Chapter 153
A long pause.
Then, reluctantly, Eliza picked up the spoon, scooping a small bite of soup into her mouth. She swallowed, stiff and uncomfortable. She did the same for the bread, and the fruit, and the jug of water.
The others watched, tense.
I waited.
Nothing happened.
Satisfied, I finally picked up my spoon and took a bite.
The handmaidens lingered, waiting to be dismissed.
"You may go," I said coldly.
They hurried away, leaving me alone.
I took another bite, but the food tasted like ash in my mouth.
I had won a battle today. But the war was far from over.
I lay awake long after the candles had burned low, staring at the ceiling. The events of the day churned in my mind—the dismissal, the humiliation, the cold treatment from the handmaidens. They wanted me broken, hiding in my chambers, waiting helplessly for Rowan to return and fight my battles.
I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
If they wanted to push me out, they would have to do more than sneer and ignore me.
I would fight back.
— ——————-
The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, I was already dressed and making my way to the council chamber.
The guards at the door looked surprised as I approached. They didn't move to stop me—not yet.
I pushed the heavy doors open and strode inside. The long table was still empty, save for a few parchment scrolls scattered across its surface. I took a seat at the head, the place reserved for Rowan.
Minutes passed. Then the council members and clan chiefs started trickling in.
The moment they saw me, their steps faltered. Murmurs spread through the room, and a few of them exchanged incredulous glances.
Lord Fenwick was the first to speak. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice measured, "you are not supposed to be here. We told you the day before that....."
I leaned back in my chair. "And yet, here I am."
Lord Carrick frowned. "I thought we made ourselves clear yesterday—"
"You made it clear that you wanted me gone," I interrupted. "But I am the queen, and I have just as much right to be here as any of you. I even have the right to dissolve this council. Do you know that?"
Lord Fenwick's lips pressed into a thin line. "This is a very important meeting concerning the war. We do not need—"
"If you try to remove me," I cut in again, voice calm but firm, "I will inform the Alpha King that you all threatened my life."
A few of them stiffened.
"I would never—" Lord Carrick started.
"Wouldn't you?" I asked, tilting my head. "You ordered the guards to lay hands on me yesterday. You ordered them to send me away. I wonder what the Alpha King would think of that. I wonder what he would do if I send him a letter detailing your treatment towards me."
A tense silence fell over the room.
Finally, Lord Fenwick let out a slow breath. "Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "You may stay if you wish too."
I smiled. "Thank you."
The men took their seats, some shooting me wary glances.
The meeting began. Reports from the battlefield were read aloud—Rowan's forces were holding strong, but our resources were depleting. Food, weapons, medical supplies—all running dangerously low."
"If this war continues," Lord Carrick said gravely, "we will be at a disadvantage. We would run out of supplies before the next full moon. War is expensive."
"We cannot afford to keep this up," another councilman added. "A resolution with Braam may be a better path than fighting with them."
I frowned. "A resolution?"
Lord Fenwick nodded. "A negotiation. A peace treaty. Something to end this before we lose too much."
I folded my arms. "And how will that work? I don't think they are open to negotiations, not with everything that they have done."
"We would need someone to act as a mediator," he said. "Someone who can go to Braam, speak on behalf of the kingdom, and negotiate fair terms."
I tapped my fingers against the table. "And who do you propose? Everyone that would be able to do that is on the battlefield fighting, except one of you want to volunteer."
A few men exchanged glances. Then Lord Carrick spoke.
"Prince Lucian would be the best option."
I went rigid. "Absolutely not."
Murmurs spread through the room.
"He has negotiated with them before," Carrick pointed out. "He came out unscathed from his last meeting with them. He is also a royal of Zaire."
"He also betrayed us," I snapped. "Have you forgotten that he's the one who told Braam's soldiers how to infiltrate the castle? Have you forgotten the reason why Rowan threw him into the dungeons?"
"There is no proof of that. He went to negotiate with Braam and he was held captive, that is all we know. The Alpha King didn't give him any chances to recount what happened in Braam." Lord Fenwick said.
"No proof?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Then how do you explain the timing? The way they knew exactly where to go? How do you explain them releasing him right after?"
More murmurs.
I shook my head. "Lucian cannot be trusted. He will not go to Braam to negotiate on our behalf—he will go to help them destroy us. We can't take him out of the dungeons either, not when Rowan is not here."
"We will send him with escorts," Fenwick said. "He will not be alone. We need to release him from the dungeons if we are to end this war."
"That changes nothing. I don't want him released," I shot back.
The discussion grew heated, but no matter what I said, it was clear that the majority of the council had already made up their minds.
Lord Fenwick cleared his throat. "Let us put it to a vote, then."
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