The Storm Named Elyndra

Joseph sat in the royal chambers, his mind still struggling to accept his new reality. King. That was what they were calling him now. The weight of the title pressed heavily on his shoulders as he flipped through stacks of parchment—kingdom records, tax reports, debt ledgers.

The Kingdom of Mythrendel was in ruins.

Massive debt to the Empire of Solmara, food shortages, a military that was barely holding together—this place was on the brink of collapse. And now, he was supposed to fix it?

Joseph groaned, rubbing his temples. "They really threw me into the deep end…"

Just as he was about to delve deeper into a particularly grim financial report, the distant sound of galloping hooves thundered through the palace grounds.

"FREE MY PARENTS THIS INSTANT, OR YOU WILL FEEL MY WRATH!"

The voice was sharp, commanding, and furious.

Joseph barely had time to register what was happening before the grand doors of his chambers slammed open with a loud BANG.

A girl stormed in, silver hair flowing behind her like a battle flag, violet eyes burning with intensity. She was furious, her presence practically radiating authority.

Joseph blinked. Who the hell is this?

"You! Are you the so-called 'King' now?" she demanded, her arms crossed.

Joseph sighed, already exhausted. "And who exactly are you?"

"I am Princess Elyndra Valeria Mythrendel. And I demand to know why my parents handed the throne to a complete stranger!"

Ah. The princess. That explained the attitude.

Joseph leaned back in his chair. "Look, I didn't ask to be here, and I definitely didn't ask to be king. But your kingdom is falling apart. Instead of yelling at me, why don't you actually do something about it?"

Elyndra narrowed her eyes. "Do something?"

"Yeah. Since you seem to have all the answers, how about you help me sort through this mess?" Joseph gestured at the stacks of papers covering his desk. "Or are you just going to stand there and pace around dramatically?"

Elyndra scoffed. "Fine." She pulled up a chair. "But don't expect me to go easy on you."

For the next few hours, the room was filled with furious scribbling, hushed discussions, and heated arguments. Together, Joseph and Elyndra combed through every major issue—debt, food shortages, trade routes.

By the time the sun set, Elyndra leaned back in her chair, exhausted but… impressed.

She eyed Joseph carefully. "You're not just some fool pretending to be king, are you?"

Joseph sighed, finally setting down his quill. "No. I don't want power. I just… want to stabilize this kingdom so I can find a way home. If you want the throne after that, it's all yours."

Elyndra stared at him for a long moment before nodding. "Alright."

That Night – The King's Chambers

Elyndra stood before her parents, arms crossed. "So? What the hell is going on?"

King Azrael sighed. "The kingdom is in chaos, Elyndra. Joseph is our best chance at saving it."

Queen Seraphina, who had been quiet until now, spoke softly but firmly. "For the throne to remain in the family… Elyndra, you and Joseph should be engaged."

Silence.

Elyndra's face turned a deep shade of red. "E-Engaged?! What are you talking about? I barely even know him!"

Seraphina smiled. "That's why you should spend more time with him."

Elyndra opened her mouth to argue but… nothing came out. Instead, she stormed out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest.

The Next Morning – The Throne Room

Joseph was already at work when a royal messenger cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, an important matter."

Joseph barely looked up. "What now?"

The messenger hesitated before saying, "The King and Queen have decided that you… and Princess Elyndra… are to be engaged."

Joseph stopped writing. Slowly, he turned his head. "Excuse me?"

"If the princess is willing, then I have no say," he finally said with a sigh. "But at least give me a damn warning before throwing things like this at me."

Elyndra, standing nearby, refused to make eye contact.

The Proclamation – Seeking New Talent

Joseph had had enough of the council.

They sat in luxury while the kingdom starved. When he suggested economic reforms, they scoffed. When he brought up the idea of using new strategies, they dismissed him.

Fine. If the council wouldn't help him, he'd find people who would.

The next day, he issued a proclamation:

"Anyone—noble or commoner—who has the skills to help rebuild this kingdom, come to the palace for screening."

And so, the people came.

New Allies

Among the crowd, four people stood out.

1. Salvador – The Prime Minister

A young man with glasses and sharp eyes, Salvador radiated intelligence. He analyzed kingdom reports in minutes and proposed brilliant economic solutions.

Joseph immediately made him Prime Minister.

2. Amelia – The Knight

A tall, powerful elf with long emerald hair and piercing golden eyes. She was a master swordswoman, her bladework flawless.

She kneeled before Joseph. "Allow me to serve as your knight."

3. Henry – The Agricultural Genius

A down-to-earth farmer who understood food shortages better than anyone. With his expertise, Joseph saw a future where the kingdom wouldn't starve.

4. Belle – The Beastkin Rancher

A beautiful beastkin girl with fluffy ears and a tail. She could communicate with animals, making her the perfect caretaker for the kingdom's livestock.

A Kingdom Reborn?

As the sun set, Joseph looked at the four of them. His new team.

Maybe, just maybe… Mythrendel had a chance.