<h4>Chapter 131: Chapter 131 M Is A Poor Soul 2</h4>


    This was why the Alpha King and Queen treated M with suchpassion—not just out of love, but also out of sorrow and pity. She was family, after all. She carried their blood, and in their eyes, she had done nothing to deserve the pain life had forced upon her.


    Though they didn’t fully understand what had gone so wrong between her parents, or how her father and mother had ended up in such a destructive bond, one thing was clear: M shouldn’t have been made to suffer for their mistakes. She had been caught in the crossfire of their slow-burning war, and the royal couple had no intention of letting her carry the weight of that torment alone.


    They empathized with her plight. And so, they chose to protect her.


    Keeping M in the pce wasn’t just a gesture of kindness—it was a form of shield. It was a way to give her safety, a chance to be surrounded by people who could defend her, care for her, and maybe even help her rebuild some sense of normalcy. Over time, they hoped that kindness might help mend her heart.


    That was also why Addison never saw M as a rival.


    Unlike what the rumors often suggested, Addison didn’t view her cousin with jealousy or suspicion. She saw M for who she truly was: a girl who had endured far more than she ever should have. Addison sympathized deeply with her cousin’s pain and fully supported her parents’ decision to protect M.


    In fact, Addison believed it was her responsibility as M’s cousin—and as the future ruler of the kingdom—to stand by her. To make sure she was never left vulnerable again. So no matter what others whispered behind their backs, Addison said nothing. She simply worked harder, learned more, and kept proving herself, quietly ensuring that M had a safe ce by her side.


    Seeing M sitting quietly on the couch, watching them with a distant look in her eyes, Addison called out softly, "M,e here..."


    She reached out her hand, her voice gentle and warm, inviting, notmanding. M hesitated for a moment, unsure, her body stiff with uncertainty. But eventually, she stood and walked over, taking Addison’s hand.


    Addison immediately pulled her into an embrace, and the King and Queen joined in, the three of them wrapping M in a circle of warmth and protection.


    At first, M stayed still, as if unsure whether to ept thefort. But then, the dam broke. A choked sob escaped her throat, muffled and raw, her body trembling as she tried to hold it all in.


    Addison gently rubbed her back in slow, steady circles, her voice low and soothing. "It’s okay... It’s okay. Let it out," she whispered, coaxing her like one would a frightened child.


    And in a way, M was—she had been forced to grow up too fast in a house filled with pain and torture. She had never really had the chance to be a child. Never had the space to feel safe.


    But now, here, in this moment, someone was finally telling her that she could cry. That she could be vulnerable. That she wasn’t alone anymore.


    After a while, Addison, her parents, and M all sat together on the couch. The Queen gently held both Addison’s and M’s hands, offering silent support, while the Alpha King sat beside his daughter, his presence steady and reassuring as they waited for the doctors and the Royal Healer to finish examining the twins.


    Addison’s heart felt like it was dangling off a cliff—every second of silence tightening the knot of worry in her chest. Her gaze remained fixed on the bed, on her boys, helplessly watching as the medical team worked around them.


    All the while, the Alpha King was silentlymunicating with the Royal Beta through the mindlink. Though the Beta stood at the edge of the same room, he was too preupied to speak aloud—his focus split between his Alpha’s orders and the flurry of tasks he was managing.


    He had already dispatched multiple teams across the capital, starting with the scouts. Their first directive was to check for any unusual rise in illness. They were sent to the inns, where merchants and frequent travelers often stayed. There, the scouts kept a discreet eye out for anyone coughing, sneezing, or showing other signs of sickness. Anyone suspected of being ill was discreetly marked for a health screening the following day.


    But it didn’t stop there. The scouts also took note of everyone the sick individuals had been in contact with—essentially anyone in the same room—so they could be monitored as well.


    Next, they turned their attention to the nobles. Many of them regrly imported exotic goods and creatures—monster byproducts, unusual animals, even small monsters for entertainment orpanionship. Such habits made them vulnerable to strange illnesses or gues, especially if something had gone unnoticed or unreported.


    The Alpha King left no stone unturned. He was determined to find out if what had afflicted his grandsons was an isted case—or a warning sign of something bigger.


    "How’s the scouting going?" the Alpha King asked his Beta in a calm tone through the mindlink, his arms loosely wrapped around his family as if nothing was wrong. Outwardly, he appearedposed, reassuring. But internally, his mind was racing, meticulously cross-checking possibilities.


    Whether the twins were simply suffering from amon cold or a hidden allergy, he couldn’t afford to overlook the worst-case scenario. Not until they ruled out the possibility of a gue, especially since there had been no updates yet from the Royal Doctor stationed in the North.


    "Your Majesty," the Royal Beta responded, standing at the corner via mindlink, "we’ve begun by screening frequent travelers and nobles first. They’re the most likely toe into contact with foreign goods or people. Once that’s done, we’ll expand the checks to the general poption."


    He continued, "We’ve also increased guard vignce at all entry points to the capital. Everyone entering or leaving is being checked for signs of illness—fever, rashes, weakness. We’re also closely inspecting animals and any animal byproducts entering the city. Until we understand how the gue spreads—or whether it even has reached this far—we’re assuming nothing is safe. After all, the North is distant, but not unreachable."


    The Alpha King gave a slow, subtle nod, signaling his approval. "Very well. Keep me updated the moment the Royal Doctor sends word."


    Then, with a quieter tone, he added, "You may go."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty. Please summon me if you need anything," the Royal Beta said, bowing respectfully to the royal family, even though none of them turned to look. He then quietly exited the room and made his way toward the medical ward to personally check the medicine inventory.


    He intended to assess what was avable and identify anything missing, so he could ce orders immediately if necessary. If an outbreak truly happens in the future, he wants to ensure the pce is fully stocked. His goal was clear: to keep the royal grounds steady and supplied, especially if the citizens began panic-buying and the capital risked descending into chaos.


    Later that night, when the hour was at its quietest and darkest, the doctor who had conducted theb tests returned. He entered the room carrying a thick stack of reports in his arms. Wordlessly, heid the papers across the table for the other doctors to examine, while the nurses continued tending to the twins with coldpresses and whispered reassurances.