Bound By The Crown Novels & Stories

“He touched the Prince’s bare hands. No one touches the Prince’s bare hands and lives. His hands drain the life out of the victim.” As I made my way to the classroom, Adele’s words never left me — no one touches the Crown Prince’s bare hands and lives. It was the reason why he always wore leather gloves, so he would not accidentally kill anyone. He was cursed, Adele had said, cursed by a witch whom his grandfather had offended. His hands were like a bloodsucking weapon. Quinn had failed to tell me that tiny bit of information. I could only imagine what would have happened if I had touched his bare hands — I would have met my end even before I finished my mission.

The letters were uneven, rushed, and old, but they struck me with the force of my mother’s voice. My little wolf, if you find this crown, then every lie has failed to keep you small. My vision blurred. Conri stepped closer but said nothing. Bardolph’s pain flickered through the bond, but he held himself silent. I kept reading. This crown is not proof that you must rule. It is proof that you were born free before men wrote contracts over your name. My breath shook. The crown warmed in my hands, and the hidden power beneath the red stones seemed to listen.

“Three brothers can share the same blood… but only one can carry the weight of a kingdom.” ⸻ The Crystal Crown floated silently above the shattered altar. It wasn’t held by chains. It wasn’t supported by light. It simply existed. Pure crystal reflected the glow of the Seven Bells, casting thousands of shimmering fragments across the ruined cathedral. No one reached for it. No one even dared breathe too loudly. The words engraved inside its rim echoed through every heart. “Only one brother may wear this crown.”

she added. “What are you talking about? If this is meant to be a joke, then it is not funny–” “He did not tell you this, but King Lawson wagered his crown and life in exchange for your freedom!” This time, Lady Emily stood from her seat and glared down at the lady in front of her. “He badly wanted you back to Silex Kingdom that he did not hesitate to put his life–”

Fractionally shorter than the ones before it, fractionally closer to stopping without stopping. Then he was past me. Continuing down the corridor with the same unhurried certainty as always. I stayed against the wall. Listened to his footsteps until they turned the corner at the far end and disappeared. Then I stood there for a while longer. My right hand was warm again. I pressed it flat against the wall and felt the cold stone against my palm and thought about the word the elder had used. Binding. The ritual was called a binding. Something that held. Something you couldn’t undo by deciding you wanted to.

It was already getting dark, the sun's ray weakened, casting long shadows. Soft winds carry the scent of evening blooms and the warmth of the day dissipate. One could hear the soothing sounds of nocturnal creatures. Aunt Kathy was sitting in the waiting area with Mr Claude, he's clad in a tailored navy suit, crisp white shirt, and silver-gray tie, with an air of success and refinement that commands respect with his bespoke fragrance and sleek Rolex Daytona complimenting his personality. They were having a deep conversation and they were quite discreet. Tammy sighted them from a distance and walked up to them. Neither Aunt Kathy nor Mr Claude saw her coming, regardless, she didn't hear a thin

“Dad, Mom, don’t be too harsh on my sister. I believe that she was just being playful. Perhaps she was careless because she didn’t know the significance of the crown as the token of her fief.” Her seemingly kind words only added fuel to the fire. Arthur's and Juliana's faces turned cold as they looked at Lucy. “Velda, do you have anything else to say? Do you realize that this crown represents your fief?” Instead of blaming Lucy directly, Juliana explained the importance of the crown, “Without this crown, you won't be able to govern your fief. It’s a symbol of your status as a princess. “If you don’t cherish it, and if you’re really the one who damaged it, I’m afraid we’ll have to revoke your