04

Morning came quickly, but I didn’t feel rested. The heavy silence of Kaelor’s quarters, combined with the strange tension of the previous night, had kept my mind on high alert during the little sleep I managed to get. What did those words mean? What did he truly want?

The door abruptly opened, and Maela entered without ceremony. As always, she was impeccably dressed, her severe gaze scanning everything in the room, including the bed I hadn’t left as neatly as I should have.

“Get up,” she ordered. “There is much to do today.”

Before I could ask what exactly was happening, she continued, “The king wants your presence during the preparation for the council. It’s a rare opportunity for you to better understand the importance of your role here.”

I stifled a bitter laugh. “My presence is only needed because I’m his tool, right? Nothing more than that.”

Maela paused for a moment, surprising me. Her eyes, which were normally cold and calculating, seemed to waver with something I couldn’t quite decipher. But as always, she quickly recovered her composure.

“Get dressed,” she said, pointing to a gown that had been left on the table. It was different from the ones I’d worn before—luxurious, heavy, with gold accents and embroidery of symbols I didn’t recognize.

“Why something like this?” I asked, running my hands over the fabric. It looked like ceremonial attire, the kind of clothing one would wear at a royal event.

Maela didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she stepped closer to me and spoke in a lower tone. “Today is not an ordinary day. There are advisors who question your suitability for the role the king has assigned to you. This dress symbolizes your position beside him, even if... you haven’t fully accepted it yet.”

My mind raced. Advisors questioning me? It wasn’t exactly surprising, but the weight of her words made it clear that my presence was more than just another one of Kaelor’s demands. It was a test. A challenge.

Not long after, I was escorted to the main hall. The space was more grandiose than before, the lit torches casting a golden glow on the high ceilings and long, solid wood tables. Kaelor was already there, seated in an imposing high-backed chair that resembled a throne.

His eyes found mine the moment I entered, and the slight raise of his brow was the only reaction he gave upon seeing me. I could feel every pair of eyes in the hall fixed on me as I walked toward him. It was as if I were being judged by everyone, and not kindly.

Kaelor gestured for me to stand by his side, and I obeyed, though each step felt heavier than the last. When I reached my place, he spoke, his voice slicing through the silence like a blade.

“Advisors, this is Elara,” he said, his introduction simple but laden with significance. “You know why she is here.”

There were murmurs among the advisors, exchanged glances—some approving, others filled with doubt.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” one of the older men said, rising to his feet. “She may fit the circumstances, but what do we know of her... capability to fulfill what is expected?”

My stomach churned, but Kaelor didn’t appear fazed. He remained calm, his cold, calculating eyes fixed on the advisor.

“Are you questioning my decision?” Kaelor asked, his voice low but heavy with authority.

“Of course not, Majesty,” the advisor quickly replied, bowing his head. “But the future of the kingdom depends on this choice. The ritual is only the beginning. We need assurances that she is worthy of such a vital role.”

Kaelor stood slowly, and the hall fell into complete silence. Every movement he made seemed to carry a weight no one dared challenge.

“Elara was chosen because she is the only one capable of fulfilling what is required,” he said firmly. “She owes none of you an explanation for her presence here. This has been decided.”

Despite his words, I knew the tension in the air hadn’t fully dissipated. The advisors seemed more cautious now, but doubt lingered.

Kaelor sat back down and inclined his head slightly toward me. “Speak, Elara. Prove to them that you are more than enough.”

I froze. Prove myself? How? What was I supposed to say?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady the tremor in my hands. My eyes swept the room, briefly landing on each face. Some watched me with curiosity, others with disdain.

“I didn’t ask to be here,” I began, my voice low but firm. “I was taken from my life, from everything I knew. But if I’m here, it’s because you believe I am capable of something greater. It doesn’t matter what you think of me now. What matters is what comes next.”

There was a murmur among the advisors, but no one responded immediately.

Kaelor watched silently, and for a moment, I thought he might be irritated by my boldness. But to my surprise, his lips curved slightly, in what almost seemed like approval.

“You have your answer,” he said, turning his attention back to the advisors. “And I don’t want to hear any more doubts.”

Later, back in my chambers, I finally allowed myself to breathe. But the relief didn’t last long. Kaelor’s and the advisors’ words still echoed in my mind. This wasn’t just about me—it was about the future of an entire kingdom, and I was at the center of something I barely understood.

Maela entered shortly after, her usual stern expression in place.

“You handled yourself well,” she said, to my surprise.

“Whether it was enough, I don’t know,” I replied honestly.

She gave me a strange look, as if considering telling me something but deciding against it.

“Rest,” she said finally. “The king will have more demands tomorrow.”