The storm arrived before sunset.
Dark clouds swallowed the sky above the Hollow while thunder rolled across the mountains.
Inside the council chamber, tension had become unbearable.
Three noble houses had declared support for Elira's claim.
More were rumored to be considering it.
The kingdom was splitting.
Exactly as someone intended.
Elira stood beside the window staring at the rain.
A princess yesterday.
A political weapon today.
It felt absurd.
Behind her, the council argued.
Again.
"The nobles are moving too quickly."
"They smell weakness."
"They smell opportunity."
"They smell a throne."
The conversation blended into noise.
Elira barely listened.
Something felt wrong.
Not the rebellion.
Not the Queen.
Something deeper.
A feeling she couldn't explain.
As if ever
