned at the matter, do others truly believe that is what goes on behind the scenes?

"If that's the case, I might have to have a word with my planners. I cannot have a member of my staff up in the clouds." That had earned him an even fiery glare, one that he hummed in accepting from the tease. "Truly, Amory. It would do me a great honor and service. It will show host to a number of wealthy individuals throughout the Kingdom. I do not want some ill-tempered female who will start crying the moment I find something I do not like."
"So what you're saying is that you've made a female cry because of her party planning? Honestly, Romulus, you can be so cruel." She claimed, her hands on her hips and a rather disappointed scowl growing on her face to showcase just how she took to hearing said story.

"Ah, but you, my brave little Queen...You don't care about my voice rising or anything—Besides, you know, deep down, that I cannot hurt you." It was a hint, sitting right before her. Even if she had taken the small glance down to her wrist, one that was still on the mend...She knew that it wasn't him who struck her down.

"I suppose you're right. Or you like when I threaten to smack you on the nose? Are you a glutton for punishment?" Now the smirk was widely featured on him as he turned this way and that, the sneaky male that he was had decided that these small intimate touches and caresses had found it's way from their private dwellings and into public sectors. Course, Romulus was fairly careful as to whom might be witnessing things.

"For your punishments? Always. But I am not jesting when I said I need a female with a backbone."
"I didn't think you were, I only hope you remember this conversation a little down the line when the Ball is actually in production."
"Then we are in agreement. The ball will be next Saturday." He smiled, already ducking for cover as Rhea had taken the scroll in her hand with a very firm grip. And he wasn't one to cower away, but his wolf had turned readily playful with each passing second he had spent with her.

Now that the tension had drifted away.

Now that she hadn't received any sort of pain from their last encounter, things were on track for a healthy reign. One with a powerful Queen by his side, and Romulus was damned if, by the end of the year, he wasn't on the cards to marry her—He wasn't sure if he could properly break the news to his wolf.

"Next Saturday?!"

"I wanted to give you ample time to plan the event."
"Saturday?!"

"I realize I didn't give you much of a warning, Rhea, but truly I believe you can do it."
"Ten-days?! What the hell am I going to do in ten days!" Her hands had gone to her hair as she began to overcrowd her mind with endless thoughts and abilities. "I need to go."
"I would like an update when you get the chance, Rhea!"
"Yeah? And I'll show you where you can stick it." She hissed, but the playfulness in her eyes had never left.
No, the sense of determination had filled the air and then some.

"I expect you to be wearing your signature purple, Rhea!" She stalled in her next step as she turned over her shoulder.
"Not red?" Temptation wracked his brain as he imagined Rhea sporting the darkest of reds as she took part as hostess—He would be able to dance with her that night, and lay a silent claim to the wolves in the room.
And Rhea would be too concerned with the party to realize what he was up to. It was thoughts and moments of believing that things could be alright until then, was uneventfully not how he expected.

Rhea was undoubtedly too busy for much else, but from what he could gather from his undercover guards, she hadn't complained. She tackled the task head-on and decided that she was going to put together something so extravagant that he was amazed.

Romulus was expecting at least one curse thrown in his direction, instead, it was a playful attitude in passing—A type of foreplay he had never truly understood until Rhea.

Even now, calling her by that name in public was difficult. But in private, behind closed doors, she was Amory. Nothing could interrupt the King and him traveling through the walls to enjoy her company.

For when the sun goes down, the night was theirs.

What they did during that time was nothing too promiscuous, not since the previous instance in the bath.
Instead, it was a not-so-friendly game of chess—A bit of wine by the window, whatever they wanted.

And for once, they weren't obligated by anything, and Romulus truly understood in wanting to form a relationship rather than get married the first moment Rhea stepped foot out of the carriage.

Here, he could take the favor of gifting her something to keep her occupied—While also giving her a public favor. A fantastic way to introduce her without the courts getting to them first.

It wasn't a lie to say that he did have important guests coming, but his sole focus was going to be Amory—It would always be Amory.

He didn't doubt that his beast wouldn't let up. Even when they did mate and she bared his mark, there would always be a side of him scarred and worried that she would be stripped away from him again.

"Sir, I believe giving Lady Rhea the task of putting together the Ball to be a wonderful idea." The stuck-up male known as Mithwell, had offered.
Which led to Romulus' wolf to huff internally.

"Just know that I didn't do it in favor of you, Mithwell. But for the sake that I cannot seem to trust a single one of you with such an event." Now that had called for a disgrace, but then, of course, he turned to Wilhelm.

"My Advisors are the only ones who seemly can host anything at all. Have I thanked you yet for my birthday celebration, Wilhelm?"
"Yes, my King. Several times."
"Ah, but what's one more...Besides, between the lot of you, perhaps I'll allow you to set something up." The playful grin had come out, and Kieran had fought his own bit of laughter and instead joined the King.

"I will be the first to admit, King Romulus, that I wouldn't know where to begin without my mate's aid." Now that had been clarified, Romulus had to endure a normal meeting without Rhea's presence. But her ideas had been passed to Kieran, who was all too pleased to have something and someone to argue with.

It wasn't until halfway through the meeting that an Enforcer had come forward and gave Wilhelm a piece of parchment—One that the male had chuckled at before offering it to the King. "What is it?"
"Lady Rhea does like to add things when she is not present...Sir Kieran, I don't doubt she'll ask for a full rundown." He smiled, and Romulus found himself forced to slow his actions, when really he wanted to tear it apart.

"And I will happily do so," Kieran confirmed, but it was Mithwell and the rest who began to snicker. "If we're passing notes to the female, perhaps remind her that she has only a few weeks left for our favors." Now that had allowed Kieran to lean back further into his chair with a risen smirk.

"Lady Rhea is the smartest female I have come to meet, if you don't believe she hasn't chosen the favors before we left the previous meeting, you're delusional...My King, what does Lady Rhea say?"
"She has decided on a theme—And to remind us all that our attendance is mandatory and we're hosting a plethora of families with wealth, but within the Kingdom and those traveling from others." The given scoffed and spated their transgressions and Wilhelm started to shake his head.

"You all will either hear it from Lady Rhea or myself—"
"Has the little human managed to get into your bed already Wilhelm? Goddess, have mercy, we're screwed." Rage was burning behind Romulus' eyes that he kept his eyes dictated on the page before addressing the child-like behavior, but Wilhelm already beat him to it.

"Lady Rhea is a fine young woman with equal beauty and intelligence. But you are mistaken, Mithwell. For I do not need to coarse a female into my bed, unlike some of the males in this room." It had been a rather low attack, but for a male like Wilhelm to call upon fault had caused the King to laugh in his chair.

Given that Mithwell was well beyond defending at this point.

"Since we are all acting like pups, what is the theme for this ball?" Getting off track was easy, but returning to it took merit—One that Kieren always managed to supply.

He was a quiet fellow, and did his deeds and spoke when passionate about the topic. But he was starting to break out his usual norm, as though revived to his former status. It was clear he was nearing his elder years, but Romulus refused to replace him.

"A mascarade. She's noted that 'yes, it means we're wearing masks,' so I suppose that'll be a wonderful surprise."
"Do humans realize we don't need to recognize a face, just a smell?" Drex asked, the male who was rather stoic and spoke lowly. But he hadn't meant any ill will against the question, but the humans took it as such.

"It's a mask, not a damn hood. We'll recognize each other just fine." Spat Edmund, though there was nothing fowl against the party in itself. Which was a blessing, given that Romulus truly did not want to force anyone into attendance.

Even so, there was a commitment among being labeled as councilmen and advisors—While others might not acknowledge this, Rhea was ranked higher.

Hell, Romulus wondered if the female knew at all how much she outranked them, to begin with. Except for Drex, given his military background.

The rest of the draw was rather tiresome, and the only thing keeping him going was Rhea's promise in a surprise. It was quite clever on her behalf, thinking that it would stay at the back of his mind throughout the day, and from what his Beta and Delta were speaking of, that is how a female manages to gather space in their head.

Though now it made sense to both himself, and his closest males—The mere title of a mate had realistically changed all of his actions. He must have reached out to the Enforcers assigned to watch her at least dozens of times, and it made seeking her out much easier—Given how large this damned castle truly is.

Currently, she was in the main room that was meant to hold the ball in its entirety—The last big function he could remember was his birthday. And the reminder of that damned day was still eating away at his mind.

How he foolishly danced with Mariah in an attempt to shush her childish ideas while also appeasing her father's means. But there hadn't been any mention of a wife in some time. Perhaps Rhea truly pushed that amongst the men to think elsewhere.

"Could you push it to your right for me, please? Oh, that's lovely, thank you!" Soon, Romulus caught her voice as he moved closer. And good goddess, the hall was already featuring many of the chosen decors—In addition to the settled tables and chairs.

"Are you feasting already, Lady Rhea?" He questioned, and the female turned around—Her cheeks tinted red with overworking tension, one that he had beckoned for her to come forward as he took a handkerchief out from his jacket and handed it off. "When is the last time you took a seat down?"
"Well, lunch was supposed to be happening soon, but we wanted to finish..." Romulus looked around to see that the given humans were well underway with all that they were tasked to do, and the enforcers he had set up to protect Rhea had been roped into this.

And they only smiled, as their orders were still being met, as far as he could tell. "I think it's time for lunch then, everyone—the table is yours." He cheered, and that caused everyone to hesitate for a moment before following the word of the King.

They hadn't realized he had come in among the chaos. It had occurred to him that the only wolves in the room were his Enforcers—which impacted just how they responded to his word.

He watched how they seemed to congregate off towards the buffet table that Rhea had no doubt ordered from the kitchens. She always seemed to be thinking ahead on such matters, and as he led her towards one of the fine seating arrangements—Romulus caught that she was still in the midst of deciding a few pieces, especially when her attention had gone to take mental notes as to what everyone seemed to be taking the most of.

"Alright, love. Time to take that mind of yours off planning mode."
"But there is still so much to do, and I only have three days left."
"Three days still constitutes Saturday morning as well, does it not?" She rolled her eyes but groaned as she finally took to her seat and groaned, having not felt the pain in her leg until now. "I'd say you're done for today—"
"Absolutely not, I can still manage the day in a chair...I'll be alright by tomorrow...Though with all of this moving, your promised dance might be much shorter than I can manage."
"A dance is still a dance in my mind. One I am impatiently waiting for." She rolled her eyes, but the King soon rose from his seat and decided to get himself and her a plate.

There didn't seem to be a theme going on, as Rhea selected a bit from different suggestions—But clearly, there were a few favorites to be chosen amongst the offered platters and bowls. And with three plates to share between the two of them, he knew that there would be at least something that Rhea would enjoy.

"Do you think this is a good combination for a tablecloth?" It was a question that caused him to sigh, and he simply set the plates down and moved it out of view. "You're focusing too much on the little things. No one will—"
"Absolutely they will! You are hosting a plethora of supporters, if things look out of place they'll take note and write it off as you not caring. Your image is on the line, Romulus." He supposed that was true, hell, it was more than true.
Though he would have usually had Wilhelm find someone else, had Lyall not suggested Rhea herself.

Not to mention had most certainly made her stay close to the Castle.

"Then I think that it's a wonderful selection, it goes well with the colors of my reign and it's still warm and inviting."
"Damn you, flattery will get you nowhere." She hissed under her breath, thankful that the majority of those in the room were either human without the aptitude to hear, or a wolf who was already privy to their forging relationship.

"I think it has gotten me plenty far, now then, is there anything I can help with? Sway a few vendors with my title?"
"Actually, you can go to your fitting. I know you canceled, twice." She jabbed, and he chuffed and turned back to his plate. Focusing mainly on the decadent meats that have been roasted and flavored to perfection. He hummed in agreement, but more for the taste than her scolding.

"I have no need of another suit, Rhea."
"Yes, because I—Damnit, you're ruining my surprise."
"Which is...?"
"I might have drawn up an outfit for you to wear. I gave it to your dressing team and it's all finished—It just needs your approval." He blinked down at the female, but she had escaped his analyzing gaze as she took a sample of the food in front of her. Even sneaking a bit of the meat had him dazed, and goddess, now she understood as she hummed in delight as well.

"You—"
"I wanted you dressed to impress, I apologize if I overstepped...I really didn't think that far ahead." She explained, but the male had leaned forward, his back hunching over to block the two of their's conversation further.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't bend you over this table, female?"
"Because it's past lunchtime and I haven't eaten since yesterday." She calmly instated, though her cheeks began to burn as Romulus' eyes swirled with the intention to—To what exactly?

Rhea was never one to understand the erotic side of mating, but their touching in the bathroom was just one of the many things she knew he was capable of doing to her—For her.

"Fair, but I am postponing the idea."
"All I did was make it easier on dressing you, my King. I didn't think you would have much of an artistic touch to what you would be wearing come Saturday."
"You're correct. I simply wear whatever is presented to me, but now I cannot wait. And I plan to thank you, thoroughly. Tonight." It had earned him another smile, one that nodded and agreed to his surprise now.

And after such a day, she certainly deserved it. As Romulus had taken one of Rhea's helpers and claimed that everything was near complete except for minor details.

So an early night would not cause any harm, and for once, she agreed. Not when so much had been accomplished thus far, and the kitchens had a menu secured.

The guest list and seating arrangements, Rhea had asked Wilhelm how to go about that, and he was all too happy to help—Which made the final checklist shorter by the minute.

The late lunch had fulfilled the work for today, and Rhea gave the smaller assignments out and claimed that it was it for the day. Completely missing the fact that Romulus had nodded in dismissal to the Enforcers lingering at the table they used for lunch.

With that, Rhea wished them all a good day before taking to the hallway and turning to her hidden betrothed. "I'll see you in a bit?"
"Much sooner than a bit, believe me...Though I suppose I have a fitting to attend."
"Meet me in my room after?" He nodded, though he was tempted in allowing her scent to linger in his own, but thought against it upon wondering just what the Omegas he employed to keep his room tidy would think.

Again, it was much too risky, and it was already becoming a bad habit of his in messing up his sheets to make them assume he slept—He truly didn't want word to get out that he was absent from his bed, either.

That would make his Court turn to an investigation and his Advisor too happy to ask questions. Ones he wasn't sure he was prepared to address.

He decided to take the long way back to rooms, claiming to Wilhelm that he had a fitting to attend to. And it was much too important to push Rhea off once again, and Wilhelm seemed to fully-heartedly agree.

Life was getting plenty easier now that Wilhelm wasn't trying to constantly fight for the Advisor position. Though it irked the King, not in the same way the male would sometimes introduce him to a plethora of females at public events on purpose.

Highlighting their rank and political attachments, though Romulus wasn't a fool.

And Wilhelm was too dedicated to the Kingdom to stop his attempts.

In the end, Rhea managed to speak with his closest staff and aid him in getting him prepared with the options—Options! Yet even the first held far too much detail that he wasn't sure when or how Rhea had managed to conjure these up.

"Lady Rhea is brilliant, she had claimed these were the colors to make your eyes more striking—Perhaps she is helping the hunt to find you a Luna, my King." It was a perfect assumption, but Rhea was not only the huntress but the hunted.

And even now his beast was urging with the threaded pulse to remind her of that. That he was King, and that made her his Queen.

Which instigated the count down in his head until he could escape this fitting.

______

Date: 07/10/23

Time: 1:00 PM

Words: 3587

Author's Note:

Are we surprised Rhea reacted the way she did, but managed to find a solution and find her rhythm with ease?

Onto the next chapter!