LYDIA'S POV

　　The entire day I felt jittery, unable to shake off the anxiety gnawing at me. I didn't want to meet or talk to anyone, so I locked myself in my room, hoping that no one would bother me for eternity. The walls of my room felt like a safe haven, shielding me from the chaos outside.

　　I paced back and forth, my mind racing with a whirlwind of thoughts. Heckim's unexpected proposal, the nobles' accusations, and my mother's request—everything felt overwhelming. My heart ached from the confrontation with my mother, and my head spun with the weight of the decisions I had to make.

　　I threw myself onto the bed, staring at the ceiling as if it held answers to my unspoken questions. The silence in the room was both comforting and suffocating. I closed my eyes, trying to find solace in the stillness, but the turmoil inside me refused to settle.

　　Hours passed, and the soft light of the afternoon faded into the dimness of the evening. The room grew darker, mirroring the uncertainty I felt. I knew I couldn't avoid everyone forever, but for now, this solitude was all I could handle.

　　A soft knock on the door broke the silence. I ignored it, hoping whoever it was would go away. But the knocking persisted, gentle yet insistent.

　　"Lydia, it's me, Evan," his voice came through the door. "Can I come in?"

　　I hesitated, torn between the desire for isolation and the need for comfort. "I'm not in the mood to talk, Evan."

　　"I understand," he said softly. "But I'm worried about you. We all are. Can I please come in?"

　　With a reluctant sigh, I got up and opened the door. Evan stepped inside, his eyes filled with concern.

　　"You do realised that walking away or hiding from the situation isn't the right solution to the problem." He said and I stepped and sighed.

　　"I'm not running away or hiding," I said, my voice thick with frustration. "I just needed time to think. Everything feels so overwhelming—the continuous resistance from the nobles, their accusations even after I've proven myself again and again, and now Heckim. Things are just getting so complicated." I was about to pull my hair in frustration, but Evan stopped me, gently catching my hands.

　　"You should know, this is what happens to people in power. King Rufus had to deal with these same people during his reign, and now it's your turn. Everyone likes to target the person in charge because they are jealous of what you have and they don't," he said, his tone calm and reassuring.

　　"Of course I know that," I replied, nodding. "But stooping this low and accusing me like that? Their double faces were all on display. It's fine when Jason hires witches to kill me, but when I take help from witches, that's not allowed?" I questioned, shaking my head in disbelief.

　　"I know, but can we discuss the real issue here?" he asked politely, and I turned to look at him, puzzled.

　　"Which issue are you referring to?" I questioned. He waited for a moment, his eyes changing color—a sign he was mind linking someone. After a few minutes, there was another knock on the door.

　　I glanced at Evan, who gave me a reassuring nod. I walked over and opened the door, revealing Brandon standing there with a look of concern.

　　"Brandon?" I said, surprised. "What's going on?"

　　"Lydia, we need to talk," he said, his tone serious.

　　"Sure, what's wrong?" I questioned, my heart sinking a little.

　　"Heckim," he began.

　　"Heckim," Evan echoed.

　　"Heckim? What about him?" I questioned, feeling a sense of dread.

　　"His proposal. We think… you should consider it," Brandon said, and I looked at them in shock.

　　"Consider it? That's out of the question. He is not my mate, and I don't even like him, so considering his proposal is out of the question." Out of all the people, I was not expecting this reaction from them. How could they ask me that?

　　"Lydia… think about it. Heckim is… he is an Alpha," Brandon started, choosing his words carefully.

　　"Yes, Alpha of the West River Pack. He can really help you," Evan supported Brandon, and I looked at them furiously.

　　"Do I really mean nothing to you? My choices?" My voice trembled with a mix of anger and hurt.

　　"Lydia, it's not like that," Evan said, stepping closer. "We care about you deeply, but you have to see the bigger picture here. Marrying Heckim could strengthen your position and bring much-needed stability to the kingdom."