Chapter 1
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Elara
The crown felt heavy and cold as it rested atop my head.
“I believe it suits you better than it did your predecessor, Your Majesty,” Rhen, the captain of my guard, commented. He was standing below the dais, wearing half a smile. I wondered for a moment if my discomfort was that obvious. Who knew crowns could be so impractical?
It was an autumn afternoon in the city of Levernia and the throne room was quiet enough that it gave the illusion of peace and tranquillity.
“You reckon?” I pushed the gem-covered crown a little to the left to keep it from slipping off my head. I had not yet become accustomed to wearing the heavy piece of jewellery. Not just because it often caused the muscles in my neck to strain but also because it represented the unequivocal truth that I was now the Queen of Everness.
“Well, your head is so much bigger than Prince Lance’s, so it would make sense that it’s a better fit.”
Weeks had passed since the rebellious uprising led by my uncle and his clan of thieves, the very rebellion that had placed me on the throne. One of my first orders as queen was to reinstate Rhen as head of the palace guard, with an official pardon from the Crown. Lance had imprisoned him for aiding me and Uncle Arthur during this period of chaos and violence. Instead of helping my wicked brother in his quest to steal heirlooms from the prince of Norrandale, Rhen and his sister, Cordelia, had sided with us.
Lance had me believing he was going to have Rhen executed for treason, when in reality Rhen carried a very precious secret — the knowledge that I was the heir to the throne.
Some days, I still questioned why he hadn’t told me the truth earlier. But I couldn’t be sure that I would have believed him. I hardly believed I was the lost daughter of King Magnus now, and I’d been living in the palace for more than a month. Nonetheless, it soon became clear that I needed Rhen as more than just my personal guard. He had become a friend and valuable advisor since my coronation. With the aftermath of the rebellion and the death of Uncle Arthur, Rhen was one of the few people left that I could trust. The irony wasn’t lost on me. The same person who’d once placed me in a prison cell, so that Lance could blackmail me into stealing from our enemy kingdom, was now my right-hand man.
“Very funny,” I muttered. “I rather think I look much better than Lance did, thank you very much.” I traced my hands across the velvet armrests of my throne, the material slightly worn from age and faded from the sunlight streaming through the windows.
My throne.
My crown.
It wasn’t that long ago that I stood, shackled and chained, facing this very throne. It had looked bigger from below the dais, more intimidating. The throne had housed Evernean kingsfor centuries. Powerful men and warlords had perched in this spot as they looked over their subjects. And now, it housed me, perhaps one of the last people in this kingdom who belonged there.
A long time ago, there wasn’t a single throne, but two, seated next to each other.
I never saw it in person but there were a few old paintings around the palace that proved this to be true. I couldn’t bring myself to ask why there was now only one. Like most parts of Evernean history, I feared an answer that was dark and unwanted.
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Rhen responded with a hint of a smile. “Lance could never compete with your beauty, after all.” I simply shook my head at him, unable to remain annoyed.
There was a sense of relief at no longer having Lance sit on the throne. And while his only interests now seemed to be finding the bottom of a glass and annoying his prison guards, it didn’t stop me from believing that ulterior motives could be at play. No one as self-serving as Lance would simply give up or retreat. He might not have any particular interest in the responsibilities of the monarchy, but he’d been willing to use me as a pawn in his political games, and I would be a fool to think he’d set all his unholy desires aside just because he was momentarily behind bars.
It was harder still to believe that Uncle Arthur was in his grave. Even after everything he’d done and after all the lies, some distant part of me felt guilty that I didn’t say goodbye. He was, after all, the only father figure I’d ever known. Even if he didn’t tell me the truth about who I really was. Even if he wanted to put me on the throne so that he could control me. I knew it would be for my own benefit to forgive him... and yet... The more I thought about it all, the less I seemed to have anything figured out.
Princess Eloisa was still missing. My guess was that she was hiding somewhere in the country. If she’d heard the news that her brother was in prison, she could be waiting to see how things played out. She had no way of knowing if her return would be well received.
But the truth I found most difficult of all was the fact that royal blood ran through my veins. The family I’d been brought up to despise. The family I’d never known. I was the next rightful heir to the throne, burdened with a responsibility I wasn’t sure I could carry.
My eyes travelled to the marble floors, worn by centuries of being walked upon. An image entered my mind, of the blood that had coated the floors on the day of the rebellion. Puddles so dark, I’m surprised they didn’t leave stains. Weapons clashed as the rebels fought against the palace guards. Fought for what they believed would be their freedom. Fought for what they believed was a better future.
I pushed the images out of my mind. The palace interiors carried tales of horror along every crack and corner. Would that eventually become my fate too? Another crack in the wall, in the history of Everness.
I tried to think of something more light-hearted. “Have you heard anything from your sister recently?”
“The last I heard from Cordelia were those letters from a few weeks ago,” Rhen responded.
I’d been both happy and relieved to receive an envelope with Cordelia’s handwriting. I couldn’t blame my former lady-in-waiting for wanting to leave with Jack, the head of Cai’s guard, but I missed her presence and softness, her ability to care like a sister. Cordelia’s friendship mattered more to me than I ever allowed myself to admit. Her letters contained stories of Norrandale’s beautiful and vibrant towns and people. I had replied to her but kept my responses vague and subtle. Morethan anything because I feared that whatever news I sent would eventually reachhim.
The day Rhen informed me Cai had been crowned king of Norrandale, I found myself quite taken by surprise. It was always bound to happen someday, but Cai had left because of his mother’s failing health, and instead it was his father who’d passed away. It was difficult to fathom that the once rogue bandit and the charming prince were now the queen and king of neighbouring kingdoms.
I hadn’t heard anything from Cai. Not a single word. No letters, no messengers, and certainly no visits. Though I was the one who’d told him to leave, out of anger, I was so sure he would’ve reached out by now. Instead, I busied myself with anything and everything else to avoid thinking of him. Because I couldn’t afford to. Not with my new duties as queen. Cai’s silence had told me enough.
