Chapter 3
F ather and Ethan were waiting for me in the hallway outside the Council’s conference chambers.
The halls were otherwise empty, showing the councilors were all inside already.
Father’s crystal-blue eyes, so much like Ethan’s, held none of their warmth, now distant beneath the weight of grief.
His short black hair, always neatly groomed, added to the severe lines of his face, sharp and imposing, like a man carved from stone rather than flesh.
Father was wearing what he called his “working crown”, a simple metal band made of silver leaves.
It was the least ornate type for men, and the one he wore any time he had to decide for the kingdom.
He always told us the weight of the crown helped him to remember that his choices shaped the future in ways we can never fully predict.
Both men were otherwise dressed in simple black clothing, wearing long sleeves despite the heat of the day.
They stood there in deep, but particularly quiet, conversation.
I paused in front of a mirror near them, checking my appearance.
I hated that I had to care about how I looked right now, hated that this moment demanded poise instead of mourning.
Nevertheless, I straightened my shoulders and took in my reflection with a hard, hollow gaze.
My long, straight brown hair, streaked with golden highlights, had been braided and pinned neatly beneath the gold circlet, the chips of lapis lazuli catching the light like tiny shards of sky.
The deep navy dress Ivy had chosen contrasted against my warm ivory skin, giving me the somber appearance they all expected of me.
Around my neck, the delicate gold necklace sat like a chain, beautiful but binding.
My eyes, brown with just a hint of red beneath the surface, caught the light in a way that made the crimson glint show more clearly.
Mother used to say she loved that about me, how the red in my eyes always burned brighter when my emotions were strong.
I swallowed hard, the memory sharp and unwelcome, but I couldn’t look away.
Now, all I could see was the fire of my grief, the anger simmering just beneath the surface.
I looked too composed for someone whose world had just been ripped apart.
Maybe that was what they wanted to see. A queen in waiting, already hardened, already shaped by grief into something useful.
I swallowed down the bitter taste rising in my throat and forced myself to stand taller, wrapping my sorrow and my fury tightly around me like armor.
This meeting would determine whether the Council supports my ascension, and I needed their support to delay the wedding.
The law doesn’t allow for coronation until after I am married, and we have never gone over three months without both a king and queen.
Three months to find and accept a man to be my husband was far too fast for my liking, no matter who the man might be.
“Are you ready?” Ethan asked, trying to break the silence between us.
I nodded. “As ready as I can be. What about you?”
Glancing at his face through the mirror, I pretended to adjust a tendril of my hair. His dark brown brows furrowed and his jaw clenched. He pressed his lips together, trying to hold back his emotions.
“I’m always ready to support you, Lyla. Always.” He gave a tight nod back to me.
I turned to face Father. “Any last words of wisdom?”
“You look so much like your mother when we went into the Council for the first time to claim her throne.” His eyes watered, threatening to spill for a moment, before anger replaced his nostalgia.
His back stiffened, jaw clicked into place, and he cleared his throat.
“We will go in, I’ll announce you as the next queen.
They will question you about the suitors you have and expect a timeline for marriage.
Remember your history and provide them with a proposal they can’t refuse. Do you have a plan?”
I nodded, which was a total lie. This was the last thing I wanted to do. I didn’t even know what I could even propose. “My Ladies helped me to brainstorm with some options.” Not quite a lie, anyway.
“May I offer a plan? I talked with my lord as well, not sure how much time you’d be able to spend thinking about this,” Ethan offered.
I nodded silently, giving him the space to speak.
“A ball to meet the suitors, and then another council meeting to announce who you will marry. You could invite them to bring their best options, so they feel they have some say in the matter. But of course, you’ll have final say. ”
Mulling the plan through, I realized this was not the worst idea. “A ball may be the best plan yet.”
Ethan smiled. Father nodded; his lip turned for a moment. “Your mother would be proud of both of you.”
The doors to the chambers opened with a flourish, interrupting us. Two courtiers announced they were ready for us to join. Father led the way, striding in with confidence and not a sign of any emotional distress. I followed, hoping to convey the same with my movements, and Ethan was behind me.
We found three seats left open for us at the head of the long oak table.
The councilors occupied the rest, one representing each region of Elthas.
Most of them were men I knew nothing about, but I could identify the only female Councilor, Lady Juniper Mallard, sitting at the far end from where my seat was.
We had never talked, but I had heard how she was the most progressive and willing to argue against the leaders of the Council.
Next to her was Amyra’s father, Lord Greenhow.
Next to us, unfortunately, were the two lords I least enjoyed by reputation alone.
Lord Patrick Luther was the most conservative man in the room, and the one most vocal about the need to assert male authority over their feminine counterparts.
His strong misogyny often enraged Mother after meetings with him.
Across from him, next to the seat Ethan was to take, was Lord Eric Denenbaum.
He was the father of Ethan’s girlfriend, Katelle.
His reputation was slightly better than Lord Luther’s, but he still supported many of the measures Luther proposed, which left me feeling distrustful of him.
He may have better charisma when discussing the plans they have, but that doesn’t make him a better man.
The Council rose as we entered the room and waited for the three of us.
Once we were standing next to our designated seats, the courtiers moved in to pull the chairs out in a synchronized motion.
We took our seats, which signaled to the Council to take theirs.
I looked at each face, taking them in as they studied me.
When I got to Lady Mallard, she offered a wink.
I didn’t know what that could mean. We had never met before, let alone had a secret to share.
As I reached the last councilor, Father cleared his throat. I looked at him as he nodded towards Lord Luther. The councilor thumped a gavel on the table. “Session shall resume.”
He stood and read the list of items they planned to handle during this meeting.
It sounded like a regularly scheduled meeting, rather than one called to order just for Mother’s death.
Glancing back at each person, I wondered how many knew the queen was dead.
This certainly was a bizarre way to honor her memory.
It felt so callous, so cruel, to sit here and listen to them act like just an unfortunate accident occurred to some irrelevant person, a minor bump in the road.
I clasped my hands around each other, clasped in my lap, and took some deep breaths to soothe the irritation I held at this.
Finally, he finished his list. “We shall commence with the matter added this morning. As you all are now aware, the Queen of Elthas was found deceased earlier today. Our King is here to provide you with what we need to know.”
Lord Luther sat down as Father stood. “Good afternoon, councilors. It is with profound sorrow that I confirm the passing of my wife, Her Majesty, the Queen of Elthas, earlier today. The royal physician has initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances of her passing and has enlisted the support of select members of the royal guard. We expect gaining further clarity in the days and weeks ahead and will provide updates as more information becomes available.”
Father pauses, an almost imperceptible sniffle comes from him.
“As established by our longstanding laws and traditions, the monarchy must be led by both a king and a queen in service to the people. Given my advancing years, I find myself unable to take a new consort and fulfill this duty as required. Therefore, I will abdicate my position and entrust the throne to its rightful successors, while remaining available to serve in an advisory capacity to the new king and queen.”
Father pauses once more, though this seems intentional, as he watches the councilors take notes about his announcement. After a moment, he continues.
“Over the years, the queen and I have engaged in extensive discussions regarding the future of the realm. As such, I can say with certainty that the selection of our next leader reflects not only my judgment but also the queen’s expressed wishes.
It is with full confidence that I announce Princess Lyla will ascend to the throne and lead Elthas with strength and wisdom for many years to come. ”
The councilors pause their writing to offer a polite applause. I didn’t know what to do, so I stood to accept it. Father placed his arm around my shoulder, a level of affection I never expected him to show in such a formal setting, but one I felt immensely grateful to receive.