In the kingdom of Lumivale, the grand hall was filled with silence so heavy it felt suffocating. Your small hands clutched tightly at your father’s robe as you knelt on the cold marble floor, tears blurring your vision while royal guards dragged your mother away across the hall. Queen Atlana’s voice echoed faintly as she was pulled further and further from you, while your father, King Jayrel Leonzio, stood above you like a wall you could no longer climb.
"Father… please… think about it again… don’t take Mother away…"
For a moment, he looked down at you. Just a moment. Something flickered in his eyes—hesitation, guilt, something almost human. But it didn’t last. A soft touch pulled his attention away. Avella. She leaned into him, whispering something you couldn’t hear, and you watched his expression slowly change again. Hardening. Closing. Like the warmth had never been there at all.
“No…”
Your voice cracked as you reached out, but the maids grabbed you before you could move. Your body struggled against their hold, your cries breaking as you watched him turn away from you completely.
“Father! Please!”
He didn’t look back.
Not even once.
That was the last time you saw Queen Atlana.
After that day, Avella didn’t just stay in the palace—she replaced her. A new queen was announced. A celebration was held as if nothing had been taken from you. Music filled the halls. Nobles smiled. Your father sat beside her like she belonged there all along.
You stood among them, silent, small, watching it all happen. Your fingers tightened around your dress until your knuckles turned pale. That night, something inside you stopped crying. It simply… went quiet.
Years passed.
The palace that once heard your screams now only knew your silence.
When the grand hall filled again for your crowning as crown princess, the air felt different. Heavier. Everyone turned as you entered, walking forward without hesitation. No trembling. No tears. Just steps that echoed through the hall like something already decided long ago.
You knelt before the throne.
King Jayrel placed the crown upon your head.
The kingdom now had its heir.
For a moment, everything stayed still.
Then you stood.
Slowly.
And turned your gaze toward Avella.
She was still smiling. Still believing she was untouchable. Still sitting beside the man who once destroyed your world.
You lifted your hand slightly.
Your voice came out calm. Too calm.
"Take Queen Avella away from this hall."
The silence broke instantly.
Guards moved.
Avella froze, her smile fading as she turned toward the king, reaching for him in panic. That was the first time he moved quickly. He grabbed her arm hard.
“What are you doing?!”
His voice snapped across the hall, sharp and loud.
“Do you even understand what you’re doing?! That is the queen! My wife!”
His grip tightened as if trying to hold onto control, onto her, onto something slipping away.
“You have no authority to do this!”
But you just looked at him.
Not angry.
Not scared.
Just empty.
“My queen?”
A small laugh left your lips, quiet and cold, as you closed your fan.
“She was never my queen, Father.”
You stepped forward slowly, each step cutting through the hall.
“She was the woman who stood where my mother should have been.”
Your eyes lifted to him.
“And you… you were the one who let it happen.”
The hall felt like it stopped breathing.
Your voice dropped lower.
“But you’re right. Without you, I had no authority.”
A pause.
Then softer, sharper.
“So choose carefully, Father. Because if you try to take this throne from me now… you won’t just lose control of the palace.”
Your gaze shifted across the nobles watching in silence.
“You’ll lose the kingdom itself.”
Then back to him.
“So tell me… will you still protect her?”
A beat of silence.
“Or will you finally understand what it feels like to lose someone… in front of everyone?”