LOGINFredrick’s POVThe silence in the room was almost suffocating. I hated it. I should have been relieved to be out of that cold, dark dungeon, but I honestly couldn’t find it in me.Instead, I found myself sitting in the same chair for what felt like hours, staring at nothing in particular. The estate was quiet, too quiet.Everyone had been careful around me since I returned. A little too careful.My men kept their distance, the servants barely spoke unless they had to, and no one dared ask what had happened. I was grateful for that… I think… well, at least I didn't have to explain myself.I didn’t have that patience.I rubbed my palms over my face and leaned back, letting out a slow breath.I needed to calm down. Getting angry all over again wasn't going to change anything, and I was tired of carrying the weight of it around with me.I took in a deep breath, hoping it could help calm whatever was making me go haywire. It did not.My mind still kept going back to the things I knew I sh
Eloise’s POVHe placed a gentle kiss on my head as he stopped in front of my room.The moment the door closed behind me, I let out a long breath and rested my back against it. I was beyond exhausted, but for some reason my mind refused to settle. A whole lot had happened today—the coronation, the incident in the throne room, Frederick, Olpheus, his father, the crown sitting heavily on my head. I just wanted something cold to drink and a few minutes where nobody needed anything from me.I saw a maid coming into the room. “Could I have some water?” she bowed and went out of the room to get one for me.As I was waiting for her to return, I headed over to the dresser and took off my jewelry one by one. It took a while, but soon enough I was free from their weight. The maid returned a few minutes later with a tray. She set it down carefully and stepped back, but something about the way she moved caught my attention. She seemed nervous. I almost asked her what was wrong, but then again,
Eloise’s POV“Natalia was really worried about you. Have you checked on her?” The question more of a formality than anything really. I had more than enough going on in my life, and I didn’t really have the liberty to be genuinely worried about another person’s, but the moment the words left my lips, I noticed how his entire face darkened.It was like a heavy presence had settled between us, and I didn’t know what to do about it.The look got me curious. The question was on the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it. It was none of my business. I closed the door behind me and he went away to do god only knows what.My shoulders dropped as I thought of what lay ahead.The banquet.The thought of it alone was enough to leave me exhausted. To think that this was only the beginning of many days, maybe even years ahead.I still couldn’t believe that I was actually queen. The thought alone was weird, but somehow it was my very reality.I was queen. Queen to a race that I wasn’t even sure I wa
Eloise’s POVI saw him visibly relax at my words as he let out a sigh.“I might have overreacted a little bit.” He said with a nod.I blinked. Once, then twice. Had he actually just admitted that he had been wrong? I felt hope bloom in my chest, but I squashed it immediately. I was tired of hoping and always getting disappointed in the end.Of course he was wrong. Every single person in this castle knew for a fact that he was beyond wrong.“I would ask the guards to release him.” I didn’t know how on edge I really was until he said those words. Relief flowed like a river in my chest.For a few seconds, neither of us said anything. I lowered my gaze, unable to handle the intensity of his gaze.At least Frederick would be released. Maybe there was still a way to salvage the relationship between the two of them.“Thank you.” I said. I guess this could count as a step in the right direction.I waited for him to turn around and leave me alone in the room. He didn’t.He just stood there, w
My mind somehow drifted back to Fredrick. I wondered if he was okay in that cold dark dungeon. Everyone was here, enjoying the festivities, but he was still there all alone.I wondered if Natalia had gone back to visit him, although the chances of that were slim, because last time she was there, he all bit chased her away from him.I had to get him out.I didn’t know how.I didn’t know what I would have to do.But I couldn’t just sit on a throne and pretend I was happy while he remained there.When I got back into our room, I was. I had barely stepped inside before he turned toward me, his expression softening.“You look beautiful,” he said.I said nothing. What did he expect me to say exactly? Was I supposed to thank him and pretend like he hadn’t just placed this huge burden on me even after I begged him not to?His smile was so bright it made me feel like I was the darkness of the world. “That crown really does suit you, Eloise. See? I told you, everything would be just fine. You
Eloise’s POVThe change in his expression was so brief that I almost convinced myself I had imagined it. A shadow crossed Olpheus’ face, something dark and unreadable, then it was gone. Lost behind the calm mask her always seemed to wear these days.“It’s not your choice anymore,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry.”My brows pulled together. “What do you mean it’s not my choice anymore?” I asked, but there wasn’t much strength behind the question. He only looked at me for a moment before his gaze dropped, and somehow that frightened me more than anything else.“Please, Eloise. Don’t make me do something I’ll regret. Just do this.”I didn’t know what to say to that. My mouth opened, then closed again, because every possible question seemed useless. What exactly could he do to me? I wanted to know what exactly he meant so desperately, but the fear sitting heavily on my chest told me that maybe I was better off not knowing.So I followed him.The walk to the throne room felt unnaturally lon







