CHAPTER SEVEN: COINS AND CONSEQUENCES

CHAPTER SEVEN

Liana’s POV

I tried to fall asleep, but my mind wouldn’t rest. Who could, after everything that had happened? I wasn’t just tired from the day’s chaos, I was exhausted from existing in someone else’s body.

It still didn’t make sense. One moment, I fainted. The next, I woke up as Queen Elara, a woman destined to die.

The bed beneath me was too soft, too expensive. Silk sheets, scented pillows, drapes flowing like clouds. Everything screamed royalty, but it felt wrong. Too perfect. Too quiet. And I couldn’t stop wondering… why wasn’t I sleeping in Alaric’s bed? Wasn’t he my husband in this world? Or maybe they didn’t share one. Maybe Elara had ruined that privilege long ago.

The next morning, I woke to the sound of hurried footsteps.

“Your Majesty,” Valerie’s voice came softly, as if she feared being overheard.

 “The thousand gold coins you ordered have arrived. Shall I find a way to send them off to Sensborn?”

I sat up, blinking. “Send what to where?”

She looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “The gold coins, my Queen… the ones meant to fund the coup.”

My eyes widened. “Coup?”

Valerie’s face paled instantly.

 “My Queen, please, not so loud. You said the plan was to use the money for munitions… for the uprising against His Majesty.”

I stared at her, speechless. A coup? So Elara had actually been plotting to overthrow Alaric.

“What the hell, Elara,” I muttered under my breath. “What did he ever do to you?”

“Who’s in on it?” I asked sharply.

Valerie hesitated. “Sire Rowland, Sire Alamond… your father, and the King’s mother.”

My heart sank. “You’re kidding.”

She shook her head.

Alaric was surrounded by enemies, and one of them was his own wife and even his mum.

“Well,” I said, forcing a smile, “unfortunately, I have a new plan for those coins.”

Valerie blinked. “New plan?”

“Yes.” I stood, tightening the robe around my waist. “We’re going to host a ceremony, and share the gold among the people.”

She froze. “My Queen… you mean, a charity?”

“Yes. A real one.”

“I thought it was a facade when you mentioned it before,” she said, disbelief painting her face.

“It wasn’t.” I turned to the mirror, studying Elara’s reflection…… the long dark hair, the sharp eyes, the faint smirk that always seemed to linger. “It’s time to do something good for once.”

Valerie’s voice dropped. 

“Your Majesty, forgive me for asking, but… may I be honest?”

“Go ahead.”

“You’ve changed. Before, you were… different…..before

Just yesterday, ,my queen”

“How different?” I teased lightly. “What was I like before I got born again?”

Her eyes darted nervously. “Please don’t kill me for saying this, but… you were vile, my Queen. Cruel. You executed anyone who angered you, even servants who brushed your garments by accident. You ruled with fear. People hated you.”

I tried to smile, but it didn’t reach my heart.

“Many families still mourn the daughters you executed,” she continued quietly. “If you didn’t have guards, the people might kill you themselves.”

I swallowed hard. “Wow, Elara,” I whispered. “You really lived quite a life.”

“And the King?” I asked after a pause. “What does he do about all this?”

“Nothing,” Valerie said simply. “He’s under your spell. Or so they say.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Under my spell, huh?”

**********

By noon, I was dressed in a pale blue floral gown that shimmered under the sunlight. My hair was braided and woven with pearls, cascading down my back in soft waves. I still wasn’t used to seeing this face in the mirror elegant, dangerous, untouchable.

I climbed onto the royal cart, ready to visit the kingdom. I’d only seen this kind of setting in movies before, the cobblestone streets, the wooden stalls, the castle walls towering behind me. It was like stepping into Camelot itself.

But as we rode through the city, reality struck.

People threw stones.

Small, hard, painful ones.

“Guards!” one of the soldiers shouted, raising his sword.

“No!” I stopped him instantly. “Let them be.”

Everyone turned to me, stunned. Even the guards froze mid-motion.

Let them throw stones. They had every reason to hate me…. or rather, her.

We continued down the street. The herald shouted through a horn that the Queen was distributing coins to the poor. But when the chest of gold was unveiled, nobody came forward. They watched from doorways, from behind barrels, fear and distrust etched into their faces.

“My Queen,” Valerie whispered, “the people think it’s a trick. They believe you’ll punish them once they approach.”

“Of course they do,” I murmured sadly. “They don’t trust kindness from a hand that’s only dealt pain.”

I stepped off the cart. Gasps echoed around me.

“Your Majesty!” Valerie hissed. “Please—”

“Relax,” I said. “Let’s do it their way.”

I walked toward the nearest family, a mother clutching her child close. I smiled softly and held out a small pouch of coins.

The woman hesitated. Her hands trembled. But when her little boy stepped forward and took the pouch, everything changed.

It started with him.

Then another child came. Then an old man. Then a line began to form, hesitant but growing.

For the first time since I’d arrived in this cursed world, people were smiling at me.

The air was filled with murmurs of disbelief, the sound of coins clinking into palms, the raw feeling of hope being reborn.

Maybe I can fix this, I thought. Maybe Elara doesn’t have to die hated.

But just as I allowed myself to breathe, it happened.

Something sharp struck the side of my head.

Pain exploded through me.

“Ouch!” I cried, stumbling backward. My vision blurred, and warm blood trickled down my temple.

“Get her!” one of the guards roared, running toward the crowd.

“Stop!” I gasped, clutching my head.

“Don't hurt her”

A voice screamed out, raw, broken. “Murderer! Where’s my sister?!”

A girl pushed through the crowd, her face streaked with tears and dust. She grabbed another stone, rage twisting her features.

Before she could throw it, someone moved faster.

A tall figure stepped between us, his arm coming up just in time to block the blow.

The world seemed to still.

I looked up, and there he was.

Alaric.

The Raven King himself.

His eyes… deep, stormy gray, locked on mine. His jaw tightened as he turned to glare at the crowd, his presence alone enough to make grown men bow their heads.

The scent of sandalwood surrounded him, rich and grounding. I could feel my heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the noise around us.

“Enough,” he commanded, his voice like thunder.

The people fell silent.

He turned back to me, his gaze softening for a fraction of a second. “You’re bleeding.”

I wanted to say something, anything. But my words tangled in my throat.

I wasn’t afraid of death, not anymore…but something about the way he looked at me made my chest ache. It was the first time he’d touched me, and my stupid heart didn’t know how to react.

“I…” I started, my voice weak.

He caught me just as my knees gave out.

“Alaric,” I whispered faintly, tasting blood and salt.

He did come for me or maybe come to see.

He really came.

The world went black before I could see his expression.