A royal arraignment
436 Words
The morning after the banquet, Princess Elara received a summons from her father.
She knew what it meant before she entered the king’s private study.
King Aldric stood beside the tall windows overlooking the capital. Queen Celestine sat near the fireplace, her hands folded in her lap.
Neither looked particularly happy.
Elara closed the door behind her.
“You wished to see me?”
Her father turned.
“Yes.”
He gestured toward the chair opposite him.
“Sit.”
Elara obeyed.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, the king said, “Prince Lucien has made an excellent impression.”
Elara stared at him.
“Has he?”
“He is intelligent, disciplined, and respected by his people.”
“I agree.”
“His father rules the largest kingdom in the region.”
Elara knew where this was going.
Her father continued.
“An alliance with Armand would secure our northern border. It would strengthen trade and ensure that neither kingdom stands alone should war come.”
Elara swallowed.
“And what does that have to do with me?”
Her father’s expression hardened.
“You know perfectly well.”
Her mother intervened gently.
“Your father is saying that the council believes a marriage between you and Prince Lucien would benefit Valeria.”
“So I am the treaty.”
“No,” Queen Celestine said. “You are our daughter.”
“But I am also the princess.”
The silence that followed told Elara everything.
She rose.
“Has the decision already been made?”
King Aldric looked away.
“The formal announcement has not been made.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Her father sighed.
“Yes.”
Elara felt something inside her collapse.
She had expected this.
She had known it was coming.
Yet knowing something and hearing it spoken aloud were entirely different things.
“How long?”
“Six months.”
“Six months until I marry him?”
“Yes.”
Elara nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
She turned toward the door.
“Elara.”
She stopped.
Her father’s voice softened.
“I know this is difficult.”
She looked over her shoulder.
“Do you?”
He didn’t answer.
Elara left.
She walked through the palace without seeing the servants or nobles who greeted her.
When she reached the eastern corridor, Adrian was standing at his post.
He bowed.
“Your Highness.”
Elara stopped.
She wanted to tell him.
She wanted to tell someone.
But the words wouldn’t come.
So she simply looked at him.
And somehow, Adrian understood that something was wrong.
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