The King's Decision

“No! I object! You can’t force me to marry a stranger!” Princess Natalia exclaimed.

An hour earlier, her father, the King of Etholia, had announced that whoever married his youngest daughter would become the next ruler of the kingdom.

Etholia, located in the northern region of Telluria, was ruled by the ruthless yet mighty King Lucius—the most powerful Lycan alive.

His kingdom was the largest and strongest fortress in all of Telluria. Even the vampires and dragons thought twice before provoking him. Undefeated in countless battles, King Lucius had earned the respect of his allies, the fear of his enemies, and the unwavering loyalty of his people.

Despite his fearsome reputation, he was a loving husband and a devoted father.

King Lucius had three daughters—Princess Naila, Princess Nilenia, and Princess Natalia.

Princess Naila, the eldest, had been the rightful heir to the throne. Unfortunately, she had been bedridden for the past four years after being diagnosed with a rare and incurable illness.

Princess Nilenia, the second princess, had voluntarily renounced her claim to the throne, choosing a life of freedom over the responsibilities of ruling.

With her two sisters unable to inherit the crown, everyone believed Princess Natalia would become the next Queen of Etholia.

Until King Lucius made a shocking proclamation.

“I have an announcement to make,” the king declared.

“As the ruler of the most powerful kingdom in Telluria, I must ensure that Etholia remains protected long after I am gone. My eldest daughter can no longer fulfill her duty because of her illness, while my second daughter has willingly rejected the throne. I respect both of their decisions.”

His gaze shifted toward Natalia.

“My youngest daughter will soon celebrate her eighteenth birthday and is the rightful heir to Etholia. However, I cannot allow her to bear the burden of ruling alone.”

The throne room fell into complete silence.

“Therefore, I have decided that the man who marries Princess Natalia shall become the next King of Etholia. He will rule beside my daughter and possess the same authority and power as the future queen.”

Gasps echoed throughout the royal court.

The nobles stared at one another in disbelief.

Some welcomed the decision, believing a king was necessary to lead the kingdom. Others remained silent, exchanging suspicious glances.

It didn’t take long for rumors to spread.

Many believed King Lucius had made this decision because he did not fully trust Princess Natalia to rule on her own.

“My decision is final, Natalia,” King Lucius said firmly. “This is for the good of both you and our kingdom.”

Natalia had dreamed of wearing the crown ever since she was a little girl.

She had accepted that she was only third in line to the throne. But after fate prevented her sisters from inheriting it, she believed destiny had finally chosen her.

Now, that dream felt incomplete.

⸻

Natalia buried her face in the soft pillow of her bed.

She wasn’t crying.

She was screaming.

Every muffled yell was filled with frustration.

She was furious with her father’s decision.

Yet deep inside, she couldn’t completely blame him.

Out of his three daughters, she was the one who had done the least to prove she deserved the throne.

Princess Naila was intelligent, elegant, and compassionate. She possessed every quality a ruler of Etholia should have. Sadly, the royal physicians had diagnosed her with a rare disease that slowly weakened her body. They believed she would not live long and warned that she must avoid stress and heavy responsibilities if she wished to survive another decade.

Princess Nilenia was a genius.

She consistently ranked at the top of every class, excelled in swordsmanship and marksmanship, and possessed exceptional strategic thinking. However, she had never desired the throne. She longed to travel the world and experience life beyond the palace walls.

Compared to her sisters…

Natalia often felt ordinary.

She had studied politics, history, diplomacy, and military strategy. She had trained tirelessly to become a worthy ruler.

Yet no matter how hard she worked, she could always feel the watchful eyes of the royal elders following her every move.

Judging.

Observing.

Waiting for her to make a mistake.

“Natalia, my dear sister.”

Natalia lifted her head as Princess Nilenia entered the room.

She quickly sat upright while Nilenia walked over, took both of her hands, and smiled warmly.

“You already knew this day would come,” Nilenia said gently. “It may seem unfair, but Father made this decision because he believes it’s what’s best for you and for Etholia.”

Natalia pouted.

“I know.”

She lowered her gaze.

“But it feels like he doesn’t trust me.”

She sighed.

“I can rule without a husband. Maybe I haven’t proven myself yet, but I know I can.”

Nilenia squeezed her hands reassuringly.

“You can.”

“I believe in you.”

“Nalia believes in you too.”

A gentle smile spread across her face.

“I’m sorry this burden has fallen on you. But I also know that becoming queen has always been your dream.”

She looked directly into Natalia’s eyes.

“You have the heart of a true leader.”

“If Father and the royal elders can’t see that yet…”

“Then prove them wrong.”

Natalia couldn’t help but smile.

Nilenia always knew exactly what to say.

Because of Naila’s condition, the three sisters rarely spent time together. Even so, nothing could ever break the bond they shared.

After a moment of silence, Natalia spoke again.

“Do you think I should obey Father and the elders?”

Nilenia sighed.

“Personally, I’m against forcing anyone into marriage.”

She paused.

“But unless you’re willing to give up the throne…”

“You don’t have much of a choice.”

She lay down beside Natalia on the bed.

“For now, obey them.”

“But while you’re doing that, show them that you’re more than capable of ruling—even without a man standing beside you.”

Natalia lay beside her sister, and together they stared quietly at the ceiling.

After a while, she broke the silence.

“Why do you think the Moon Goddess allowed the new generation to choose their own mates?”

She folded her arms behind her head.

“It would’ve been easier if I just had a fated mate waiting for me.”

“At least I’d know he was the right one.”

Nilenia chuckled softly.

“I’ve wondered about that too.”

She turned toward Natalia.

“Maybe the Moon Goddess saw that your generation was different from ours.”

Natalia frowned.

“Different how?”

Nilenia smiled mischievously.

“Well… you’re stubborn.”

“Short-tempered.”

“And nearly impossible to control.”

Natalia rolled her eyes.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

The sisters laughed together.

After a moment, Nilenia continued more seriously.

“Even before your generation was born, there were many wolves who rejected their fated mates and chose someone else instead.”

“Some found happiness.”

“Others brought nothing but pain, heartbreak, and war.”

“Perhaps the Moon Goddess wanted to spare future generations from that suffering.”

“Perhaps that’s why she gave your generation the freedom to follow their hearts instead of destiny.”

Natalia fell silent.

The Lycans had existed for thousands of years.

According to legend, the Moon Goddess Selene had created their race and blessed every werewolf with a fated mate.

That sacred bond had existed since the beginning of time.

Until the day Natalia’s generation was born.

Everything changed.