Chapter 46 #3
Fear of what he might do without Rain’s presence to counterbalance him.
Rain inhaled deeply, steadying himself. He nodded once, pushing aside the instinct to chase after Snow. His personal concerns had to wait; the council represented every mortal in the realm. They needed him now and it is what Snow would want.
He turned back to face his father, spine straightening, expression hardening into something resolute and unshakeable.
With a strength he didn’t entirely feel, he cleared his throat.
“The council has come to a decision,” he announced, his voice carrying through the hall. “With my added support.”
A ripple of tension swept through the room.
“They believe it is in the best interest of our people—whom we are duty-bound to serve—that we remove all enforcement's placed upon the people of the South Region and bring our troops home. We will surrender the territory back to the Red Kingdom.”
The words dropped like stones into still water.
Behind him, soldiers gasped, a sharp intake of breath, disbelief etched across their faces. But after witnessing Snow’s storm, none dared speak. Fear held their tongues.
At the head of the table, Azrien’s composure cracked.
His fingers laced together so tightly his knuckles blanched.
His jaw clenched.
His eyes darted, searching for control he no longer possessed.
Rain pressed on.
“I suggest we send aid and supplies to counter the effects of our disgraceful invasion,” he continued. “In the hopes it will soften Drazier into accepting our offer of peace. Ending this war once and for all.”
Azrien’s head snapped up, outrage flashing in his eyes.
“Absolutely not! What of your offer—”
Rain cut him off sharply.
“My offer remains,” he said, voice low. “Though that is confidential and shouldn’t be voiced within present company.”
Azrien’s mouth snapped shut.
He realised how close he’d come to exposing something he shouldn’t.
He scowled, unsettled, thrown off balance.
He looked around the room, at the councillors, at the generals, at the empty space where Snow had stood moments earlier and saw no support. No loyalty. No fear strong enough to override what they had just witnessed.
He was cornered.
After a long, tense pause, he exhaled sharply.
“Alright,” he said, voice tight. “A good king knows when to back down. My heir and his sister have decided to overthrow my authority on this, so we shall follow their heed.”
He forced a brittle smile.
“Thank you, council men—”
He corrected himself quickly.
“—and women. Your voices have been taken into consideration. Our meeting is adjourned.”
The moment the words left his mouth, the council members surged to their feet, eager to escape the suffocating tension. They slipped past Rain in hurried clusters, whispering anxiously, grateful to be dismissed.
Azrien lingered.
“And Rain,” he said quietly, “I accept your proposal. It is the only reason I am relenting on this. I am choosing to trust that this is part of a much larger, well-thought-out plan. Do not disappoint me further.”
Rain couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at his lips.
Even now, Azrien clung to the illusion of control.
Rain nodded once, then turned to leave.
Relief washed over him, despite the chaos, despite everything threatening to unravel, he had achieved what he came for. The South Region would be freed. Aid would be sent. The war would shift.
But as he stepped into the corridor, reality settled heavily on his shoulders.
Snow.
Her storm.
Her fury.
Her words.
Her pain.
She had openly declared her opposition to their father; something Azrien had not yet fully processed. But he would. And when he did…
Rain’s stomach twisted.
He hurried through the palace, heart pounding, until he reached Snow’s bedroom door. He hesitated, hand hovering over the wood. He could feel her devastation through the barrier, it cut through him like a sword.
He rested his forehead against the door, palms flat against the panel, breathing through the ache.
He couldn’t leave her alone in this.
Even if she needed to scream at him.
Even if she needed to break.
She could use him as a punching bag.
He tapped cautiously three times.
Her energy flared in recognition.
The door flung open
Snow stood there, eyes swollen, cheeks blotched, breath trembling. She had held herself together just long enough to open the door and then the dam broke.
She collapsed into him, sobbing uncontrollably, her fingers clutching at his shirt as though he were the only thing keeping her upright.
Rain wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against his chest. His voice trembled as he whispered into her hair.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t think. It’s okay. Everything will be okay. I promise.”
Her legs buckled beneath her, the weight of her devastation too much to bear. Rain held her firmly, lowering them both to the floor as she cried into him, her apologies muffled against his chest.
Rain’s breath hitched.
He fought to stay strong for her.
To be her anchor.
Her safe place.
He held her until her sobs softened, until her trembling eased and she had no more tears left to give.
And even then, he stayed by her side.