“Princess Sennala Kirlae! Firstborn of King Viktor and late Queen Mira! Accompanied by the King’s Guardian, Josiah!” Our arrival has been announced.

I close my eyes, take a deep breath and let go of Josiah’s arm as the guards open the council chamber doors. Here we go.

The doors creak open slowly and the first thing I see is my father sitting on the throne. He’s wearing his black armor this time and, oh. He’s wearing his red cape. Of course he is. He’s definitely still angry with me. Please, Reaper, give me strength.

It’s silent. All eyes are on me. I wait for the doors to fully open before beginning my solitary walk. The moment I take my first step forward, the chamber erupts into a flurry of whispers and hushed words said behind covered mouths. I hear them all. I’m an embarrassment? I know. I’m a failure as a princess? I get it. A disgrace to our people? Obviously. But they don’t need to say it out loud. I feel the weight of all their insults and judgments as I walk by hoping it will end soon.

A thunderous loud metal sound breaks through the noise and silences everyone in an instant. My father. He slammed his fist on the throne, saying nothing, but everyone knew what he meant.

I speed up my walk. My heels lightly clack with every step I take and echo around the chamber. It’s deafening in this silence. Everyone’s eyes are on me like vultures waiting for the dead to rot. Their presence is suffocating. I do my best to ignore it, refusing to show any weakness. Not today. Not in front of my father. I avoid looking at him directly in the eyes, knowing he’ll have a disappointed look on his face and I can’t handle that right now.

I reach the steps leading up to the two thrones and just barely lift my skirt to carefully climb the stairs somehow still keeping my head held high and looking at nothing, at no one, except for my destination. Finally stand in front of my mother’s throne, I take a moment to stare at it imagining her sitting there in front of me. It comforts me in a strange way. I gracefully turn around and make sure I sit like a proper princess. A sigh of relief. The first part is over.

A few moments pass before I see Josiah make the same walk down the chamber. He gives me a quick warm smile as he nears my throne and walks up the stairs to stand next to my father’s side.

Everyone is standing in silence waiting for my father’s command. He makes a lazy gesture towards them and they all sit down in unison.

“Revnians!” He begins in his rugged voice tone that I know all too well. “Today is a momentous occasion! As you well know, the Hunters have requested to meet and you have all waited patiently for my decision. Here, today, you shall hear my will.” He pauses, clearly for dramatic effect. I roll my eyes. He continues. “In an act of mercy! And through careful consideration of our people, I have agreed to meet with them to discuss an end to this long standing conflict.”

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The chamber bursts into a chorus of vocal disapproval, but my father simply raises his hand and silence once again returns. I can’t help but smile.

“However!” My father continues. “I have only agreed to a meeting here. Within our walls. As such, they ride towards castle Volkier as we speak and shall arrive by the witching hour.”

I feel the air shift slightly and can tell unease is growing amongst everyone in the hall. The Nobles however seem as calm and composed as always. I can barely see them in the shadows, but I can tell they’re leaning their backs on the wall without a care in the land. Meanwhile their Guardians are steadfast next to them, almost statue-like.

My father continues. “I understand the concern of the council, Elders, and Knights alike, but unlike yourselves, the younger generation is not nearly as blessed by our savior's touch. Their sacrifices have led us to this point and have had a lasting impact on my decision as King. Fighting with the hunters on equal footing is no more easy for them, than it is for the hunters to fight all of you.” They all voice their agreement in unison. He waits for his words to sink in before continuing. “As such, I have had to consider the implications that a continued war will have on our dwindling numbers, and the future of the Revnians as a whole.”

The debate goes on tirelessly for far longer than I thought it would. They debate back and forth on my father’s decision to hold the diplomatic meeting, but in the end realize my father’s right. As always. The diplomatic meeting will go on as planned. Peace will return to the land. Assuming the Hunters are willing.

As my father stands to adjourn the meeting and prepare for the arrival of the Hunters, council member Obis rises, breaking the silence with his old crackling voice. “King Viktor, I hope you have not forgotten about the other matter we must address.” He pauses before continuing again. “The people, Your Majesty, would like to know when Her Highness, Princess Sennala, will be atoning for the defilement of the sacred sanctuary and the theft of our most sacred text?”

And there it is. I, for a moment, had hoped they’d forgotten about it. How naive of me. The chamber, yet again, begins to erupt with murmurs and whispers everywhere, even amongst the Nobles. Obis stands tall as if empowered by the vocal disagreement of my actions.

My father raises his hand and the chamber quickly falls silent. “Obis!” He begins. “Princess Sennala will undoubtedly face punishment for the defilement of the sanctuary and for stealing the covenant. That I can promise you.”

Council member Obis bows. “The people thank you my king, but with all due respect, the Princess carries her mother’s name instead of yours. This blatant disregard of your royal lineage is more than concerning. Not only is she the only Noble in history to go so long without performing the ritual, but you yourself have witnessed the Princess refuse to perform the ceremony on multiple occasions. Her refusal to participate in this most sacred and ancient tradition has raised questions about her place on the throne.” He looks around the room for approval. He finds it.

Many of the Elders and Knights nod in agreement. Meanwhile the other council members vocalize their approval. My father stays silent.

I can feel my anger slowly rising. I try my best to control it, to suppress it and push it down to the deepest corners of my mind. I can’t lose my temper here in front of everyone. I have to breathe.

Obis continues his ridiculous attacks. “Perhaps the problem lies not with a potential Guardian host, but with the Princess herself. One might even question if she has lost the ability to activate the pact itself. After all we haven’t seen any sign of it from her since the passing of the late queen Mira.” He looks at me directly with a smug smile.

All my efforts to push down my anger shatter in an instant at the mention of my mother. I jump from the throne to my feet, but before I can say a single word the atmosphere in the room drastically shifts and I freeze in place.

All of the Nobles have stepped forward.