[{"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-215":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},1732219,2214,"Chapter 215 Breaking Royal Protocol","marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-215",215,"\u003Cp>Phoebe’s POV\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t thrilled about this particular rule. Since my pregnancy was still in its earliest stages, nobody could tell yet. My scent hadn’t shifted either, which would’ve been a dead giveaway to anyone with a decent nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that I wanted to keep it secret, but everything felt so messy right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, I needed to tell Perry before anyone else found out. Well, Marcela already knew, but she didn’t count—she was a healer, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While my food was being prepared, I climbed the stairs to the master bedroom on the second floor. I collapsed onto the bed and found myself staring blankly at the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My hand drifted to my still-flat belly as I tried to picture what my baby might look like. I hoped they’d take after Perry—having a gorgeous baby like him would be amazing. I never thought much of my own looks, honestly. I avoided mirrors most of the time because I hated seeing my reflection staring back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My imagination ran wild, picturing a tiny version of Perry wrapping their little fingers around my shirt. I could almost see them yawning or crying...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The image made me smile and filled my chest with warmth. I couldn’t wait to hold my baby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s when Wade’s knock interrupted my daydream, announcing lunch was ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you like me to bring your meal up here, my queen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone was respectful as always. I opened the door to find him bowing deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t be more than a year or two younger than me. As a freshly appointed warrior tasked with guarding the queen, he was obviously trying to make the best impression possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll come down, I scribbled in my notebook. Since his head was still lowered, he missed it completely, so I tapped his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, forgive me, my queen. I didn’t catch that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but laugh quietly. This young warrior was adorable. His cheeks actually turned red from embarrassment at missing my note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right this way, my queen.\" He gestured awkwardly for me to go first. \"Warrior Orion grilled some chicken, and I prepared a few sides. It might not match the palace kitchen, but if you need anything—anything at all—just let any of us know and we’ll handle it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Perry, Marcela, and Timothy knew that I couldn’t taste food anymore. Everything was flavorless to me, but I wouldn’t crush their enthusiasm by sharing that detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wade was practically bouncing with excitement as he rattled off the details before catching himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, my queen, I’m talking your ear off.\" He rubbed his head, blushing again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s fine—I enjoy having someone to chat with, I wrote, showing him the page. His face lit up with a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I get pretty chatty when I’m nervous. My apologies for that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head with a smile, and we headed to the dining room together. The table was loaded with several dishes that looked absolutely delicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes I wished my sense of taste would return. It had been forever since I could actually taste anything, but I couldn’t complain. My life was good now—I didn’t want to be ungrateful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only things I truly longed for were Perry’s safe return and a smooth delivery. Everything else I could live with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when I reached the dining room, I noticed all three warriors standing off to the side. There was only one plate and set of utensils on the table—mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I grabbed my notebook and wrote something down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why aren’t you sitting down to eat? I showed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Justin, clearly the most senior of the three, answered me. \"We’re not permitted to dine with you, my queen. That’s protocol.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My frown deepened. I hadn’t thought about this before. Back when I was stationed at Central City’s gates, I always ate in my tent, even though I’d mingle with everyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I won’t eat either. I refuse to eat alone, I wrote firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three warriors looked torn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My queen, you can’t do that. We’re honored that you want to share a meal with us, but it goes against regulations,\" Justin tried to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew the rule existed, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re not at the palace, I pointed out. That was true, but still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We still need to follow protocol. You’re the queen, the highest-ranking shifter in this kingdom after the king. We can’t show you that kind of disrespect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed my lips together, crossed my arms, and leaned back like a stubborn child. I’d made my position clear—no eating unless they joined me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could figure out what to do about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing me like this, they looked ready to cry. \"Please, my queen, don’t do this to us,\" Justin pleaded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s nobody here. Nobody cares about protocol right now. We’re not in the palace, and I don’t want to eat by myself, I wrote and held it up for them to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stayed exactly like that after they finished reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, slowly, Justin sank into the chair beside me. Orion followed suit, while Wade quickly set out extra plates and silverware for everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made me beam, and I could see all three of them couldn’t help but find their young queen endearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s eat! I wrote, feeling much better. The three warriors looked uncomfortable at first, but soon they were enjoying their meal happily.\u003C\u002Fp>",895,"2026-06-06T16:11:22.572Z",1,"novelbin.me","977f142860ba91fada103be91bdf7fa5f23baf69eac531a8d4d738a34e939f77","marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-216","marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-214",302,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-cover.jpg"]