Third Arc (Fallen Heart) - 400. Plea and Hope

"We need an heir, Your Majesty," Allan said, quieter now, but just as firm. "The King's legacy must continue. His presence—his will—is what keeps the nobles in check, the guilds honest, the peace alive. But no man rules forever. And the people... they love you both. They will look to you for hope in the future. And an heir would ensure that hope has a face."

This again… But this time his words sounded more serious. Somehow, it felt different for her. It sounded like a plea and a hope.

Rose didn't answer right away.

She looked out the window again. The city stretched far beyond the walls. Caravans moved in organized columns on the main road. Children laughed in the marketplace below. The entire kingdom hummed like a living body—healthy, growing. All of it because one man had refused to let it rot.

She turned back, gaze calm. "You're not wrong, Chancellor."

He gave a short bow. "Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty. I only say this out of concern for the kingdom."

"I know."

They resumed walking. But the words lingered.

An heir.

Not just a duty now, but a necessity. Something sacred. Something that, if not given, could slowly unspool all the order Angel had worked so hard to protect.

Rose didn't feel pressured. She wasn't afraid of that future.

But she understood now—why it mattered. Why the people whispered about it. Why the court kept dancing around it. Why the Chancellor kept saying it out loud.

Because Euphorion wasn't just Angel's kingdom anymore.

It was hers too.

And someday, it would need someone to carry the weight when they no longer could.

That thought followed Rose like a quiet shadow for the rest of the day. Not heavy or suffocating, just… constant. A soft tap on the shoulder reminding her that every signature she placed, every decision she made, wasn't just for now—it was for whoever came next. If there ever was a next.

After parting ways with Chancellor Allan, she returned to the smaller garden hall where she had an afternoon meeting scheduled with the head doctor from a nearby town. They discussed expanding the herbal dispensary program in more remote villages—an idea Rose had been toying with since her visit to one of the towns last week.

She spoke confidently, asking the right questions, listening carefully when the doctors brought up shortages and training gaps. Claire stood quietly nearby, taking notes in that neat, no-nonsense handwriting of hers, occasionally offering a soft nod or adding a name Rose didn't remember.

From there, they stopped by the eastern barracks to observe a new rotation of patrol troops. Rose didn't speak much during that visit. She stood back, watched how the officers handled formation drills, how the men moved. Disciplined. Sharp. Trained well enough to defend not just the capital but the entire central trade sector.

"Your Majesty?" Claire asked as they walked back through the corridor, catching the way Rose's steps had slowed.

"I was just thinking," Rose said softly. "What Angel's built… it's not just strong. It's sustainable. But only if we keep holding it up."

Claire glanced at her, voice low. "Do you think it'll ever break?"

Rose shook her head slowly. "Not if we keep it in check. It's not just laws and soldiers—it's trust. Order. Fear, maybe… but also hope. That's harder to rebuild once it's lost."

Claire gave a small nod. "You sound like him."

Rose smiled faintly. "He rubs off on people."

Claire smirked. "Scary thought."

Rose chuckled under her breath. "A little. But maybe that's what a kingdom needs. Someone terrifying enough to protect it… and someone soft enough to remember why it's worth protecting."

Claire nodded. "Good balance, then."

The rest of the afternoon was spent reviewing three merchant petitions, responding to a request from a religious sanctuary outside Frelton, and sitting in on a revised city proposal for a water canal system. Most of it was tiring, meticulous work—but Rose found herself growing into it. Day by day.

By early evening, the halls quieted, and the soft glow of oil lamps lit the stone corridors in amber gold. Claire left after dinner, leaving Rose alone in her reading chamber for once.

Rose stood by the window, still in her queen's dress, eyes trailing the city lights in the distance. She wasn't afraid of what was coming. She just needed to be ready for it.

Whatever the kingdom needed, whatever Angel needed… she'd be there.

She'd carry it too.

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