A Daeven Queen

She took a sharp breath and turned away, stepping onto the balcony. The cool night air brushed against her skin as she pushed the heavy curtains aside.

Below, the city stretched endlessly, rooftops and winding streets lit by flickering torches. The kingdom that had taken everything from her.

The kingdom she was meant to rule.

And yet, she would never truly belong to it.

The wind tugged at her hair.

Somewhere out there, people were celebrating, They ate, drank, and raised their cups to the king's victory. To everything she had lost.

Her father had once warned her, long ago.

"The moment you step onto the battlefield, you lose a piece of yourself."

She had thought he meant swords and blood.

But now, in the center of her enemy's kingdom, wearing the title of queen like a tight collar, she finally understood.

There was a soft knock at the door that interrupted her thought, Seraphina turned sharply, her body tensing.

The door slowly opened, and a young woman entered. She quickly bowed, her hands clasped and her eyes lowered. She was small, just a girl, with dark hair neatly braided. Her uniform was simple but neat, the fabric crisp and clean.

"Your Highness," she said softly, "I am Lia. I will be your personal maid.

Seraphina frowned, feeling uncomfortable with her words.

A maid? She did not need a maid.

She needed space to breathe, to think. She needed to be alone.

"I do not need you, leave ," she said, her tone snipped.

Lia hesitated, shifting slightly on her feet. "The king insisted."

Of course, he did.

Seraphina let out a sharp breath, irritation started to build inside her like a slow-burning flame. Kael Draeven did nothing without a reason. Every decision he made had a motive.

A personal maid was not a form of kindness, it was to remind her that she has had no right to make choices not even the smallest ones. He wanted to have his eyes on her all the time.

"Fine," she said, at last, keeping her face blank. "But don't follow me everywhere like my shadow. I can take care of myself".

Lia nodded quickly, but doubt flashed in her dark eyes.

Seraphina knew why.

This castle wasn't hers. The halls were strange, the people unfamiliar. If she wandered too far, she would lose her way.

And Kael knew that that was why he gave her a guide in the form of a servant.

Seraphina clenched her jaw, swallowing the frustration rising in her throat. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing how deeply this unsettled her.

"Prepare a bath," she said finally, turning away. "Then leave me for the night."

Lia bowed again. "Yes, Your Highness."

The door closed softly behind her.

That night, she had a warm bath and went straight to bed, kael didn't come to see her that night.

Maybe he was no longer interested in knowing her and this thought somehow made Seraphina relived.

 ***

 Seraphina stirred on the large bed, the sharp sound of curtains being drawn forced her fully awake, spilling sunlight into the room like molten gold. It bathed the chamber in a soft glow, but to her, it felt more like an intrusion.

A soft voice followed the light.

"Your Highness, the king is expecting you."

Seraphina groaned, rolling onto her side, squeezing her eyes shut. "At this hour?"

Lia stood near the window, hands clasped in front of her. She hesitated before saying, "He said you should not be late."

Seraphina let out a slow breath, pressing her palm over her face.

Kael Draeven was enjoying this far too much.

She sat up with a frown, pushing away the heavy blankets. The castle was already pressing in on her, trying to mold her into something she didn't want to be, obedient, docile, a queen who bent to the will of a man she despised.

Tossing her legs over the side of the bed, she stood, ignoring the stuffness ofher body. Sleep had done little to ease the weight pressing down on her shoulders.

Lia had already laid out her clothes, The gown was sleek, deep sapphire, the fabric impossibly soft against her skin. She dressed quickly, fastening the clasps with ease, refusing to acknowledge how fine the material felt.

If Kael thought he could win her over with silk and luxury, he would be sorely disappointed.

The castle was walking around her.

Servants moved swiftly and silently, their footsteps barely making a sound on the polished floors. Guards lined the hallways, their faces hidden behind cold, expressionless helmets.

She was led through towering corridors to the heart of Draeven's power.

The chamber was vast, lined with massive pillars of dark stone. Golden banners hung from the ceiling, their fabric dancingalong with the morning breeze . Each bore the sigil of the Draeven line, a serpent coiled around a sword.

At the far end of the hall, Kael stood with his advisors. His presence was effortless as if the very air bent around him. He was dressed in black and crimson, the colors of war, his armor polished to a dull gleam.

At the sound of her approach, he turned, hiss gaze swept over her, slow and assessing.

Seraphina met his stare without flinching.

The corner of Kael's mouth curved as if he could hear the defiance running through her veins. "I see you slept well."

Seraphina's lips curled into something that was not quite a smile. "Strange. I do not recall inviting you into my chambers."

A chuckle rippled through the room, low, amused, dangerous.

Kael only smirked. "Come, Princess. It is time you learned what it means to rule."

Seraphina stiffened.

"Rule?"

Kael gestured toward the great doors at the side of the throne room. It was the entrance to the council chamber.

"You are to be my queen. It is time you learned how to act like one."