The Queen's Guard

Chapter 22

The days following the royal decree were fraught with tension. Carina and Maya hadn't exchanged words since the order, a silence that gnawed at both of them. Carina had tried to bridge the gap, but every attempt was interrupted, and Maya's cold demeanor made it clear she wasn't interested in anything Carina had to say. Maya's eyes, once filled with love and devotion, now avoided Carina's gaze entirely. Carina would have preferred Maya's anger to this cold indifference, but the thought of sending her to the frontlines was unbearable.

The competition to select commanders for the new frontline army was fierce. Though the swords were checked and deemed blunt, ensuring no one would compete with real blades, the matches were brutal. Participants were knocked off their horses, thrown to the ground, and sometimes rendered unconscious. The selection process was merciless, whittling down the contenders to a smaller group fit for the prestigious roles in the new army. The men from the other kingdom proved formidable opponents, their prowess evident in every bout.

Throughout the day, Carina found herself glancing around, a part of her worried that she hadn't seen Maya. Yet, there was also a sense of relief that none of the combatants matched the stature of her little guard. In the ground combat round, Carina had to look away several times as men fell hard, and the team of healers kept busy with the constant flow of injuries.

The final round arrived, a decisive battle between the last ten candidates fighting for the five most prestigious positions. As five fell, the other five victors unmasked, revealing their identities to the eager crowd.

As the last helmet was removed, a shockwave rippled through the spectators. Maya stood there, her face determined, clad in the best armor she had ever crafted. It was a marvel of engineering: the lightest steel, strong and unyielding, even adding height to her frame to disguise her identity.

Her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of triumph and dread coursing through her veins. She had done it; she had proven herself. But as her eyes locked onto Carina's across the arena, a wave of guilt crashed over her. She saw the betrayal etched on Carina's face, the hurt and confusion in her eyes. The weight of her decision pressed heavily on her, knowing she had defied the woman she loved in the most public way possible.

Carina's world tilted on its axis as she recognized Maya. A dizzying rush of emotions surged through her: anger, fear, and an overwhelming sense of loss. Her carefully constructed plans, her desperate attempts to keep Maya safe, all shattered in an instant. The armor that had seemed so impressive now felt like a cruel mockery of the bond they shared. She felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, the weight of her crown never heavier as she struggled to maintain her composure. 

Even from a distance, Maya saw the tears welling in Carina's eyes, and her own resolve faltered. She had hoped that by winning this position, she could find a way to escape the pain, to find purpose beyond the suffocating confines of the castle. But now, standing victorious yet feeling more defeated than ever, she realized the true cost of her actions.

As the crowd cheered and congratulated her, Maya's gaze never left Carina's. She saw Ryan rushing to Carina's side, his expression one of concern and confusion. The noise of the crowd faded into the background, replaced by the deafening silence of their unspoken words.

Maya watched as Carina's emotions shifted from hurt to anger. It was a transformation she knew too well, the armor Carina wore to shield her vulnerability. Seeing it triggered a matching response in Maya. Anger flared within her, a protective mechanism against the pain and regret threatening to consume her. She couldn't afford to be rational, to acknowledge the depth of their shared agony. She needed to focus on her goal, to keep moving forward, to get away.