"Father, why would you do this?" The words left my mouth before I could stop them, sharp with disbelief. I hadn't even heard it from him. I had learned the truth in whispers, through one of my maids who looked at me with pity as she spoke. The king my own father was planning to marry me off to Prince Lucien of the Kingdom of Valerose. An arrangement made in secret, sealed without my consent, as if my life were nothing more than a bargaining piece on a game board.
What cut deepest was not the marriage itself, but the silence. He had never planned to tell me. I was meant to smile, to obey, to accept a fate chosen for me while believing it was mine. Standing there, the weight of his decision pressed down on my chest, and for the first time, the walls of Blackspire felt less like home and more like a cage.
"This is merely for power," he said coldly, "and I am also assigning you a new knight."
For a moment, I couldn't speak. What was he talking about? Not only was he marrying me off without my consent, but now he was replacing my knights as if they were interchangeable pieces stripping away the few choices I had left.
My hands curled at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to meet his gaze. "I wish to know who," I said, my voice steady despite the storm rising in my chest, "and I am not accepting this marriage."
The king's expression did not change. If anything, his gaze hardened, as though my refusal amused him rather than challenged him.
"You will accept it," he said simply. "And as for your new knight. she arrives today."
I stiffened. She. The word echoed in my mind, unexpected and unsettling. My knights had always been familiar faces, sworn to my safety for years. Replacing them was already an insult sending a stranger was a warning.
"I don't need a new knight," I snapped. "The ones I have are loyal. They've protected me since childhood."
"Loyalty," he replied coolly, "can be dangerous when it outweighs obedience."
The doors behind him creaked open, and heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber. I turned despite myself. A knight stepped forward, armor dark and polished, bearing the crest of Blackspire. Her helmet was tucked beneath her arm, revealing sharp eyes and a posture carved from discipline. She bowed once not deeply, but respectfully.
"This is lady nyra" the king said. "From this day forward, she is your personal guard."
Our eyes met for the briefest moment, and something unreadable passed between us. In that instant, I knew this wasn't just about power or politics.
This knight wasn't meant to protect me. She was meant to watch me.
"Please… let it be some sick joke, and that you're only messing with me," I whispered, my voice trembling. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill. The weight of his words, the inevitability of this arranged marriage, and the presence of a stranger knight sent a cold shiver down my spine.
I blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears. My chest ached, my hands shook, and for the first time, the walls of Blackspire felt like they were closing in on me. How could he decide everything about my life without even asking me?
"Princess, my name is Lady Nyra. From this day forward, I am assigned by the crown to protect you."
"What if I don't want to be protected?" I asked, staring at her. Her blue eyes were piercing, so sharp it felt like they could see straight into my soul.
"My duty still stands," she replied, her face calm and unreadable, betraying nothing of her thoughts.
Before I could respond, my father's voice cut through the tension. "Go get ready, both of you. There will be a ball later tonight to celebrate your engagement."
I froze, the words striking me like ice. Engagement. Tonight. My heart pounded in my chest. Not only was my life being dictated by my father, but now every eye in Blackspire would be on me, watching as I was paraded like a prize. And Lady Nyra… she would be there too, a constant shadow at my side, reminding me that I had no say in any of this.
A shiver ran down my spine. The night was meant to celebrate love, but for me, it would mark the beginning of a life ruled by duty, secrecy, and a stranger with blue eyes that unsettled me more than anyone ever had.
Later, in my chambers, my maids moved around me in quiet worry. I could see it in their eyes they knew far more than they dared to say. Whispers traveled quickly through the palace, and this time, the truth had reached them before I could hide it. Their careful hands adjusted my gown, brushed my hair, yet every touch carried sympathy.
Anger burned beneath my skin. I hated that everyone knew. I hated that I had no control.
Outside my door, Lady Nyra stood on guard, silent and unmoving. I could feel her presence even through the thick wooden doors, a reminder of my father's command. She wasn't there because I wanted her. She was there because she had been ordered.
My reflection stared back at me from the mirror crowned, dressed, and trapped. And as the final pin was placed in my hair, I realized that tonight's ball wasn't just a celebration.
It was a sentence.
"This is just amazing," I whispered, my voice low enough to keep the maids from hearing the venom in it. I tried to make it sound light like I wasn't furious, like my chest wasn't tight with humiliation.
They hadn't even told me. Not one of them had the courage to say it to my face. A forced marriage, decided behind closed doors while I smiled like a fool in the halls. Trust? There clearly was none.
Just liars dressed in silk and loyalty.
What a bunch of traitors.
"Are you okay, Your Highness?" asked one of the maids I had trusted deeply since I was a little girl. Ismeria shouldn't have been the first person I had to lose my trust in but somehow, she was the first I heard from.
"I'm okay, moreover we have a ball to go to" I kept a smile over my actual feelings. I completely wanted to fire her on the spot.
Once we got to the ball I glanced over to lady nyra, my new assigned knight. "She seems to be fitting in just fine" I said without any sort of reaction.
"I'm sure you two would get along, Your Highness," I heard, and looked up to see my good friend Lady Niana. She was one of the many nobles I had met at the academy, her familiar smile a small comfort amid the formalities of the evening.
"It's so nice to see you here" I smiled at her, I always missed hanging out with her.
"isn't it weird seeing the knights dressed formal but having a sword on them I thought they would be wearing there armor" lady niana said
I glanced around the ballroom at the knights stationed near the walls. Instead of heavy armor, they wore fitted black uniforms embroidered with the royal crest in silver thread. The only reminder of their duty were the swords resting at their sides.
"It is a little strange," I admitted quietly. "But I guess armor would ruin the mood of the ball."
Lady Niana let out a soft laugh, though her eyes lingered on the guards longer than necessary. "I suppose so. Still, it feels unsettling seeing them smile and dance while carrying weapons."
My gaze drifted toward Lady Nyra across the room. Even dressed formally, she stood straighter than everyone else, one hand resting near the hilt at her waist out of pure habit.
"I think knights are taught to always be prepared," I said. "No matter where they are."
"Prepared for what exactly?" Lady Niana asked.
Before I could answer, the sound of the ballroom doors opening echoed through the hall. Several knights immediately straightened, hands brushing against their swords.
Lady Niana leaned slightly closer to me. "See? That's exactly what I mean."
The music quieted almost instantly as the ballroom doors opened wider.
"His Majesty, the King."
Every noble in the room lowered their heads without hesitation. Dresses rustled against the marble floors while knights stood stiffly at attention, hands pressed over their chests.
Beside me, Lady Niana bowed gracefully.
I didn't.
I simply stood there, staring toward my father as he entered the ballroom surrounded by royal guards. His expression remained unreadable as always, cold enough to silence an entire room with a single glance.
The only thing keeping me here was my status.
Certainly not family.
If I had been anyone else, I would have walked out of this palace long ago.
I could feel Lady Niana shifting nervously beside me, likely noticing I was the only person in the entire ballroom still standing upright.
"Your Highness…" she whispered carefully, almost like a warning.
But I couldn't bring myself to bow to him.
Not after everything.
The words echoed through the ballroom louder than the applause that followed after.
"Today is a very special day for my daughter, Princess Eclipse, to be engaged to Prince Lucian."
Everyone immediately burst into celebration, clapping as if this were some grand romance instead of a political arrangement forced onto me without warning. The nobles smiled brightly, whispering excitedly to one another while musicians began to play softer melodies in the background.
I couldn't move.
Beside the throne, the prince stepped forward elegantly and bowed his head respectfully. Prince Lucian looked exactly how nobles expected a future king to look. Composed, polished, perfectly dressed in white and gold.
I had never hated someone faster.
Lady Niana slowly looked toward me, her expression shifting from confusion to concern. "Your Highness… did you know about this?"
No.
Of course I didn't.
My father finally looked at me then, his sharp eyes practically ordering me to play along.
Every part of me wanted to walk out of the ballroom.
Instead, I forced a smile onto my face so convincing even I almost believed it.
"What wonderful news," I said coldly.
What actually made me laugh was the fact my father truly believed this engagement would work.
He didn't know.
He never knew anything about me beyond the title of "princess."
I looked over at Prince Lucian as the ballroom continued applauding around us. He was handsome, polished, probably everything a kingdom could want in a future king. The noble girls nearby were practically swooning already.
But men had never interested me.
Most of them were selfish beings raised to believe the world belonged to them simply because of their names and titles. Princes especially were unbearable.
Honestly, I found noble ladies far more appealing.
They carried intelligence behind their smiles, subtle strength behind silk gloves and polite conversations. Women understood things men often overlooked.
Which made this entire engagement even more ridiculous.
Lady Niana glanced at me after hearing my quiet laugh. "You seem strangely calm for someone who was just promised away."
"If I don't laugh," I murmured while lifting my glass slightly, "I might start a war in the middle of the ballroom."
For the first time that night, Lady Nyra looked directly at me from across the room.
And somehow, despite all the noise around us, I felt like she understood exactly what I meant.
I watched as Lady Nyra made her way through the crowd, her expression unreadable as always. Even dressed in formal black attire instead of armor, she still carried herself like a knight first and noble second.
When she stopped in front of me, she lowered herself into a respectful bow.
"Congrats, my lady."
Three simple words. And I hated them.
The congratulations felt sharp against my skin, like everyone in this ballroom expected me to smile sweetly and accept my fate without question.
I tightened my grip around the glass in my hand. "You say that as if this is good news."
Lady Niana immediately looked between us nervously.
Lady Nyra slowly straightened, silver eyes meeting mine without fear. "Whether it is good or bad does not change the announcement, Princess."
I almost laughed again.
Of course a knight would say that. Duty before feelings. Obedience before freedom.
"That sounds miserable," I muttered.
For a brief second, something flickered across Lady Nyra's face. so fast I almost missed it.
"Sometimes," she said quietly, "it is."
The music swelled around us again, nobles continuing their celebrations while I stood there trapped beneath the weight of a future I never wanted.
I needed Lady Nyra on my side if I wanted to escape this place alive.
Because this engagement was more than marriage.
It was theft.
Not only was that idiot prince coming here to live in the palace, but he was also being named crown prince the future heir to the throne that should have been mine from the beginning.
Funny, isn't it?
I was born royal. Raised to rule. Educated more thoroughly than most noble sons.
And yet none of that mattered simply because I was a woman.
To the council, a princess was useful for alliances, pretty smiles, and producing heirs. Never for ruling.
I stared toward Prince Lucian as nobles surrounded him with praise, already treating him like the kingdom's future king.
My father stood proudly beside him.
Not once had he ever looked at me that way.
"Princess."
Lady Nyra's voice pulled me from my thoughts. She had stepped closer now, lowering her voice so only I could hear.
"You're staring at the prince like you plan to poison him."
I gave a small smile. "Would that disappoint you?"
"No," she answered far too quickly.
That caught my attention.
For the first time that evening, I looked at her properly.
Lady Nyra kept her expression calm, but there was tension hidden beneath it, something restrained and dangerous.
I knew she was lying.
Lady Nyra might speak calmly and stand at my side like she understood me, but her obedience to my father was far more important than anything else. Knights were trained for loyalty before compassion. If the king commanded her to watch me, restrain me, or even kill me, I doubted she would hesitate for long.
Which meant I needed to figure out exactly what I was going to do with her.
Trusting her carelessly would be stupid.
Getting attached to her would be even worse.
Unfortunately, that became difficult the longer I looked at her.
Tall, composed, intimidatingly quiet—exactly my type.
Of course the universe would do this to me now.
I exhaled slowly while Lady Nyra continued standing beside me, one hand resting near the sword at her waist as nobles danced around us beneath the chandeliers.
"You seem troubled, Princess," she said.
If only she knew.
"I'm thinking," I answered carefully.
"That usually leads to dangerous decisions."
I smiled faintly. "You already know me so well."
For the first time, the corner of her mouth almost lifted into a smile before she caught herself.
And somehow that tiny reaction was more distracting than it should have been.
This was bad.
"Princess Eclipse, it's finally an honor to meet you."
I snapped out of my thoughts the second I heard my name, only to find Prince Lucian standing directly in front of me. Up close, he looked even more polished than before. gold embroidered jacket, perfectly styled hair, the kind of smile nobles adored instantly.
I already wanted him gone.
"An honor indeed," I replied smoothly.
The prince smiled, completely unaware of how little enthusiasm I actually had. "I've heard many things about you from His Majesty."
I nearly laughed at that.
Considering my father barely treated me like a daughter, I could only imagine what those conversations sounded like. Probably descriptions of my usefulness rather than my personality.
"I hope they were flattering," I said lightly.
"Mostly that you're difficult."
Lady Niana immediately looked horrified.
Lady Nyra's eyes narrowed slightly beside me.
But Prince Lucian only chuckled as though we were sharing some amusing joke.
I smiled sweetly enough to make several nearby nobles relax.
"How observant of him," I replied.
For a moment, Prince Lucian studied me more carefully, perhaps finally noticing the sharpness beneath my smile.
"I look forward to getting along with you, Princess."
That made one of us.
Still, I stepped closer just enough to maintain appearances. "Then allow me to offer advice, Your Highness."
"And what would that be?" confused as he was, he still asked.
"Never assume a smile means agreement."
Before Prince Lucian could respond, I offered him one last polite smile and turned away.
I headed toward a group of noble ladies gathered near the balcony doors, their jeweled gowns glittering beneath the ballroom lights. The second they noticed me approaching, their conversations immediately shifted into excited greetings and practiced curtsies.
"Princess Eclipse."
"You look beautiful tonight."
"Congratulations on your engagement."
I thanked them politely while accepting a glass from one of the servants passing by.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could still feel Prince Lucian watching me.
Good.
I wanted him to.
If I was going to survive this engagement, I needed to know exactly what kind of man he truly was beneath the charming prince act. Men like him always revealed themselves eventually, usually through ego, impatience, or the way they treated women they considered beneath them.
And noble ladies heard everything.
Especially when men assumed they weren't listening.
"So," I said casually while joining their circle, "what does everyone think of the prince?"
The reactions were immediate.
A few girls sighed dreamily. One looked nervous. Another rolled her eyes so subtly most people would have missed it.
Interesting.
Lady Celestine leaned closer first. "He's very popular in the western kingdom. They say he's intelligent."
"They also say he has a terrible temper," another noble lady whispered quickly.
"And a habit of humiliating servants," someone added under their breath.
I hid my interest behind another sip of my drink.
There it is.
No prince raised to believe he deserved power could hide his true colors forever.
The question was how long it would take before the people in this kingdom saw them too.
"But Your Highness, how have you been doing lately? You look pale today," Lady Celestine asked, genuine concern softening her voice.
For a moment, I almost forgot to answer.
I had spent so much of the evening pretending to be fine that hearing someone ask sincerely caught me off guard.
"I'm alright," I said automatically.
The noble ladies exchanged doubtful looks.
"You don't seem alright," another admitted carefully. "You've barely smiled since the announcement."
I let out a quiet laugh at that. "Can you blame me?"
Lady Celestine hesitated before stepping closer. "Was the engagement truly a surprise?"
"Yes."
The honesty slipped out before I could stop it.
A brief silence settled over the group.
Some of them looked uncomfortable, others sympathetic. Unlike the men in this kingdom, noble women understood what it meant to have your future decided for you.
Lady Celestine gently touched my arm. "I'm sorry, Princess."
I looked away toward the center of the ballroom where Prince Lucian stood speaking confidently with nobles and advisors alike.
"He's becoming crown prince," I murmured quietly.
The words still tasted bitter.
Lady Celestine's expression tightened slightly. "Everyone knows you were more qualified."
"Qualified doesn't matter," I said. "Not when you're born a woman."
The bitterness in my voice surprised even me.
Before anyone could respond, I noticed movement near the edge of the ballroom.
Lady Nyra.
Still watching me.
"I think it's my time to go. I'm awfully tired."
The ladies immediately looked concerned, but none of them tried to stop me as I placed my untouched glass onto a passing servant's tray.
Lady Celestine bowed her head slightly. "Rest well, Your Highness."
I gave her a small smile before turning toward the ballroom doors. The music and laughter behind me already felt exhausting, every sound blending into one unbearable noise.
I just wanted silence.
The cool air of the palace hall brushed against my skin the moment I stepped outside the ballroom. My heels echoed softly against the marble floors as I walked without any real destination in mind.
A few seconds later, I heard another pair of footsteps behind me.
Of course.
Lady Nyra had excused herself from the ballroom and followed after me like a shadow. Personal knight assigned directly by the king himself.
Or in other words—
my watcher.
"You didn't have to follow me," I said without turning around.
"I did," Lady Nyra replied calmly.
I let out a quiet sigh. "Because my father ordered it?"
"Yes."
At least she was honest.
I slowed near one of the palace balconies, moonlight spilling across the stone floor outside. For a moment neither of us spoke.
Then I glanced back at her. "Tell me something, Lady Nyra."
She straightened slightly. "Anything."
"If I ran tonight…" I asked softly, "would you chase me?"
The silence that followed was answer enough.
"Actually, forget that question," I said quickly.
Lady Nyra remained silent, though I could still feel the weight of her unfinished answer lingering between us.
I turned fully toward her then, moonlight catching against the silver details of her uniform.
"Would you help me become queen?"
For the first time all night, her composure broke.
Her eyes widened slightly, genuine shock flashing across her face before she could hide it again.
There it is.
The first real emotion I had seen from her since the ball began.
The hallway fell completely silent around us.
"You cannot ask me that so casually," Lady Nyra said at last, voice lower than before.
"Why not? Everyone else casually decided to give my throne away."
"That is not what I meant."
I stepped closer. "Then what did you mean?"
Lady Nyra looked away briefly, jaw tightening as though she were carefully choosing every word. "You are asking me to stand against the king."
"No," I corrected softly. "I'm asking if you think I deserve the throne."
That question hit harder.
I could see it in the way her posture stiffened.
Because unlike the nobles in that ballroom, Lady Nyra actually knew me. She had watched me train, negotiate, study politics, memorize military strategy. She knew exactly how capable I was.
And that made her hesitation hurt worse.
Finally, she spoke quietly.
"You would be a better ruler than the prince."
The honesty in her voice caught me off guard.
"But?" I pressed.
Lady Nyra's gaze met mine again, conflicted for the first time all evening.
"But wanting you on the throne and helping you take it are two very different things, Princess."
I looked down at the floor, not out of anger but frustration.
This was all so stupid.
The throne should have been mine without question, yet here I was asking permission to fight for something I had spent my entire life preparing for.
All because I was born a daughter instead of a son.
The moonlight stretched across the marble between us while silence settled into the hallway again.
"Honesty suits you, Lady Nyra," I said quietly.
For once, I had no sharp remark left to give her.
No teasing smile.
No hidden meaning.
Just exhaustion.
I turned away from her after speaking, already heading toward my chambers before she could answer.
But after a few steps, I heard Lady Nyra's voice behind me.
"It also gets people killed."
I paused briefly.
Then continued walking.
Because deep down, I was beginning to realize that becoming queen might require exactly that.