Chapter 44: The Queen's Arrival

The gates of the Royal Palace were besieged by a sea of people. Thousands of citizens were shouting: "Justice! Justice!"

Inside the gates, the Royal Army stood in formation, guns pointed at the crowd.

In the Command Tower, Grand Duke Stefan screamed into his radio.

"Open fire! I gave you a direct order, General! Shoot the traitors!"

The General stood silent, watching the angry mob outside. His hand hovered over the 'Fire' button.

Suddenly, a convoy of black armored SUVs tore through the crowd, parting the sea of people like a black arrow. They stopped right in front of the locked palace gates.

Jackson Sterling stepped out first. He adjusted his suit jacket, then offered his hand to Serenity.

Serenity stepped out. The crowd gasped and fell silent.

She wasn't hiding anymore. She stood tall, facing the rows of guns pointing at her.

"My people!" Serenity’s voice was amplified by a megaphone. "Do not attack! These soldiers are your brothers and sons!"

She walked towards the iron gate alone.

"Serenity!" Jackson started to move forward to protect her.

"No, Jackson," Serenity stopped him with a gesture. "This is my fight."

She walked until she was chest-to-chest with the locked gate. She looked straight at the Captain of the Guards on the other side.

"Captain," Serenity said softly. "Look at me."

The Captain, a rugged man in his 40s, aimed his rifle at her heart. But his hands were shaking. He stared at her face—the ghost of the Duchess he once swore to protect.

"I am Aurelia. The daughter of the man who built this palace," Serenity said calmly. "And the man ordering you to shoot innocents is the man who murdered him."

"Lies!" Stefan’s voice boomed from the palace speakers. "Shoot her! Shoot the imposter! Anyone who kills her gets a million Euros!"

The soldiers looked at each other. Uncertainty rippled through the ranks.

Serenity didn't flinch. She grabbed the bars of the gate.

"Open the gate, Captain," she ordered. Her voice wasn't pleading. It was a Royal Command. "Or go down in history as the guard who protected a murderer."

The Captain looked at Serenity’s eyes. He looked at the frantic, screaming Stefan in the tower. Then he looked at the locket on her neck.

He slowly lowered his rifle.

"Open the gates!" The Captain yelled to his men.

"NO!" Stefan shrieked.

The heavy iron gates creaked open.

The Captain was the first to drop to one knee. "Welcome home, Your Highness."

Clang. Clang. Clang.

One by one, hundreds of soldiers dropped their weapons and kneeled. The sound of rifles hitting the ground echoed like music.

The crowd erupted in cheers. They rushed forward—not to attack, but to follow their Queen.

Jackson walked up behind Serenity, a look of awe on his face.

"I didn't even have to use my gun," Jackson whispered in her ear. "You are terrifying, my love."

"Let's go get my uncle," Serenity took Jackson's hand.

They marched into the palace, flanked by Sebastian and Jackson's elite team. They stormed through the grand hallways, heading straight for the Throne Room.

Inside, Stefan sat on the golden throne, holding a pistol. He was alone. His servants had fled.

"Don't come closer!" Stefan pointed the gun at the door. "I am the King! I am the Grand Duke!"

Jackson kicked the heavy double doors open.

"You are nothing," Jackson walked in first, blocking Serenity. "You are just a sad, lonely old man sitting in a chair that's too big for you."

"I killed her once! I can kill her again!" Stefan aimed the gun at Serenity peering from behind Jackson.

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

But it wasn't Stefan.

Sebastian stood at the door, smoke rising from his revolver.

He shot the pistol right out of Stefan’s hand.

Stefan screamed, clutching his bleeding hand. Jackson rushed forward and tackled him off the throne. He pinned him to the floor, his knee on Stefan's chest.

"That," Jackson hissed, "Is for the wife you stole from me. And the five years of pain you caused."

Serenity walked up to the throne. She looked down at her uncle, who was whimpering on the floor.

"It's over, Stefan," she said coldly. "Guards! Take him away."

The Royal Guards—Stefan's own men—marched in and dragged the former ruler away in handcuffs.

Silence fell over the magnificent room.

Serenity looked at the empty Golden Throne. It looked intimidating.

"Go on," Jackson stood beside it, gesturing for her to sit. "It fits you."

Serenity took a deep breath. She smoothed her dress and sat down.

As she looked out at the room, she felt Jackson’s hand resting on her shoulder—heavy, warm, and supportive.

She wasn't alone. She had her King, her children, and her kingdom.

Princess Aurelia had finally returned.

---