The Good Crown

Chapter 69

It had been a month since the rebellion, since everything crumbled to pieces. The sound of wind rustling through the trees was the only thing keeping me grounded as I sat under the old oak tree, staring off into the distance where the castle loomed like a dark shadow over the town.

I'd returned to the farm, back to the simple life I'd grown up with. But everything felt different now. The air was heavier. The town was under stricter patrols, guards marching through the streets as if they expected another uprising. Roderick was sentenced to life in the dungeons, and our rebellion had only served to tighten the king's grip on our people.

Noah's coronation was pushed back, and the academy program was officially dead. No more town kids allowed into the royal world. No more chances at an education. The divide between the royals and the townsfolk had only grown wider, and I couldn't help but feel like it was my fault. I thought we could change things, but instead, we'd made it worse.

I drew my knees up to my chest, letting the rough bark of the oak dig into my back as I stared at the castle, my heart heavy with everything that had happened. I hadn't spoken to Noah since that night in the cell. It had been the last time we saw each other—the last time I looked into his eyes and saw the man I had loved, the man I had betrayed. His cold stare still haunted me.

I could still hear his voice in my head, that quiet, controlled anger beneath the surface when he asked me why. Why I hadn't trusted him. Why I hadn't let him in. I didn't have an answer for him then, and I still didn't. I'd thought I was protecting him, but in the end, I'd only pushed him away.

We were released from jail after a week. Me, Elara, Thomas, Leo—we were free, but it didn't feel like freedom. The town saw us differently now. Some people still supported us, but most wanted nothing to do with us. They blamed us for the increased guard presence, for the stricter rules, for the king's fury. And they weren't wrong.

I wiped a tear from my cheek, trying to push the memories away. I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to think about how everything had gone wrong, about how we had lost everything we had fought for. And I especially didn't want to think about Noah.

But I couldn't stop myself. I couldn't stop remembering the way he looked at me in that cell, his blue eyes filled with confusion, hurt, and something else—something that twisted inside of me. He had cared for me. Loved me. And I'd broken him. The worst part was, I still loved him, even now, even after everything.

I hadn't heard anything about him since I left the castle. The town was cut off from the royal world completely now. Nobody from town was allowed near the castle. The king had seen to that. He had made it clear that we didn't belong in their world, and Noah hadn't fought him on it. Maybe that was the hardest thing to swallow—knowing that Noah had given up on the idea of change. That he'd given up on me.

A soft breeze tugged at my hair as I gazed out at the distant spires of the castle. I couldn't help but wonder what Noah was doing right now. Preparing for his coronation, I imagined. It was bound to happen soon, now that the rebellion had been crushed. His father would make sure of that. And when he became king, the gap between us would be even wider, a chasm that could never be crossed.

I sighed, leaning my head back against the tree trunk. My heart still ached for him. I hated that it did. I hated that I still missed him, even though I knew I had no right to.

I sighed, leaning my head back against the tree trunk. My heart still ached for him. I hated that it did. I hated that I still missed him, even though I knew I had no right to.

Just as I was sinking deeper into my thoughts, I heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps pounding against the dirt path. "Daniella!" a high-pitched voice shouted, breaking through the haze in my mind. I blinked and looked up to see my younger sister, Haven, sprinting toward me, her curls bouncing wildly as she came closer.

"You're late!" she exclaimed, out of breath as she skidded to a stop in front of me, hands on her knees. "The wedding's about to start, and you're just sitting out here like nothing's happening."

I blinked again, taking a moment to process her words. Late? Wedding? Then it hit me. Magnolia and Dylan's wedding. Of course.

I had completely forgotten.

"Right, the wedding..." I mumbled, shaking myself out of my thoughts and getting to my feet. "Sorry, Haven. I—I guess I lost track of time."

Haven gave me a look, her brow furrowing with concern. "You've been doing that a lot lately. You okay?" She glanced over at the castle in the distance and then back at me, her gaze softening as if she understood what had been on my mind.

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile.

Haven didn't push it, though I could see she wasn't entirely convinced. Instead, she grabbed my hand and tugged me along. "Come on! They're waiting for you."

I followed her back toward the house, my legs feeling heavier with every step. Magnolia and Dylan were getting married today, and I was supposed to be there, happy and present, but my mind kept drifting back to that night in the cell. The last time I saw Noah. His cold eyes, the sharpness in his voice, and the way he had looked at me, like I had torn his heart in half.

I shook my head, trying to focus on the moment. Today wasn't about that. Today was about Magnolia and Dylan. About their happiness. Not my regrets.

When we reached the house, it was alive with activity. Magnolia stood in front of the small mirror in the living room, adjusting the lace on her dress, her face tight with nervous energy. Dylan, on the other hand, was pacing near the doorway, glancing at his watch every few seconds like the wedding might be canceled if it didn't start on time.

"Finally!" Magnolia exclaimed when she saw me, her eyes wide with relief. "I thought you'd disappeared for good."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," I said, forcing a grin and stepping forward to help her with the final touches. Magnolia had always been the dramatic one, but today it suited her. She was glowing in her white dress, and despite everything that had been weighing me down, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of happiness for her.

"You look beautiful, Magnolia."

A wide smile broke across her face, and for a brief moment, the heaviness in my chest lifted. "Thanks, Dani."

We all hurried outside to the clearing where the wedding would take place. The farm looked beautiful, the fields bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. Chairs were set up, and friends and family were gathered, waiting for the ceremony to begin.

As I stood with Haven, watching Magnolia walk down the aisle toward Dylan, I tried to push everything else away. The memories, the regrets, the what-ifs. This was a day for joy, for love. And I wanted to be here for Magnolia, fully present, even if my heart was somewhere else.

But as the ceremony began, and the vows were exchanged, I couldn't stop my eyes from wandering back to the distant silhouette of the castle. It loomed over everything, a constant reminder of the life I'd left behind, and the boy who still held a piece of my heart.

The last conversation I'd had with Noah played over and over in my head like a broken record. His hurt, his confusion, the walls between us that felt insurmountable. And now, here I was, back home, trying to live a life that felt like it didn't quite fit anymore.