ror and

nya'

d and bruised lavender, painting my chamber in the solemn

ftly from outside. "The ba

led even when I tried to forget. Elara was already at the vanity, setting down a hairbr

brows furrowed slight

red," I

ntangle my hair. Her fingers were practiced and careful, like always. And t

lady, " she said softly,

g for reassurance. "Elara, do you thin

ng mid-motion. "I'm afraid tha

unt Liora, perhaps

th concern. "You know how she is

nt Liora's chambers. The corridors were quiet, the on

fter a moment, her voic

e fading light. Turning to face me, her expression w

but I have

an eyebro

ara to com

Then set he

N

into fists. "Pleas

strike. "You will go alone, as tradition demands. This is your first pr

at it is.

a ma

more th

ll arrive at the palace as a future que

ighting to keep my voice steady.

g's court will welcome your sentimentality? Do you believe they'll a

Please. Just for to

last time a queen showed weakness? Do you think I haven't seen the vultures circle, w

d not

ly: "I've live

a fr

" I added quickly. "And every time I go

ence stretched so

would let nightmares dictate yo

instinc

her see the steel hi

asked if I wanted, Aunt. Let me h

filled with more than air-history, resentment, an

faltere

he may accompany you to t

ht. I hadn't e

you,

gue. Now go. The King is waiting, and you

bitterly.

om, Elara had

," I said b

f. "Thank the gods. I'll fetc

My fingers trembled slightly as I adjusted my gloves.

sted a hand on my shoulder. "You're b

... older. And tired of b

-

mories of my previous life flooding my mind. The same path, the same anticipat

um beneath the ornate chandeliers. The King stood at the far end, his gaze sweeping the room.

ring a polite curt

expression unre

King remained distant, his attention elsewhere. I felt a familiar ache in my chest, a phanto

on the balcony, the cool air a welcome reli

rself well tonig

nk y

world and the journey ahead. I knew challenges awaited, but I was no lo

eath, letting the chill so

rld sh

e sounds of the gathering dulled to a distant murmur. The night around me thickened,

y lady?" Elara aske

lurred, not from tears-but from so

sn't on the ba

h the earth. I stood at the edge of a battlefield-or a throne room?-the details sh

vr

Ki

n had fallen, discarded like a trinket. His chest heaved in shor

ard

... m

elt it inside my bones. His eyes me

they

ike that,

d back into the present. The balcony, the sta

on my arms now, steadying me

th trembling. "

a vision of the future? A warni

t alread

already u

t of his blood on my skin, could still see the lifeless eyes o

d I s

I sav

die, as he

alcony railing,

quietly. "Promis

rmed but nodde

myself-don't let me forget

concern dark in her ey

back to

red. "But this time... I w

ing-perhaps fate, perhaps

wasn'

nly the