Six: The king’s command
1321 Words
Lina’s pov
The summons arrived before sunrise.
I stared at the royal seal on the letter and considered pretending I had never received it.
Unfortunately, the messenger was still standing outside my door.
“His Majesty requests your presence in the council chamber,” Mara read aloud.
“Requests?”
She glanced at the letter.
“Orders.”
“Ah. That’s more honest.”
Mara tried not to smile.
I dressed in silence, choosing a dark blue gown with simple silver embroidery. There would be enough people in the council chamber without giving them another reason to discuss what I wore.
By the time I arrived, the meeting had already begun.
The guards opened the tall doors, and every conversation inside stopped.
I hated that.
Not the silence.
The way everyone looked at me.
As if they were waiting to see what terrible thing I would do next.
I lifted my chin and walked inside.
King Aldric sat at the head of the long table, his expression grave. Beside him sat Queen Celeste, elegant and watchful.
Megan was seated halfway down the table.
Of course he was.
His eyes met mine briefly before moving away.
That was fine.
I took the empty seat furthest from him.
The King watched me for a moment.
“Thank you for coming, Princess Lina.”
“I was told I had little choice.”
A few nobles shifted uncomfortably.
The Queen’s lips twitched.
The King, to his credit, looked almost amused.
“Still as direct as ever.”
“I’ve recently discovered the benefits of honesty.”
Megan glanced at me.
I ignored him.
The King placed both hands on the table.
“Then let us be honest about why you are here.”
The amusement disappeared from the room.
“The northern province of Elaris has sent another petition.”
I frowned.
Elaris was one of the kingdom’s largest provinces, situated near the mountains and responsible for much of the trade that passed through the northern borders.
“What kind of petition?” I asked.
“Their governor claims the provincial council has been ignoring the concerns of several farming communities.”
Lord Harrow, one of the older council members, sighed.
“They complain every winter.”
I looked at him.
“Perhaps because their problems return every winter.”
His eyes narrowed.
The King raised a hand before an argument could begin.
“The complaints are serious. Trade routes have been disrupted, taxes have gone uncollected, and several villages are threatening to refuse the governor’s authority.”
“And what does this have to do with me?” I asked.
The King’s gaze remained steady.
“You have experience with provincial disputes.”
I blinked.
It wasn’t praise.
Not exactly.
But it was the first time someone in this palace had acknowledged that I was capable of something beyond causing trouble.
Before I could answer, the King continued.
“Prince Megan has been overseeing matters concerning the northern territories.”
My stomach sank.
“No.”
The word escaped before I could stop it.
The King raised an eyebrow.
“No?”
“I mean—surely there are other people better suited to assist Prince Megan.”
“There are.”
I relaxed.
Then the King smiled faintly.
“But I want you.”
I stared at him.
Across the table, Megan sat straighter.
“Father,” he said.
The King turned toward him.
“Is there a problem?”
Megan’s jaw tightened.
“No.”
“Good.”
I looked between them.
There was definitely a problem.
I lifted my hand slightly.
“I have one.”
The Queen leaned forward.
“Of course you do.”
I ignored her.
“Your Majesty, with respect, Prince Megan and I do not work well together.”
The words were an understatement.
We could barely stand in the same room without someone becoming angry.
The King leaned back in his chair.
“Then perhaps you should learn.”
The room fell silent.
I looked at Megan.
He looked equally displeased.
At least we agreed on something.
The King continued.
“You will both travel to Elaris in three days. You will speak with the governor, the council, and the villagers. I want a full report and a solution.”
Travel together.
Wonderful.
“How long will we be gone?” Megan asked.
“As long as necessary.”
I considered throwing myself out the nearest window.
Instead, I smiled politely.
“Your Majesty, I am honored by your confidence.”
The King studied me.
“That sounded suspiciously like an insult.”
“It wasn’t.”
“Good. Because the matter is settled.”
I stood.
“Then I suppose I should begin preparing.”
Megan rose at the same time.
The meeting continued around us, but I had already decided I had heard enough.
I walked toward the doors.
“Lina.”
I stopped.
The King’s voice held me in place.
I turned.
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
For a moment, his expression softened.
“Bring my son home alive.”
Several people around the table laughed.
Megan looked offended.
I smiled despite myself.
“I’ll do my best.”
Megan’s gaze snapped toward me.
“That’s reassuring.”
The Queen laughed quietly.
For the first time in weeks, something inside me almost felt lighter.
Almost.
⸻
Megan caught up with me in the corridor.
“Three days.”
I continued walking.
“Yes.”
“We need to discuss the journey.”
“Do we?”
He stepped in front of me.
I stopped before walking into him.
“Move.”
“We’re traveling together, Lina.”
“I was present when my father said that.”
“My father.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Congratulations on remembering.”
His expression darkened.
“Must you make everything difficult?”
I laughed softly.
“You came to find me.”
“Because you’re impossible to speak to.”
“And yet, here we are.”
Megan exhaled sharply.
For a moment, I thought he might walk away.
Instead, he said, “We leave at dawn three days from now.”
“Fine.”
“You’ll bring your guards.”
“I have guards?”
He stared at me.
“That wasn’t a joke.”
“Neither was mine.”
His expression became suspicious.
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.”
I stepped around him.
But his hand caught my wrist.
I froze.
His grip wasn’t painful.
That didn’t matter.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then Megan released me immediately.
Something unreadable crossed his face.
“Don’t travel without protection,” he said.
I looked at him.
“Why do you care?”
His expression hardened.
“I care about the kingdom.”
Of course.
I smiled faintly.
“Then don’t worry. I have no plans to get myself killed before we reach Elaris.”
“Lina.”
I began walking again.
“Goodbye, Megan.”
⸻
That night, I stood beside the window in my chambers, looking out over the sleeping palace.
Three days.
Three days before I would be forced to travel alone with the man who had spent three years making me feel unwanted.
I should have been furious.
Perhaps I was.
But beneath the anger was something else.
Curiosity.
Elaris was far from the palace.
Far from Elena’s watchful eyes.
Far from the whispers and crowded halls where everyone had already decided who I was.
Perhaps, for a little while, I could breathe.
I didn’t expect Megan to become easier to tolerate.
I didn’t expect him to understand me.
And I certainly didn’t expect this journey to change anything between us.
I had stopped expecting anything from him.
That was my greatest mistake.
Because sometimes, the most dangerous thing about letting someone go—
Was giving them the chance to finally see you.
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