4. Weight of Crown

“Forgive me, my queen,” my mother’s voice broke through the silence, soft and apologetic. I turned to see her bowing slightly, her hands clasped in front of her.

“She is a bit overwhelmed, it seems.” Her smile was strained, her eyes darting to me with a mixture of pride and concern. I wanted to tell her the truth, to explain that this was not overwhelming but a deep, seething resistance bubbling beneath the surface. But I couldn’t. Not here. Not now.

“It is normal indeed,” Luna Cassandra replied, her voice smooth and reassuring.

“Lilac is only eighteen, and we are bestowing a great responsibility upon her shoulders.” Her words were kind, but they did little to ease the turmoil within me.

In my past life, this woman had been a pillar of strength, a figure I had admired and respected. But I knew the truth now. She had done everything for her son, Kael, even when it meant siding with him as he brought Coco into our lives. She had called it normal, a necessary part of life for an Alpha. “My son is an Alpha and he needs his mate to keep his sanity intact,” she had said, her voice gentle but firm. “And since she is his soulmate, their child will have a stronger bond.” Her words had cut me deeper than any blade, a betrayal I had never fully recovered from.

“Go ahead, dear,” my mother whispered, her hand squeezing my arm gently.

“But… we are not soul mates,” I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. The words hung in the air, a fragile thread of defiance that seemed to silence the entire room. I could feel the tension rise, the unease of the crowd palpable. In my past life, I had accepted this arrangement without question, too naive to see the cracks in the foundation. But now, I couldn’t let it go unchallenged.

Luna Cassandra’s smile didn’t waver, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes, surprise, perhaps, or even a hint of irritation.

“I know,” she said, her tone still warm but with an edge of finality.

“But Kael has reached twenty-three, and you are eighteen. Neither of you has found your mates yet. Above all, finding mates is rare, so we must rely on chosen ones.” Her words were logical, practical, but they did nothing to ease the storm raging within me.

“What if one of us finds our mate?” I asked, my voice trembling but firm. The crowd fell silent, the weight of my question settling over them like a heavy fog.

Before Luna Cassandra could respond, Kael stepped forward, his presence commanding and undeniable. His golden eyes locked onto mine, filled with a warmth that felt so genuine it made my stomach churn.

“I will still love you and cherish you,” he said, his voice strong and unwavering. It echoed through the hall, a vow meant to reassure not just me but the entire crowd. “Only you will be my Luna. I vow to the Moon Goddess that you will be the only one for me.”

His words were beautiful, poetic even, but they rang hollow in my ears. I knew this was a performance, a carefully crafted show meant to win the favor of the nobles and secure his place as the future Alpha King.

“I will always cherish you,” he said, his voice soft but carrying the weight of a promise. “From today onwards, you will be my precious Princess.”

The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers and whistles filling the air. But to me, it felt like a funeral march, the sound of my freedom being buried beneath the weight of duty and expectation.