Viva La Vida

Chapter 12: A Kingdom at Mercy

Leo’s heart burned with a cold fury as he prepared to face King Ferdinand.

The letter demanding more weapons in exchange for Cecilia’s freedom had pushed him to the brink.

His patience, already worn thin by the political games, snapped under the weight of Ferdinand’s betrayal.

There was only one way to respond to such treachery—

by showing the might of Rivendel.

Gathering his most trusted advisors and generals, Leo laid out his plan.

“We will send a message to Azmariah, not just with words, but with action. Mobilize the troops along the border. Make sure King Ferdinand knows that if he refuses to release Cecilia, we will unleash a second Great War upon his kingdom.”

The room fell silent, the gravity of Leo’s command sinking in.

His advisors exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared to question him.

They all knew the stakes—

Cecilia’s life, the stability of their kingdom, and the future of their alliance.

The message was sent, a stark warning of what awaited Azmariah if they continued down this path of madness.

And then, without waiting for a response, Leo personally led a detachment of elite soldiers to Azmariah, determined to bring Cecilia back.

As Leo and his men approached Azmariah’s capital, the sight that greeted them was a stark contrast to the once-great kingdom.

The city was in disarray, its defenses weakened by years of internal strife and corruption.

It was clear that Azmariah was no longer the powerful kingdom it once was.

With precise, calculated movements, Leo’s forces overpowered the city’s guards, their resistance crumbling in the face of Rivendel’s superior might.

Leo himself stormed the palace, his mind focused on one thing—

finding Cecilia.

When he finally reached her, locked away in a cold, dimly lit chamber, his heart twisted at the sight of her.

She looked pale, fragile, her once-vibrant spirit dulled by days of captivity.

But when their eyes met, he saw the flicker of defiance still burning within her.

“Leo,” Cecilia whispered, her voice filled with relief and confusion.

Without a word, Leo crossed the room and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if to reassure himself that she was real, that she was safe.

But the moment of reunion was brief, for they both knew the deeper conflict that lay ahead.

As they left the palace, the weight of Cecilia’s decision began to settle on her shoulders.

She glanced back at the crumbling walls of her childhood home, the kingdom that had sold her for an alliance, and felt a pang of sorrow.

Azmariah had betrayed her, yet it was still the land she had once loved.

But Rivendel was no easier.

Though they had accepted her as their princess, the responsibilities that came with it were overwhelming.

She was caught between two worlds, two loyalties, and she didn’t know where she truly belonged.

Leo, sensing her turmoil, remained silent as they rode back to Rivendel.

His thoughts were consumed by his growing rage at King Ferdinand, but also by the realization of how much Cecilia had sacrificed for both kingdoms.

When they finally arrived at Rivendel, Leo could hold his anger no longer.

Once inside the palace, Leo confronted Cecilia, his voice trembling with a mix of fury and concern.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he demanded, his eyes locking onto hers.

“Tell you what?” Cecilia asked, confused by his sudden outburst.

“About the child,” Leo said, his tone softening as he placed a hand on her stomach.

“You’re pregnant, Cecilia. And you didn’t tell me.”

Cecilia’s breath caught in her throat.

She had suspected, but hearing it confirmed by Leo left her reeling.

“I…I didn’t know for sure,” she stammered. “And with everything that’s happened, I—”

“You shouldn’t have been forced to go back to that madman’s kingdom,” Leo interrupted, his anger flaring up again.

“Your father is a mad king, and he nearly cost us everything.”

Cecilia looked away, unable to meet his gaze.

She had known her father was unstable, but hearing Leo call him mad was a harsh reminder of how far Azmariah had fallen.

♡♡♡

Meanwhile, back in Azmariah, King Ferdinand received the news of Rivendel’s advance with a mix of fear and defiance.

His kingdom was crumbling, his power slipping through his fingers, but he refused to back down.

The thought of surrendering to Rivendel was unbearable, yet the reality of his situation was inescapable.

Leo’s threat of war was not an empty one. Azmariah was at the mercy of Rivendel, and Ferdinand knew it.

His advisors urged him to capitulate, to save what little remained of their kingdom, but Ferdinand’s pride held him back.

In the end, it was not Leo’s soldiers or even his threats that broke Ferdinand’s resolve—

it was the knowledge that his own daughter had been caught in the crossfire of his madness.

The realization that he had nearly sacrificed Cecilia, the one person he had once sworn to protect, was too much for him to bear.

Azmariah’s court, once filled with ambitious nobles and scheming politicians, was now a shadow of its former self.

The kingdom was in ruins, and its king, once a formidable ruler, was reduced to a broken man.

Back in Rivendel, Leo and Cecilia faced a new challenge—

rebuilding what had been broken, not just in their kingdoms, but in their own hearts.

The road ahead was uncertain, and the stakes were higher than ever.

But they were no longer alone.

For the first time, they were united, not just by duty or circumstance, but by something deeper—

something that would carry them through whatever came next.