Chapter 10
641 Words
The King's Decision
King Viktor POV
I paced back and forth across my chambers, unable to stay still.
Every report that reached my desk was worse than the last.
Another village.
More sick children.
More elderly vampires dying.
More families begging for herbs we no longer had.
I clenched my fists.
"Damn them..."
The Silver Forest had always belonged to both kingdoms.
For centuries, my people had gathered healing herbs there.
Then came the treaty.
A treaty that was supposed to end the war.
Instead...
The werewolves claimed the forest as their own.
They denied us entry.
And worst of all...
They kept the Moonstone.
The sacred relic that had belonged to the vampire kingdom long before the treaty was ever signed.
Without its blessing, our people had grown weaker with each passing generation.
Every year, more vampires fell ill.
Every year, more children died before reaching adulthood.
I walked to the window overlooking the kingdom.
Below me, the people continued their lives.
They laughed.
They smiled.
Completely unaware that their king was slowly watching them disappear.
"No..."
I whispered.
"I won't let my people die."
If peace had failed...
Then I would do what every king before me had been too afraid to do.
I would take back what belonged to us.
An idea slowly formed in my mind.
Tomorrow...
Lucien would become king.
Tomorrow...
He would also announce his engagement to Princess Valeria.
The entire kingdom would be celebrating.
The werewolves would attend.
Their attention would be fixed on the ceremony.
It was the perfect distraction.
While everyone celebrated...
A small group of my finest warriors would secretly enter the Silver Forest.
They would retrieve the Moonstone...
And gather enough healing herbs to save our people.
I exhaled slowly.
"This is the only way."
Without another thought, I stormed out of my chambers.
"LUCIEN!"
---
Lucien POV
I woke up feeling... lighter.
For the first time in days, I had actually slept well.
I took a warm bath before dressing in a fitted black shirt and matching trousers. After slipping on my boots, I fastened my deep red royal ring around my finger.
I ran a hand through my hair before sitting on the edge of my bed.
Then...
She appeared in my thoughts.
Lyra.
Her silver hair.
Her beautiful eyes.
The way she smiled.
The way she smelled like wildflowers and rain.
I closed my eyes.
Before I knew it, I was imagining us standing by the lake again.
If only I had—
"LUCIEN!"
My eyes flew open.
Father.
His voice echoed through the hallway.
A second later, the doors burst open.
He walked in without greeting me.
"Tomorrow, you will become king."
I blinked.
"...Tomorrow?"
"And tomorrow, you will also announce your engagement to Princess Valeria."
For a moment...
My mind stopped working.
"Father..."
"Isn't this... too soon?"
He looked at me with tired eyes.
"My son..."
"I'm getting old."
"It's time for a new king."
"I've already sent invitations to every vampire noble and to the werewolf kingdom."
"The ceremony cannot be delayed."
He adjusted his gloves before continuing.
"Your coronation robes are already being prepared."
"And after the ceremony..."
"You will marry Valeria."
I opened my mouth to argue.
But he had already turned toward the door.
"We'll speak again later."
Then he left.
The room fell silent.
I stared at the closed door for several seconds.
Finally...
I rubbed both hands over my face.
A headache was already forming.
"So..."
"I'm becoming king tomorrow."
I let out a long sigh.
"And I'm getting married..."
"...to Valeria."
I fell backward onto my bed and threw a pillow over my face.
She talked too much.
Then another thought hit me.
The werewolves had been invited.
That meant...
Lyra would be there too.
I groaned into the pillow.
"Why does everything have to happen at once?"
- Writer
