The Crowns Gambit

❦ Chapter One: Charlotte ❦

The palace feels alive today, charged with a tension that prickles the air like static electricity. I stand in my chamber, surrounded by shimmering silks and the flicker of candlelight, yet the gilded walls feel like a cage closing in on me. The excitement of the Crown's Choice lingers like an uninvited guest, but beneath the surface, something stirs—something darker. As I adjust the collar of my dress, a faint tremor runs through me, a premonition I can't shake.

Today is the day King Rhys will address the contestants, and the thought fills me with a mix of anticipation and dread. It's not just a ceremony; it's a moment that could reshape everything I've ever known. What if this Crown's Choice turns out to be more than just a contest for love? My heart races at the thought, a flicker of fear igniting in my chest.

"Charlotte!" my lady-in-waiting, Mira, calls from the door, her voice pulling me from my spiralling thoughts. "It's time."

I take one last glance in the mirror, where my reflection stares back at me—determined yet unsure. The weight of the crown rests heavily on my brow, a constant reminder of my duty and the expectations I must uphold. Will I live up to them? The thought lingers as I step into the hallway, each footfall echoing in the stillness, amplifying the feeling that the ground beneath me is shifting.

As I approach the grand hall, the air thickens with the energy of the gathered contestants. Their faces mirror a mix of eagerness and anxiety, a spectrum of emotions I can relate to all too well. At the edge of the group, I spot Atlas. He stands apart, his posture relaxed, yet his eyes burn with intensity. The lingering memory of our kiss ignites a warm rush within me, a tantalising echo of what could be. But today isn't about that. Today is about King Rhys and the path ahead—a path that seems fraught with peril.

I take my place at the front of the hall, and as I look out over the sea of faces, the murmurs fade into a hush. King Rhys strides in, and I can feel the air grow heavy with his presence. He commands the room with an authority that is both regal and suffocating, his sharp features carved from stone. I swallow hard; his reputation as a ruthless ruler precedes him, and unease ripples through the crowd like a cold wind.

"Good morning, my loyal subjects and esteemed contestants," he begins, his voice smooth but laced with an undercurrent of menace that sends shivers down my spine. "I trust you have all been preparing for this moment—the moment you believe will lead to your fates as suitors for my daughter, Princess Charlotte."

A nervous murmur runs through the contestants, and I feel their anxiety blend with my own. They have no idea what's coming. My palms sweat, and I wipe them against the fabric of my dress, hoping it will ground me.

"But I'm afraid," King Rhys continues, a wicked smile curling at the corners of his lips, "that the Crown's Choice is not what it seems."

A collective gasp fills the hall, and I grip the edge of the podium, feeling the world tilt beneath me. The words hang in the air like a dark cloud, casting shadows on the hopeful faces of the contestants. Confusion spreads like wildfire among them.

"What do you mean?" I manage to say, my voice trembling. I glance at Atlas, whose expression is a mix of determination and concern. He watches the king with narrowed eyes, the tension palpable between us.

King Rhys steps closer, his gaze sharp as it locks onto mine. "You see, my dear Charlotte, this is not merely a contest of charm and wit. It is a test—a trial to determine which of these men is truly worthy of your hand."

The weight of his words crashes over me, a wave of reality that I struggle to process. This isn't just about finding a suitor; it's about putting them through a gauntlet of challenges. My heart races, a mix of fear and anger surging within me. How could he do this to them? To me?