Chapter 4: The King's Resolve

The council chamber loomed dark and imposing as Leorick strode in, his shoulders squared, each step echoing against the stone floor with the weight of his conviction. He knew the meeting wouldn't go well—he could feel it in the air, thick with tension and unspoken agendas. The councilors rose from their seats in acknowledgment of his arrival, though he saw the calculating glints in their eyes, their postures already poised for debate.

He took his place at the head of the table, meeting the eyes of each councilor in turn. It was Duke Aldric who spoke first, as always, his voice calm but with an edge that Leorick had come to expect.

"My king," Aldric began, folding his hands in front of him, "we've discussed at length the matter of the queen's position. Given… certain factors, the council believes that the best course would be to secure a union with Princess Eveline of the Solarian Kingdom. She is young, charming, and her alliance would fortify our resources on all fronts."

Leorick's jaw tightened. He knew where this was headed, but he allowed Aldric to continue. It was better to hear it all laid out, to know exactly what he was up against.

"To address the concern of your current… attachment to Lady Seraphine Everhart," Aldric said, his tone as careful as a blade, "the council suggests that, in light of her family's loyalty, she could remain close to the throne. As a concubine, she would be a source of comfort and companionship without the burdens of the crown."

The words echoed in the room, heavy with the insult they carried. A concubine? For Seraphine? The thought alone churned his stomach. This was not just an affront to her dignity but also a deliberate reminder of the council's hold on his life. They were drawing lines, defining where his power as king ended, and where their counsel began.

Leorick allowed a moment of silence, gathering the edges of his fury and tempering it with a calm that barely masked his outrage. His voice, when he finally spoke, was icy, holding an edge that turned the air cold.

"Let me see if I understand this correctly." He leaned forward, eyes like steel. "The council proposes that I, the rightful king, should dishonor Lady Seraphine, treating her as a mere accessory, while marrying a princess to satisfy diplomatic whims?"

Aldric blinked, clearly unprepared for Leorick's open disdain. "My king, it is not dishonor we suggest, but prudence. Lady Seraphine's position would be one of great respect. Many women of noble birth would find such an arrangement favorable, given the opportunities it offers."

"Opportunities?" Leorick's voice cut through Aldric's attempts to justify himself. "Are you suggesting Seraphine's worth is defined by what position you assign her in my bedchambers?" He met Aldric's gaze, and then the others', daring any of them to speak up in agreement. "Let me remind you all—Lady Seraphine Everhart is of noble lineage, deserving of respect and honor. To imply otherwise is to insult not just her, but her family."

Several councilors shifted uncomfortably, but Aldric's resolve held firm. "With respect, Your Majesty, the throne cannot afford sentiment. If we ignore the need for alliances, we jeopardize stability. Lady Seraphine may be dear to you, but the realm requires more than affection."

Leorick's gaze darkened. Memories of his previous life, of Seraphine's sacrifices, of how much she'd given up for him, rose unbidden in his mind. She had been more than loyal, more than a mere companion—she had been his strength, his equal. But it wasn't only loyalty that bound him to her now. She was the cure to his curse, his one hope of breaking free from this timeless prison. And they dared to suggest that she was worth only half a crown, a shadowed place at his side?

He took a breath, steadying himself, knowing he could not lash out, as much as he wanted to. "What you all seem to forget," he said, his tone sharper, "is that Lady Seraphine's family has served this realm with unwavering loyalty. She is not a mere pawn to be moved at your discretion, and her value is not limited to her title or her alliance. She is essential to me—and to this kingdom in ways you cannot imagine."

Duke Cedric, a stout man with graying hair, cleared his throat nervously. "Your Majesty, we only mean to secure the kingdom's future. The Solarian princess would bring with her substantial resources, bolstering our defenses. She would also solidify alliances that have been fragile at best."

"And what of my choice?" Leorick demanded, his voice gaining force. "Am I to be a puppet, bound to marry for political gain alone? Or do I still retain the right to choose the woman I wish to stand beside me as queen?"

The councilors exchanged wary glances, and it was Aldric who spoke again, his voice soft but unyielding. "Your Majesty, we have no desire to infringe upon your rights. However, there are responsibilities that must be acknowledged. Lady Seraphine… she would be accepted by the court as your consort, but as queen? That is a far more complex matter."

Leorick clenched his fist beneath the table, his mind racing through his options. They were testing him, trying to gauge how far they could push him, how much of his own will he would surrender for the sake of the crown. And though he knew there were limits to his defiance, he also knew he could not—and would not—allow them to degrade Seraphine.

"This discussion is over," he declared, his tone brooking no argument. "Lady Seraphine Everhart will not be demoted to the role of concubine. I have made my decision."

A ripple of shock passed through the councilors, and Aldric's face darkened. "Your Majesty, you would place personal desire above the needs of the kingdom?"

Leorick rose from his seat, looking down at Aldric with an intensity that left no room for doubt. "I would place respect, honor, and loyalty above the whims of any council," he answered coldly. "Seraphine will stand as my queen, or I will remain without one. There will be no debate."

The silence that followed was thick with tension, the councilors realizing, perhaps for the first time, the full weight of Leorick's resolve. One by one, they shifted in their seats, some bowing their heads in reluctant acknowledgment, others glaring in silent defiance. Aldric looked as though he wanted to protest further, but the king's stare held him still.

"If any of you wish to question my authority further," Leorick added, his voice dangerously calm, "know that I have no patience for disloyalty. This kingdom may need alliances, but it needs integrity even more. Remember that."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode from the council chamber, his decision final. The echoes of his footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving the councilors in stunned silence, contemplating the full implications of their king's choice. And as he walked away, Leorick felt a surge of clarity—a reminder that this life, this second chance, would not be governed by the mistakes of the past.