Royal Ascension: TheLady's rebirth

The walk back to my chambers was a blur. My mind was spinning as I tried to process what had happened in the council chamber. The pendant. The ominous warnings. The look in Alistair's eyes when he grabbed my wrist—so many questions hung in the air, unanswered, and I felt like I was stumbling in the dark.

I clenched my fists at my sides, frustration bubbling up inside me. What is the truth they're all hiding? Why am I at the center of this?

Kieran trailed just a few steps behind me, silent and watchful. I could feel his presence like a shadow, his gaze sharp and observant even though he hadn't said a word since we left the council chamber.

Finally, I stopped walking and turned to him. "Kieran, you're always with him. You must know something."

Kieran paused, his expression neutral as ever, though his silver eyes studied me carefully. "Know something about what, Lady Angelica?"

"Don't play games with me," I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended. "The pendant. The council. The woman who appeared in the archives. None of this makes any sense, and you're pretending like it's all perfectly normal."

Kieran tilted his head slightly, as though considering his next words carefully. "Nothing about this kingdom is normal, my lady," he said calmly. "And as for the pendant… you'd do well to leave it alone."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" I demanded. "Leave it alone. Stay out of it. Do you think I'm going to sit quietly while I'm pulled into something I don't understand? If there's something dangerous coming, I deserve to know."

For a brief moment, something flickered in Kieran's eyes—something like hesitation, or maybe pity. But he quickly masked it, his face returning to its impassive calm. "Some truths come with consequences, Lady Angelica. Whether or not you're prepared to face them is a different matter entirely."

He turned away and began walking again, leaving me to fume in silence. Consequences? I was beginning to hate that word. It was always lurking just out of reach, like an unspoken threat.

When we finally reached my chambers, Kieran paused at the door. "Rest, my lady," he said softly, his voice more gentle than usual. "The council's matters will be dealt with, but you should gather your strength. You'll need it."

I blinked at him, caught off guard by his tone. "Why do you care?"

For the first time, Kieran's mask cracked just a little. "Because you're part of this now, whether you want to be or not. And I'd rather you survive it."

Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared down the hall, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

__

I paced in my chambers, the silence pressing down on me. The evening sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long, golden shadows across the floor, but it brought no comfort. My head was a mess of tangled thoughts, each one louder than the last.

I had tried to leave this life behind—to avoid death flags, to step away from Angelica's path—but no matter what I did, I kept getting pulled deeper. First the cryptic woman, now the council and this cursed pendant. How was I supposed to rewrite my fate when I didn't even understand what I was up against?

I stopped pacing and dropped into the chair by the window, leaning forward and resting my head in my hands. "What am I supposed to do?" I whispered to no one in particular.

Ding.

The sound made me jump. I sat up straight, my heart pounding as the glowing golden text appeared in front of me.

[System Message: A Major Event Approaches.]

I stared at the words, my stomach twisting into knots. "What do you mean, a major event?" I said out loud.

The text shifted, the letters reforming with a soft glow.

[The Council's Decision Will Set the Course for the Kingdom's Future.]

[Survival Tip: Pay Attention to Hidden Agendas.]

My blood ran cold. "Hidden agendas?" I repeated, a chill running down my spine.

Before I could question further, the glowing text faded, leaving me alone in the room once again. The system had been strangely silent lately, appearing only when it had something critical to say. And now this—this cryptic warning about a major event and hidden agendas.

I pushed myself to my feet, pacing again as dread gnawed at me. The council had seemed nervous, their whispers cautious. And Alistair—his reluctance to tell me the truth—what was it all leading to? What were they planning?

A sharp knock at my door made me jump. My nerves were already frayed, and the sudden sound sent my heart racing. I hesitated, then called out, "Come in."

The door opened slowly, and to my surprise, it wasn't a servant—it was Alistair. He stood in the doorway, his face unreadable, though there was a storm brewing in his eyes.

"Your Highness?" I said, startled. "What are you doing here?"

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "We need to talk."

The tension in his voice set me on edge. "About what?"

He looked at me, his gaze heavy. "The council has made a decision."

My breath caught. "What kind of decision?"

Alistair didn't answer immediately. He walked to the window, staring out at the sprawling palace grounds below, his hands clasped behind his back. For a long moment, the silence stretched between us, and I could feel the weight of something unspoken hanging in the air.

Finally, he turned to me. "They've decided to send me to the western border."

I blinked, the words sinking in slowly. "The border? But that's—"

"Dangerous," he finished, his voice calm but edged with steel. "The unrest has escalated. If we don't act now, it could mean war."

"But why are you going?" I asked, my voice rising. "You're the crown prince. Shouldn't someone else—"

"They're sending me because they want to make a statement," he interrupted. "That the crown is strong. That the royal family will face its enemies head-on."

I stared at him, my heart pounding. "You're walking into danger."

"I know," he said quietly, his eyes locking onto mine. "And I'm telling you this because I want you to be prepared."

"Prepared for what?" I asked, dread curling in my chest.

Alistair took a step closer, his voice low. "For whatever happens next. The council's decision changes everything. When I leave for the border, the palace will become a battleground of politics and power. And you…" He hesitated, his gaze searching mine. "You need to stay alert."

"Why are you telling me this?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

Alistair's expression softened ever so slightly. "Because whether I like it or not, you're tied to this. You can't run from it anymore, Angelica."

The way he said my name sent a shiver down my spine. There was no disdain in his voice this time—no cold edge. Just something raw and honest, something that made my chest tighten.

"I don't understand," I said softly. "What am I supposed to do?"

Alistair held my gaze for a long moment, his jaw tight, as though he wanted to say more but couldn't. Finally, he turned toward the door.

"Stay alive," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "And trust no one."

With that, he walked out of the room, leaving me standing there, my heart racing, my mind a mess of questions.

Trust no one.

The words echoed in my head as I sank into my chair, my hands trembling. Alistair's warning wasn't just about the council or the border. It was about something much bigger.....something I wasn't seeing yet.