The Alpha's Regret Return Of The Betrayed Luna (Addison) novel Chapter 553

Chapter 553: Chapter 553 Returned

Before long, Addison’s convoy reached the Royal Capital, and they weren’t met with silence.

Crowds had already gathered, lining the streets as if they had been waiting for her return.

Word had spread.

What happened in the West... the danger, the rescue, the supplies saved, it had all reached the capital ahead of them. The Royal Family hadn’t tried to bury it. They wouldn’t. Not with traveling merchants constantly traveling between territories, carrying news, whether sanctioned or not. Secrets like that never stayed hidden for long.

So instead, they controlled it.

They released the information themselves, shaping the narrative and reassuring the people before fear could take root. The message was clear: the crisis had been handled, the West was stabilized, and the princess had led the effort.

A calculated move it is. But a necessary one.

Because if panic spread unchecked, it wouldn’t just be fear that would spread among the people; it would turn into unrest, and into chaos.

And in this way, the people wouldn’t see a looming threat.

They will see strength.

They will see hope.

The worst outcome that could have happened would have been panic spiraling out of control because once chaos took hold, the people might begin to lose faith in the Royal Family’s ability to protect the kingdom. And that, more than anything, would serve their enemies’ hidden agenda.

Addison understood this more than anyone. That was why her father chose to let the news spread, on their terms.

As the horn sounded and the gates of the Royal Capital opened, the citizens were already waiting. Crowds lined both sides of the road, filling the streets with restless anticipation. The moment the convoy entered, cheers erupted, loud and unrestrained.

Flowers rained toward the carriage, a wave of color and gratitude cast in her direction.

It wasn’t fear that greeted her return.

It was praise.

The moment the cheers reached her, something in Addison stirred.

The exhaustion clinging to her body, which was bone-deep and relentless, seemed to ease, if only a little. It wasn’t gone, but it was lighter, pushed back by the sound of her people calling out to her.

She reached out and pulled the carriage curtain aside.

Outside, faces filled the streets, which were bright, relieved, and smiling. Their voices rose in waves, overlapping and unrestrained.

"Welcome back, Princess!"

"Welcome back!"

"Thank you for saving the West, Princess!"

Addison stilled for a moment, taking in their gratitude and their trust. And despite everything she had endured...

It was enough to make her feel alive again.

Those same words echoed all along the road, carried by voices filled with relief and admiration. Every gaze was fixed on the lead carriage bearing the Royal Family’s insignia, their attention unwavering, their expressions bright with respect.

When Addison drew the curtain aside and her face appeared, which was beautiful, though marked with exhaustion, the crowd’s energy surged.

Cheers grew louder.

Women began tossing more flower petals into the air, a soft storm of color drifting toward the carriage, each handful a gesture of gratitude, of reverence, of joy at her return.

For many of them, the West wasn’t just a distant territory. Some had once lived there; others still had family rooted in its lands. What Addison had done wasn’t just for the West; it was for every citizen.

She had gone there herself. Faced the crisis head-on.

And that mattered.

It showed them exactly what kind of future ruler she would be: capable, decisive, and willing to stand for her people when it counted. With every cheer, every petal thrown into the air, her standing in their hearts only deepened.

This was precisely why her father had sent her there.

Of how he had treated her.

"Yeah... you really are a dumbass, you know that?" Shura’s voice cut in without warning, sharp and merciless as it echoed through Zion’s mind, digging straight into the wound he was already trying to ignore.

"Shut up," Zion growled inwardly, irritation flaring.

A scoff followed. "What? You think I’m scared of your growling?" Shura shot back, voice laced with ridicule. "You had the nerve to do it but not the spine to face it?"

A low, mocking laugh echoed. "Pathetic."

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