Heart of the People

I stood at the edge of the room, heart pounding in my chest as the crowd roared outside. The last rally had been overwhelming, electrifying even, as hundreds of faces stared back at me, hanging on my every word. They believed in me. They believed in the future I promised. That knowledge was both terrifying and exhilarating. I wasn't just Seraphina—the runaway, the fugitive—anymore. I was Sera, a symbol of change, of hope for people desperate for something better.

It was surreal to think of how far we'd come. Just months ago, Gwen and I had been barely surviving in cramped, makeshift hideouts, clinging to scraps of information and whispers of the outside world. Now, I had a movement behind me. People chanting my name, believing in a cause I had only dreamed of daring to pursue. But this was no dream. This was real, and the stakes had never been higher.

The rally had gone better than I'd imagined. I spoke with conviction, not just about the injustices of the current system, but about the vision I had for our kingdom—one where the council was accountable to the people, where leadership wasn't defined by privilege or birthright but by a genuine desire to serve. It wasn't the traditional rhetoric of a royal contender, but that was exactly what people seemed to crave: something different, something that felt real.

As the last cheers died down, the reality of what was coming next settled heavily on me. The vote. The moment that would decide if all our efforts had been enough. Five of us had been chosen by the Queen herself to stand before her and make our final case for the crown. I was one of them.

The walk to the palace felt longer than it had any right to be. Gwen and I exchanged few words as we made our way to the grand hall where the Queen, Metanoia Athymy Aelin, would await our final speeches. I tried to focus on the cold, solid feel of the stone under my boots, grounding myself in the moment, but my mind was racing. This wasn't just about me anymore. It was about everything we'd built. Everything I'd promised.

I was led into the throne room, where four other young women already stood, each of them representing a different vision for the kingdom. They were nervous, just like me, but we all knew what was at stake. I could feel the weight of the Queen's gaze on us, her cold, calculating eyes assessing us with each passing second.

And then it was time.

"Step forward, Seraphina," her voice echoed through the chamber, firm yet laced with curiosity. She knew I wasn't the typical candidate. I wasn't born into this. I hadn't been trained from birth to wear the crown. But that was exactly why I had to speak from my heart.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. I looked into the Queen's eyes, then out at the assembly. There was no turning back now.

"Your Majesty," I began, my voice steady, though I could feel the tension in the room. "I stand before you today not as someone born to privilege, not as someone raised in a palace, but as someone who has lived among the people. I know their struggles because I have shared them. I know their pain because I have felt it."

There was a murmur in the room, but I pressed on.

"I may not have the pedigree of the others standing beside me, but I have something they cannot offer—a connection to the people. A deep understanding of their needs, their hopes, their dreams. I have fought not just for survival, but for the belief that this kingdom can be more. That it *should* be more."

I felt the words flowing out of me, each one carrying the weight of every sleepless night, every rally, every moment I had doubted myself and then pushed through. 

"The people are crying out for change, Your Majesty. They are tired of a system that serves only the few. They want a leader who knows what it means to struggle, to fight for what's right, even when the odds are against them. I know what that feels like because I have lived it. I am one of them, and that is why I stand here today."

I paused, letting the gravity of my words settle over the room.

"I do not seek the throne for personal gain or glory. I seek it because I believe I can be the voice that carries the will of the people forward. A voice that will not be silenced. A voice that will not be swayed by the old ways, but one that will fight for justice, for fairness, for a future where every citizen feels they have a stake in our kingdom's destiny."

The silence was thick, and I could feel the weight of the Queen's gaze upon me. But I wasn't finished.

"Your Majesty, if you choose me, you are not just choosing a new ruler. You are choosing a new way forward. One where the people will no longer feel forgotten, no longer feel powerless. I promise you that I will lead with compassion, with strength, and with an unwavering commitment to the future we all deserve."

I bowed my head, my heart racing as I stepped back into line. I could feel the tension in the room—whether it was admiration or skepticism, I didn't know. But I had said my piece. Now, all I could do was wait.

The Queen was silent for what felt like an eternity, her gaze shifting between each of us. This was it. This was the moment that would determine not just my future, but the future of the kingdom.

"Thank you, Seraphina," she said finally, her voice calm and unreadable. "I will consider your words carefully."

As I stepped back, joining the other candidates, I caught Gwen's eye from across the room. She gave me a small nod, her expression serious but supportive.

Now it was out of my hands. The fate of the kingdom—of everything I had fought for—rested in the Queen's decision.

All I could do now was hope.