Chapter 167 Margot Escalation

Chapter 167 Margot Escalation

"We insist that you prioritize your duty over your personal desires." Thorne did not back down. "You are a king before you are a man. Act like one."

The room went silent. The challenge was clear. The line drawn.

Marcus moved his hand to his sword. Ready for violence if this escalated further.

Adrian's laugh was hollow. "My duty. You speak of duty while spreading lies about an innocent woman. While using my son as a political weapon. While questioning my authority based on malicious rumors started by—" His eyes swept to Margot. "By someone jealous and bitter that they will never have what they want."

Margot's face flushed. "Your Majesty, I only report what I hear—"

"You report what you invent. What you spread. What you use to poison minds and turn my court against my mate." Adrian's voice turned to thunder. "I know your game, Lady Margot. You want Lila gone. You think if she disappears, I will turn to you. You are gravely mistaken."

"This is not about Lady Margot's feelings." Lord Thorne redirected. "This is about Prince Theo's welfare. The boy is being used. Anyone can see it. Lady Lila spends time with him, earns his affection, positions herself as a mother figure—"

"She is not positioning herself as anything!" Adrian's control snapped. His hand slammed down on the council table. Wood cracked. "Prince Theo loves her because she is kind to him. Because she treats him with gentleness and care. Because she fills a void his mother's death left. That is not manipulation. That is compassion."

"Or strategic calculation." Margot's voice was soft. Insidious. "Your Majesty, consider. Lady Lila was nothing before she caught your attention. A disgraced servant. Accused of murder. Stripped of title and family. And now she is your mate. Sleeping in your chambers. Playing mother to your heir. One must wonder if she engineered all of this. If she planned from the beginning to use the bond to climb back to power."

The accusation hung in the air like poison gas.

Adrian's eyes blazed pure gold. "Out." The word came out as a growl. "Everyone out except Lord Thorne and Lady Margot. Now."

The council fled. Even Marcus hesitated before obeying the command. The door closed. Three people remained.

Adrian circled the table slowly. Predator stalking prey. "You have gone too far. Both of you."

"We speak truth—" Thorne began.

"You speak lies and you know it." Adrian stopped in front of Margot. "You started these rumors. You whispered in servants' ears. You planted doubts in noble minds. You turned my court against Lila because you are jealous. Admit it."

Margot's mask cracked. "She does not deserve you! She is nothing! A murderer! A servant! While I have been here, loyal, supportive, waiting for you to see me—"

"I will never see you the way you want. Never. The bond chose Lila. My heart chose Lila. No amount of scheming will change that." Adrian's voice was cold. "Leave. Pack your things. You are no longer welcome at this court."

"You cannot exile me over—"

"I can do anything I want. I am the Alpha King." Adrian's eyes flashed. "Leave now or be dragged out in chains. Choose."

Margot fled. Tears streaming. Pride shattered.

Adrian turned to Lord Thorne. "And you. Calling emergency council to challenge my authority? To demand I separate from my mate? That borders on treason."

"I act in the kingdom's best interest—"

"You act in your own political interest. You have never approved of me. Never respected my authority. You see weakness and you strike like a snake." Adrian moved closer. "But you misjudged this time. Lila is not my weakness. She is my strength. And anyone who threatens her threatens me directly."

"The council will not stand for—"

"The council will do as I command or find themselves replaced." Adrian's voice turned deadly. "I have been patient. I have allowed dissent. I have tolerated your challenges. But that ends now. You will support my decisions regarding Lila. You will stop spreading rumors. You will treat her with the respect due to my mate. Or you will learn exactly how ruthless an Alpha King can be when protecting what is his."

Lord Thorne's face went pale. "Your Majesty, the council has authority—"

"The council has what authority I grant it. No more. No less." Adrian gestured to the door. "Leave. And when you return tomorrow, you will publicly retract every accusation against Lady Lila. You will apologize for questioning my judgment. And you will ensure every noble in this palace understands she is under my protection. Am I clear?"

Thorne bowed stiffly. "Crystal clear, Your Majesty."

He left. The door closed. Adrian stood alone in the council chamber. His hands shook with barely controlled rage.

Outside, Marcus waited. "Your Majesty?"

"Find Lila. Bring her to my study. Now. She needs to know what was said. What was threatened." Adrian's voice was rough. "And Marcus? Double the guards around Prince Theo. If Margot is spreading rumors about Lila manipulating him, someone might try to use the boy against us. I will not allow that."

"At once." Marcus hurried away.

Adrian walked to his study. Poured wine. Drank it in one swallow. Poured another.

His authority had been questioned. Openly. In front of the full council. They wanted him to abandon Lila. To choose duty over bond. To prioritize appearance over truth.

But he was done choosing. Done sacrificing. Done letting fear and politics control his life.

Lila was his mate. Theo loved her. And anyone who threatened either of them would face his full wrath.

The question was whether his authority would hold. Whether the council would submit. Whether the kingdom would accept a king who chose heart over tradition.

He drank more wine. And waited for Lila to arrive. To tell her that the danger had escalated. That her enemies were no longer hiding.

And that protecting her might cost him everything.