A Kingdom in Chains

The bells of Eldoria tolled, their deep, sorrowful chimes echoing through the kingdom.

It was a sound that sent a chill through the hearts of the people. A sound that signaled change.

And change had come—ruthless, swift, and unforgiving.

---

The Council's Betrayal

The royal court gathered in the great hall, the air thick with tension.

The king's condition had worsened. He lay unconscious, his breaths shallow, his once-mighty presence reduced to a frail shadow of what it had been.

In his absence, the council had convened.

And at the center of it all—Magnus.

He stood before them, clad in dark robes embroidered with silver, his eyes cold, his expression unreadable.

"Eldoria cannot afford to be leaderless," Magnus declared, his voice smooth yet commanding. "With the king incapacitated, someone must take control."

Murmurs spread through the room.

"This is treason," Gareth growled, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Magnus gave him a knowing smile. "Treason? No, Lord Gareth. This is duty." He turned to the council. "The kingdom is vulnerable. Our enemies grow bolder. We must act now before chaos consumes us."

One of the older council members hesitated. "The princess—"

"Is unfit to rule," Magnus interrupted smoothly. "She is reckless. Impulsive. And missing." His lips curled into a smirk. "Need I remind you that she helped a traitor escape?"

Gasps rippled through the chamber.

The accusation was clear.

Eva had defied the crown. She had defied them.

And now, Magnus had every reason to seize control.

One by one, the council members nodded.

One by one, they yielded.

Gareth clenched his fists. Tobias, standing in the shadows, let out a slow breath, his jaw tight with anger.

And just like that—

Magnus was regent.

The kingdom belonged to him.

---

Eva's Fury

Eva stormed through the palace halls, her heart pounding.

She had returned to find the kingdom changed. Guards wore Magnus' sigil. Servants whispered in fear. The people—her people—looked lost.

And the throne room doors, once open to her, were shut.

She shoved past the guards and burst in.

Magnus sat on the king's throne, drumming his fingers against the armrest.

Her breath caught.

He looked so comfortable there.

So powerful.

So dangerous.

"Get out of that chair," Eva hissed.

Magnus smirked. "Ah, Princess. Welcome home."

She marched forward. "This isn't your place."

"It is now."

Her fists clenched. "My father is still king."

Magnus leaned forward. "Your father is dying."

Silence.

Raw. Unbearable.

A lump formed in Eva's throat. She refused to let the tears fall.

Instead, she glared. "You won't get away with this."

Magnus chuckled. "I already have."

Then he stood, stepping down from the throne, stopping just inches from her.

"You should be careful, Princess," he murmured. "A defiant woman in my court? That's… dangerous."

Her skin prickled.

She had never hated him more.

---

Lucian's Return

Miles away, Lucian tightened the reins of his horse.

The news had reached him. Magnus had taken control.

He had expected it—but the reality still sent fury burning through his veins.

He had to go back.

For Eva.

For the king.

For revenge.

Tobias rode beside him, watching him carefully. "Are you sure about this?"

Lucian's grip on the reins tightened. "Magnus stole my life once. I won't let him do it again."

A pause. Then—

"And Eva?"

Lucian's jaw clenched. "She's strong." His voice softened. "But she doesn't know what he's capable of."

Tobias smirked. "Then let's remind him."

With a final look at the darkening horizon, they rode toward Eldoria.

Toward war.

Toward justice.

---

A Kingdom on Edge

The night was heavy with uncertainty.

The people whispered. The nobles schemed.

And in the palace—

Power shifted.

Eva stood alone in the courtyard, staring at the stars, her heart aching.

She had spent her life fighting against rules, against expectations.

But now—

She had to fight for something else.

Her kingdom.

Her father.

Herself.

And as the cold wind brushed against her skin, she made a silent vow.

She would not let Magnus win.

Not now.

Not ever.