Chapter 26: Chapter 27: against malakor

Elara’s pov

“And I’m ordering them to continue, and you can’t not interfere in this nor will I allow you.” Malakor said. “As head of the council and appointed guardian of royal security, my authority supersedes yours in matters of palace safety..”

“That’s not true,” I said.

“It is,” Varrus said quietly. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. But the rules are clear. Lord Malakor has the authority to enforce security regulations.”

“This is wrong,” I said. My voice was breaking now. “Kaelen was just doing what I asked. He was protecting me. He kept me safe.”

“He should have kept you here,” Malakor said. “Where you belong. Guards, take him. And your majesty also you need to learn the rules if you don’t even know this.”

The guards moved forward again.

“Wait,” Kaelen said.

Everyone stopped.

Kaelen stepped around me. Looked at Malakor. Blood was still dripping from his split lip.

“I’ll take the lashes,” he said calmly.

“No!” I grabbed his arm. “Kaelen, no. You can’t-”

“It’s alright, Your Majesty,” he said. He looked at me. His eyes were calm. Steady. “I knew this might happen. I understood the risk when I agreed to take you.”

“But fifty lashes,” I whispered. “Kaelen, that could kill you.”

“It won’t,” he said. “I’ve survived worse.”

“You don’t have to do this,” I said desperately. “Let me stop it. Let me—”

“You can’t,” he said gently. “And if you try, he’ll just punish Lena instead. Or find some other way to hurt someone you care about. This is the cleanest solution.”

“It’s not clean,” I said. Tears were burning in my eyes. “It’s cruel. It’s wrong.”

“It’s politics,” he said. He reached up and brushed a tear from my cheek. The gesture was so gentle. So at odds with everything happening around us. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

I wanted to argue. Wanted to scream at Malakor. Wanted to command the guards to stop.

But I could see it in Kaelen’s eyes. The warning. The plea.

Don’t make this worse. Don’t give Malakor more ammunition. Don’t let him see how much this matters to you.

“Please,” I whispered.

“I’ll be fine,” he said again. Then he smiled. Just a little. “Everything will be fine.”

The guards grabbed his arms. Started pulling him away.

I stood there, frozen, watching him go.

He didn’t fight. Didn’t resist. Just walked with them, his back straight, his head high.

Like he was going to his death with dignity.

The courtyard emptied. The guards taking Kaelen to wherever they did these things. The other guards dispersing. Captain Varrus bowing and leaving quickly, like he couldn’t get away fast enough.

Until it was just Malakor and me.

I turned to him. Let him see the fury in my eyes.

“You will pay for this,” I said. My voice was quiet. Deadly.

He smiled. Actually smiled. “Will I, Your Majesty? And how exactly will you make me pay? You have no power here. No real authority. You’re a child wearing a crown. Nothing more.”

“I’m the queen,” I said.

“You’re a girl,” he corrected. “A foolish, reckless girl who doesn’t understand the first thing about ruling. You run off to play in the countryside while your kingdom falls apart. You endanger yourself and everyone around you because you’re too naive to understand consequences.”

He stepped closer. Close enough that I could see the coldness in his eyes.

“Your parents would be ashamed,” he said quietly.

The words hit like a physical blow.

“Get away from me,” I said.

“Gladly,” he said. “I have actual work to do. Unlike some people, I take my responsibilities seriously.”

He started to walk away. Then stopped and looked back.

“Oh, and Your Majesty? Your suitor will be here in three days. I’ve been arranging the visit while you were off gallivanting in the mud. You should probably prepare yourself. Try to look like a queen instead of a peasant when he arrives.”

“I’m not marrying him,” I said.

“We’ll see,” Malakor said. “You might find you have fewer choices than you think.”

Then he walked away, leaving me standing alone in the courtyard.

I stood there for a long moment. Shaking. Trying not to cry. Trying not to scream.

Kaelen was going to be whipped. Fifty times. Because of me. Because I’d been selfish and stupid and thought I could just do whatever I wanted.

And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Malakor was right. I had no real power. I was just a girl with a crown. A child playing queen while the adults made the real decisions.

But I wouldn’t stay that way.

I couldn’t.

Somewhere in the palace, Kaelen was about to be beaten. And in three days, some king I’d never met would arrive expecting to marry me.

And the third attempt on my life was still coming. Still waiting.

I was trapped. Completely and utterly trapped.

But I wasn’t defeated.

Not yet.

I wiped my eyes. Straightened my shoulders. Lifted my chin.

Malakor wanted to see a child? Fine. Let him think I was a child.

Let him underestimate me.

Because I was done playing nice. Done trying to please the council. Done letting men like him control me.

Starting now, things were going to change.

I didn’t know how yet. Didn’t have a plan.

But I would find a way.

I had to.

For Kaelen. For myself. For the kingdom that needed a real queen, not a puppet.

I turned and walked into the palace.

My home. My prison. My battlefield.

And somewhere in the shadows, I knew, the assassin was watching.

Counting down to the third attempt.

Waiting for me to make a mistake.

Well, let him wait.

Because I was done making mistakes.

First, I needed to know where they had taken Kaelen. The guards’ whispers were my map now. Each muted word a clue. I would find him. I would see the truth of the price he was paying for my choices.

I was going to fight.

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