beyond the Palace gates
1405 Words
Malory’s POV:
“How did the session go?” Aldrich inquired, his deep voice carrying an even, unreadable neutrality.
I did my absolute best to suppress my usual expressive nature, offering a thoroughly disciplined, professional response.
“It was highly productive, Father.”
“Your Majesty, her performance was exemplary,” Caspian reported, his face completely devoid of its usual mischief. “She possesses the raw instincts required to forge herself into a formidable warrior.”
Hearing him speak about me with such solemn gravity felt incredibly surreal, but thankfully, my parents didn't seem to notice the underlying theatricality of our behavior.
“Splendid,” Elara murmured, offering Caspian a warm, gracious smile. “We shall resume at dawn tomorrow. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to her development.”
“The honor is entirely mine, Your Highness,” Caspian replied with a flawless bow.
As Aldrich and Elara turned to guide me back toward the residential wings of the palace, I couldn't resist casting one quick look over my shoulder.
The moment my parents' backs were safely turned, Caspian immediately broke character, twisting his face into a ridiculous, mocking grimace directly at me.
I knew it!
The arrogant general couldn't maintain a dignified front for more than two minutes if his life depended on it.
“Malory, what are you lingering for?” Elara’s voice suddenly drifted back.
The second her head began to turn, Caspian's expression snapped right back into a frozen, ice-cold mask of military perfection.
“Nothing! I'm right behind you,” I called out, jogging a few steps to catch up to their side.
For a fleeting second, walking between them made me feel like a coddled child being escorted home.
But I quickly shook the thought away; in the Knox pack, human children were never afforded the luxury of a parental escort.
We filled the walk back with lighthearted conversation.
Even though Aldrich and Elara frequently drifted into their own world, trading quiet, affectionate murmurs that made me roll my eyes, I found myself deeply content.
Once we had returned to the heart of the palace and finished a lavish evening meal, the three of us moved out to the royal terrace for a sunset stroll.
It was then that Elara casually brought up a completely unexpected topic.
“Malory, your father and I have been discussing your future, and we believe it is time for you to enter the academy.”
“The academy?” I blinked, scratching the back of my neck in confusion. “But I thought my education was being handled exclusively by Caspian?”
“Not that variation of training, sweet girl,” Elara explained, her voice radiating that signature, comforting warmth. “You deserve the opportunity to forge real connections, to build a network of companions, rather than being permanently sequestered within these stone walls. You need a life that belongs entirely to you.”
I stared at her, completely matching her gaze in disbelief.
Just this morning, Elara had been visibly melancholy over the prospect of losing our constant afternoons together due to my drills. Yet here she was, actively pushing me to leave the palace perimeter to attend a public institution.
“I don't know...” I hesitated.
Aldrich offered a firm, supportive nod.
“Your mother speaks the truth, Malory. You must immerse yourself among the people and cultivate alliances. When the day arrives for you to ascend as Queen Regent, the loyalty and counsel of your peers will be your greatest asset.”
He leaned against the stone balustrade, looking out over the glittering lights of the capital city.
“And you needn't worry about struggling to find your footing academically. The theoretical curriculum at the academy will be well within your capabilities, and the student body consists entirely of Lycans your own age. Furthermore, the physical conditioning there is vastly different from Caspian's lethal drills; it is designed to train the general civilian population for territorial defense.”
The prospect of interacting with a vibrant community of peers was undeniably alluring, and I was genuinely eager to see how life operated outside the isolated luxury of the royal estate.
“But will I be excused from my sessions with Caspian entirely?” I asked, crossing my arms.
Aldrich let out a booming laugh.
“Hardly, darling. The academy's drills and the arena curriculum serve entirely different purposes. You can take the advanced lethal tactics Caspian teaches you and apply them to your studies. You are the future sovereign of this kingdom; go out there, demonstrate the true depth of your capability, and perhaps you will even cross paths with a partner who calls to your wolf.”
The scenario was rapidly shaping up to be ideal.
Stepping into a proper school meant my hours under Caspian's aggravating oversight would be drastically cut, freeing me up to build a completely fresh circle of friends.
“I'll do it. I want to go,” I agreed quickly, terrified that Aldrich might rescind the offer if I showed any lingering hesitation.
“However, do not mistake this as an invitation to coast on royal entitlement,” Aldrich intervened, his tone suddenly shifting into a stern, authoritative register. “Within the academy walls, you will receive no special privileges. Your evaluations will be identical to your peers—if not strictly enforced—because you are destined to be the ultimate protector of our people. Furthermore, you are still required to maintain your private sessions with Caspian at least three days a week. Your transformation window is rapidly closing, and we must make up for the eighteen years of training you missed.”
I nodded firmly, my spirits remaining incredibly high.
The compromise was vastly better than anything I could have anticipated.
Only three days a week with the insufferable general?
It felt like an absolute dream.
“My word, our little girl has truly grown up,” Elara murmured, leaning her head against Aldrich’s broad shoulder. “We really should have processed her enrollment sooner. It appears she's ready to pack her bags this very evening.”
I reached out, playfully tugging on Elara's hand.
“That isn't true at all! I would vastly prefer to spend every hour here with you. The only reason I'm so eager to flee is because Caspian is a supreme menace!”
“The dynamic between the two of you is certainly entertaining,” Elara laughed, covering her mouth. “But you should find comfort in your own charms, darling. Caspian is a phenomenal young man, and he rarely behaves with such playful familiarity around the rest of the court.”
I merely pouted, letting out a soft, unconvinced snort.
Aldrich reached over, gently tapping the tip of my nose.
“Do not stress over it. Once the two of you find a comfortable rhythm over the next few weeks, the friction will dissolve. Training alongside a rival is always exhilarating, isn't it?”
“I would heavily prefer it to be utterly boring,” I muttered under my breath, which only caused my parents' shared laughter to ring out even louder against the night air.
“Very well, since your mind is made up, would you prefer to initiate your enrollment tomorrow?” Aldrich asked.
“Let's start tomorrow,” I confirmed with a decisive nod.
“Excellent. I shall instruct the palace scribes to finalize your registration for the afternoon sessions.”
I nodded, entirely indifferent to the scheduling details.
As long as the arrangement effectively minimized my hours trapped in the arena with Caspian, it was an absolute victory.
“Malory, you must promise me one thing,” Aldrich spoke, his expression turning deeply solemn once more. “When you enter that academy, you must commit yourself entirely to the work, and you must hold yourself to the code of treating every single citizen with absolute equality.”
“I swear it, Father. I will treat everyone with the exact same dignity,” I vowed earnestly, silently adding a private exception for Caspian in the quiet corners of my mind.
Elara smiled warmly, gently turning me toward the corridor leading back to my quarters.
“Now, run along to bed, sweet girl. I know your father and I are eager for some private time, and your body needs to fully recover before your first day of school. Go get some rest.”
- Writer
