CHAPTER THREE: THE SELECTION
2572 Words
By morning, everyone in the palace knew about the murder.
Fear moved through the corridors faster than servants carrying breakfast trays. Nobles whispered behind jeweled fans. Guards doubled around every entrance. Even the air inside the palace felt different—tenser, colder, like the walls themselves were listening.
Lyra had not slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw blood spreading across the servant girl’s floor.
She should have died too.
The message kept replaying in her head.
Someone inside the palace wanted her dead.
And worse—
Someone powerful enough to kill under the prince’s roof without fear.
Gray morning light spilled through the windows of the room beside Kael’s chambers. The room itself was larger than the entire west wing of her old estate. Dark furniture. Velvet curtains. A fireplace burning low against black marble.
Beautiful.
Soulless.
Lyra stood near the window still wearing yesterday’s dress. Dried blood stained the sleeves from the execution square.
A knock sounded suddenly.
She reached instinctively for the silver letter opener she had stolen from the bedside table during the night.
“Enter.”
The door opened carefully.
A young servant stepped inside carrying folded gowns.
The girl looked terrified.
Not nervous.
Terrified.
Her eyes flicked quickly toward Lyra before dropping to the floor.
“My lady,” she whispered.
Lady.
Interesting.
Lyra leaned against the window slowly. “What’s your name?”
“Eva.”
“You’re afraid of me, Eva?”
The servant swallowed. “No, my lady.”
Another lie.
Lyra watched her quietly.
“Did they force you to come here?”
Eva hesitated too long.
“Yes.”
That answered enough.
The poor girl expected to die simply for serving her.
Lyra looked toward the gowns folded across the servant’s arms. Rich fabrics spilled in shades of black, crimson, and silver.
Royal colors.
“I’m not wearing those.”
Eva looked alarmed. “My lady, the prince ordered—”
“I don’t care what the prince ordered.”
A shadow moved across the doorway.
“Most people do.”
Lyra stiffened instantly.
Kael stood leaning against the open door dressed entirely in black again. His coat fit sharply across broad shoulders while silver rings gleamed against gloved fingers.
His pale eyes moved calmly over the room.
Eva immediately dropped into a shaky bow.
“My prince.”
Kael barely acknowledged her.
His attention stayed on Lyra.
“You should eat,” he said.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You will be.”
His calmness irritated her instantly.
The servant hurried forward placing the gowns carefully across the bed before practically fleeing the room.
The second the door shut, silence settled heavily between them.
Lyra crossed her arms. “People are terrified of you.”
Kael looked unsurprised. “Smart people usually are.”
“You had someone killed yesterday without blinking.”
“You’re alive because I did.”
The answer came too quickly.
Too honestly.
Lyra hated that part of her understood his logic.
Kael stepped farther into the room.
“You’ll dress for court.”
Her stomach tightened slightly. “Why?”
“Because the entire kingdom is waiting to see whether I execute you.”
“And?”
“And I haven’t decided if disappointing them sounds amusing.”
The tension between them sharpened.
There it was again—
That strange uncertainty surrounding him.
Kael spoke like a man constantly balancing violence against restraint.
Lyra studied him carefully. “You enjoy making people afraid.”
“No.”
He walked closer slowly.
“I enjoy knowing where loyalty truly belongs.”
“Fear isn’t loyalty.”
“It’s more reliable.”
The answer unsettled her because he believed it completely.
Rain hammered softly against palace windows while silence stretched again.
Finally Lyra spoke carefully.
“The servant girl last night… did you know her?”
Kael’s jaw tightened almost invisibly.
“No.”
“But you were angry.”
His eyes lifted toward hers.
“Someone murdered a servant inside my palace and left a message threatening the woman under my protection.”
His voice lowered slightly.
“That is disrespectful.”
The word sent chills through her.
Not tragic.
Not cruel.
Disrespectful.
As if the murder mattered less than the challenge behind it.
“What happens now?” Lyra asked quietly.
Kael studied her face for several long seconds.
Then—
“You stay close to me.”
“I’m not hiding behind you.”
A faint flicker of amusement touched his mouth.
“That wasn’t a request.”
Before she could argue further, another knock interrupted them.
A royal guard entered and bowed sharply.
“My prince. The court is gathering.”
Kael nodded once.
The guard hesitated before adding carefully, “The queen insists your announcement proceed as planned.”
Announcement?
Lyra looked sharply toward Kael.
He ignored her entirely.
“Tell them I’ll be there shortly.”
The guard bowed again before leaving.
The second the door shut, Lyra turned toward him.
“What announcement?”
Kael adjusted one of his gloves slowly.
“The kingdom expects me to choose a bride.”
The words hit strangely.
Her chest tightened before she understood why.
“That sounds unfortunate for her.”
Something dark flickered behind his eyes.
“Perhaps.”
He walked toward the door.
“Dress quickly.”
Then he left.
Lyra stared after him with growing unease.
Something was wrong.
Deeply wrong.
And somehow she was standing directly in the center of it.
An hour later, Lyra entered the royal court feeling like prey thrown into a den of wolves.
Hundreds of nobles filled the enormous throne hall beneath glittering chandeliers. Gold banners hung between towering black pillars while musicians played softly near the walls.
Conversations quieted immediately when she appeared.
Eyes followed her everywhere.
Judging.
Calculating.
Hating.
The dark crimson gown they forced onto her fit perfectly despite being clearly tailored in advance.
That unsettled her most.
Kael had prepared for this before bringing her to the palace.
But why?
A servant guided her toward the far side of the hall near the nobles while whispers spread rapidly around her.
“That’s her…”
“The traitor’s daughter.”
“She’s beautiful.”
“Why is she here?”
“She shouldn’t even be alive.”
Lyra kept her expression calm despite the hostility pressing from every direction.
Weakness would destroy her here.
At the center of the throne hall stood the royal family.
King Aldric sat upon the black throne of Valedorn like a king carved from stone. Queen Seraphine remained beside him draped elegantly in silver.
And standing slightly below them—
Kael.
The prince wore black formal attire embroidered with silver thread. A ceremonial sword rested against his side while nobles bowed carefully whenever he moved.
But despite the grandeur surrounding him, he looked detached from all of it.
Cold.
Watching.
Lucien stood nearby looking considerably more relaxed.
The younger prince noticed Lyra instantly.
His smile sharpened.
“Well,” he murmured as she approached. “You survived your first night.”
“Barely.”
“That means you’re adapting quickly.”
Kael’s gaze landed on them immediately.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Lucien noticed and looked delighted.
“You see?” he murmured softly toward Lyra. “He watches you constantly already.”
Kael approached before she could respond.
“What did I say about him?”
Lyra crossed her arms. “You say many dramatic things.”
A dangerous flicker crossed his face.
Lucien laughed quietly.
“This may be the most entertaining court season we’ve had in years.”
Queen Seraphine descended from the throne platform gracefully.
Every conversation nearby quieted further.
The queen stopped directly in front of Lyra.
Beautiful.
Poised.
Deadly.
“Lady Lyra,” she said smoothly. “How are you adjusting to palace life?”
Lyra met her gaze evenly. “I’ve had better weeks.”
A few nearby nobles inhaled sharply.
The queen smiled faintly.
“You remind me of myself when I first arrived here.”
That felt like a threat disguised as kindness.
“I doubt that,” Lyra replied carefully.
Seraphine’s eyes sharpened slightly.
Before she could respond, royal horns echoed suddenly through the hall.
The musicians stopped immediately.
A servant stepped forward loudly.
“His Majesty King Aldric will now oversee the royal selection.”
Excitement swept through the room instantly.
Noblewomen straightened eagerly.
Several mothers looked moments away from fainting.
Lyra frowned slightly.
Selection?
Lucien leaned toward her casually.
“The kingdom expects Kael to announce his future bride today.”
Her stomach tightened unexpectedly.
She ignored it.
Why should she care who he married?
Kael stepped forward before the throne.
The entire hall watched him breathlessly.
King Aldric rose slowly.
“For years,” the king announced, “the future of Valedorn has waited for this moment. Today Crown Prince Kael Thorne will choose the woman who shall stand beside him when he ascends the throne.”
The room practically vibrated with anticipation.
Beautiful noblewomen lined the hall dressed in jewels and silk worth entire villages.
Lyra suddenly understood why everyone kept staring at her with confusion.
She didn’t belong here.
King Aldric looked toward his son.
“Make your selection.”
Silence fell.
Kael’s expression never changed.
Slowly—
He turned.
And looked directly at Lyra.
The entire room froze.
Her pulse stumbled painfully.
No.
Absolutely not.
Kael walked toward her through the silent hall.
Every noble watched with growing disbelief.
Queen Seraphine’s face hardened instantly.
Lucien looked fascinated.
Kael stopped directly before Lyra.
Close enough for only her to hear his next words.
“Try not to look frightened.”
“I’m going to stab you.”
“Later,” he murmured calmly.
Then—
The prince turned toward the court.
“I have made my decision.”
Shock spread across the room before he even spoke again.
Because everyone already knew.
Kael’s pale eyes never left Lyra’s face.
“I choose Lyra Vale.”
Silence crashed through the throne hall.
Absolute silence.
Then chaos erupted.
“What?!”
“She’s a traitor’s daughter!”
“This is madness!”
“The kingdom will never accept her!”
Queen Seraphine descended the throne steps immediately.
Fury sharpened every elegant line of her face.
“You cannot be serious.”
Kael remained perfectly calm.
“I rarely joke publicly.”
King Aldric looked genuinely stunned.
“You intend to marry her?”
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Lyra stared at him in disbelief.
This was impossible.
Why her?
Why would the future king tie himself to a disgraced bloodline?
The court erupted louder.
Several nobles openly protested while others looked horrified.
Lucien watched the chaos with visible amusement.
Interesting.
Too amused.
Kael suddenly offered Lyra his hand.
Every eye in the kingdom seemed fixed on them.
“Come here.”
Her pulse hammered.
This felt dangerous beyond understanding.
But refusing publicly might get her killed immediately.
So Lyra stepped beside him.
The second she did, whispers exploded again.
Kael’s hand settled lightly against the small of her back.
Possessive.
Claiming.
The touch sent unwanted heat through her chest.
Queen Seraphine saw it.
And hatred flashed openly across her face.
“There are noble houses across the kingdom,” the queen said coldly. “Yet you choose the daughter of a traitor?”
Kael looked bored.
“I choose the woman I want.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
Lyra hated that her breathing changed slightly.
King Aldric stepped down slowly from the throne platform.
The older king studied Lyra carefully.
Not warmly.
Like examining a potential threat.
“This decision affects the stability of the kingdom,” he warned.
Kael’s expression remained emotionless.
“Then perhaps the kingdom should learn to adapt.”
The tension inside the hall became suffocating.
Lyra suddenly understood something terrifying.
Kael hadn’t chosen her impulsively.
He planned this.
Maybe even before her father died.
But why?
Lucien finally approached them slowly.
“Well,” he drawled lightly. “This certainly complicates things.”
Kael’s gaze sharpened immediately.
Lucien smiled wider.
“You always did enjoy chaos, brother.”
“And you enjoy talking too much.”
The younger prince leaned slightly toward Lyra.
“Careful,” he murmured quietly enough for only her to hear.
“Men like Kael destroy everything they touch.”
Kael heard him anyway.
The prince’s jaw tightened dangerously.
“Leave.”
Lucien’s smile faded slightly.
Interesting again.
Not fear exactly.
But caution.
Even Lucien knew where Kael’s limits became dangerous.
The younger prince stepped back eventually.
“As you wish.”
Then he disappeared into the crowd.
Queen Seraphine watched Lyra with naked hostility now.
That frightened Lyra more than Kael ever had.
Because Kael looked dangerous openly.
The queen hid it behind elegance.
And hidden monsters were always worse.
The remainder of court passed in a blur of whispers and political tension.
Nobles approached carefully offering forced congratulations while secretly looking horrified.
Some bowed to Lyra now.
Others refused entirely.
Kael stayed beside her the entire time.
Watching everyone.
Remembering reactions.
Like a predator choosing future targets.
Hours later the court finally ended.
Lyra followed Kael through quieter palace corridors with growing anger burning inside her chest.
The second they entered a private hallway, she turned on him.
“What exactly are you doing?”
Kael kept walking calmly.
“Walking.”
“You publicly announced you’re marrying me.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He stopped finally.
Turned slowly toward her.
“Because I wanted to.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
Rage flared hot inside her.
“You think you can just decide people belong to you?”
His eyes darkened slightly.
“Yes.”
The honesty shocked her silent.
Kael stepped closer.
“You needed protection.”
“From who?”
A long pause followed.
Then—
“Everyone.”
Something about the way he said it chilled her.
Like he wasn’t exaggerating.
Lyra searched his face carefully.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Kael’s gaze moved briefly over her shoulder.
Then hardened instantly.
Before she could react, he grabbed her arm sharply and pulled her backward.
A knife slammed into the wall where her head had been seconds earlier.
Lyra’s breath caught violently.
Another blade flew from the shadows.
Kael drew his sword instantly.
Steel flashed.
The second knife clattered across stone.
Guards shouted nearby.
Footsteps thundered through the corridor.
A hooded figure sprinted away into darkness.
Kael moved to follow—
Then stopped when he looked at Lyra.
For one brief second, genuine fear flashed across his face.
Not for himself.
For her.
The realization unsettled her deeply.
Guards flooded the hallway moments later.
“My prince—”
“Find them,” Kael snapped coldly.
“Seal every entrance.”
The soldiers rushed away immediately.
Silence settled heavily again.
Lyra stared at the knife embedded in the wall.
Someone had tried to kill her.
Again.
Her pulse shook violently now.
Kael stepped toward her slowly.
“You see the problem.”
His voice softened slightly.
“This palace wants you dead.”
Lyra looked up at him.
“Why?”
Kael stared at her for several seconds.
Then finally—
“Because you were never supposed to survive your father.”
- Writer
