The Weight of a Crown I
985 Words
The crown was too heavy.
Princess Eanora Valeris had known it the moment the royal attendant placed it on her head that evening. The gold band rested firmly against her temples, its gemstones glittering under the brilliant chandeliers of the grand dining hall. Each jewel reflected the candlelight like tiny stars.
To everyone else in the room, the crown looked magnificent.
To Eanora, it felt like a cage.
She sat at the long banquet table surrounded by nobles, council members, and royal advisors who were deeply engaged in conversation about the affairs of the kingdom. Their voices blended into a steady hum as they discussed trade agreements, border patrols, and diplomatic negotiations with neighboring lands.
None of it interested her.
Eanora tapped her fingers lightly against the polished table as she stared at the tall windows along the hall. Beyond them, the sky was slowly turning orange and violet as the sun prepared to set behind the distant hills.
Outside was the city of Aurelion. Alive with people, markets, music, and movement.
Inside was silence, etiquette, and endless expectations.
“Princess.”
The sharp voice cut through her thoughts.
Eanora straightened immediately.
Lady Marent stood behind her chair, her hands folded neatly in front of her. The royal etiquette instructor had the uncanny ability to appear whenever Eanora was about to do something improper.
Which happened quite often.
“Your posture,” Lady Marent said firmly.
Eanora quickly adjusted her shoulders.
“Yes, Lady Marent.”
“A future queen must carry herself with dignity at all times.”
Eanora forced a polite smile.
Inside, she groaned.
Future queen.
The words followed her everywhere even during lessons, meals, conversations, and even walks in the palace gardens. Every moment of her life seemed to be preparing her for the same future.
One day she would rule Aurelion.
But tonight, she simply wanted to remove the crown pressing painfully against her head.
Across the table, King Aldric Valeris watched his daughter quietly.
The king’s presence filled the entire hall without effort. His silver-streaked hair and sharp gray eyes reflected years of ruling the kingdom and leading armies into battle. He was respected, feared, and admired throughout Aurelion.
And at this moment, he looked faintly amused.
Beside him sat Queen Lysandra, whose calm grace balanced the king’s commanding presence. Her dark hair was braided elegantly over one shoulder, and her warm eyes often softened the seriousness of royal life.
Eanora leaned slightly toward her mother.
“Mother,” she whispered.
“Yes, my dear?”
“Do I really have to wear this?”
She lightly touched the crown.
Queen Lysandra followed the gesture and smiled gently.
“It is part of your role, Eanora.”
“But it weighs more than my books.”
“Responsibility often does.”
Eanora frowned.
“That seems terribly inconvenient.”
Her mother almost laughed before quickly hiding her smile.
Unfortunately, Lady Marent heard.
“A crown is never inconvenient,” the instructor said sharply. “It is a symbol of honor.”
“Yes, Lady Marent,” Eanora replied politely.
But in her mind she thought,
It’s still incredibly inconvenient.
The nobles continued their discussion, now arguing about merchant taxes and shipping routes.
Eanora listened for a moment.
Then she stopped listening entirely.
Her attention drifted again toward the window.
The sky had darkened now, and the first stars were appearing above the city.
She made a decision.
Slowly, she lifted the crown from her head.
Relief flooded through her immediately.
She placed it quietly on the table.
No one noticed.
Perfect.
Eanora stood.
“Excuse me.”
Without waiting for a response, she slipped out of the dining hall.
The moment the doors closed behind her, she let out a deep breath.
Freedom.
The palace corridors were wonderfully quiet compared to the noisy banquet hall.
Eanora walked quickly through the hallways, her boots echoing softly against the polished marble floors. Servants passed by carrying trays and lanterns, but none of them questioned the princess.
They were used to her wandering.
She turned down a side corridor and stopped in front of a large tapestry showing knights battling a dragon.
To most people, it was simply decoration.
To Eanora, it hid one of her favorite secrets.
She slipped her hand behind the fabric and pulled a small bronze lever.
The wall shifted.
A narrow staircase appeared.
Eanora grinned.
She climbed the spiral staircase quickly, her excitement growing with each step. The higher she climbed, the quieter the palace became.
When she finally reached the top, cool evening air greeted her.
She stepped onto the tower balcony and looked out over the city.
Aurelion stretched far beyond the palace walls, glowing with lantern light. Streets bustled with life, even as night began to settle over the kingdom.
Eanora loved moments like this.
Moments when she could simply be herself.
Not a princess.
Not a future queen.
Just Eanora.
She climbed onto the stone railing and carefully stepped onto the narrow ledge running along the tower wall.
Most people would have been terrified.
Eanora moved confidently.
She had practiced this route many times.
A few minutes later she reached another window and crouched beside it.
The royal library.
Her favorite place.
The window was locked.
Naturally.
Eanora reached into her pocket and removed a small metal tool she had borrowed from the palace engineers.
After a few careful movements—
Click.
The lock opened.
She slipped inside.
The library was enormous.
Rows upon rows of towering bookshelves stretched toward the ceiling, filled with books collected over centuries of knowledge. Dust floated through the lantern light, and the faint smell of parchment and ink filled the air.
Eanora smiled.
“Much better.”
Here, she could breathe.
Here, no one told her how to sit, speak, or behave.
Books didn’t judge.
They simply waited to be understood.
And Eanora loved understanding things..
- Writer
