Drexo woke to cold sheets. His hand stretched across the bed by instinct, searching for Maria's warmth.
Nothing.
He frowned but did not panic at first. "She must have gone to see her girls," he murmured, still heavy with sleep.
Then his eyes drifted downward. A folded note lay on the floor. His chest tightened.
Slowly, he bent, picked it up, and opened it. His eyes moved over the words.
Then stopped. Color drained from his face..The parchment slipped in his trembling fingers.
"No…"
He sprang from bed: barefoot, and wild-eyed.
The chamber doors flew open as he stormed out. "Where is Maria?" he barked.
Servants froze. Guards looked at one another. No one answered.
His voice rose. "Summon Lady Evelyn and Helen immediately."
The guards bowed in haste and ran. Drexo paced the hall like a beast caged too long..His fists opened and closed. The note crumpled in his grip. Every passing breath fed dread. Then footsteps echoed towards his chambers once again.
The guards returned with Helen and Evelyn.
Both bowed, but neither lifted her head. They already knew the subject matter even before the king spoke.
Drexo stared at them..His voice came low, dangerously low. "Where is the queen?"
Helen swallowed. Her lips moved, but nothing came out. "I…"
She faltered.
"I do not know, Your Grace."
Drexo stepped toward her. His eyes narrowed. "Do not dare lie to me."
Helen trembled. He thrust the note forward. "She went to Snowland." His voice cracked with fury.
"And you knew, yet you did not see the need to inform?" Drexo roared, his fists were clenched tightly.
Helen dropped to her knees. "I am sorry, Your Grace." Her voice shook. "She ordered that no one should inform you."
Silence stretched: heavy, and deadly.
Drexo's fist clenched until his knuckles whitened.."If anything happens to my wife…" He leaned closer. "…and my unborn child…" His jaw tightened. "Consider yourself dead."
Helen bowed so low her forehead touched stone.
Evelyn said nothing. There was nothing safe to say. Then Drexo turned away. But the fear did not leave him. It only grew. The waiting began. And waiting was worse than war.
Days crawled, Drexo barely touched food. He haunted the battlements. The shore. The window. His eyes kept searching the sea.
In the morning, no ship arrived. Evening, no sail.
And at night, it was the same: nothing. Every rustle sounded like arrival. Every trumpet made his heart leap.
Then fall.
His nights were sleepless. His days were empty.
One night he stood alone facing the dark water. Wind tore at his cloak. "Maria…".The name broke from him. A whisper. A prayer. "I hope you are still alive." His voice lowered. "And safe."
The sea gave no answer.
By the fifth morning exhaustion had hollowed him. He sat near the shore, eyes fixed on nothing. Then suddenly, a trumpet blast.
Sharp, and urgent. He jolted upright.
A guard shouted from the shore. "A boat is arriving!"
Drexo froze.
"A boat!" His heart pounded. "It has to be Maria."
He ran, not like a king, but like a desperate man.
Sand splashed beneath his feet. Water soaked his boots as he rushed into the shallows. The boat neared, and there, standing against the wind, Queen Maria Dragarian.
Alive.
A smile broke across his face so fast it hurt. Maria leapt from the boat before it settled. She ran too. They crashed into each other's arms.
Tears, and relief flooded their faces.
Drexo held her as if she might vanish. "Thank the gods you are safe," he whispered. His voice broke.
Tears streamed down his face. Maria pressed herself against him. She said nothing, she only held him harder. As if apologizing without words.
They returned to their chamber. The doors shut behind Then silence settled, but not peace.
Drexo's face had changed. The softness was gone. His voice was hard, and controlled. "Do not ever try this stunt, you just pulled on me again."
Maria nodded quietly. Then looked at him.."You won't even ask me the outcome of my meeting with Edmond?"
Drexo exhaled through clenched teeth.."Did he agree to join us?"
Maria shook her head. "No."
A beat passed.
"He prefers to stand by his oath to Robert."
Silence stretched.
Drexo stared at her. For a while, nobody spoke. Then muttered. "You risked your life for nothing."
Maria stiffened. "No." Her tone sharpened. "I knew Edmond can't hurt me."
Drexo looked at her. But said nothing.
Another silence.
Then Maria stood. Slowly. Purpose in her face. "You have to accept the second option."
Drexo frowned. Maria met his eyes. "Make Friya queen." The words landed like steel.
"And promise the throne to the child she will bear you."
Drexo starred in disbelief. Shock, and pain flared in his eyes. His voice came almost hoarse. "You are asking me…" He stepped back. "…to disinherit our child?" His chest rose sharply. He shook his head. "Even before it is born?"
Maria stepped close. Held his face. Her fingers trembled. "I am asking you to give your child a chance at life."
The room seemed smaller, and tighter. She turned away, then back. "I know Robert." Her voice hardened. "He will seize this chance. He will attack soon. And we do not have the numbers."
Her hand drifted to her stomach..A quiet gesture, but it cut. "If he does…" Her voice cracked. "We all die." She stepped closer. "You, me, and this child."
Her gaze locked on his. "What is inheritance to a child who won't live to claim it?"
Drexo stood frozen. One hand clenched at his side. His mind raced. Bow, or die. His lips tightened. "This is a heartless decision." The words sounded wounded.
Maria nodded. No denial. "We are playing a heartless game." Her voice barely above a whisper. "It requires a heartless approach."
Drexo dragged a hand through his hair. "How do you expect me…" His throat tightened. "…to look at him years from now, and explain I disinherited my own child before its birth?"
Pain sat naked in the room.
Maria moved forward and embraced him. Tears ran freely now. "I will explain." She whispered into his chest. "I will make him understand." Her grip tightened. "Or her."
Drexo closed his eyes. Held her, but his face twisted because he knew she was asking him to wound his child in order to save the child. And that was the cruelest wound of all.
Outside, the sea kept moving, unbothered by the emotional war going on within the castle.
Inside, the king and queen stood wrapped in each other's arms. Holding love, and holding war. Holding a choice neither wanted, and yet neither could escape it.
Morning broke over Cliffland under a sky the color of cold steel. The royal hall was already full before the king arrived.
Lords lined both sides of the long chamber, draped in fur and iron, murmuring in low voices that echoed beneath the vaulted stone. Advisers leaned close to one another, whispering guesses. Some expected news of war. Others feared worse. Then the doors opened.
Silence spread at once.
Drexo entered. Not with the restless fire men had come to associate with him, but with a heaviness that made even the old nobles sit straighter.
He climbed the steps to the throne, then turned, and sat.
For a while, he said nothing. His hands rested on the carved arms of the throne, though his fingers kept tightening against the wood.
The room waited. Even the torches seemed quieter. At last Drexo drew a breath: a long one.
Then cleared his throat. "I have made a decision." His voice rolled through the chamber. Every face lifted. Some leaned forward. Drexo's jaw tightened before he forced the words out. "I have decided to offer the Kenwools the position of Crowned Queen."
A murmur stirred. He continued before anyone could interrupt. "Crown Prince."
That stirred them more..Even some hardened lords exchanged glances.
Drexo did not stop. "And even command of the realm's army." That landed like thunder.
Silence followed. Not empty silence. The kind filled with calculations.
Shock, approval, yet fear.
Lord Oman was first to rise. Age had bent his back, but not his voice. "Your Grace…" He placed a fist over his chest. "This decision…" He nodded slowly. "…is a good one."
Others watched him closely. Oman continued.."This offer will melt every angry heart."
Several heads nodded. One after another. A ripple of agreement moved across the chamber.
Drexo managed a smile..It did not reach his eyes.."Lord Oman." His voice was measured. "I want you to lead the team to Ashford."
He paused.
"Negotiate on my behalf."