[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha":3,"chapter-marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-157":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Marked By The Mad King Alpha",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1732038,2214,"Chapter 157 I Bow To No One","marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-157",157,"\u003Cp>Phoebe’s POV\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You look absolutely stunning, my lady,\" Marcela whispers, her eyes brimming with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Mason’s death, I refused to let another omega serve as my personal maid. Getting close to them felt impossible. Mason’s loss cut deeper than I care to acknowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why Marcela has stayed by my side, stepping into that role. Along with Lynn and Rosa, who frequently visit the healer for guidance, I don’t feel the need for another friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Timothy drops by to chat with me occasionally too. They’re all I need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The king will be absolutely captivated by you.\" Marcela can’t contain her grin. \"The ceremony starts in two hours. Ready?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t think I’ll ever feel ready, but I nod regardless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red dress hugs my frame perfectly. This sacred color belongs to our kingdom alone, reserved exclusively for the king and queen on this day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shade enhances my complexion and brown hair beautifully. My hair is woven into intricate braids, prepared for the crown’s placement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s time, my lady,\" an omega announces to Marcela and me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From this point forward, I must walk alone toward the sacred temple, where I’ll be crowned and proclaimed queen of this kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of people await my arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steady. Steady. Steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I repeat these words like a mantra in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If possible, I’d bring Marcela for moral support, but that’s forbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This path belongs to me alone. This journey leads me to my mate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perry waits for me at the end of this route, and I must continue forward. I cling to this thought to prevent stumbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dress trails behind me in an endless cascade, requiring two omegas to carry the train until I enter the sacred temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred steps stretch before me, leading to the ceremony chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve practiced climbing these stairs repeatedly, but never in this heavy gown, so I move with deliberate slowness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inhale. Exhale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I coach myself silently, willing my legs to keep moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I finally reach the top step, the massive temple spreads before me, packed with countless faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forty-three packs exist in this kingdom. Seven committed treason, but the remaining thirty-six still support the crown. Representatives from each loyal pack have gathered to celebrate their new queen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing my entrance, everyone begins chanting in unison. This ancient custom creates hauntingly beautiful harmonies that follow me into the temple, where Perry stands waiting at the far end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looks devastatingly handsome in his red ceremonial attire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The color suits him perfectly, creating a striking contrast against his deep blue eyes, which remain fixed on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pause briefly to drink in the sight of him, and he smiles at my obvious distraction, nodding to remind me I must keep walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snapping back to reality, I continue toward Perry, a smile curving my lips as I fight back tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of us has anyone else. We only have each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father still draws breath, but he might as well be dead since he’ll never leave that dungeon again. As for Perry... everyone knows the royal family’s dark history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mad King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That title defines him because he murdered his own family. His father, the previous king, died by his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what they don’t understand is what Perry endured under his father’s rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The source of his supposed madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They tormented him and did nothing, but when he fought back, they branded him insane. The same could be said about me, though we suffered differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it led us to an undeniable truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We need power to protect ourselves. We must wield ultimate authority so no one can harm us again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, here we stand...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perry extends his hand to grasp mine. He’s offering me power, ensuring no one can hurt me again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s my mate for this lifetime and beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tricia positions himself before us, ready to lead the ceremony, while Timothy serves as the fire bearer. The gamma’s role proves crucial, as he’ll brand the king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My stomach still churns watching the glowing rod in his hands. I’ve begged Perry to skip this brutal part of the ceremony, to eliminate it entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it’s impossible. This tradition spans thousands of years. More importantly, he wants it. He wants to be branded so everyone knows he belongs to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While female shifters receive their mate’s mark, male shifters endure branding—though only royalty maintains this custom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...and here, we crown our queen! Queen Phoebe!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tricia’s voice reverberates throughout the sacred temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone approaches with an exquisite crown resting on a velvet cushion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guests have fallen silent since Tricia began speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This marks the final moment I’ll kneel before anyone other than my king, because once this crown touches my head, I bow to no one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perry holds my hand as I lower myself to receive the crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long live the queen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",810,"2026-06-06T16:11:22.572Z",1,"novelbin.me","59d752cb9aca0c48fee0c2d74d3b6e1c43f0214700ad8667d8d00688def2b378","marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-158","marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-156",302,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-cover.jpg"]