“she Is My Wife,Your Queen”

Seraphina's fingers curled into fists, her nails dug deep into her palms. The scent of smoke still clung to her memory, the taste of ash was bitter on her tongue. She could still hear the screams of her people, their cries echoing in her mind.

Draeven's forces had taken everything from her. Her home, Her family, Her kingdom.

And now, they expected her to sit at their table. To rule beside the man who had led the attack on her home.

Kael stood silent before her, he was waiting for her to fight back but she didn't.

Instead, Seraphina inhaled sharply, pushing down the rage burning inside her, She lifted her chin and met his gaze without hesitation.

"Very well," she said, with a hint of coldness in her voice. "Lead the way, Your Majesty."

Amusement flickered on Kael's eyes or was it rather interest or something different?

Without another word, he turned, walking towards the door and Seraphina followed closely behind, not because she wanted to but because she had no choice.

The guards on either side stepped forward, pulling them open.

A rush of cold air hit her as she stepped inside.

The chamber was large, its stone walls lined with tall bookshelves, old maps, and banners marked with Draeven's sigil of a snake wrapped on a sword. A long table stood in the center, surrounded by men who had spent years fighting her people.

Warriors, Advisors, Nobles.

Their voices fell silent the moment she entered. But they did not bow, Not a single one of them bowed.

Seraphina felt their stares, it was heavy, sharp, and disrespectful

Kael stopped.

The room stayed eerily quiet.

Then, his chair scraped against the stone as he stood.

The sound was soft, yet it cut through the room like a blade.

His voice, was calm as he spoke.

"Did I miss the moment when my queen became beneath your respect?

The air turned cold.

No one spoke. No one moved.

Kael's gaze swept across the room, dark and relentless. His voice, though quiet, carried great command.

"When I enter this chamber, you bow." His eyes lingered on each man, daring them to challenge him. "When your queen enters, you bow."

His words were slow and deliberate, each one laced with a strong warning. Anger simmered through his controlled and commanding calm tone,

Lord Harland, the man sitting closest to Kael, swallowed hard. "Your Majesty, she is—"

"Silence."

Harland jerked.

Kael stepped forward, his presence heavy in the room. His voice was firm but steady.

"You may not like how she came to be here. You may hate her name, her family, even the sight of her. But let me make one thing clear—"

His tone sharpened, leaving no room for argument.

"She is my wife, your queen."

Silence hung in the air.

Then, slowly, one by one, the men at the table stood.

Seraphina watched as they lowered their heads—some hesitant, unwilling, but all obeying Kael's command.

She had no false hopes.

There was something about the way he said it, the quiet furry in his voice sent shivers down her spine.

 She knew this was just a display of his authority but she had never thought Kael would ever stand up for her.

Kael waited a moment, making sure his words sank in, before turning to her.

"Sit, Seraphina."

Seraphina lifted her chin and walked forward with steady steps.

She sat beside him, meeting the eyes of the men who had refused to respect her.

"Let's begin," he said coolly, lowering himself back into his seat.

A steward stepped forward, unfolding a large map across the polished wood.

Seraphina's eyes moved across the map, tracing the red markings scattered along the Valaris-Draeven border. Her chest tightened, and her stomach twisted.

Her people were still fighting?

She clenched her hands beneath the table, forcing herself to stay calm. The weight of the room pressed down on her, but she would not falter.

Lifting her gaze, she kept her voice steady, even as anger burned beneath her skin.

"Aren't these my people?" she asked, her words sharp yet quiet

The room fell silent.

Every man at the table stilled, their gazes flickering between her and Kael.

She turned to him, her face indistinct, though fire simmered in her eyes. "I thought our marriage ended the war between Valaris and Draeven," she continued her tone even but firm. "Or was that just a convenient lie?"

A glimmer of something passed through Kael's eyes—too quick to name.

For a moment, he said nothing.

The air between them grew heavy, the silence stretching like a drawn blade.

Across the table, one of the older lords scoffed. "Your Highness, these are not your people. These are rebels, traitors who refuse to accept Draeven's rule."

Seraphina met his gaze without flinching. "Traitors?" She let the word settle, heavy and harsh. "Is that what you call them?"

Lord Harland straightened, his lips thinning. "That is what they are."

Seraphina took a step forward. "And tell me, my lord—when did defending one's home become treason?"

The silence that followed was thick, suffocating.

Kael exhaled, his fingers drumming against the table. "Enough."

Seraphina turned to him, waiting.

He studied her for a long moment before speaking.

"Let the queen decide."

Her breath caught. What?

Kael leaned back in his chair, his face unreadable. "She wants to rule? Let her prove it." His gaze settled on her, steady and unshaken. "You have one week, Seraphina. One week to stop the commotion in the East."

Seraphina's heart pounded in her chest.

"And if I fail?" she asked, her voice calm despite the storm inside her.

Kael's fingers tightened around the arm of his chair. When he spoke, his voice was soft.

"Then I will handle it myself."