The royal courtyard was bathed in the warm light of day. The horses of the convoy stood ready, their polished armor gleaming in the sun. Guards checked their weapons, and servants bustled about, securing supplies for the journey north.
Aura clung to her mother's hand, her 15-year-old frame trembling slightly despite the queen's reassuring grip.
"Do you have to go?" Aura asked, her voice small. "Can't someone else handle it?"
The Queen smoothed hair. "I wish we could stay. But sometimes, a ruler must face these challenges head-on."
Aura's lips trembled. "But what if something happens to you?"
The Queen's eyes softened as she cupped her daughter's cheek. "Then you'll be strong. You'll lead, as we've prepared you to. You are braver than you know, Aura. You have your father's resolve and maybe a little of my stubbornness."
Aura smiled faintly at that, though her fear lingered. "But I'm not ready."
"You will be," the queen said gently.
Nearby, Aura's brother Seraph stood stiffly, his hands clasped behind his back. At 18, he had already grown into his role as the eldest, disciplined and serious. But there was always a shadow in his eyes, a tension that never seemed to leave him.
The King approached his son, placing a hand on his shoulder. "The kingdom will look to you while we're gone, Seraph. It's your duty to keep it and Aura safe."
Seraph's gaze didn't waver, but his jaw tightened. "Of course, father."
"You're the eldest," the King continued. "It's your job to protect your sister. No matter what."
"I understand." Seraph's voice was steady, but there was something cold in it that the King didn't notice.
As the king turned to join his wife, Aura approached her brother, her expression tentative. "You'll...look after things, right? While they're gone?"
Seraph glanced at her, his face unreadable. "It's not like I have a choice."
Aura frowned. "You don't have to be so cold about it."
Seraph's gaze softened for a moment, but he quickly looked away. "Just don't make my job harder."
The king and queen sat in the carriage, the royal banners unfurling in the breeze. They glanced back at their children one last time, their smiles tinged with sorrow. The convoy began its journey, the rhythmic clatter of hooves fading into the distance. Aura stood watching until the last banner disappeared over the horizon, a strange sense of finality settling over her.
YOU ARE READING
The Shattered Crown
FantasyThe throne was never meant to be hers-but neither was exile. When Aura's brother, Seraph, usurps the throne in a violent coup, her attempts to reason with him are met with a chilling ultimatum. Refusing to bow to his tyranny, Aura is forced to aband...
