"My name," His voice rang out loudly over the crowd, Ophelia's eyes were fixated on him now, "Is Darius Trudeau." He introduced himself placing a graceful hand on his chest. He looked like one of the noble omegas that Ophelia had seen at the church making large donations to look good to their peers. 

As Ophelia stared, she felt like his eyes were back on her, a wider smile graced his lips when they made eye contact. Ophelia felt the heat rise in her cheeks once more, his eyes curved up slightly as if still laughing about their little interaction just moments before.

Ophelia steeled herself, but quickly waivered, while it was natural that Darius would place his gaze on her. She was the tallest person in the village after all, the way that he looked at her... Ophelia felt beads of sweat trickle down her face and she swallowed dryly. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest and didn't calm down until his eyes removed themselves from her.

The way that man had looked at her... He looked like he wanted to eat her alive.

"I'm looking for men!" Darius announced to the village, his eyes then landed back on Ophelia. Without thinking she straightened her back, "Fighters." Darius corrected himself with a grin, his eyes moved from Ophelia and she let out a breath, "To join my cause!" Darius announced dramatically. "I wish to unite the five Dukedoms together into one country! An empire! One that withstands millennium!" Darius continued, and the villagers seemed to perk up hearing this, Ophelia saw eyes light up at the sound of Darius's words.

"It'll be a land in which by the sweat of your brow and the abilities of your hands you can become anything!" Darius promised dramatically, the light in everyone's eyes brightened hearing such an opportunity. Even Ophelia had to admit the thought of leaving the village and the hard work of a peasant behind was very tempting. Additionally, being one of the hands that helped birth a new nation... For people who were told they'd never be anything but peasants, it was everything they hoped for.

"But," Darius held the word in the air with a dramatic pause, "I won't lie to you." A charming smile was on his lips, "This will not be an easy task," He added, the expressions seemed to dim hearing this, "However!" Darius added, "if you stick with me," He motioned to himself giving a slightly flirtatious smile. Ophelia scowled he was doing that on purpose to get the other alphas in the village to follow him. "You will see riches and lands that you would've never known otherwise." He reached out his hand as he spoke this promise to the villagers. Ophelia swore that some of them were just about to climb into the stage after this charlatan omega.

Having just about enough Ophelia raised her hand, while she didn't like speaking up, it seemed she was the only one in the village who had half a brain outside of her pants. "Yes, the tall woman in the back!" Darius responded pointing at Ophelia, she kept her expression firm under his piercing gaze, and despite the friendly smile on his lips, Ophelia knew a snake when she saw one.

"How much does it pay?" Her voice ran out over the crowd, several villagers turned to look at Ophelia surprised. She didn't speak often for many this was the first time they had heard her speak at all. Ophelia clenched her teeth and narrowed her eyes, while she didn't like speaking up. This man... She had to speak.

Darius's smile faltered and he looked surprised for a moment. Ophelia wondered if it was because of her question knocked him off of his rhythm. But the pleased smile that appeared on his face told her something different. Ophelia bit her tongue holding back her urge to swear. He had that look again, she took a sharp breath and slowly released it trying to keep calm. She wasn't going to falter in the face of this man again.

"Two gold for every battle survived," Darius replied, suddenly the star-struck expressions vanished from the other villagers' faces. The word survived hung in the air and some of the younger alpha and beta men looked horrified. Those who had been caught hook-line and sinker previously lowered their gazes. But Darius didn't seem to care, he was focused on Ophelia right now.

Ophelia being the only one left staring  directly at Darius at this point spoke again, "Do we get benefits afterward?" She questioned, her brows furrowing, she wanted to make a point to the others. Many of these idiots would wander into the battlefield and get themselves killed. Out of everyone in the village, Ophelia stood the best chance of surviving. 

"Of course!" Darius said in an amused tone as if Ophelia was just stating the obvious, "After the nation is established you will be given a nobility title and receive land as your compensation for your efforts!" Darius replied clapping his hands together, Ophelia saw others in the village raise their heads. The chance at becoming nobility was a shiny lure, Ophelia let out a soft curse and spoke up again. "But do we get to pick?" She asked trying to turn the tides back in her favor, there was no point in trying something so stupid if the reward wasn't good enough.

Darius seemed unphased by the push and pull they had between them with the hearts and minds of the crowd. "Depends on how well you do." Darius replied rubbing his chin, "After all can't have a nation full of princes and dukes can we?" he replied looking at his nails. "Why not? The Desert kingdom has thirty-two princes to the south." Ophelia replied sharply. Darius's relaxed look faded and a sharp gaze landed on Ophelia. 

"You're quite educated aren't you?" Darius replied looking a tad annoyed. "I'm as learned as I need to be." Ophelia retorted, the village and the armies' gazes went back and forth as they watched the two of them argue. Darius snorted, "The thirty-two princes of the Desert Kingdom are children of the King's harem. If an empire were to have thirty-two princes from different families the nation wouldn't stand." Darius argued, "besides it would take away the meaning behind the term prince. So what's the point of giving the title of the prince when the title of baron or lord is just as good?" Darius argued.

He seemed less interested in getting the crowd's attention and more concerned with debating with Ophelia at this point. "Fair enough, but how do we know you won't just give out shit land?" Ophelia relented but still managed to make a retort. "Individuals will be given lands and titles based on their efforts," Darius responded folding his arms. "In other words no different than our current situation. You'll just pick from the people you like the most." Ophelia criticized looking over at the villagers meaningfully. 

At this point, Darius jumped down from the stage marching over to her. The crowd parted as the small man with a massive presence made his way over to her. Ophelia looked down at him as he came to a stop in front of her, he was two heads shorter than her. But his presence was as large as a mountain, there was a clear sense of power and confidence that radiated off of this man.

To be honest, Ophelia was even impressed, other nobles would've had a meltdown ever at the slightest questioning of their plans. But Darius allowed her to speak her mind and responded in kind to her. If only other nobility could hear people out as this one did.

Keeping a firm expression, Ophelia pretended to be unbothered by the man's aura as other alphas in the crowd cowered. He looked her up and down and narrowed his eyes slightly. "What's your name?" He asked, "Reeds. Ophelia Reeds." Ophelia replied, Darius, tilted his head with a smile still present on his lips. "Occupation?" he asked, Ophelia raised an eyebrow as if holding her axe wasn't obvious enough. "Woodsman." She replied adjusting it as it sat on her shoulder.

"How good are you with a sword?" he asked, his eyes lingering on her exposed forearms. "Can't be much different than hitting someone with an axe." Ophelia responded with a huff, "It's a little different." Darius took a step closer, he had a teasing tone to his voice. Then Ophelia smelt his pheromones come off of him even more. She noticed the omegas in the crowd took a step back. Was he trying to scent the air around her?

"Ever taken a life before?" He questioned with a coy tone, not wanting to back down from the challenge, Ophelia leaned down to the point she was nose to nose with the omega man. "Nobody you can prove." She replied sharply, she had meant for Darius to back off but the omega man seemed more interested now. She saw in the greed in his eyes grow even more, while it had been there the whole time. It was almost suffocating now. But there was something, Ophelia kept her gaze firm into his eyes. She didn't want to lose to him.

"Two gold and one silver," Darius said suddenly, Ophelia stood up straight and tilted her head. It took a moment to register, a breath escaped her nose. He wanted to 'buy' her, she understood now, giving him a challenging smirk Ophelia decided to see how much the little man wanted her. "Six silver, I'm a head taller than most of your men." She replied, "Ten copper, you're unskilled." Darius replied he was determined now.

"You don't know that." Ophelia narrowed her eyes, "So greedy Reeds." Darius scolded with a light tone, "So says the omega who wishes to take five territories." Ophelia observed, Darius snorted in response he clearly found what she said amusing, "Fair enough." Darius confessed with a shrug, "Fine, two gold, one silver, and eleven copper. You make me laugh." Darius chuckled as if he enjoyed their exchange. He then gave her a meaningful side eye before turning. 

That was as high as he wanted to go, Ophelia got that from his stare. Ophelia rolled her eyes, she wasn't so cheaply bought, "Fifteen copper it is." She replied with a playful tone. Darius paused as he walked away and looked over his shoulder with a grin. "Fine." he replied his eyes shining, he then turned forward once more heading for his horse, "Come along Reeds!" 

Ophelia shifted her axe on her shoulders and looked around. "Alright." She shrugged, it wasn't as if she had anything for her here. Following Darius from the crowd and toward the army with nothing but the clothes on her back and her axe, she watched as Darius mounted his horse, another alpha who sat on top of a horse leaned over to him and asked, "Sir are we not going to ask for more?" The alpha questioned, Darius glanced over at Ophelia who met his gaze. 

"No," Darius said grinning ear to ear, "I'm happy with this one." He looked pleased, it was then it occurred to Ophelia that Darius's target hadn't been the others from the start. She paused and groaned, "Fuck." She cursed, she heard Darius's laughter. The omega man had gotten just what he wanted.