The Sweet Alpha Crown Prince Loves Me So Much

Leia and Adrian, traveling at a pace that left their soldiers struggling to keep up, headed straight for the border region of Lindbergh.

They initially planned to visit a territory situated halfway to Lindbergh’s capital, but Leia Lindbergh wanted to tighten the noose around the necks of those nobles under house arrest.

The cold winter they’d endured, shivering in their warm bedrooms, fearing the unknown fate that awaited them, had been a form of torture in itself.

It was Leia Lindbergh who’d ordered their meals to consist of a handful of oats and a brick-like loaf of bread per day.

Initially, the Heineken Empire had provided them with decent meals, on par with what commoners in the Empire ate. However, upon hearing that those nobles were still complaining and harassing the Imperial soldiers, Leia sneered, “Then let them experience what the citizens of Lindbergh have been eating.”

They’d been given no explanation for their confinement.

No one paid any attention to their cries and tantrums, their desperate pleas for answers as they languished in the dungeons. 

Leia intended to teach them the true meaning of rage, despair, and resignation.

And now, she planned to return and unleash a living hell upon them, those who trembled in fear, clinging to a sliver of hope.

“I might be hailed as the epitome of an Alpha in Heineken, but I think you’re the true embodiment of an Alpha, Princess.”

Adrian, observing the cruel glint in Leia’s eyes as she smirked to herself, shook off the raindrops from his cloak and settled onto the floor.

“You had the privilege of learning social skills, Crown Prince. I, on the other hand, spent twenty years in isolation. Of course, we’re different.” 

Leia said nonchalantly, fiddling with her sword.

Adrian, unnerved by her icy demeanor, clicked his tongue.

“You say that, but you turn into soft ricotta cheese in front of Carl. Your eyes might be predatory, but your actions are all gentle touches.”

Leia mimicked his tongue click, watching as Adrian’s face broke into a wide grin at the mere mention of Carl Lindbergh’s name.

“I’m afraid he might run away if I act recklessly. To be honest, I’m struggling to restrain myself from marking him. His skin is so delicate, even a little roughness leaves a mark. It breaks my heart, but at the same time, I find it so endearing.”

Adrian’s pheromones, sharp and potent, flared as he bared his canines.

He’d been anxious ever since Carl Lindbergh arrived.

He couldn’t control his pheromones, so he couldn’t rule out the possibility of some Alpha trying to lure Carl away.

He trusted Carl wasn’t naive enough to fall for some random Alpha, but one could never be too careful.

If only Carl knew how rapidly Adrian’s heart pounded whenever he looked at him, he’d be shocked.

And if he knew how simultaneously relieved and devastated Adrian felt…

Adrian sometimes wondered if Carl was simply fulfilling his promise out of a sense of obligation, resigned to staying by his side.

Whenever that thought crossed his mind, he felt an urge to sink his teeth into Carl’s neck.

“Maybe it’s the amnesia, but he seems so innocent. But he knows what he’s doing. You should show your true nature more often. How many years have you been suppressing your rut with magic stones?”

Leia voiced her concern, worried he might end up hurting her brother. Adrian shook his head, his expression resolute.

“I would never hurt him. And I would never want to frighten him. I don’t want to make him feel pressured by my pheromones.”

Being with Carl ignited every primal urge within him—lust, hunger, even his desire for sleep. But above all, he felt an overwhelming need to keep him close, to never let him go.

“I can be patient. I’ll wait until the day Carl looks at me with the same desire in his eyes and begs for me.”

Leia, speechless at his possessive declaration, simply turned away. “Suit yourself.”

As the two Alphas sat facing each other, an invisible wall separating them, James Hoegaarden entered, holding a small child’s hand.

“Are you cold, Your Highnesses?”

“No,” they replied in unison, their gaze drawn to the chubby-cheeked child, who was sucking on his thumb.

The child, shyly hiding behind James’ legs, peeked at them with wide eyes.

“I apologize for the lack of proper heating. We distributed the warming magic stones we brought with us to the villagers, and there weren’t enough left for Your Highnesses.”

Upon arriving at the border village, after battling through the heavy rain, James had led them to the village headman’s house.

They’d both refused the offer of warming magic stones, content to dry themselves by the fireplace in the center of the stone and mud room.

“This is more than enough.” 

James, scratching his head awkwardly, picked up the child.

“Dominants are dominants for a reason, I suppose.” 

Adrian shrugged.

“Whose child is that?”

The child, snuggled comfortably in James’ arms, looked at Adrian curiously. 

“Dada,” he said, reaching out his hand towards Adrian.

“He’s the headman’s grandson. He’s so well-behaved and adorable. I’ve fallen for him.”

Leia took a step back from the child, while Adrian moved closer.

“Mama… Dada…” 

The child babbled, reaching out his arms towards Adrian.

“Would you like to hold him, Your Highness?”

“Oh, I…”

Ignoring Adrian’s hesitation, James gently placed the child in his arms.

Adrian awkwardly held the child, his hands fumbling under the child’s armpits. The child giggled, kicking his legs happily.

“He’s cute, isn’t he? He’s not even a year old yet, so we count his age in months. He’s eleven months old.”

“Eleven months…”

Both Leia and Adrian marveled at the child’s age, barely even considered human.

“Dada! Dada! Mama! Mama!”

The child clapped his hands, his eyes sparkling with delight as he looked at Adrian.

“You should support his bottom like this, Your Highness.”

James adjusted Adrian’s posture.

“You seem quite experienced with children, Young Count.”

“I have two daughters, so it’s only natural. My eldest can already run around quite well, and my youngest tries to imitate everything her older sister does. It’s exhausting trying to keep her out of trouble.”

Adrian, seeing a reflection of his beloved in the child’s bright blue eyes, was mesmerized. He gently stroked the child’s soft cheek and ran his fingers through his hair.

He could hear the child’s heart beating rapidly, a tiny but strong rhythm, emanating from this small, weightless being.

Adrian swallowed nervously.

It hadn’t been long since he’d casually asked Carl to ‘give me your children.’ So, this was what a child was like…

“He’s quite the talker too, always saying ‘Dada! Mama!’ When we first met, he couldn’t even hold his head up, his arms and legs were so thin. I honestly thought he wouldn’t survive.”

James, now a father himself, claimed that every child in the world seemed precious to him. 

Adrian wondered if the previous Carl Lindbergh, the soul inhabiting his beloved’s body, had a child like this.

He’d never seen Carl interact with children, but considering his extensive knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth, and his unwavering devotion to his mother, it wasn’t entirely impossible. 

“There are fifteen children like him in this village alone.”

“Fifteen?”

Adrian’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpectedly large number, and James offered him a wry smile.

“Life is full of surprises, isn’t it, Your Highness? The land might be harsh and unforgiving, but children keep being born.”

He hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“But even with so many births… only half of them survive to adulthood.”

Leia gritted her teeth.

Lindbergh’s infant mortality rate, one of the highest on the continent, was a national disgrace.

It was an inevitable consequence of the concentration of resources, medical expertise, and manpower among the nobility.

Adrian, looking down at the child, who was now dozing peacefully, his cheek resting against Adrian’s chest, felt a surge of unfamiliar emotions.

If he, a complete stranger, could feel this way, he couldn’t imagine the pain parents endured, watching their children, so small and full of life, slip away.

He was beginning to understand the source of Carl’s sense of justice.

“The people of Lindbergh must have been overjoyed when the Imperial troops arrived.”

Leia’s voice was low, her tone somber, and Adrian tightened his hold on the child.

“We won’t let history repeat itself. I don’t care about past glories. I will bring light to this land, light that nourishes the people of Lindbergh.”

Leia’s hand clenched into a fist, tendons standing out on her wrist.

“I’m changing the plan. We’ll visit every single territory, starting from the border, and then return to the capital.”

“What?”

James was shocked. Traveling across the entire country was no easy feat, especially with the emotional and physical toll each visit would take on Leia. That was why they had narrowed it down to a few key locations.

“Princess, even if you are a dominant Alpha…”

“James Hoegaarden.”

Adrian cut him off, silencing his presumptuous remark.

Leia’s eyes were gleaming with determination.

“There might be more to this than we realize. I intend to sweep away every single grain of corruption, to leave nothing behind. I’m tired of simply reaping the benefits of the Imperial army’s efforts.” 

“You speak wisely, Princess.”

Adrian’s agreement made Leia smirk. 

“I’ve never been more grateful for Lindbergh’s small size. With wild boars running rampant in such a confined space, it’s no wonder the fragile flowers are trampled and destroyed.”

The wings of a fierce predator were unfurling.

Adrian, gently patting the sleeping child’s back, smiled faintly, knowing that this child’s future would be brighter.

As Leia prepared to hunt down the wild boars, Adrian decided it was his turn to eradicate the snakes lurking nearby.

James wasn’t thrilled about Adrian supporting Leia’s reckless plan, but he simply sighed and exited the room.

It had taken them an entire day to reach the border, and now they had to retrace their steps, traveling north, south, east, and west.

He could already hear the soldiers groaning at the thought of following Leia on this grueling journey.