I Became the Villain Alpha's Omega (BL)

Chapter 349: A Princess on Her Feet

The morning air always carried the faint, bitter scent of the surrounding pine courtyards, but today it felt heavier, almost stagnant. Philia walked with a slow pace, his fingers lightly curling over the edge of his soft linen sleeves. Beside him, Valen kept a steady, silent rhythm, his boots making barely a sound against the floor.

But right now, Philia’s mind was entirely stuck in the early hours of the dawn.

The sound of the chamber door clicking closed kept replaying in his head. It had happened before dawn, when everyone should’ve still been in bed.

Yerel had slipped out of bed far earlier than anyone should’ve been awake, moving as quietly as he could. Even so, there was a tension in every step he took, one he couldn’t quite hide. Philia had feigned sleep, watching through half-closed eyes as the Crown Prince hurriedly fastened his tunic, the dark circles under Yerel’s eyes deeper than they had been all week.

He’s working himself to the bone, Philia thought, a heavy pang of sympathy tightening in his chest.

Ever since the poisoning accdient happened, Yerel hadn’t sat down for a proper meal. The entire weight of the crown’s investigation seemed to rest squarely on his shoulders, with the King demanding immediate results and the foreign delegation watching every single move.

Recalling the previous day, Philia felt a small flash of guilt. Yerel had spoken to him with an edge he’d never heard before. It had caught Philia off guard, and for a while, it genuinely hurt. But now, walking through the quiet corridor, Philia felt nothing but an overwhelming desire to be understanding.

Of course Yerel was harsh. Anyone would be fraying at the edges if they were tasked with untangling a crisis while keeping the palace from sliding into outright panic.

"I should have made him some tea before he left," Philia murmured under his breath, mostly to himself.

Valen glanced down, his expression softening slightly. "His Highness knows your heart, Philia. He was just trying to shoulder everything the palace demanded of him. The best you can do is give him the grace to finish his duties."

"I know," Philia sighed, offering a small, fragile smile. "I just want to do my part to support him. If I can take even a fraction of the pressure off his shoulders, it would be enough."

His thoughts were abruptly cut short as they rounded the wide sweep of the grand gallery.

The quiet atmosphere of the hallway vanished in an instant, replaced by the rustle of heavy, fine silks and the low, synchronized murmurs of a large entourage. Walking directly toward them was a sight Philia hadn’t expected to see so soon.

Gillian’s stride was easy, his posture straight without ever seeming stiff. He looked like someone who had never once questioned that he belonged there. Right beside him, looking remarkably steady on her feet, was Iryna. Looking at her now, it was hard to believe she’d come so close to death.

Surrounding them was the core of the Solaric delegation, their faces grim and defensive, acting like a human shield around their royal siblings.

Philia blinked in genuine surprise, instinctively slowing his steps. He looked at Iryna, surprise flickering across his face as he saw the healthy color in her cheeks and the confidence in the way she carried herself.

"Your Highnesses," Philia said, bowing his head respectfully as they closed the distance. He stepped to the side of the gallery to give them room, but his concern got the better of his formality.

"Oh, Lord Philia," Iryna called. Gillian gave a relaxed nod from just half a step beside his sister.

"It... it is truly good to see you wandering around already, Princess Iryna. But forgive me for asking, is it truly safe for you to be out of your quarters so soon? Should you really be walking the halls like this?"

Iryna paused, and the Solaric delegates came to a halt behind her without a word. She looked at Philia, her eyes lingering on him for a brief moment before she greeted him with a restrained smile.

"You are very kind to worry," Iryna said, her voice steady and entirely devoid of the weakness one would expect from a poisoning survivor. A faint, amused smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "But I assure you, I am completely fine. It takes far more than a kitchen’s carelessness to keep me confined to a bed. Your concern is deeply appreciated, but there is no need to fear for my health."

Gillian stood just a half-step behind his sister, his arms crossed over his chest. He didn’t speak, but he offered Philia a small nod, his demeanor perfectly relaxed despite the tense, whispering advisors flanking them.

Philia smiled, though a lingering worry remained clear in his eyes. He took a small step back, bowing his head slightly again. "It is an immense relief to hear that, Your Highness. The entire palace has been in suspense. Still... please don’t force yourself too much. A full recovery requires rest, even for someone as strong as you."

Iryna’s smile grew just a fraction more genuine, nodding in acknowledgment. "I will certainly remember that advice. Thank you." Her expression then shifted, the polite warmth instantly hardening back into the professional mask of a visiting royal. She glanced toward the grand staircase at the end of the hall. "Well, then, if you will excuse us. We have some urgent matters to take good care of."

"Of course," Philia murmured, stepping entirely out of the walkway. "I won’t keep you then."

Gillian gave one last quiet, knowing look toward Valen and Philia, adjusting the heavy cuff of his sleeve before turning to follow his sister. With a sharp, synchronized rustle of fabric, the entire Solaric delegation moved forward, their boots clicking in unison against the stone tiles as they swept past.

Philia didn’t move. He remained pressed against the wood-paneled wall, his hands resting quietly at his sides. Beside him, Valen remained where he was, his gaze fixed on the retreating backs of the imperial royals.

"The Princess is certainly recovering quickly," Valen remarked quietly, his eyes still fixed on the empty corridor.

Philia finally pulled his gaze away from the hallway, a thoughtful look crossing his face as he began to walk again. "Yes, indeed. The High Priest’s power is certainly incredible... or perhaps there’s something else at play entirely."