The Beta’s Regret

Chapter 226 71%1 The week that followed seemed more tedious than the rest. It went from one series of tests to the other. I spent every moment getting ready for the next task or trying to make sure I got through one.

Eros becexhausted. Even though he never said it out loud, I could see that it was taking a toll on him. He becdistant and slowly pulled away from me.

He spent most, if not all, of his spare treading and training for the physical tasks. I knew he just wanted to becbetter.

Eros didn't want to fail, and as much as I understood that, I couldn't help but feel a little hurt that he wasn't paying attention to me.

At first, I tried not to think much about it and told myself that Eros needed all the the could get to prepare for the test.

But it didn't take long before I began to feel the loss of his presence. Days crawled into weeks, and I felt lonely. My walks around the palace grounds beclonger, and my worries about the competition grew deeper.

I knew I needed to focus more, but that didn't stopfrom missing him.

And then there was Cheryl.

She was a thorn in my flesh.

She did all she could to make sure she appeared at her best at all times, and I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by her actions.

While she acted rude and ruthless to me, to the elders she was sweetness personified. A beautiful and dutiful young woman dedicated to the people. The epitof graceful carriage and perfection.

I knew she was already the elders' choice for a queen.

But to me, she was just a cruel, manipulative leech. She doesn't bother to show her claws to me, and there was just something about the way she smiled atthat unnerved me.

I was sure Cheryl took extrpleasure in making sure I felt intimidated, and she had every desire to win this test. She was out to outdoin every way possible.

And maybe she had begun to succeed.

Today was another day for our test. We had no idea what the test would entail today, but I had an unsettling feeling in my chest.

It tooka long tafter the maid cto callbefore I finally moved toward the bathroom. I dragged my feet across the floor.

The bathtub was already prepared, and I soaked myself in a rose bath.

I sighed in contentment when I felt the water wash away remnants of sleep from my eyes.

I closed my eyes slightly and tried to enjoy the moment, but thoughts of Eros just popped into my mind.

Eros.

The last tI laid my eyes on him was when he cinto the room two nights ago.

1/3 13:47 Mon, Dec 16 G Chapter 226 He just walked in and laid in bed besidewithout a word.

71% 1 I could tell that he was tired and needed rest. I gave him space and hoped that I would have him all to myself the next day.

But before I woke up the next day, Eros was gone.

For a while, I felt restless. But soon I relaxed and allowed myself to beccontented with my own company.

I was still soaked in the bath when I heard a knock on the door.

I called the person in, and a maid entered and cover to"My Lady." She said with a bow.

"Yes?" I asked with a frown.

"The Elders are waiting. They want you to hurry." She said quickly.

I sat up quickly. "I thought I still had a few minutes?" The maid nodded. "Not anymore. Lady Cheryl is there. The Elders have arrived too, and they want to start immediately." "What?" I scrambled out of the water.

The maid turned away quickly, trying to shield her eyes from my nakedness.

ignored her and rushed to the room. The maid hurried away as I dressed quickly.

At first, I chose a blue jean and a top, but when I thought about how the Elders always disapproved of my cloth choice, I pulled out a blue floral dress and wore it.

I packed my hair into a tight bun at the middle of my head and applied a little bit of gloss to it.

When I was done, I rushed downstairs to the large study hall and entered.

Just like the maid said, I saw that the Elders, Heather and Cheryl were waiting for me.

No word was said in disapproval.

"Sit there." Ma'am Heather said and pointed to the chair opposite Cheryl.

I nodded and obeyed.

Ma'am Heather began again. "Today, I would be testing your ability to be obedient." Cheryl and I nodded.

Ma'am Heather looked at me, and then with a blank expression on her face, she askedher question.

"As the queen, how submissive should you be to your mate, the king?" Heather's eyes didn't move away from me.

Helt my heart skip. I tucked an imaginary strand of hair behind my hair as I thought about how best to answer.

I knew Cheryl's eyes on me; she was eager to heargive a wrong answer, but forit wasn't so easy. Submission has never been something so... simple. It had always been in complex ways.

Eros and I regarded each other as equals, nothing less and nothing more. Our bond was built on a foundation of love and trust and not a dominance system.

13:47 Mon, Dec 16 DG.

Chapter 226 "Submission is relative." I said simply.

There was a pause, and Ma'am Heather frowned. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath and began to explain. "As a queen, I have to respect my mate, the king, and love him wholly, the sway Way he loves me! and respects me. The affection and respect should be mutual. There is no hierarchy. We make decisions together and checkmate each other. I would never submit to a wrong command the sway he would never accept a wrong decision. We are equals." When I finished speaking, I looked at Heather. Her face had gone pale and she looked shocked.

I knew immediately that she hated my answer.

I tried to explain "That doesn't mean I won't-" "Enough," Ma'am Heather silencedwith a wave of her hand. "You've failed." My heart sank. Her words stayed in my mind, and I felt my stomach tighten.

I failed? Ma'am Heather wasted no tand turned on Cheryl. She asked her the squestion.

With a bright smile, Cheryl stood up and bowed slightly.

"As the queen, it is my duty to fully accept the decisions of my mate, the king, because he is Superior to every other, including me. It is my duty to serve him, because that is the only way balance is maintained." Ma'am Heather smiled, and her eyes gleamed in approval.

I fumed. Cheryl won again. It was no surprise, as she only says what the Elders wanted to hear, but it mademore angry.

"You can both leave." Ma'am Heather said.

Without a delay, I stood up and hurried out of the study. In the hallway before I went far, Chery av ext called out my nfrom behind. I stopped and turned to look at her with her overly devoted maids, who she had converted to her minions. "You look pitiful." She smirked. "Such a failure. I thought you would be smarter than that." I rolled my eyes and walked away, trying hard to stop the sting in my eyes. I would not cry. Not when it was Cheryl. Cheryl's laughter filled the hallway as I hurried away to my room